Culture

Postcard from Lille, Part 3

26th January 2019 Always Worth Saying 0

After a gap of many decades I’m setting off by train to visit the near continent. Some of my family are coming with me and as a special surprise treat I’ve booked first class seats [more…]

First Class Previously I regularly visited the continent travelling by train, ferry and hovercraft. Subsequently I went via the channel tunnel but before the high speed rail link to St Pancras had been completed. After [more…]

Where have all the Post Offices gone?

13th January 2019 Going Postal 0

According to Touchstone in ‘As You Like It’, the seventh form of lie is “…the lie direct” (Act V, Scene IV): our Politicians do not often use this form – for instance, the late and [more…]

Postcard from Lille, Part 1

12th January 2019 Always Worth Saying 0

In the prologue we recalled a fond age of travelling to the near continent via rail, ferry and hovercraft. This landscape changed with the opening of the Channel Tunnel. At the beginning of Eurotunnel operations, [more…]

The Pillow Book of Sei Shōnagon

8th January 2019 Going Postal 0

I was musing on the small pleasures in life this morning: hot, clean water on a cold day; the scent of flowers that catches you unawares when walking through a dormant winter’s garden; the taste [more…]

‘Injuries to the neck’ and other euphemisms: Is the BBC Brainwashing Britain?

8th January 2019 Going Postal 0

When I announced to friends my intention to write a book entitled ‘BBC: Brainwashing Britain?’ questions came thick and fast: “Brainwashing Britain? The BBC? Why ever would they want to do such a thing? Aren’t [more…]

Wankpuffin of the Year (WOTYs) 2018

5th January 2019 Going Postal 0

Nominations are in: Nominations for Wankpuffin of the Year 2018 18,891 votes have been cast for 144 (aptly gross) wankpuffins by several dozen puffins and one Russian bot (спасибо товарищ). I am pleased that my [more…]

Postcard from Lille, prologue

4th January 2019 Going Postal 0

Previously, underused first class carriages formed an overnight , £5 a seat, train between Glasgow and London. It was called the Nightrider. In those days Scotsman would travel with ghettoblasters and a cardboard tray of [more…]