Adrian Messenger

When I was at Castle Park one of the more agreeable aspects was watching a film once a week. I sat on a table at the back with a notebook and wrote “reviews” – a pity they are not in my archive. Two films I remember in particular: North West Frontier and The List of… Continue reading Adrian Messenger

In the Dog House

I was in the dog house again on Sunday afternoon. At least that’s where I thought I was until I found that I was in the Bertha DocHouse. And who you may ask is Bertha?

Three Times a Lady

My third Tosca since October: first Rome, then Live from the Met and on Saturday, Covent Garden. Saturday matinees are always popular.

William Huskisson

What went up Judy’s Passage? Lupton’s Tower of course. My first House (JDRMcC) was at one end so I went up Judy’s Passage a lot. These days I go through Milkmaid’s Passage. It links The Green Park with St James’s Place and is a good route to my club.

Wetland

This is a bird’s eye view of the London Wetland Centre. Earlier this year the Lesser Spotted Prime Minister was seen here. She flew back to central London; ornithologists believe that she prefers a dry habitat. You will recall that she was seen in Burberry gathering nesting material as the breeding season commences.

Published
Categorised as Nature

A Must-See Show

If you go to the Mansion House, the Lord Mayor of London’s abode in the City, be sure to take a close look at the Dutch and Flemish 17th century paintings. They are hung a bit too high, “skyed”, but there are so many dos there that I suppose it is a safety-play. The point… Continue reading A Must-See Show

Published
Categorised as Art

Home Front

I took some well-intentioned advice after I bought bird feeders nearly two years ago, namely to buy food by the sackful. Accordingly I bought two paper sacks of bird seed from the RSPB.

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Categorised as Family

Gathering Winter Fuel

Good King Wenceslas looked out on the feast of Stephen, when the snow lay round about, deep and crisp and even. Brightly shone the moon that night, though the frost was cruel, when a poor man came in sight, gathering winter fuel.

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Categorised as Local

Robert Herrick

Aunts Aren’t Gentlemen is PG Wodehouse’s last complete novel, published in 1974, a year before he died aged ninety-three. At an age when his creative juices might be expected to dry up, it is right up to his usual high standard. If you want to know why Bertie Wooster is mistaken for arch-criminal Alpine Joe… Continue reading Robert Herrick

Mary Callery

You have seen this many times at the cinema or, maybe, for real. I have but without noticing it until I was watching La Bohème from the Met in Chelsea on Saturday.