It is rare to see potted shrimps on a restaurant menu but the sort of clubs I go to invariably have them on their menus. I mean the sort of clubs where one eats in the coffee room, although sometimes it’s the only room where coffee isn’t served.
Government backed “levelling up” has mixed results. That’s my way of saying taxpayers’ money is usually spent as ineffectively in this area as it is for overseas aid.
When using the lavatory in an English country house there are two things of which you may be certain: the seat will be wooden and there will be a faded copy of The English Gentleman by Douglas Sutherland.
Everyone’s at it – I mean making money out of car owners. And why not? If you can afford to run a car you can afford all the FPNs (Fixed Penalty Notices) and car parking charges. So why is parking free in the Royal Parks?
If you see Hello, Dolly! you will leave with an earworm – Hello Dolly. Try saying “hello dolly” in the voice of Leslie Phillips and you will be cured. Well, it worked for me.
Primo Levi’s account of the year (1944/45) he was at Auschwitz was published in Britain in 1947 as If This is a Man. I can say no more – I haven’t read it but it is on order.