Burke and Hare

Recently I have seen nine one act plays by Noël Coward and Miss Julie by Strindberg at the tiny Jermyn Street Theatre; all excellent. Last night Jermyn Street continued its winning streak.

Dee Time

St Mary the Virgin in Mortlake was built in 1543, replacing a 14th century church closer to the river on the site of what was a 20th century brewery and is 21st century flats.

News from West Cork

The red blob marks the village of Kilbrittain, population 216. I went there more than a decade ago for a birthday party which went on for three inebriated days and nights.

Published
Categorised as History

English Baroque

Butterwick House in Hammersmith was built in the early 1700s by one Edward Ferne who added a wing for his mistress, an actress. 

Who Dunnit?

There’s a lot of comfort in a good old-fashioned detective novel written in the first half of the 20th century. I exclude anything by Agatha Christie – her’s bore me stiff.

Published
Categorised as Literature

Iron Winter

I don’t have much luck with Celebrity Carol Services. Years ago I went to the parliamentary carol service at which, by tradition, the Prime Minister is a reader.

Moldova and Ukraine

Two dates are pencilled in my diary next year. On 24th February Moldova is holding parliamentary elections and on 31st March there is a presidential election in Ukraine.

Published
Categorised as Politics

Death in Rome and Venice

Infant mortality was a fact of life, or rather death, until the twentieth century. It did not discriminate between rich and poor.

Published
Categorised as Family

NFN

Across the road from the site of the Mortlake Tapestry Works is St Mary the Virgin, Mortlake. I finally took a look inside on Monday.

Strawberry Hill Revisited

The concept is that the Lost Treasures of Strawberry Hill have been temporarily returned for a once-in-a-lifetime experience but like the curate’s egg it is only good in parts.