Rare Breeds

Pig–Hoo-o-o-o-ey Last year in Wiltshire I met a Tamworth. This year at my club Tamworth sausages were on the menu. As you know, the best way to ensure the survival of a rare breed is to eat it.

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Categorised as Local, Nature

Plum Podcasts

Fifty years ago today PG Wodehouse died in hospital in Long Island aged 93. The anniversary will not go unmarked.

The King’s Arms

On 26 May 1954, Queen Elizabeth II approved a new artistic depiction of the Royal Arms, above. Now the King has new, slightly different, Arms, below.

At Jacquemart-André

As you know, Charles Garnier won a competition to design the Opéra de Paris, rightly known today as the Palais Garnier. Henri Parent came second.

My Father’s House

I expected a tense thriller set in Rome in 1943 but I got something much better. You may know the story; I didn’t.

Prenez Garde

When R, like Christopher Robin, kneels by his bed to say his prayers he always includes “Dear Lord, may I never buy an investment trust at a premium”.

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Categorised as Business

Macready’s Club

“The men-only Garrick Club has finally voted to allow women to become members, 193 years after the London institution first opened its doors. The vote was passed with 59.98% of votes in favour at the end of a private meeting where several hundred members spent two hours debating whether to permit women to join .… Continue reading Macready’s Club

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Categorised as Literature

Clarissa

  Pamela (Samuel Richardson, 1740) was a best seller and an early English novel. I have not read it. Nor have I read Shamela, Henry Fielding’s satire on same; he rushed it out in 1741. Both authors have gone out of fashion, fortunately for Hugo Vickers, as a request for Clarissa today is more likely… Continue reading Clarissa