I just browsed about a bit, looking for the US reaction to Cameron's first visit to the White House. Apart from the amusing way they always refer to him as "Prime Minister Cameron", the focus of their main media outlets seemed as click-chasingly focussed on domestic news stories, as they are almost all over the... Continue Reading →
Twilight’s promise of romantic expression
I went to see Twilight on my own last night - as usual I just wandered past the cinema on my way home, to see if anything was starting soon. I've been so irritated by the whole Twilight thing for a while. People always seem to jump on vampire stories in recessions - maybe it's... Continue Reading →
It’s hot, apparently
The biggest topic in the news this week has been the heat in London. This morning the TV was full of warnings to stay inside if possible because it was going to be "over 30". I met an Australian acquaintance outside HSBC for a 12 noon run through Canary Wharf in the blazing sunshine, and... Continue Reading →
New Year’s gratitude
6th Jan 2010 Yesterday I put together a large raft of resolutions, and then set to thinking about what they meant. Since the ones that really matter (i.e. not the “eat less chocolate” one) are ones relating to some aspect of my behaviour or thought patterns, I suppose that is one step towards fulfilling them.... Continue Reading →
First pages of my diary aged 7
"Monday 22nd July 1985 Today I went to school. I am in South Australia now. I have many friends. One of my friends is called Philippa. Our school has three lunches. One is morning recess. One is lunch. One is afternoon recess. Our teacher is called Miss Dempster. The school is called Tanunda Lutheran School.... Continue Reading →
City people
On my way to work this morning I looked around me on the escalator, at all the people swarming out of the tube and into the building. Some of them look geeky, the women often look overdressed and overexercised - that unnecessary combination of cinched belts and short tight skirts with very high heels and... Continue Reading →
Everybody Hurts
27th January 2010 Apparently REM's Everybody Hurts is viewed as a life-affirming song that has helped suicidal people see some light in their situation - mainly by reminding them that they're just feeling sorry for themselves, and that others are in much worse situations. I must be either one of life's big misanthropists, or more... Continue Reading →
Bond Street
Writing one of these blogs in 2010 probably has about the same resonance as writing a few notes on a piece of paper, and sticking them in a drain somewhere on Gray's Inn Road. There is a vague possibility that someone will at some point read it, but it's fairly slim, and limited to people... Continue Reading →
The resting writer 