Category Archives: This sceptred isle

Being someone whose knowledge of classical music is derived from clips played in episodes of Morse, from compact disc compilations given free with newspapers, and from television theme tunes, there are not many pieces of music that I recognize, but … Continue reading →

Once, I nearly bought his book.  A paperback edition, it was not unduly expensive. Flicking through the pages, though, it seemed very dry and very precise prose. It didn’t capture the imagination of a young undergraduate and was put back … Continue reading →

6th February 1952- 8th September 2022. More than seventy years, how did the late Queen put up with it for seventy years? Some fifteen years ago, I had the privilege of spending ten days at Saint George’s House within the … Continue reading →

Miss Tucker was recalled in conversation with an old school friend yesterday. I used to hold Miss Tucker indirectly responsible for the loss of my first copy of The Lord of the Rings. It was at Christmas 1974 that I … Continue reading →

My sister is sat working out which vegetables she will plant for the winter. Beds are now becoming clear and the prospect of rain next week brings an opportunity to sow root vegetables for winter harvest. Having been in Somerset … Continue reading →