Life
A hell-cat in heaven
Over the weekend I officiated at a funeral. Earlier in the morning there had been lowering rain clouds, but by…
Including
Just as, in writing, many people use an exclamation mark to indicate that they have made a joke, so there…
Battle for Britain
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Life on the edge
The grandmaster Nigel Davies has just written a new book on the Pirc Defence, a variation in which Black sacrifices…
No. 411
Black to play. This is from Cherin-Pedini, Italy 2016. Black has just sacrificed some material as he could foresee a…
The law is an ass
In Competition No. 2950 you were invited to propose a new and ludicrous piece of legislation along with a justification…
Your problems solved
Q. We moved recently and new neighbours invited us to join them for dinner at a nearby restaurant. I planned…
A hell-cat in heaven
Over the weekend I officiated at a funeral. Earlier in the morning there had been lowering rain clouds, but by…
High life
Write about things you really know was the advice Papa Hemingway offered wannabe writers, so here goes: the French Open…
Long life
It was a famous American editor and columnist Michael Kinsley who once defined the political ‘gaffe’ as something that occurs…
Long life
It was a famous American editor and columnist Michael Kinsley who once defined the political ‘gaffe’ as something that occurs…
Low life
Hours before boarding the cross-Channel car ferry, I received a text message from the company warning of severe fuel shortages…
Low life
Hours before boarding the cross-Channel car ferry, I received a text message from the company warning of severe fuel shortages…
Including
Just as, in writing, many people use an exclamation mark to indicate that they have made a joke, so there…
Real life
Turns out you can’t eat grass. A horse does something clever to it in its mouth that humans can’t. Fine,…
Call yourself a friend?
Should we be surprised that friendship isn’t always mutual? That is one of the findings of a team of researchers…
Call yourself a friend?
Should we be surprised that friendship isn’t always mutual? That is one of the findings of a team of researchers…
A monkey-brained case for Donald Trump
A few years ago I was asked to speak at a conference in New York. ‘Where would be the best…
Bridge
The Hubert Phillips Bowl is one of my favourite tournaments of the year: a friendly, knockout event with a rather…
Drinking partner
In Competition No. 2949 you were invited to submit a poem about sharing a drink with a famous writer. I…
High life
New York Let’s face it, sleaze is to professional party-givers what jail is to a burglar, an occupational hazard. I’ve…
Low life
We cleared the kitchen table for a game of pick-up sticks. Remember them? Thirty long, thin bamboo sticks, their differing…
Real life
After a tense two week stand-off, the Balham Airbnb Crisis has been resolved. My upstairs neighbour and I have drawn…
Long life
When your mind suddenly goes wonky, you may be the one person who doesn’t realise that there is something wrong…
Numbers game
‘After a few decades of marriage a man ought to be able to recognise his own wife,’ Mrs Oakley observed…
