Life
The beauty – and tragedy – of our nesting swans
There won’t be any cygnets this year. The cob was on the lake this morning on his own, occasionally slapping…
Aussie life
Australia is becoming a secular society. Religion of the boring old traditional type our grandparents followed is on the way…
Language
A Speccie reader in Canberra (what has he done to deserve capital punishment?) asks the origin of the latest label…
The wonder of Jon Pertwee and his frilly shirt
When a friend asked if I wanted anything for Christmas I took a deep breath and replied: ‘Well, maybe I…
Language
They keep doing this to us. Those kids keep inventing new words of obscure origin, and of even obscurer meaning.…
Aussie life
‘Oh sweetheart,’ I smiled lovingly at my four-week-old, Teddy, one night at 3am, while changing his nappy, ‘would you please…
The Spectator’s 2023 Christmas quiz
Fairly odd 1. What had for 50 years been the name for Fanta Pineapple & Grapefruit before it was changed…
