Something Fishy

By the end of this year more salmon will be sold than tuna in the UK. I read this in a newspaper, so it must be true.

When I Was Five

“A house in Kensington and £2,000 a year.” Sounds a bit like some thing from the pen of Muriel Spark, doesn’t it? Well, you’d have to sell the house these days. When I started in the City I never aspired to a residence in Kensington but I thought that I could jog along on £4,000… Continue reading When I Was Five

Alms for Oblivion

This is the SOE Memorial on the south side of the Thames outside Lambeth Palace. It was unveiled in 2009 and the bust is of Violette Szabo. Last Sunday I attended a ceremony at which representatives from Norway, Serbia and our own armed services laid wreaths around the memorial. A contingent of cadets from the… Continue reading Alms for Oblivion

Published
Categorised as Literature

Lest We Forget

There were no poppies on sale in the Irish Republic in my childhood. The same ones were brought out each year, like Christmas tree decorations. They had wire stalks and a small black button in the centre with Haig Fund written on it.

Strolling About on the Roof of the World

Strolling About on the Roof of the World ( Strollers, to its friends) is the title of a book published in 2001 to mark the first hundred years of what is now The Royal Society For Asian Affairs. They have another centenary to mark this year.

What A Waste

Here is Sam Mendes with the cast of Sceptre. The rating 12A for a film means that it is suitable for children aged 12 and over. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Recent James Bond films have all been given this classification and need it commercially to the extent that the director… Continue reading What A Waste

Blog Fatigue

Even a Duracell Bunny blogger’s batteries run flat and after more than 100 daily posts I am taking a breather. Posts will resume soon. If you register your e mail address in the field at the top of this page you will get an e mail when there’s a new post. When I was posting… Continue reading Blog Fatigue

Published
Categorised as Psychology

Trick Or Treat?

Our Umbrian farmhouse had apparently lovely bowls of autumnal fare including squashes, gourds and pumpkins. Sarah painstakingly prepared them, doing a lot of peeling and de-seeding. Unfortunately there was an ornamental pumpkin in the display. Have you ever eaten a gordo ornamentale?