Life
New year haiku
In Competition No. 2878 you were invited to submit a poem composed of three haikus that looks forward to the…
2192: Never again
Eight unclued lights are of a kind; as is, fancifully, the ninth. Across 6 Hurry up to fill space with…
To 2190: Petra
‘ROCK OF AGES CLEFT FOR ME’ (1D/19) is a work by AUGUSTUS TOPLADY (18/13). ELIZABETH WINDSOR (4A/26) and MICHELLE OBAMA…
This year, I’m keeping my ambitions modest
This time last year, I wrote an article saying my main project in 2014 would be to unite the right.…
Battle for Britain
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What Miliband needs is a grilled tomato
My children have a phrase called ‘fomo’ — which stands for ‘fear of missing out’. It is a constant, mildly…
Dear Mary: Your Problems Solved
Q. Since recycling was introduced in our village, the wall at the end of our drive has become the depositing…
Sonoma survivor
I had not drunk the wine for 20 years, and nearly all the information which I thought that I had…
Plurals
Someone on Radio 4 said she had heard about the sexism of Grand Theft Auto on ‘Women’s Hour’. It is…
Sonoma survivor
I had not drunk the wine for 20 years, and nearly all the information which I thought that I had…
What Miliband needs is a grilled tomato
My children have a phrase called ‘fomo’ — which stands for ‘fear of missing out’. It is a constant, mildly…
High life
Here is my Christmas gift to Spectator readers, one that applies mostly to unmarried males, but is also available to…
Low life
After lunch on Christmas Day my father always stood at the sink in his apron and yellow Marigolds and did…
Real life
The countryside is all very well so long as you know you can leave it. Funnily enough, exactly the same…
Long life
More than ever this year I find friends planning to go abroad for Christmas, some to countries such as India…
Wild life
Laikipia We are privileged to live with lions on the farm. We hear them most nights. We encounter them frequently.…
Gold standard
‘Hang on a minute—he’s a bit wobbly,’ trainer Oliver Sherwood told photographers imploring him to stand with his winner when…
Bridge
Pierre Zimmermann, captain of the hugely successful Monaco team, plays with Franck Multon and they are probably the best sponsor/professional…
Christmas Quiz
Set by Christopher Howse. Illustrated by Castro
The answers
So they say 1. President François Hollande of France 2. Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, of Nick Clegg, the…
London greats
The London Chess Classic, graced by two former world champions Viswanathan Anand and Vladimir Kramnik, as well as the world…
Christmas chess puzzle
White to play. This position is from Anderssen-Kieseritzky, London 1851. It is a brilliant encounter that became known as the…
Season’s greetings
In Competition No. 2877 you were invited to submit a Christmas round robin as it might have been written by…
Anagram Pie Christmas double puzzle
A first prize of £100, three prizes of £25 and six further prizes of the Chambers Book of Great Speeches…
To 2189: Offering
Answers to clues in italics — stramash (1A), pasteboard (33) and lineated (36) — are treated as in the ROMAN…
