Life
Aussie life
Like many Speccie readers I was shocked by the public expressions of anti-Semitism which blighted the closing months of 2024.…
Language
The verb ‘to unsee’ turns up as a snappy, or trendy, way of saying that something is unforgettable—in a bad…
Hurrah for Constitution Hill
Hallelujah, he’s back. What we needed to take racing’s attention off the miseries of inadequate prize money, shrinking attendances and…
My run-in with the GP receptionist
‘We don’t have an appointment for you!’ yelled the woman sitting behind the reception hatch. My 87-year-old father stared back…
The hell of bra shopping
It’s probably haram to quote Cecil Rhodes these days, but he was bang on when he said: ‘Remember that you…
Could Thomas Tuchel be the one?
You would have to be living a very sheltered life not to have noticed that the Premier League this season…
Not worth its salt: Wingmans reviewed
I see this column as an essay on cultural polarisation: artisanal butter can only take you so far into wisdom.…
Dear Mary: Can I regift an unwanted tin of sweets?
Q. A kind villager gave us a jolly circular tin of sweets for Christmas. We are both overweight and would…
Can I be cancelled twice?
One of the biggest regrets of my life was saying yes when Jo Johnson asked if I wanted to be…
Aussie life
It is customary for magazines like this to devote some of the final issue of the year to an appraisal…
Language
The clever lexicographers at the Australian National Dictionary Centre have chosen ‘Colesworths’ as their Word of the Year 2024. They…
The Twelve Hates of Christmas
I have set my husband a Christmas game. He wins a small chocolate sprout each time he spots a word…
