Are you in the Picture?

Here is a family snap I took at Barmeath in 1963. It says a great deal about my skill as a group portrait photographer. I must have been incredibly slow and fiddled with the camera a lot to have elicited such expressions of fierce concentration.

Anyone for Tennis?

  Once a year in June Barons Court is the focus of attention for tennis fans. The Aegon Championships at The Queen’s Club is a week-long tournament – a warm-up on grass courts for Wimbledon, so long as you are male – ladies play next week at Eastbourne.

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Categorised as Sport

An AGM

AGMs, at their best, are a bit like Opening Meets. People who haven’t seen each other since last season reconvene over a sandwich and a glass (or two) of wine. You don’t need to be mounted for either.

War Artist and Poet

Yesterday morning the Queen’s birthday parade assumed especial significance. The Duke of Edinburgh turned ninety-five the day before and it was Her Majesty’s official 90th birthday. The crowds in the Mall were larger than usual. The parade was broadcast by the BBC and their programme included an interview with Captain Alexander Ritchie, Coldstream Guards, whose… Continue reading War Artist and Poet

Upstream

In the oil business “upstream” is the jargon for exploration and production, “downstream” is refining and “midstream” something in the middle, namely transportation. Living near the Thames I use “upstream” more literally.

Blue Plaque

Blue plaque is not something that stains your teeth if you are a Conservative. It is a commemorative plaque put on the outside of a house in London that has been lived in by someone distinguished.

Tam-Tam Time

Tuesday evening was the first night of Opera Holland Park’s season. They put on Iris, a rarely performed opera by Pietro Mascagni – who is better known for Cavalleria Rusticana.

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Categorised as Music

Travelling Back in Time

  The London tube map no longer has Heathrow Terminal 1. I was surprised as I’d forgotten that it closed last June. From 1968 – 1972 I used it at least six times a year, so remember it pretty well in its early days; it opened in 1968.

Christopher’s Diary

I thought you might like to catch up on what I’ve been up to. If not, you’d better come back tomorrow.

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Categorised as Music

Boxcars

Boxcars is the (American) slang for throwing double sixes in a game of craps or backgammon. For those of us outside the United States a boxcar is a railway freight wagon and apparently the six pattern looks like one – no, I don’t think so either.

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Categorised as Business