Social Anthropology

I read Anthropology (and Psychology and English) at Durham. The origins of Man were hard to get a grip on and defeated me. However, I did enjoy Social Anthropology. It may have inspired trips in later years to the Middle East, Africa and the Caucasus.

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

A new Coen brothers film is usually good news and this time they have turned their hand to a Western for the first time since True Grit in 2010.

Mad as a Wet Hen

Plucky TM PM has been more resilient than I expected. What do you think of the deal that she says is now non-negotiable?

Published
Categorised as Politics

From Alperton to Paddington

How do you first see a city? Arriving at Venice’s Santa Lucia station and stepping out onto broad steps leading down to the Grand Canal is hard to beat. Yesterday I walked to London along the Paddington arm of the Grand Union Canal.

If We Were Villains

ML Rio’s first novel, published last year, has been compared to Donna Tartt’s debut, A Secret History. Not a good omen as I didn’t think Secret History cut the mustard.

investors chronicle

investors chronicle (sic) is a magazine for private investors published by the Financial Times. Each edition has a bewildering array of share tips and this blizzard arrives weekly.

Published
Categorised as Business

Cold Snap

The weather has suddenly got colder. It will be 4 C tomorrow and raining. So I’m having the outside of the house painted.

Published
Categorised as Local

Happy New Year

If you own a Smythson’s Panama diary you don’t count the pennies. Their entry-level model is priced at £35 and if you want a little flap at the back and a cedar pencil …

Published
Categorised as Shopping

The Last Rose of Summer

An old friend died yesterday. We were contemporaries in the Irish Guards and at Durham, so go back a long way.

Castles in the Air

This is the view from the top floor looking north. The futuristic office building on the left is The Ark. To the right, the chocolate and white striped building is a Novotel.