In praise of pink Lego
There aren’t many toy companies that could make headlines in the business press merely by expanding their London offices —…
Who will be London’s next bishop?
In typical theatrical style, the outgoing Bishop of London, Richard Chartres, he of the sonorous voice and imposing beard, ‘never…
Rides without romance
You know the old designation NSIT — Not Safe in Taxis? Well, we need a new one: TSIU — Too…
Dogs for children
Henry, our springer spaniel, has died, suddenly and prematurely. With the passing weeks, we are becoming accustomed to the strange…
A choice of revolutions
Is France on the brink of a political revolution? Already, four established candidates for the presidency — two former presidents…
Bridge
It’s so hard not to whinge when you’ve had bad luck at bridge — it’s just one of those things…
Tradewise
The Tradewise tournament at Gibraltar has gained a colossal reputation and is even challenging the traditional tournament at Wijk aan…
no. 443
Black to play. This position is from Gledura-Topalov, Gibraltar 2017. Bulgarian grandmaster Veselin Topalov is not the force he used…
Hey, Mr Tangerine Man
In Competition No. 2984 you were invited to follow in the footsteps of Green Day and Moby and provide Donald…
2296: Men of note
The unclued lights, which include the German eighth, are of a kind. Ignore all accents. Across 1 Lines fish…
to 2293: Topping
The unclued lights are items of headgear. First prize Tony Watson, Twyford, BerkshireRunners-up Philip Berridge, Spalding, Lincolnshire; R.C. Teuton, Frampton…
Dear Mary
Q. A (very attractive) man I knew at university invited me to a party given by him and his girlfriend.…
Bloody Marys and glorious Jean
To the Western Isles, or at least to its embassy in Belgravia. Boisdale restaurant always claims to be extra-territorial. There…
High life
When I was young my recurring nightmare was that I would die and be reincarnated as a polo pony. I…
Low life
Dr Ivan Mindlin was the in-house casino doctor at the Stardust in Las Vegas in the early 1970s. Mention any…
Trope
A law I’d like to see passed would exact severe penalties for the use of the word trope. It is…
Real life
The builder boyfriend declared himself very happy with his £65 pee. He insisted it was good value for money because…
GCSEs and the arts of lobbying
For the past six years or so a variety of arts organisations have been campaigning against the English Baccalaureate, or…
My alarm call for GPs
A few months ago I was stuck in traffic on my way to give a talk at the Royal College…
Wild life
Laikipia plateau, Kenya My great-grandpa Ernest Wise was an engineer who sailed to South Africa towards the end of the…
Socrates on expertise
The governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, raises his growth forecasts and suddenly everyone believes the ‘expert’. So…
Barometer
Match of the knights Emails emerged suggesting David Beckham would rather appreciate a knighthood. How many goals do you have…
Diary
February Fill-Dyke. But north Norfolk is dry, at least in terms of rain. Instead we have coastal flooding. Three years…
A special relationship
From ‘The United States and Britain’, The Spectator, 10 February 1917: It would be easy to write down a hundred…
