Month: March 2025

Le Prix Goncourt

Should the President of France die in office, the head of the Académie Française is 24th in line to succeed. Something I discovered ten years ago.

A Man of Letters

    A niece told me yesterday her son’s hand writing is impossible to read. He disagrees saying that only one of his five teachers have complained (so far, in my opinion).

Published
Categorised as Literature

Crab Apple

I lodged next door for a year in 1976 but I cannot remember if it was there. It was certainly there when I bought this house in 1984, 41 years ago.

Is There Anybody There?

“Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore—  While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. “’Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door— Only this and… Continue reading Is There Anybody There?

Published
Categorised as Literature

The Price of Fame

As a psychologist I find it of interest that Clementine Churchill, wife of Winston, and Clarissa, wife of Anthony, both had problematic paternities. In those days of country house parties and before contraception there was a lot of corridor creeping.

On the House

It has been widely reported that ninety-two hereditary members of the House of Lords will, probably this year, lose their seats because it’s not fair that members of the lucky sperm club get to swank around in ermine and coronets. They are red (blue?) meat thrown to the left wing of the Labour Party.

Published
Categorised as Politics

Where Beagles Dare

The cinema across the bridge in Windsor was out of bounds making it a particularly desirable destination. The usherette knew the drill. I sat in the front row beside the emergency exit and if a beak or member of Pop arrived she’d come forward and I’d bale out.

Unroofed

In the 19th century when Barmeath was crenelated and castellated for ornamentation, a wing was added with rooms for servants, a kitchen, chapel, store rooms etc. There were cellars below. When I was a child it was called The Old Nurseries so I suppose children lived there too.