Monthly Archives: August 2013

The Storm Drain

Posted on August 31, 2013 by

I’m one of those people who can remember where he was when President John F Kennedy was shot. And every 10 years or so I get interested in the disputes that surround the event. Last time I got interested, about … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 38 Comments

A Refreshing Change

Posted on August 30, 2013 by

Every letter or email I’ve ever sent to any MP about smoking bans has always brought an indifferent, rote response. So it was a delight to get an email today from my West Midlands MEP, Nikki Sinclaire: Thank you for … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 18 Comments

TobakkoNacht

Posted on August 29, 2013 by

My copy of Michael McFadden’s Tobakkobacht arrived today. I haven’t read it yet. But I read the author’s preface, and in my view for that alone the book is worth every penny I paid for it. Because he writes: …what … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 68 Comments

Gazing

Posted on August 28, 2013 by

I sat out in my favourite pub garden today. It’s a walled garden, with the walls heavy with ivy and roses. Earlier this year it was a sea of daisies. And on sunny days like today, I sit out on … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 13 Comments

Loss of Trust

Posted on August 27, 2013 by

I was writing about the death of cultural institutions last night. And today I came across something that UK Chief Rabbi Sacks had said of the breakdown of institutions: “And then you ask why they have broken down and you … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 21 Comments

Slow Motion Coup d’Etat

Posted on August 26, 2013 by

The way I see things these days, more or less the entire British political class – Labour, Lib Dem, and Conservative – have signed up to the EU ‘project’ in a way that the British people have not. And they … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 20 Comments

The Disintegrating Demos

Posted on August 25, 2013 by

I must say that I gaze on events in Syria and Egypt (and elsewhere) with something like dumb incomprehension. Some people say that Islam is incompatible with democracy. But an article by Dan Hannan offers a simpler explanation. No, there … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 36 Comments