Underpowered Wagner
The ROH's musical account is inadequate and only one performer makes a deep impression. The others don't care about each other
Beauty without consolation
Forget music of triumph over suffering, or Mahler's neurotic pain — here's a Beethoven piece of beauty without consolation
Yuletide joy
So I’m looking at the seasonal TV schedules trying to find something — anything — to watch. Britain and the…
A well-spent 40p
Is it time to scrap the licence fee? That’s a question we’re going to hear more and more about in…
Walk on the wild side
If, like me, you are allergic to pantomime (‘Oh, no you’re not!’; ‘Oh, yes I am!’) then help is at…
High Life
This Christmas our thoughts need to be with our fellow Christians who are being threatened in the Bible lands. No…
Low Life
Christmas shopping in Waterstones, I came across a memory card game called We’re Going on a Bear Hunt. I snatched…
Real Life
A very cross letter arrives from someone who wants to tell me I’m a ‘silly woman’. ‘You are a silly…
Long Life
This is the season of goodwill when one should think about people less fortunate than oneself and wish them better…
Wild Life
Laikipia In the cattle rustlers’ camp, I know as I write this that the warriors are sharpening their blades, staring…
Hennessy Day highlights
You don’t realise how much your pleasures mean until you are denied them. It was wonderful to get back on…
Bridge
Autumn 2013 has been the single worst season of my bridge career. Actually, do I have a bridge career? Doesn’t…
The Christmas Quiz answers
Says who? 1. David Cameron. 2. The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd Justin Welby. 3. Nick Clegg. 4. Prince…
London classics II
This year’s London Classic tournament is still in progress and features Vladimir Kramnik, Viswanathan Anand, reigning British champion Gawain Jones,…
Christmas Issue
White to play. This position is from King-Howell, Staunton Memorial, London 2003. Can you spot White’s fine finish to the…
Dear Santa
In Competition 2827 you were invited to submit a Christmas list, in verse, in the style of the poet of…
Cold Comfort
Five Christmas carols (5, 6, 5, 3 and 4 words respectively) have been re-arranged, and re-titled at 23/38 (4 words),…
To 2140: Essex Man
The hero is Father Brown, appearing in column 3. ‘The Innocence (22) / Wisdom (15) / Secret (6D) / Scandal…
Why it’s tough to be middle class
Politics, like so much of life, could do with a bit more lateral thinking
The hopes and fears of all the years
Decades of boys' Christmas lunches have taken us from aggression to acceptance
One of the best years on record
The Sports Personality of the Year shortlist could easily be twice as long
Winter horrorland
Every possible Christmas, experience, theme, idea, memory or possibility is squelched into a sorry corner of Hyde Park
The fall of France
But at least a run of bad vintages might start to bring some sanity back to the prices
