Interestingly, I have recently been reading a collection of Eric Newby's writing ('Departures and Arrivals'). His views on Sicily from 30-odd years ago(?) were similarly equivocal. My … (View Post)

You must be in your 40s by now? To have got this far without any grey seems fortunate indeed. At least, you can console yourself (in the light of the Grant Shapps conversation) that you still have ha… (View Post)

I am, as some posters may have picked up, no great enthusiast for the Labour Party. But I think Burnham has done an excellent job as mayor of GM. I must admit, I was pretty wary of him when he came i… (View Post)

Football is institutionally stupid. They spend years utterly refusing to countenance technological assistance while rugby, cricket, tennis etc introduce it quite effectively and without fuss - then s… (View Post)

But that's just a diplomatic nicety, surely? Surely the rest of us recognise that Taiwan is an independent democratic state being bullied by its massive neighbour? (View Post)