King of the NCP

Lately I have been enjoying the extensive press coverage of the discovery of a spindly Yorkist child-slayer stuck under a car park in the Midlands. Mary Beard may well have…

Helpful instructions

One of my mum’s hobbies is quilting, for which she uses a pen with ink that disappears over the course of a day or so. As if having a hobby…

My top five everyday gadgets

I’ve never been one of those fellows who are romanced by gadgets. As far as I am concerned, they mainly fall into four categories. Things which make a simple task easier, but…

Temperance for the modern man

My main challenge of this month has been that abominable test of willpower known as the dry January. This is my twenty-third day off the sauce, and I can say…

The best of intentions

I never understand why everyone is so disparaging about New Year’s resolutions. Of course the gyms will not stay as busy as they are this month, and the joggers thronging…

For the price of a stamp

One of my jobs every Christmas, inherited from my dad, is to take a big lump of Blu-Tack and spend several hours sticking a hundred or so Christmas cards to…

A pint pot of short-term cheer

Last night I met my old mate Jon for a couple too many pints at the Real Ale Taproom. In case you haven’t heard about it, it’s a pop-up bar…

Jamon iberico y manchego

I love the global era in which we live, though its benefits can sometimes be drawbacks too. While it is rather fine that less than 24 hours can elapse between drifting through a…

Mr Whippy

This morning, as I sat sleepily in the cold kitchen sipping on bitter Nespresso, a news story came on the radio about this ice cream van mafia attack. My maternal…

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