Life
Dear Mary
Q. I live far away from my brother and his family, but went to stay with them recently for the…
Stable conditions
The Chatsworth estate, Derby-shire. I am overwhelmed by marketing literature. I am prostrate. I am weeping. I am staying in…
Autonomy
My husband is constantly amused by talk of patient autonomy — for people who want to have a limb lopped…
Stable conditions
The Chatsworth estate, Derby-shire. I am overwhelmed by marketing literature. I am prostrate. I am weeping. I am staying in…
Being the best
This time last year, England’s cricketers were 2-0 up against Australia, two thirds of the way towards their third consecutive…
An eye for quality
Through a stormy July weekend our task was to prevent four feisty grandchildren from murdering or mutilating each other before…
High life
Gstaad I write this on 14 July, France’s big day and the 25th anniversary of my father’s passing. He died…
Low life
They do love a party at The Spectator. I was invited to four in ten days last week: the Apollo…
Real life
‘Cydney,’ I have just told the spaniel, ‘you had better enjoy this tin of dog food because it cost me…
Long life
How amazing to have two former Anglican archbishops, George Carey of Canterbury and Desmond Tutu of South Africa, supporting Lord…
Wild life
Kenya Highlands I’ve just descended Mount Kenya with Eve, my 13-year-old daughter, and her class of school leavers from Pembroke…
Bridge
The recent Open European Championship was won by Israel — but right up to the end, Monaco and England were…
Final flame
I am very sorry to report the death of International Master Andrew Whiteley, a friend of mine for half a…
No. 323
Black to play. This is from Litsberger-Whiteley, Harrachov 1967. This position also emanated from the Dragon Variation. What was Black’s…
Soccer lesson
In Competition No. 2856 you were invited to recruit a well-known author of your choice to give Phil Neville a…
2171: 31 Across
Seven identical two-by-two squares in the completed grid must be highlighted to depict the unclued entries, each of two words.…
to 2168: History exam
Initial letters of superfluous words in clues give nightingale, quail and cuckoo, specimens of AVIFAUNA (5) represented by FLUTE (43),…
Cameron was right to move Gove
I tried to reach Michael Gove on Tuesday shortly after the news broke that he’d been moved to the Whips’…
Battle for Britain
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How good laws change our ways
What would happen, I wonder, were we to rescind the smoking ban as Nigel Farage wants? My guess is not…
Dear Mary
Q. My former cleaner has now retired and lives nearby. I visit her with clockwork regularity and always enjoy seeing…
A toast to all bottles
Where two or three British males are gathered together, the agenda often includes a glass or two. One thing can…
Toe-rag
‘I am glad to say that I have never seen a toe-rag,’ said my husband, assuming, as unconvincingly as one…
A toast to all bottles
Where two or three British males are gathered together, the agenda often includes a glass or two. One thing can…
How good laws change our ways
What would happen, I wonder, were we to rescind the smoking ban as Nigel Farage wants? My guess is not…
