Yet again an opponent of Israel’s repressive policies – indefensible to a growing number of once staunch defenders – is castigated as ‘antisemitic’. Now it’s the turn of Malia Bouattia, daughter of Algerian refugees and newly elected President of the … Read More »
… the impossible, the outrageously and stratospherically talented Artist Known as Prince has died this day. Sometimes it snows in April. I just heard someone on the radio offer that “he played guitar as well as Hendrix, wrote songs as … Read More »
So Obama is to weigh in against Brexit. I’m glad. Not because I’m anti Brexit – though I am, just* – but because at last we’re beginning to notice the elephant in the room. Tory and Labour Eurosceptics are different … Read More »
Guy Lombardo was first in with this Sigman & Magidson song in 1949, but it was too good not to be followed by others: Doris Day and Bing, for instance, and much later The Specials. For life affirmative chutzpah, though, … Read More »
Brilliant weekend with old and very dear friends near Aberystwyth … [wds id=”34″]
Guardian today: In many respects, Britain’s anti-money laundering regulations are tough, but … as Imran Khan, a leading criminal and human rights solicitor, says: “These rules were originally drawn up to deal with drug money, and most cases that reach … Read More »
Like Dalat and for similar reasons Hoi An defies easy summary. It has its brash, kitsch and rip-off aspects but also a warmth never far from the surface, together with a kaleidoscopic abundance of contrasting ambience, culture and rhythm. I … Read More »
To the beautiful people of Danang after an afternoon on its streets, in a fish market and at a wonderful cafe where the young woman running things made me coffees between delivering a master class in checquers. [wds id=”28″]
The old woman watering her kitchen garden smiles through blackened teeth. I know about that. In India you see similar, though there it’s not black but blood-red. That’s from pan, the areca nut paste served on betel leaves by a … Read More »
A kilometre from bustling and hustling Hoi An is Can Kim Island, as different as Cambridgeshire fens from Cambridge Town. Two years ago you had to go by boat but could bring a bike to tootle on sleepy lane, dirt track and … Read More »