I relish short cuts. I’m not just talking about turning right onto Blindman’s Lane to avoid the FiveWays junction. I’m talking about...

We know the damage they do - but what possible difference could I make? That’s the problem. “The number of single-use plastic bags...

Under the cover of darkness an elite group from the Special Boat Service – including my uncle Ken – was inserted onto the French coast...

I am supremely googleable – yes, that’s a real word, in English and in Russian. With a name like mine I have to live with the knowledge...

This has to the most perceptive joke ever about the Christian life. Probably you will already know it – but for those who haven’t, here...

I was sitting with Alan Saunders on the back seat of his parents’ Ford Zodiac driving up Brooke Road West. Suddenly his mother swivelled...

It’s essentially the Samson approach to negotiations. Simply threaten to bring down the whole edifice down – even it comes down on you...

“There are no road signs in English. Everything is in French. It’s really not practical.” So sadly concluded Xiao Liu from Beijing, on...

It’s Friday morning 7.30 am, and so time for my blog. But I am typing this using an alien operating system on an unfamiliar laptop. ...

Sepp Blatter. Does this man have any shame? How can he say “We cannot allow the shame to go on any longer . . . so I’ll stay.” ...

Yesterday afternoon I returned my hire car in good time – which is a story in itself. We had done a fair mileage over our seven day...

In a few minutes to the Ministry Centre, there to vote. Then the plan is to leave the country. On my return, one week later, I trust...

“The worst is not, so long as we can say, "This is the worst.” (Act IV, scene 1). Culture last night – King Lear at the Playhouse, as...

I have every sympathy with Lucas Hinch, of Colorado Springs, who as reported in this morning’s BBC News page, took his pc into his back...

Fifty-seven of the 650 members of the recently dissolved House of Commons are related to current or former MPs. I learnt this...

“My mantra is: put your brain into gear and if you can add to what's on the screen then do it, otherwise shut up.” This morning we woke...

A dark and dismal morning. It seems that Good Friday is once again failing in its main function as a Bank Holiday in giving us four clear...

On today’s to-do list: buy some champagne (or some cheap substitute). The reason? Tomorrow morning we celebrate the first birthday of...

A lovely morning for an eclipse! In a couple of hours from now, from 8.45 am we have the perfect weather for this astronomical event...

“The End.” So the Daily Mirror leads today’s front page as “best-selling author Terry Pratchett tweets the story of his dying moments.” ...