Low life
How a human body burns
I took a dab of antiseptic gel and rubbed my hands together. ‘Alone tonight, sir?’ said the charming head waiter.…
The pure joy of a boring car
My pal Charlie inherited a car and a ride-on mower from an old pal. He kept the mower and the…
Treble doubles, shattered glass and a copper on the doorstep
The door to Trev’s flat was open so I walked in and found him on the sofa watching TV. He…
Was there pleasure at Passchendaele?
At ten to eleven we filed outside the church and assembled in the graveyard around a small cenotaph commemorating the…
A lament for the best pub in Devon
We had a hyperbole competition, the taxi driver and I, over the climbing full moon, clearer and brighter than either…
The perils of the boar-hunting season
The French countryside around here is teeming with wild boar. They visit the shack at night to eat the pansies…
Low life
Last May we had dinner with a comic who reads a lot and his wife. At one point, he told…
Low life
On Saturday night, I toddled up to the village hall for the fish-and-chip supper, quiz night and raffle — bring…
Low life
Early on Friday morning I flew from the north of Iceland to Reykjavik, from Reykjavik to Heathrow, then I hopped…
Low life
The temperature gauge needle heeled hard over into the red. ‘Not again,’ I said to Oscar, sitting beside me on…
Low life
As is traditional in this village, the Chapel congregation had walked the 100 yards up the hill to unite with…
Low life
I got off the plane at Changi still pleasantly sedated by Xanax, passed through the ‘nothing to declare’ channel, and…
Low life
The army patrols at Nice airport go around three abreast, steely-eyed, fingers on the trigger. They walk slowly and scrutinise…
Low life
‘Have you ever thought of having some colour put in, love?’ said Julian as he shaved my neck with a…
Low life
I arrived for lunch a bit late and was led to the dining table. Our hostess disappeared back into the…
Low life
My mother has various chronic illnesses and finds it almost impossible to remain both immobile and awake during the day.…
Low life
On Sunday morning we went, Oscar and I, to a vide grenier in the ancient, picturesque Provençal village. Vide grenier…
Low life
My grandson and I are reprising the 1968 film The Swimmer. Burt Lancaster is an advertising executive at a pool…
Low life
Five and the Red One are a German covers band. It’s probably the most uninspiring name for a rock band…
Low life
‘We are always waiting for somebody,’ observed a vexed British journalist. Usually it was me they were waiting for, but…
Low life
Valencia was a furnace. During the short ride from the airport, the taxi driver supplemented his chat about the weather…
Low life
The hen party was seated at an outside restaurant table under the plane trees when I arrived. They sat with…
Low life
Up on the fifth floor the wind was like thunder. Wild gusts shook the window glass so violently I thought…
Low life
I got up, made a pot of coffee and sat and read the paper. A churchgoing charity worker had stolen…
Low life
‘Yours?’ I said to the woman watching the mechanic poring over the latest-shape Renault Mégane for faults. (I was waiting…
