Life
Shakespeare’s pronunciation
Sir John Harington told a story in 1596 about a lady at court asking her gentlewoman to inquire which Mr…
Spectator Australia Wine Club – May
I’ve often wondered what Australia would today be like if the Comte de Lapérouse had landed at Botany Bay a…
Battle for Britain
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Out of the book
Last week we saw the reigning world champion Magnus Carlsen taking a leaf from Alekhine’s book to destroy eccentric opening…
No. 407
White to play. This is from Pacher-Radnai, Budapest 2016. How did White exploit a tactical opportunity to make a decisive…
Post mortem
In Competition No. 2946 you were invited to supply a verse obituary of a well-known person who has died in…
Your problems solved
Q. I know it’s a gaffe to ask a doctor for medical advice at a party, but what is the…
White mischief
I promised a return to Burgundy and the 2014 vintage, which becomes no less impressive when recollected in tranquillity. We…
High life
New York I went downtown to Katz’s the other day and had a pastrami sandwich that made me want…
Low life
The tourist information office of the small French country town looked closed. Peering between the posters on the window glass,…
Low life
The tourist information office of the small French country town looked closed. Peering between the posters on the window glass,…
Shakespeare’s pronunciation
Sir John Harington told a story in 1596 about a lady at court asking her gentlewoman to inquire which Mr…
Real life
Buffy Sainte-Marie said it best. ‘The lights of town are at my back, my heart is full of stars./ And…
Middle-class warriors
Tuesday’s protest against Key Stage 1 Sats was moronic on so many levels that it’s hard to know where to…
Middle-class warriors
Tuesday’s protest against Key Stage 1 Sats was moronic on so many levels that it’s hard to know where to…
Tea and honesty
We recently moved -offices from Canary Wharf to Blackfriars bridge. When you move after a long time in one place,…
Bridge
I’ve been practising bidding online with my friend Guy Hart in preparation for the Spring Fours in Stratford (we’ll know…
High life
I read this in an American newspaper (it was written by a woman who used to edit my copy for…
Low life
I drank Bombay gin and Fever-Tree tonic on the half-empty easyJet flight to Gatwick. I was even offered ice cubes.…
Real life
The gloves are off in my battle with the two brothers who live in the flat upstairs. They have just…
Sandown thrills
The difference between praying in church and praying at the racecourse, a gnarled old punter once said, is that at…
Bridge
The day before the London Marathon, Young Chelsea BC held its spring half-marathon. Eighty-seven boards were played over 12 hours…
Evolution
World champion Magnus Carlsen takes much inspiration from the games of the former champion Emanuel Lasker. Lasker and Carlsen share…
No. 406
White to play. This is a position from Bjornsson-Sigurdsson, Iceland Team Championship 2016. How did White make the most of…
Exit strategy
In Competition No. 2945 you were invited to suggest remarks guaranteed to get rid of a guest who is outstaying…
