On Dangerous Ground

I am skating on thin ice or walking on dangerous ground most days, pontificating on a wide range of matters of which I am largely ignorant. If I could remember even half the material I have read over the past nine years to bone up on blogs I would have an enviable all round education.

Japanese Gardens

The Kyoto Garden in Holland Park was opened in 1991 to commemorate friendly relations between the UK and Japan that have burgeoned after the Second World War. It is one of about eight Japanese gardens in the UK today.

A Man of Letters

Nine years ago, when I started writing here, I had an idea it might lead to writing in newspapers and magazines; perhaps a regular column.

A KGB Vassal

Yesterday Greville Wynne was caught by the KGB stealing Soviet nuclear secrets. I suppose the KGB received a tip off from the Cambridge spies.

The Courier

I wonder how many spies die in their beds, old and contented, surrounded by their children and grandchildren? We will never know because we only hear about the spies who were caught.

Two Secret Lives

It is April 1967 and Tony Scotland is working for ABC (in those days the Australian Broadcasting Commission) in Hobart, Tasmania.

Katyn Memorial

It never crossed my mind until this week but there are very few, if any, big cemeteries in central London. There is no space. Accordingly, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea bought 8.9 hectares at Gunnersbury in Hounslow in 1925. It was on the SE corner of Gunnersbury Park, owned then by the Rothschilds.