My Medication

Earlier this year I thinned out my filing. One disposal, written in my mother’s hand on Barmeath writing paper, listed my childhood vaccinations. Except for blogging purposes, surely I could not need that?

Tomato Catsup

In 1876 Henry Heinz started selling Tomato Catsup – it sold well but the name didn’t catch on. Does anyone make ketchup better than Heinz?

Oat Milk

A few years ago a friend’s son thought the future lay in coconut milk. It didn’t, at least for him. He picked himself up, dusted himself down and started all over again. If I remember I’ll tell you what he’s doing now at the end of this.

Out to Lunch

Keith Waterhouse is very particular about what lunch is not: ‘It is not prawn cocktail, steak and Black Forest gateau with your bank manger.

Temple Bar

Wouldn’t it be grand if Temple Bar is where lawyers go for a slurp but they frequent El Vino instead. May I digress?

The Big Double

“This year’s Punchestown Festival will be remembered for its marvellous attendence and for the glorious week’s weather . People flocked from all over the country, and from abroad, to attend the festivities. The latest fashions were on show and all types of motor car were seen making their way down the Naas Road.”

Woolton Pie

When Margaret Thatcher, as she then was, made Irwin Bellow a Life Peer in 1979 he wanted, unsurprisingly, to be known as Lord Bellow. This was not allowed by the College of Arms which, I suppose, means Garter as he might be mistaken for Lord Bellew.

Lobster Blog

A long time ago I was staying with friends in Cumberland and we were asked out to dinner. Our host and hostess’s home from the outside was more like a manoir than a Cumbrian farmhouse.