Boots

“It was a lonely land then, the vast frontier held by the last scattered remnants of the once great armies that fought the Civil War. To such as these, all but forgotten, doing a dirty, thankless job, without reward or glory, the army was a way of life, the only one they knew or wanted.”

Opera

Three evenings at the opera last week and I didn’t see a single complete opera.

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Categorised as Music

Thelma

Thelma Cazalet-Keir (1899 – !989) was a Conservative politician and feminist, serving on the London County Council and as a Member of Parliament. She was also, amongst much else, a member of the Arts Council and a Governor of the BBC.

Where to Invest?

A friend has a relatively small amount of money to invest and has asked my advice. He already has a much larger conservatively invested portfolio and would like to diversify. He is after capital growth and not worried about income. 

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Categorised as Business

PLA

Ten Trinity Square was built around the time of WWI as the headquarters of the recently established (1908) Port of London Authority (PLA). Today it is a luxury hotel and I thought that London now is insignificant as a port but, as so often, I am wrong.

Family History

I am a descendant of Sir John Bellew of Castle Roche, Co Louth. There is more than one interpretation of his ancestors.

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.