The Hills Are Alive …

The Malvern hills are alive with the sound of music. “ … There is music in the air, music all around us, the world is full of it and you simply take as much as you require.” So said Edward Elgar.

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Categorised as Music, Travel

Malvern Hills

Robert and I usually take a few days respite from London life and here we are in the Malvern Hills.

Playing Footsie

I don’t have a big appetite but it’s time that I had a big helping of humble pie. At the beginning of this year I was confident there would be a collapse in the value of equities. FTSE went below 7,000 for a nano-second and I expected a rout. Since then it has been stuck… Continue reading Playing Footsie

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Categorised as Business

Art

This is Mr Darke sees the Light by Stephen Angel. It cost £945 when I saw it in a gallery in Bath in the 1980s, making it one of the most expensive pictures I have bought, so it’s lucky I like it.

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Categorised as Art

Hoof Hearted – Guest Blogger

Many readers don’t read the comments posted here. Anonymous commentator and poet, Hoof Hearted (like me, he is a postulant of William McGonagall)  was inspired by an old black and white photograph in Stella …

British Empire Trust

I find it reassuring when a company sticks to its original name, no matter how inappropriate it may have become. Carphone Warehouse is an example and British Empire Trust, founded in 1889, another. It was pointed out to me by a friend who took me to lunch at Mon Plaisir in Seven Dials this week.

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Categorised as Business

Stella

Stella no doubt reminds you of Jonathan Swift’s friend whose real name was Esther Johnson. Whether she was more than an old friend, he first met her when she was eight, or his mistress or wife is unclear. She was for sure born in Richmond in 1681 so it was appropriate that I went to… Continue reading Stella

Lost in Caves

When a dozen Thai boys and their football coach were trapped by rising water in a series of caves I heard on the news that they would have to be taught to die.

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Categorised as Literature

Tractors, Tracksuits and a Turtle

The big four-wheel drives used to drop the children at school were known as Chelsea Tractors – I never imagined it was a compliment but it gave somebody an idea as there is a real Chelsea Truck Co.

Divan

Last week Daniel Barenboim and his West-Eastern Divan Orchestra were back at the Proms. How on earth did the orchestra get such a silly name? The Penguin Cafe Orchestra is a silly name too.

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Categorised as Music, Poetry