Brief Encounter

Alessandro Cicognini’s name is not familiar outside Italy. He was, he died aged 89 in 1995, a prolific composer of music for Italian films – more than a hundred. David Lean’s name is definitely familiar.

Gap Year

In late September 1972 I arrived by train at Rheims. It was the beginning of an eventful gap year.

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Categorised as Travel

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?

Habakkuk

There are only two K tiles in a Scrabble set so, besides being a name, it would not be possible unless in conjunction with a Blank. Cast your mind back to circa 600 BC and you will find the prophet Habakkuk railing against God’s injustice.

The King’s Choice

The King’s Choice is a misleading film title for an English speaking audience – it is not about the Duke of Windsor. The king, as portrayed in the film, bears a remarkably close resemblance to Alan Brooke. If he looks less than happy it is because his wife had died in 1938 and his neutral… Continue reading The King’s Choice

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Categorised as History

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?

Democracy Matters

As you probably know, there will be a presidential election in the United States on the first Tuesday after 1st November. Four years ago my friend Ned misread the runes. He’s more than welcome to have another go this year. 

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Categorised as Politics

Royal Reflections

  Yesterday, at the Savile Club, I asked Michael Bloch about the Dukes of Windsor and Sussex. His insights are too interesting to keep to myself and I prevailed upon him to write today’s post; thank you Michael.

The Queen’s Beasts

Sometimes I talk almost complete rubbish and this happened on Saturday at Holland Park. I was talking to somebody who works at Kew Gardens and she feigned interest that the ten Queen’s Beasts outside the Palm House had been designed by my great-uncle to stand outside Westminster Abbey at the Queen’s coronation.

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Categorised as Sculpture

Singing in the Rain

Yesterday evening I went to Opera Holland Park for a concert performance of Sondheim’s A Little Night Music; a return to normality? Not quite.

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Categorised as Music