Wet wet wet
In April, ten years after opening its gallery on the beach in Hastings, the Jerwood Foundation gifted the building to…
Sweet nothing
How much weight of plot can dance carry? Balanchine famously insisted that there are no mothers-in-law in ballet, and masters…
The Spectator’s Notes
It was reported gleefully that Boris Johnson was booed as he entered St Paul’s Cathedral for the Jubilee Thanksgiving service…
Air pirates
If you have a flight booked in the next few months, it’s time to worry. A new era of air…
Puzzle No. 706
White to play and mate in 3. Composed by Sigmund Franz Josef Lehner, 1864. There are several ways to give…
I told you so
‘Steady on, old chap. You’re a bit hard on the boy.’ The arm around my shoulder was that of Boris…
Turkey
Turkey has told the UN it wants tobe called Türkiye. Even when it is written in capitals, it would still…
2559: Platinum upgrade
Reading clockwise around the perimeter are six theme words, in random order, one of which starts in square 38. The…
Diary
I wish I could persuade certain cabinet ministers to put their money where their mouths are. Several times last month…
Not everything has to be a trade-off
‘It is vital that we see a return to face-to-face meetings to foster the dynamic collaboration that creates breakthrough ideas.’…
Novelist’s Notebook
A dispiriting week. Three months ago, skips arrived, into which were cast the detritus of a decade. Charity shops were…
Did the British Empire exterminate mermaids?
I may have broken the law this week, without having intended to, so great was my rush to return home.…
Toasting the Queen
It was an extraordinary weekend. The various spectacles had something for all tastes: pageantry on Horse Guards; solemnity in St…
A win for the film critics of Bradford
As a general rule, you should never talk about a film you haven’t seen. But The Lady of Heaven is…
Real life
If I could ban one question ever being asked of me again it would be: ‘Are you on WhatsApp?’ I…
Barometer
Curry in favour The BBC apologised after one of its guests for the Jubilee coverage, Len Goodman, revealed that his…
Dear Mary: Your problems solved
Q. As a mildly famous professional cook, I agreed to judge a children’s cake-baking competition at the summer fête of…
Bridge
I recently spent a long weekend in Lillehammer in Norway. Apparently it’s very charming, but frankly I have no idea:…
Low life
‘But you look so well!’ How many times have I heard that lately. Kindly meant by most, but for a…
The turf
In the absence on her Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty, such an avid Derby attender in the past, and following…
