The mysterious ways of the French
These new tablets that will save or at least prolong my life have unpredictable side effects which only now, a…
How it feels to be the only Brexiteers in the village
We are the only Brexiteers in the village. That, at least, is how it feels. Out they come, the far…
Bridge
Benjaminised Acol, better known as ‘Benji Acol’ — and its variant ‘Reverse Benji’ — is one of the most commonly…
Ding an sich
Ding Liren, the Chinese grandmaster, has scored a career best in the Classical time limit section of the Grand Tour…
no. 570
Black to play. This is from Carlsen-Ding, St Louis 2019. The black pieces are converging on the white king but…
Home delivery
In Competition No. 3114 you were invited to submit estate agents’ details in the style of a well-known author. …
2424: Poem V
1A (four words) and 44 (four words) are quotations from the first verse of a poem (in ODQ). Five remaining…
to 2421: Tina
Fats WALLER (5), who has been called ‘THE BLACK HOROWITZ’ (40/37/1A), was born in NEW YORK (28) and died in…
The political pact that could save Brexit
If there is to be an election before we leave the European Union, some kind of non-aggression pact between the…
Will Ben Stokes be the greatest cricketer of all time?
Feeling depressed about politics? I hope not. Politicians don’t shape the world: they are the furniture movers, not the furniture…
Dear Mary: How much should I tip a black cab driver?
Q. We have near neighbours in the country with whom I would not wish to fall out for all sorts…
I wouldn’t suggest you eat here, but I doubt there’s a better place to drop acid: Camelot Castle reviewed
The Camelot Castle Hotel is a pebble-dashed late-Victorian excrescence on a cliff. It overlooks the ruins of Tintagel Castle. A…
Word of the week: ‘prorogue’
It was most unlooked-for that a king should ally with Whig politicians to seek parliamentary reform, but that was what…
Cast members Jonny Carr and Geraldine Hakewell
John Howard and Tom Stoppard have something quite wonderful and rare in common: they are both members of the Order…
Asylum accessories
Alan Jones is wrong. The case of the Sri Lankan family whose deportation has been stalled illustrates what people smugglers…
Simon Collins
If last ditch Remainer attempts to block a no-deal Brexit fail, our head of state, already seen to have aided…
Energy notes
LNG is the new coal With the media spotlight focussed on activists, the Greens and even Pacific nations complaining about…
Gender notes
A new form of child abuse? In early May I wrote on the work of Professor John Whitehall, Chair of…
ABC of Pauline’s revenge
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has two Bills at hand to clobber the anti-conservative ABC. The first would force it to…
Below the belt —and road
In the Land of Oz, when Labor apparatchiks follow the yellow brick road to the end of the rainbow —…
Diary
It’s been a long time away from home in Tasmania. I arrived in Rome in early July to teach Latin…
Celebrity climate sting
I’m a mediocre guitar player. I’ve also said 12 lines in a one-act play. Neither of these activities gave me…
Alan Jones: tribune of the people
David Flint writes: Alan Jones, probably the most influential commentator in the Australian media has announced his retirement from leading…
White women on the hook
Martin Niemöller’s famous post-World War II quotation is as poetic as it is heart-breaking, as insightful as it is terrifying.…
