Irritants #1: John Bratby
Here’s fun! See if you can identify these famous people who sat for the painter John Bratby: Starting with the easy one in the top left-hand corner and working across and down to the bottom right I’ve placed known and unknown subjects alternately, with the solutions to the known ones at the foot of the…
More Jottings
Arachibutyrophobia is the fear of getting peanut butter stuck to the roof of your mouth. Babies: It’s said that every new-born baby looks like Winston Churchill, and recent arrivals tend to prove that this is indeed so. Luckily most of them soon grow out of it. Banzai! I wrote a light-hearted bit about Japan in…
Family matters
Back in London, I’m in the back of the taxi taking me to the hospital — nothing serious, just a check-up — and the driver, with whom I normally exchange a couple of pleasantries about the weather or the traffic before we both fall silent decides that today he’s going to tell me his life…
Who was Betty? [updated]
The original version of this piece was one of the first things I posted on this blog when I launched it two years ago. It didn’t attract much attention at the time, which was hardly surprising as I’ve done virtually nothing to promote the blog, but one never knows who might find it and read…
A Bit of a Catch-Up
After spending most of the summer in Broadstone I’m now back London. My return was delayed by the petrol shortages which are already seeming like a distant memory but which were very frustrating for motorists only a month ago. Broadstone was no bad place to be stranded but I was missing my COVID and flu…
Lang
Langdon Jones died a few days ago. Michael Moorcock writes: “One of my closest, longest and best friendships was with Lang Jones, a talented composer, editor and writer, one of the most modest people I have ever known, with the sweetest nature of almost any human being I’ve met. He was Assistant Editor of New…
More Vegetables of the Rich and Famous
with some friends and family too A further selection from my forthcoming magnum opus, which is coming along nicely. A few non-famous people (signalled like this ❃] are now getting in on the act, with my blessing and indeed encouragement. Do send me any particularly good vegetable recipes of your own. It’s good to share.…
Jottings, incorporating Words 2
As an inveterate reader with very eclectic tastes I often come across odd scraps of information and things that simply please me or interest me in one way or another, and sometimes I remember to note them down as well as odd things I’ve noticed in real life. Here’s a fairly random selection. Advice: Never…
Vegetables of the Rich and Famous
Being extracts from my forthcoming masterwork in 12 de luxe volumes coming next year from Stroud & Greene, publishers of fine works for the gentry. BEN AFFLECK: Carrots. This recipe for pan-seared carrots with maple and thyme comes from Makini Howell of Plum Bistro in Seattle who says that it’s a great favorite of Ben…
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