Month: December 2017

Stand Before Your God

Paul Watkins is ten years younger than me, he was born in 1964. His childhood memoir, Stand Before Your God, was published in 1993 and made a huge impression on me.

Alan Higgs

My  terraced house has been transformed by an Australian friend, Alan Higgs. Fortunately he is an acclaimed architect not a chef as I don’t fancy living in a gingerbread house.

A Bulb Changer

As easy as changing a light bulb is an expression which may once have been valid but most certainly does not apply today.

Tamers

Now I know why I have never seen The Taming of the Shrew – it is another of Will’s “problem plays”.

Published
Categorised as Theatre

The World of Yesterday

I bought The World of Yesterday by Stefan Zweig on the recommendation of an erudite friend. “One of the greatest memoirs of the twentieth century” says David Hare. John Banville adds ” a marvellous recapturing of a Europe that Hitler and his thugs destroyed”.

A White Christmas

The Nat Gall has an exhibition called Monochrome: Painting in Black and White. It’s on until February 18th but I doubt I will see it. Here’s why.

Published
Categorised as Art

Robin Lane Box

Robin Lane Fox’s latest column in FTWeekend is required reading if you live in the UK and cherish your box. RLF gave his son box plants for his garden in west London and in August this year Cydalima perspectalis did not decimate them, it 100%ed them when he was away on holiday with his family… Continue reading Robin Lane Box

Love, Cecil

Love, Cecil is a bio-pic about Cecil Beaton. I have read his diaries from 1965 until his death in 1980 so it covers much familiar ground.

Going Out with a Bang

Nearly ten years ago, on the 18th of December 2007, I shot at Ashcombe in Wiltshire as a guest of my Godson’s father. The birds are some of the most challenging anywhere and I prepared myself by booking a lesson at the West London Shooting School.

Published
Categorised as Sport

Mr Kong – Gone

When I was forty, with apologies to AA Milne, I had a birthday party at Mr Kong in Lisle Street. It was a good evening and two things I will always remember.