Biography
A Different Class of Murder, by Laura Thompson
We Brits love a mystery, and they don’t come much more mysterious than Lord Lucan. There are lots of books out there about the Lucan case – those of us who were around then will [more…]
How Puffins Are Made
This post was inspired by Tiredofeulies, who lamented the fact (and it is a fact) that the younger generation seem so entirely unable to understand any concern the older generation might have for the direction [more…]
Confessions of a Legitimate Bastard
Some of you will be expecting this article to be based around instructions on how to be an absolute, grade 1, greasy shit. Looking at the state of the UK over past few decades, there [more…]
So Farewell then John Simon Berkowitz
In the foreplay preceding the election of the new Speaker I had a conversation with a friend regarding the significance and power of this position. He was of the opinion that this was a token [more…]
The Erdington Chapter
‘Brothir, seyede Sir Launcelot, wyte you well I am full loth to departe out of thys reyllme, but that the Quene hath defended me so hyghly that mesemmeth she wyll nevir be my gode ladye [more…]
Meet Markos Vamvakaris (“Mark Cotton”) – Patriarch of Rebetiko
Some things are not quite what they seem: hardly an earth-shattering perception, but you have to start somewhere. I imagine that a fair number of GPers have spent a holiday in Greece. I dare say [more…]
Temporary Jobs
I was saddened to learn that Richard Williams has died. He was the Richard Williams of Cartoons. Proper real cartoons with animators drawing the sequences on celluloid just like the Disney bods did back in [more…]
Bax of Delights
There have been quite a few occasions when one wished one was a fly on the wall to listen in on a conversation. The private discussion between Sir Arnold Bax, Master of the King’s Musick, [more…]