Dumb and dumber
Katie Hopkins did something dreadful this week, which is not unusual, because she craves such things. She retweeted praise —…
The Atomoxetine year
Driving my son’s snake, Todd, a 3ft python wrapped in a pillowcase, to a Brighton vet in August was child’s…
Taught to be stupid
Enough! Enough! For months, the so-called liberal elite has been writing articles, having radio and TV discussions, giving sermons (literally)…
Not cricket
Sport is a serious matter. If you have any doubts on that score, shed them now, because this is to…
Pub quizzes
For more than 20 years now, I have been trudging up the hill to the Prince of Wales in Highgate…
Get ready for a wild ride
Every American president since Harry Truman has arrived in the White House committed to globalism — a belief that America…
Bridge
Simon Gillis’s team has had a very successful year. They won the Gold Cup (for the second time), they joined…
Missed chances
Magnus Carlsen has retained the World Championship but only after Sergei Karjakin, the challenger, missed some glorious opportunities. In game…
no. 438
White to play. This is from Carlsen–Karjakin, New York play-off (Game 4) 2016. What was Carlsen’s stunning move to retain…
Take five
In Competition No. 2979 you were invited to supply your contribution to a series of parodies of Enid Blyton’s Famous…
2291: Seriously?
In ten clues, the wordplay omits one of the letters of the solution. These letters in the grid, read row…
to 2289: I don’t believe it!
The unclued lights are expressions meaning NEVER (3A, 4D+43A, 21D+14D, 37A+1D and 37A+15D). First prize Hilary James, London W5Runners-up David…
Dear Mary
Q. I have bought a second-floor flat which comes with a bow-shaped balcony which overlooks a communal garden. My problem…
Garden variety
Margot is an Italian restaurant on Great Queen Street in the still interesting part of Covent Garden. The uninteresting part…
High life
Gstaad New Year’s Eve was a Rhapsody in Blue, with a clarinet glissando that promised joys to come, and the…
Long life
The past year has been tumultuous, full of upheaval and tragedy, but my chickens have been spared it all. Indeed,…
Low life
On the Monday before Christmas, the black dog came around again and I couldn’t get out of bed. I lay…
Americanisms
Here are eight invasive Americanisms to continue annoying us in 2017. Running for office. Liz Kendall was ‘running for the…
Real life
The most annoying thing about starting a new year is how long it takes for everyone to crank themselves back…
Unimpressed by the Root cause
Those who occupy them sometimes say that the only two jobs that matter in England are Chief of the Defence…
Why meritocrats are the new aristocrats
After Sir Stafford Northcote and Sir Charles Trevelyan completed their report on civil service reform in 1854, in which they…
The turf
The biggest oohs and aahs on the entertainment scene this winter were nothing to do with the ‘He’s behind you…
From Socrates to Osborne
Ex-chancellor George Osborne is planning a book to be titled The Age of Unreason. He says that ‘it will be…
Barometer
Village people The government announced plans for 14 ‘garden villages’. The concept of a garden city or village is attributed…
