Life
Real life
My ponies may be psychic. I think they are communicating with each other telepathically. And before you call me delusional,…
Long life
I have been having trouble with my dishwasher. It’s seven and a half years old, and it’s manufactured by a…
Best of Luck
Never mind David Cameron. Are you participating in the Great Debate about an event of national significance that stirs the…
Bridge
2015 got off to a rollicking start with TGR’s sixth Auction Pairs — chief rollickers being the Norwegians, whose unparalleled…
London Blitz
Britain’s leading grandmaster, Michael Adams, started well in the London Classic, with a beautiful win against the rising star Fabiano…
No: 346
White to play. This position is a variation from Kramnik-Nakamura, London Classic Blitz 2014. How can White make a decisive…
Lines on law
In Competition No. 2881 you were invited to do as Carol Ann Duffy has done and provide an amusing poem…
2195: In question
Each clue contains a superfluous word. When these words are put in sequence according to alphabetical order of answers to…
To 2192: Never again
Eight unclued lights were papal names used only once. Pope JOAN (30) was the fanciful ninth. First prize Michael…
Je suis Page 3
‘I for one would be sorry to see them go,’ wrote George Orwell. ‘They are a sort of saturnalia, a harmless…
Battle for Britain
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Bats out of hell
What a remarkable innings that was in Johannesburg earlier this week when South Africa’s admirable Hashim Amla carried his bat…
Dear Mary
Q. A neighbour is hosting a party for his daughter’s 21st birthday. Adequate provision has been made for anyone who…
In Dracula’s local
Quaglino’s is an ancient subterranean brasserie in St James’s, a district clinging to the 18th century with cadaverous fingers. It…
Existential threat
In the endless game of word association that governs vocabulary, the current favourite as a partner of existential is threat.…
In Dracula’s local
Quaglino’s is an ancient subterranean brasserie in St James’s, a district clinging to the 18th century with cadaverous fingers. It…
Bats out of hell
What a remarkable innings that was in Johannesburg earlier this week when South Africa’s admirable Hashim Amla carried his bat…
Best of Luck
Never mind David Cameron. Are you participating in the Great Debate about an event of national significance that stirs the…
High life
This is a good time to write about a nation’s resilience in the face of calamity. I am referring to…
Low life
The hotel and its bright tan prayer rug of a beach were one. In the early morning the distant image…
Real life
Clearly, I am going to have to report my broken mop handle to the authorities. It has been sitting outside…
Long life
It’s 15 years since I first wrote an article about the threat to the nation of the wild boar; but…
Wild life
Hell’s Kitchen My ambition to open a fish and chip shop in Mogadishu has not happened yet, though I remain…
Bridge
This may sound odd, given its male-only membership, but the Portland is one of my favourite bridge clubs. I’m one…
London Rapid
The exciting American grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura compensated for his somewhat lacklustre performance in the London Classic section, held at Olympia…
