Life
to 2441: To and Fro
FRANCIS THOMPSON, born in PRESTON, wrote THE HOUND OF HEAVEN and a poem, AT LORD’S, remembering the run-stealers that flicker…
Even the Oscars parties have lost their shine
Reading about the Oscars this week, I couldn’t help thinking back to a time when they actually meant something. When…
The Battle for Britain
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Dear Mary
Q. I am having a drinks party to celebrate the publication of my latest book. I sent out invitations (to…
Eight lessons from the world of sport
What we have learned in the past few weeks: 1) Don’t play rugby in a howling gale, even though for…
Criminally good
The Yard is a defiantly themed restaurant in Hyatt’s new Great Scotland Yard Hotel, an Edwardian red-brick block which once…
At pace
In Arnold Bennett’s Tales of the Five Towns, a young dog called Ellis Carter takes a girl for a drive…
High life
I find myself detached from mainstream culture. It started with the demise of nightclubs like Annabel’s and the arrival of…
Low life
I’ve no interest in food. None. But for the three other journalists on our press trip, eating was a consuming…
Real life
The builder boyfriend fell off a roof. He didn’t tell me until he could no longer leave unexplained why he…
The turf
I was once at a racing dinner in York where a distinguished clergyman in attendance was invited to say grace.…
Bridge
As hosts of this year’s Lady Milne Trophy — the women’s home international series — England get to field two…
Meeting an idol
We had never met, but David Paravyan, from Russia, has been something of a personal idol since August 2018. My…
no. 590
Black to move, Paravyan vs McShane, Isle of Man 2019. Here I intended 49…Bxd1. What had Paravyan planned after that…
Cat call
In Competition No. 3134 you were invited to submit a poem featuring one of T.S. Eliot’s practical cats getting to…
2443: Middle of the road
The unclued lights are of a kind. Chambers does not include 17D. Across 4 New cabinet door which bears…
to 2440: Dizzy tiny blonde
The unclued lights (paired at 5/8, 24/3, 30D/30A and 42/35, and the singleton at 37) are titles of series of…
Empire state of mind
They never learn, do they? Lisa Nandy, the dark horse candidate in the Labour leadership race, has demanded the word…
The Battle for Britain
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Central reservations
Some years ago, two British supermarket chains needed to place a large order for replacement trollies. They had to decide…
Dear Mary
Q. I have hired a private room in a restaurant in order to give dinner to a large number of…
Getting into the spirit
In the mid-18th century, London was awash with gin. Socially-conscious members of the bourgeoisie believed that this was the root…
In shock
Billie Eilish, who has just won five Grammys, is also singing the theme song for the next Bond film. ‘James…
High life
I was walking up St James’s and happy to be in London. For a change I was not rushing but…
Low life
There are no stairs or escalators to take you up to Terminal 4 from the underground Heathrow Express platform. Beyond…
