Life
In defence of chicken tikka masala
Chicken tikka masala has become something of a joke. When, in the late 2000s, it was topping lists of the…
Too perfect for Instagram: Cédric Grolet at the Berkeley reviewed
The Cédric Grolet at the Berkeley lives in the shiniest hotel in Knightsbridge, though I prefer the Mandarin Oriental, because…
A Test match for the ages
Readers of a certain vintage might be familiar with the work of J.A. (Charles) Cuddon, a teacher at Emanuel School…
The brilliance of Lime Bikes
I was disappointed to learn that the authorities are planning to crack down on dockless bikes and electric scooters. Westminster…
My night pot is a thing of beauty
Since Christmas I’ve been sending off these columns with the anxious thought that perhaps I’m overdoing the dying bit and…
High life
Gstaad OK, sports fans, it’s time to spill the beans. Some time last year, I wrote about rich man’s kick-boxing,…
Aussie life
I was visiting my son in California when I first heard about ChatGPT, the real-time writing app which has gotten…
Language
Here are two words that I would like to see become the watchwords of where Australia is going in the…
2590: Have a go – solution
The seven unclued lights are BIRDs (36) minus one letter: (S)WAN (14), (G)ROUSE (18), P(H)EASANT (22), TE(A)L (40), S(W)ALLOW (7),…
2593: Capital Development
Six unclued lights (one of two words) are of a kind. The remaining three must be filled to display what…
Spectator competition winners: Shakespeare reviews West Side Story
In Competition No. 3287, you were invited to supply a review of a film, novel, poem or play in the…
A belated Christmas tipple worth waiting for
Life is returning to normal. Clinics, pills et al are receding into the distance. There was never anything remotely approaching…
How to outperform ChatGPT
Much of the magic of Curb Your Enthusiasm comes from the show being plotted but not scripted. The direction of…
It’s hard work being a house husband
I’m currently sitting on top of a brownie point mountain. Caroline has departed for a two-week tennis freebie in Barbados,…
