The Red Hotel

Let’s get this in proportion. There are 24,413 schools in England, or thereabouts, of which fewer than 150 are closed for a short time because of structural problems relating to a type of concrete that has outlived its safe life.

Brief Encounter

Walking along Barons Court Road with Bertie we were accosted by a bearded man in, I suppose, his 50s.

William Gilberd

The Gilberd School was founded in 1912 as The Junior Technical School and in 1957 changed its name to The Gilberd School when girls were admitted. It moved to a new site in the 1970s.

Otter Hunting

“Twilight over meadow and water, the eve-star shining above the hill, and Old Nog the heron crying kra-a-ark! as his slow dark wings carried him down to the estuary.” (First line, Tarka the Otter, Henry Williamson, 1927)

Do You Know the Way to … ?

“In July 2005 Pope Benedict XVI stated during an impromptu address to priests in Aosta that: “The Pope is not an oracle; he is infallible in very rare situations, as we know.” Pope John XXIII once remarked: “I am only infallible if I speak infallibly but I shall never do that, so I am not… Continue reading Do You Know the Way to … ?

A Classical Education

I prefer to use knives with bone handles at home. Like so many preferences and habits it is because that’s what we did at Barmeath.

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Categorised as Literature

The Chumly Test

I failed the Chumly Test when I came to live in London and mentioned Cad O’Gan Square and continue to fail it, most recently at Kenwood.

Kenwood Revisited

“Lord Mansfield received important guests here, as they admired his books and Robert Adam’s stunning decoration. Adam drew on the architecture of ancient Roman buildings and his own theories about colour to create one of the most innovative late 18th century British interiors.” (Kenwood Guide)

Shopping by Tube

Most people who live in London have walked along the Brompton Road between Harrods and Harvey Nichols; it takes about five minutes if the pavement isn’t too congested.

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Categorised as Art, Shopping