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

Trouble in Haiti

A comment yesterday drawing attention to the exoticism of the coats of arms of many African countries reminds me of an esoteric volume held by The College Of Arms.

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Categorised as Art, History

White Lion

Forty years ago every second hand bookshop was stuffed with copies of Osbert Sitwell’s four volume autobiography; handsome, salmon hardbacks with sun-faded spines published by Macmillan. They were not expensive then, nor are they now.

Wrest in Peace

Wrest Park belonged to the de Grey family until it was sold in 1917. They were made Earls of Kent in the reign of Edward IV and then the 12th Earl was created Duke of Kent in 1710. Confusingly he was also Lord Lucas. However, there was no heir to the Dukedom and Wrest was… Continue reading Wrest in Peace