Month: February 2026

This and That

When a country has an elite school it is always described as the Eton of (insert country). In the FTWeekend today Aitchison College is “Pakistan’s answer to Eton”. Is there a Harrow of Pakistan, or anywhere else? But I digress.

The River Cafe

When I was a waiter at Mullaghfin (Co Meath) in my university holidays I may have had some sort of gauche charm but I entirely lacked professionalism.

The Scarlet Letter

“Preface to the Second Edition. Much to the author’s surprise, and (if he may say so without additional offence) considerably to his amusement, he finds that his sketch of official life, introductory to The Scarlet Letter, has created an unprecedented excitement in the respectable community immediately around him. It could hardly have been more violent,… Continue reading The Scarlet Letter

Published
Categorised as Literature

The Devonshire

I thought I was going to write about the stock market but knew few would want to read so didn’t bother and went out to lunch.

Gwendwr Gardens

This is a pre World War II map showing part of West Kensington, north of Talgarth Road and west of North End Road.

Meet the Saint

Meet the Tiger (1928) is the first book Leslie Charteris wrote about Simon Templar, aka The Saint. I have the lot on a top shelf and sometimes read one.

Published
Categorised as Literature

Estonian Voices

The Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir is a professional choir based in Estonia, founded in 1981.

Published
Categorised as Music

Flying Boats

When Barnes Wallis and Nevil Norway (aka Nevil Shute) were tinkering with designs for passenger airships at Vickers, Short Brothers had another vision for inter-continental travel.

On the Beach

You don’t have to have read Howards End to know its epitaph: “Only connect”. Only one other book has a similarly well known inscription; On the Beach.