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A memorable day for county cricket

Sadly I could not be present to see Middlesex win their first Championship tittle for 23 years but I followed it avidly on the radio. There will be some criticism of a contrived declaration particularly from the west country. Two points here. The contrived declaration where the two captains cut a [...]

September 24, 2016 // 0 Comments

The Dresser/ Theatre Royal

The Dresser by Sir Ronald Harwood is a play I know well and have seen many times. The playwright, who was the dresser of Sir Donald Wolfit, in a programme note refutes the suggestion that the central character ‘Sir’ was modelled upon the celebrated actor manager. However it is [...]

September 23, 2016 // 0 Comments

National Treasure

Operation Yewtree is always going to be a fertile area for drama and National Treasure succeeds in delivering it. The central role of a superannuated comedian ( Paul Finchley) arrested on rape charge allegedly perpitrated in the 70s is well played by Robbie Coltrane. A strong cast also features [...]

September 22, 2016 // 0 Comments

A grim night at the Amex: Brighton 1 Reading 2 (ELC)

You often read in the manager’s column of a programme that your (fans) support matters although clubs with their high ticket prices and endless sales promotion of merchandise do not do that much to foster it. Last night’s League Cup match v Reading before a crowd of 6000 – in [...]

September 21, 2016 // 0 Comments

Golfing weekend

Once again Jeremy Chapman brought joy to the Pargiter household with another winner, Franceso Molinari at the Italian Open at Monza. He narrowly beat Danny Willett by one stroke and it was good to see the Masters winner in form going into the Ryder Cup. There was no US PGA event this weekend . [...]

September 20, 2016 // 0 Comments

Party time

Around this time of year I give a party for my neighbours and local friends. This started as flat warming three years ago. That  party went well and I thought a late garden summer party after many have returned from their holidays and the weather can be unseasonably warm would work well. Polly [...]

September 19, 2016 // 0 Comments

The Royal London Final

The Royal London Final which I attended yesterday was spoiled by two things: a result that was predictable too early in the game to make it a a contest and an icy chill. Surrey got off to a good start and were 45 without loss when Laurie Evans took a superb one-handed catch to dismiss Jason Roy. [...]

September 18, 2016 // 0 Comments

Bloody Mary/bloody mindedness

Our charming and cheeky waitress Camille finessed the failure of my Bellini and Elodie’s Bloody Mary to arrive together by informing us she is going to the bar for “Ze Bluddie” right away. Over the 24 hours in Paris I would substitute this for bloody mindedness of which we [...]

September 17, 2016 // 0 Comments

Paris

We travelled by Eurostar an experience I found greatly preferable to airplanes. Modern airports are so stressful, you are in the air for less than an hour and still have the journey from the airport to the city centre of Paris.  On the Eurostar the seats are comfy, the carriage service efficient, [...]

September 16, 2016 // 0 Comments

A Tale of Two Cities.

Today I’m travelling to Paris for an antiques fair at the Grand Palais. Such is the state of Southern Fail that whilst logistically feasible to travel from the south to St Pancras International directly by the Capital Connect Line it is too risky to make the journey in one day by walking the [...]

September 15, 2016 // 0 Comments

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