Life
to 2159: Wine, woman & song
The three groups associated with EMPEROR (24) were MOTHS (1A, 25D, 39), PAPER SIZES (9, 16A, 44), and PENGUINS (13,…
A lesson in humility
I went to a meeting at Penguin earlier this week to discuss ‘publicity opportunities’ for my forthcoming book. Chance would…
Battle for Britain
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A real winner
Sport is all about streaks, winning and losing, though whether one of the gloomiest runs in world sport — England’s…
Dear Mary
Q. An architect is overseeing some builders at my house. She is a perfectly nice woman but has a maddening…
End of the rude
Wong Kei is a mad Chinese restaurant on Wardour Street, Chinatown. Until recently it was considered the rudest restaurant in…
Marylebone
‘Take a trip to Marylebone station,’ chanted my husband. ‘Do not pass Go. Do not collect £200.’ I had been…
End of the rude
Wong Kei is a mad Chinese restaurant on Wardour Street, Chinatown. Until recently it was considered the rudest restaurant in…
A real winner
Sport is all about streaks, winning and losing, though whether one of the gloomiest runs in world sport — England’s…
Twelve to Follow
In sport, winning is everything. Come second and only your parents and the dog remember. Most readers will have forgotten…
High life
For some of you younger readers the name Schmuel Gelbfisz will not ring a bell. Yet back in the Thirties…
Low life
As Sharon stooped to pour boiling water from the kettle into two mugs, I studied her back and wondered what,…
Real life
You know you’ve been irreversibly sucked into the ninth circle of horse-owning hell when you find yourself perusing an equine…
Long life
I was predicting in a recent column that the arrival of spring would be bad news for my poultry, and…
Bridge
The more I watch top-class players bid their hands, the more I abide by the philosophy: points, schmoints! Obviously, we…
Pantheon
From 1950 to 1962, the challenger for the world title was determined by a Candidates tournament of the world’s leading…
No. 313
White to play. This position is from Tal-Smyslov, Candidates Tournament 1959. White’s next move was a bombshell which led to…
The write stuff
In Competition No. 2846 you were invited to invent the six rules for writing of a well-known author of your…
2161: Appellation contrôlée
The unclued lights (one doubly hyphened) share a medical similarity. (Despite appearances there are no rude words in the puzzle!)…
to 2158: Late bloomers
The unclued lights are the surnames of people (nine of whom were botanists) who gave their names to flowers. …
Making myselfherd
I find it hard to pinpoint the exact moment when my support for Queen’s Park Rangers crossed over into full-blown…
Battle for Britain
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A land of extremes
A few years ago I would have quite liked to live in America. I’m not sure now. For one thing,…
Dear Mary
Q. On arrival at a top level dinner, I was surprised to see at the table a woman who, I…
A military port
Alas, the ’63 ports are beginning to fade. I came to that conclusion the last time I tasted a Warre’s,…
