Life
Bridge
I’ve been friends with the England player Mike Bell for many years; as top bridge professionals go, I’d say he…
Real life
After an incredible 13 emails, Vodafone decided that I was who I was claiming to be, and refunded my money.…
Aussie Life
Even in Australian publications of a conspicuously conservative disposition, it has been some time since any respected pundit has suggested,…
Aussie Language
Here’s a delightful expression I have just encountered: ‘offence archaeology’. This is the practice of going through the social media…
2540: Recycling components
Eight unclued lights, arranged symmetrically, comprise two quartets, one of which makes the other go round. Across 1 How…
Low life
‘Sorry I’m late,’ I said to the big unit stationed behind her computer. She’s the chief, this one. She shows…
Real life
After launching an investigation into my missing phone, Vodafone informed me it could not deal with me any further until…
Bridge
During lockdown I had a bit of a tidy-up and came across a Post-it note with the following statement written…
Helpmeet
‘What’s so funny?’ asked my husband, accusingly, as I made an amused noise while relaxing with a copy of the…
High life
Gstaad Dinner parties are no longer verboten here, so I posed a question to some youngsters my son had over:…
Going downhill fast
As we digest another Ashes thrashing for England’s cricketers in Australia, and wonder whether the 1966 World Cup victory will…
Puzzle no. 687
Black to play. Grandelius–Rapport, Tata Steel Chess 2022. With a bishop resting on a3, the White king can never sit…
Lillie’s pad
The Cadogan hotel, Chelsea, is where Oscar Wilde was arrested for sodomy and gross indecency in 1895, in Room 118,…
Dear Mary: Your problems solved
Q. I treat myself to a manicure every ten days. It’s a 30-minute appointment and the girl I use is…
Highway to hell
I did a speed awareness course on Monday. For the uninitiated, you have the option of doing one of these…
Battle for Britain
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Solution to 2537: My Lord!
The exchange that gave rise to the expression CURATE’s (19 Down) Egg was ‘I’m afraid you’ve got a bad egg,…
Mr and misses
In Competition No. 3233, you were invited to invent a new character for the Mr Men/Little Miss series by Roger…
Pixel this
When Magnus Carlsen won last year’s Meltwater Champions Tour, they made two trophies. One was for Carlsen, and the second…
Aussie Life
I live by the sea and like walking along the coastline including scrambling over the rock ledges in Noosa National…
Aussie Language
A letter writer to the Australian has pointed out that Anthony Albanese appears to have coined a brand-new oxymoron to…
Bridge
Almost everyone has a set of ‘carding’ agreements with their partners to convey information when defending. But I’m always amazed…
Puzzle no. 686
White to play. Gelfand–Karjakin, Tal Memorial Blitz 2008. Gelfand’s pawn is pinned, and moving the king runs into more checks.…
Lardy cake
Lardy cake has a branding problem. We don’t mind puddings or cakes which explicitly announce their richness or decadence —…
High life
Gstaad According to a little bird, Boris has gone from brilliant to bawd, and according to me this village has…
