Category Archives for Belles-Lettres
This Side Of Paradise? The Cricket Club Of India
Tweet My tribute to the CCI published in the brochure for the Lords and Commons CC tour of India in 2004-05 When I die, assuming I have any choice in the matter, I would like to spend my afterlife in … Continue reading
Blair speaks!
Tweet From my 2005 play Waiting For Gordo a bleak existential drama of backbench life in the Labour Party. Spoken by my character Placebo Lackey MP, but all passages by Tony Blair I believe – passionately – that it is … Continue reading
John Donne anticipates the UK election results declared on St Lucy’s Day
Tweet ‘Tis the year’s midnight, and it is the day’s, Lucy’s, who scarce seven hours herself unmasks; The sun is spent, and now his flasks Send forth light squibs, no constant rays; The world’s whole sap is sunk; The general … Continue reading
A Modern Marvel
Tweet Where the bespoke Bermudas ride On sated tourists, plumply thigh’d, And Palm Beach suitings come to greet The guaranteed sub-tropic heat, A Margarita’d poolside throng Delivered up this holy song: “How should we render HILTON’s praise Who searched through … Continue reading
A London Romance
Tweet Summer journeys down to Brighton And to other places simply Heighten our cares: We’ll save our fares. In a London maisonette We two could find a raison d’etre, So let’s settle down Right here in town. We’ll build in … Continue reading
A Wodehouse Favourite: Rex Stout
Tweet My tribute to Rex Stout, creator of Nero Wolfe, in current edition of Wooster Sauce, journal of the PG Wodehouse Society “His narrative and dialogue could not be improved, and he passes the supreme test of being re-readable. I … Continue reading
Boris Johnson through the lens of Alexander Pope
Tweet Oh! could I mount on the Maeonian wing, Your arms, your actions, your repose to sing! What seas you traversed, and what fields you fought! Your country’s peace, how oft, how dearly bought! How barb’rous rage subsided at your … Continue reading
You Are The Umpire
Tweet Published in the Cricket Society Journal October 2018 For ten summers from 2007 to 2016 the Observer newspaper carried a popular illustrated feature called “You Are The Umpire.” Its creator was the English and international umpire John Holder. He … Continue reading
Letter in Pedantry Corner, Private Eye No 1452
Tweet “In your previous issue, Nursery Times must have misquoted the Big Bad Wolf when referring to his ‘vulpine activities’ – unless he was cross-dressing as the Fantastic Mr Fox. A wolf’s behaviour is normally lupine. I am not allowed … Continue reading
Screenwriting Blues
Tweet I reach this point in every Screenplay. It arrived this morning in the Lahore Movie. I have pared down the major characters. I have wiped out all the colourful but cluttering minor characters. I have murdered all the little … Continue reading
