Life
A Margherita in Tolkien’s Middle-earth: Pizza in the Courtyard at Sarehole Mill reviewed
Sarehole Mill is four miles south of the centre of Birmingham. If this were a fairy tale, and it should…
England’s rugby World Cup has disaster written all over it
England’s preparation for the upcoming rugby World Cup is beginning to look like a slow-motion car crash, after two pathetic…
Who fact checks the fact-checkers?
Last week, a retired physics professor called Nick Cowern said it was time to get tough with ‘climate denialists’. ‘In…
How builders plan to get round the Ulez charge
‘What a worry the Ulez must be for you both,’ said a friend with a nod to the pick-up truck…
The FBI has a problem with Catholics
On board Aello She was built in 1921, a beautiful wooden ketch that is as graceful to look at…
Aussie life
‘Senior moment’, being an affectionate descriptor for the kind of harmless temporary memory failure which presages more serious cognitive decline,…
Language
The Albanese government has established a ‘Makarrata Commission’ with a budget of $5.8 million dollars. So, what is this word…
Spectator competition winners: songs for a parliamentary songbook
In Competition No. 3311, you were invited to submit a song suitable for inclusion in a parliamentary songbook. In an…
Port is fashionable once again
I once drank some excellent port at Ted Heath’s table. The invitation came as a surprise, but it almost certainly…
Dear Mary: how can I make my untidy twin look better?
Q. I have a public profile and have always looked after my personal presentation, but my identical twin has never…
Am I allowed to make fun of women’s football?
I’m loath to write about the current Fifa World Cup because criticising women’s football is textbook ‘misogyny’ – at least,…
Just stop HS2!
I have two suggestions for HS2. Either stop it or make it stop. The spiralling cost and delays are reason enough…
Tom Marquand was the star of Goodwood
On no course in Britain does jockeyship count for more than at undulating, tricksy Goodwood and although Frankie Dettori was…
Will I have to forcibly flood my house to sell it?
‘Come on, let’s get a move on with filling in all the forms and we could have this done and…
In praise of minding your own business
Athens With energy bordering on the demonic, I strut around an ancient stadium trying to make up for…
