Month: February 2026

EU Rules OK

Two years ago I was on Malta, population about 500,000, and more recently Estonia, population 1.3 million.

Published
Categorised as Politics

Let’s Get Metaphysical

“That’s a super-good idea” used to be an expression I used and sometimes still do but the world has moved on and now it’s not even cool to say cool or super-cool; mega-cool might cut it.

Published
Categorised as Poetry

Furnivall Gardens

On the north bank of the river, south of the A4, aka The Great West Road, lies Furnivall Gardens. You may think of it as being between The Rutland Arms and The Dove.

Vanilla Ninja

Yesterday was unusual. It was almost the first dry, sunny day in London this year. It was the second time I have used real money this year.

Peace in the Park

I am not sure I know what county lines means. Probably after a fashionable dinner in north London, when the nose candy appears, people ask for just a Rutland unless they are really up for it and might like a Yorkshire.

Published
Categorised as Religion

Vile Bodies

Vile Bodies (1930) was, as Waugh says, “a totally unplanned novel.”

Published
Categorised as Literature

Osip Mandelshtam

When emails were at the cutting edge of technology a friend sent his son, at boarding school, the well known mnemonic Willy, Willy, Harry, Stee.

A Spot of Lunch

On Friday I had a perfect luncheon at Bellamy’s – smoked eel mousse sealed with a thin layer of aspic and served with melba toast, filets of Dover sole with mashed potato, and île flottante. I still have my teeth but I really enjoy food that doesn’t need mastication – nursery food for grown-ups, a… Continue reading A Spot of Lunch