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My art week

Yesterday I went to the home of my art tutor for lunch. Although we have a common interest in art conversation with her and her husband, a jazz drummer who has played with many of the greats, is wide ranging. She likes to talk of high-end dining, travel and her family and always comes up with some [...]

September 11, 2021 // 0 Comments

Yet more plans adrift

For the second day of my friends’ visit I had decided to take them to Devil’s Dyke, a local beauty spot which John Constable painted and described as the grandest view on earth. It has commanding views over Sussex and beyond. Sadly there was a sea fret which created a pea souper that meant one [...]

September 10, 2021 // 0 Comments

And here (possibly) is one he made earlier

Most Rusters will be at least aware of the infamous Salvador Mundi, the subject of one of the art world’s all time greatest controversies, which – if legend is to be believed –  currently resides upon a massive super yacht owned by the crown prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin [...]

September 10, 2021 // 0 Comments

The upsurge in chess

There has been an upsurge in chess for 2 reasons; the success of the Netflix series The Queen’s Gambit and more playing on chess sites like chess.com on the internet during the pandemic. A few years ago I played in the RAC chess club and on our board one courteous banker launched, as a whim and [...]

September 8, 2021 // 0 Comments

Cathy Come Home

As I have been comparing unfavourably contemporary TV drama to that of the past I thought I should revisit Cathy Come Home which I have now re-seen. It started life as a Wednesday Play produced by Tony Garnett and directed by Ken Loach, the writer was Jeremy Sandford, husband of novelist Nell [...]

September 7, 2021 // 0 Comments

Leg over… 30 years on

Can it really be 30 years ago that Brian Johnston and Jonathan Agnew ‘lost it’ on air in a fit of giggles after the description of Ian Botham losing his wicket as ‘he could not quite get his leg over’? Well it was and one of the most famous events in broadcasting was celebrated in the [...]

September 6, 2021 // 0 Comments

Thoughts on the 3rd Test

It’s been an absorbing Test of ebb and flow even if the cricket has not always been of the highest standard. Going into the 4th day India is on top looking to set a commanding lead whilst leaving enough time to bowl England out. The find of the summer has been speedster Ollie Robinson. At six [...]

September 5, 2021 // 0 Comments

Slipping off the pace (but not necessarily quietly!) …

My latest dispatch from the front line of the battle between “how thing used to be” (sensible, straightforward, logical and – albeit not perhaps not necessarily fair – at least always transparent and understandable) and the complete illogicality as to how the world works in the 21st [...]

September 5, 2021 // 0 Comments

All’s well that drains well

Last week water was settling in my kitchen sink without draining. My handyman Bert was recalled from the Western Front of my beach hut refurb and, upon dismantling a pipe below the sink, removed the remains of the ground coffee that was causing the blockage. I thought this had done the trick but [...]

September 5, 2021 // 0 Comments

A la Colthard/Imperial Treasure

When I was first invited to Imperial Treasure by a bon viveur in the advertising world he said the restaurant raised Chinese cuisine to a wholly new level. He could have been talking of the prices but for both he is correct. The chain, started in China, acquired Michelin stars and perhaps [...]

September 3, 2021 // 0 Comments

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