Tumbril Talk – Part One

Six political parties in the UK are led by women (pedantically five 1/2); none so far as I know in the US. However, there have been women who have carried considerable influence in American politics and none more so than Alice Roosevelt Longworth.

The Beaufort Portcullis

As the Palace of Westminster is likely to close for a substantial refurb it is a good moment at look back at its origins and Caroline Shenton has done just that in The Day Parliament Burned Down and Mr Barry’s War.

Under Par

To play a round of golf below par is one thing but to feel below par is another and it is the latter that has dried up my creative juices today. With a bit of luck I will feel better tomorrow. I did want to tell you about Tumbril Talk but my heart isn’t in… Continue reading Under Par

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Categorised as Psychology

In Vogue

You wait ages for a fashion documentary and then two come along. Valentino: The Last Emperor came out in 2008 and the following year The September Issue; both cracking good films.

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Categorised as Fashion

Moor about LAMDA

The new theatre and rehearsal rooms at LAMDA are still a work in progress. For big productions they hire theatres around London and for smaller shows use their existing studio theatre that seats about seventy-five.

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Categorised as Theatre

Design Deficit

Last time Quinlan Terry cropped up here (Palladio in the Park) I called him Terry Quinlan until a better informed reader in Dublin put me right. (Thank you, Margaret.) As far as I can remember he got quite a good write-up from me for his Palladian villas in Regent’s Park. Today he is going to… Continue reading Design Deficit

Our Dumb Chums

I have been reflecting on the largish number of PG Wodehouse stories that feature animals and birds. Cats, dogs, pigs, parrots, canaries fairly throng the pages and I wondered if this might be an angle worth exploring.

Schweppes Switch

There is so much to get irritated about that it’s a wonder I have time for anything else. The latest annoyance is the repackaging of tonic water and soda water into similar looking black cans. Inadvertently pouring a gin and soda is jolly cross-making, although disaster can be averted by lacing it with lime cordial.