Life
The price of success
After listening to a violinist’s justification of his playing, Dr Samuel Johnson responded tartly: ‘Difficult do you call it, Sir?…
High life
It’s a famous quote by F. Scott Fitzgerald, one that Elton John should ponder (when he’s not out shopping, that…
Low life
I’m watching Manchester City being taken to the cleaners by Barcelona on the telly, while at the table behind me…
Real life
The builder boyfriend has a new girlfriend. I suppose he was bound to move on eventually. I just never thought…
Long life
I sometimes try to imagine what it would be like being a political leader. I find this difficult because I…
Wild life
Laikipia With a shriek, the warrior arched his body, readying to sling his spear at my chest. The tear-dropped javelin…
Bridge
Janet de Botton and I decided to spice things up a bit at the Young Chelsea heat of the nationwide…
Caro can
The Caro-Kann Defence, 1 e4 c6, has always appealed to me. It has the advantage of staking a claim in…
No. 355
Black to play. This position is a variation from Ganguly-Vitiugov, Gibraltar 2014. The game started as a Caro-Kann and is…
End paper
In Competition No. 2890 you were invited to imagine that one of the major newspapers has ceased publication and provide…
2204: Security
In nine clues, cryptic indications omit reference to parts of answers; these parts must be highlighted, to reveal a definition…
2201: Facility
The words FAST FORWARD (given by letters added to definitions in clues) define 42 and 11, both indicating the way…
Why we lie to ourselves about opinion polls
A strange ritual takes place on Twitter most evenings at around 10.30 p.m. Hundreds of political anoraks start tweeting the…
Battle for Britain
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Looking for answers you can’t see
Driving from Dover on the M20 a year ago I missed the turning for the M25. A month later I…
Dear Mary
Q. When sending wedding invitations, does one put the full titles on the card, or can one just put, for…
A toast to Spain
Towards the chimes at midnight, a few of us left a — respectable — establishment near Leicester Square. Eight or…
Poop
Danny Alexander recounted in the Diary last week his daughter’s efforts in making unicorn poop. This is something of a…
Battle for Britain
Got something to add? Join the discussion and comment below.
Caro can
The Caro-Kann Defence, 1 e4 c6, has always appealed to me. It has the advantage of staking a claim in…
No. 355
Black to play. This position is a variation from Ganguly-Vitiugov, Gibraltar 2014. The game started as a Caro-Kann and is…
End paper
In Competition No. 2890 you were invited to imagine that one of the major newspapers has ceased publication and provide…
Dear Mary
Q. When sending wedding invitations, does one put the full titles on the card, or can one just put, for…
A toast to Spain
Towards the chimes at midnight, a few of us left a — respectable — establishment near Leicester Square. Eight or…
Poop
Danny Alexander recounted in the Diary last week his daughter’s efforts in making unicorn poop. This is something of a…
