Arts
Where have all the Post Offices gone?
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…]
Culture
Arts
Postcard from Lille, Part 1
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…]
Arts
The Pillow Book of Sei Shōnagon
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…]
Arts
‘Injuries to the neck’ and other euphemisms: Is the BBC Brainwashing Britain?
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…]
Arts
Wankpuffin of the Year (WOTYs) 2018
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…]
Arts
Postcard from Lille, prologue
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…]
Arts
Going Postal New Year’s Eve
© EJ 2018
Arts
Nominations for Wankpuffin of the Year 2018
As Alistair Campbell once famously said, I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of, in [more…]
Arts
Æthelberht’s RFA Christmas
I know there’s plenty of former Pusser types on GP, and even a few who have sailed under the red duster. They’ll all be familiar with the Christmas routines for their respective outfits. I thought [more…]