Month: April 2019

Brain Stimulation

Well here I am in Hammersmith Hospital having my brain stimulated, or perhaps not, as it’s a double-blind study.

Oliver Goldsmith

It was a good Grand National for Ireland. The winner, Tiger Roll, is trained at Summerhill in Co Meath on my sister’s doorstep. Another Irish horse came second at 66/1, Magic of Light, trained by Jessica Harrington, my brother-in-law’s sister. Ireland has always punched above its weight and not just on the turf.

Walk the Walk

Michael Kidson’s gait is only too imitable; drop the right shoulder, stride purposefully, swing right arm vigorously.

International Driving Permit

I have happy memories of skiing holidays in the 1970s. The pattern was to load up a VW Golf and leave London after work on Friday evening to catch a channel ferry.

Published
Categorised as Travel

We’ll Go No More A-Roving

The Jolly Beggar was first published in a collection of old Scots songs in 1776. It’s not long so let’s read it.

Knockfane

A Homan Potterton is as reliable as the eponymous boiler so I have no hesitation in recommending Knockfane, Homan’s first novel, although I’ve not read it yet. Hitherto he has published two acclaimed Memoirs.

Published
Categorised as Literature

Conversations

On an Election Observation Mission there are opportunities to chat, not always about election methodology. A UK observer told me that he had been Master and huntsman of the Pimpernel beagles and jolly smart he must have looked in his uniform: green coat, old gold collar, green stockings and black cap.

Observations

There was a distinct end of term feeling yesterday morning as we loaded our trunks on the coach taking us to the airport. I was looking forward to getting home but I will be back soon for Round Two of the Presidential Election.

Published
Categorised as Travel

The Birthday Paradox

“In a room of just 23 people there’s a 50-50 chance of at least two people having the same birthday. In a room of 75 there’s a 99.9% chance of at least two people matching.“ This is the Birthday Paradox.

Preliminary Report

Volodymyr Zelensky, who plays a fictional president in a popular TV show, secured 30.4 percent of the vote on Sunday, early results showed. Petro Poroshenko, a billionaire magnate and Ukraine’s current leader, received 17.8 percent. In a country on the frontline of the West’s standoff with Russia, the electorate has rallied behind an anti-establishment figure… Continue reading Preliminary Report

Published
Categorised as Politics