Making Your Mind Up

“I’ve changed my mind” said Nigel Farage, deciding after all to stand for parliament in the general election; he had seven defeats behind him so must have taken a few soundings in Clacton.

Published
Categorised as Politics

Investing is Dull

You may remember that in early April this year I added to my holding in RIT (Rothschild Investment Trust) to top up my ISA.

Published
Categorised as Business

Black Locust

Chiswick House is set in 65 acres of gardens created by Wiliam Kent in the first half of the 18th century.

Published
Categorised as Nature

My Faithful Friend

Vecchia Zimarra is an aria in Act IV of La bohème in which Colline (bass) sings farewell to his old coat. He is going to sell it to buy medicine for the dying Mimi.

Food for Thought

“This is a surreal and dark book, with moments of black humour” (Julias-books.com)

Published
Categorised as Literature

Television

Where have all the satellite dishes gone? They were a reliable guide to the socio-economic status of the householder.

Agent Zo

I have noticed a new genre of biography and it is very much to my liking as a generalist.

Gems

You will be familiar with the long term penetration of the British security services by Soviet agents; Maclean, Burgess, Philby, Blunt etc.