Big Bang et cetera

I had a shock on Friday morning. Walking past Knightsbridge barracks I noticed two white vans by the entrance. There were three uniformed soldiers on the pavement and after I had passed I thought of going back to make sure they had checked the vans. Maybe I was over-reacting so I did nothing. At the… Continue reading Big Bang et cetera

Foreign Secretary Thrice

He was in opposition for twenty-three years and under his leadership mass resignations led to his only having twenty-five MPs in his party. While this may be Jeremy Corbyn’s political obituary it actually describes Charles James Fox’s career.

French Revolution

If Marine Le Pen becomes the next French President and she implements her espoused policies, the effect on Europe will be as disasterous as the French Revolution. It seems an unlikely outcome but there have been a few of those recently. In 1792 our politicians were complacent and maybe we are all doing this in… Continue reading French Revolution

Dinner at The Dorchester

James (Jim) Lees-Milne has plenty to say in his diaries about people he meets in the course of his work for the National Trust – often not nice things. Others are charitable about him.

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Categorised as History

Playing My Song

Jason Butler in FT Money last Saturday is playing my song. His article concludes: Market signs are telling UK investors that opportunity remains for diversification into the growing world beyond the borders. I am trying to position myself for a downward correction in equities. Safety plays are bonds, gold and emerging markets. If, like me,… Continue reading Playing My Song

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Categorised as Business

Counter Fodder

My favourite City restaurant in the 1970s was Turner’s Brasserie in Broad Street Station Arcade. If there were more than two of us we sat at a table with a red and white checked tablecloth attended by matronly waitresses.

Let Us Pray

The Royal Hospital Chelsea is an appropriate place to worship on Easter Sunday. The fresco in the apse is Sebastiano Ricci’s The Resurrection.

Seduction by Numbers

A favourite teenage goddaughter gave me an unusual but practical birthday present – a seduction kit, the three components of which are gratifyingly high end.

Avenue

The Spectator, 17th November 1923, reports:

St Paul’s

At the end of March 2012, I went with my cousin to St Paul’s Cathedral for a service to mark the centenary of Scott’s doomed expedition to the South Pole.  My cousin is of an adventurous disposition and had been in Antarctica, qualifying him for two tickets to the service.