Two things happened on Monday. One was that men came to deliver our new washing machine. And the other was that Stan Lee, the Father of Superheroes, passed away at 95. I’m not comparing the gravity of these events, but bear with me… Our washing machine lives in the cellar. But the washing machine men …
My daughter Esther is not one to waste words. We were talking recently and I made a passing comment on the joys of being in the full flowering of middle age, which, at 54, despite my longing still to be young, is exactly what I am. Esther raised an eyebrow and coughed. 'What?' I said. …
On Monday night, Arsenal scored one of the loveliest goals I’ve ever seen. And I say Arsenal, not Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, because practically the entire side made it: a team of specialists contributing to a sublime whole. I work with specialists. Universities are full of them. Not one of them has a right foot like Aubameyang’s …
A couple of weeks ago I had to use up my last couple of days of annual leave so I went up to the Lake District to camp and walk by myself. There were two reasons for going. One was for the sublime pleasure of those hills in Autumn. But the other was that I …
My friend Ed came over to my house on Wednesday, to eat roast chicken and drink wine and laugh. I’ve known Ed for a long while and the talk was full of remembering other evenings, other friends and other dinners. Food is good like that. Tom knows that feasting pricks the memory such that one …
It’s very hard keeping a secret. You people know about secrets, about what lies beneath the surface of a person. Without wishing to get too Shrek about it, people are like onions and uncovering the layers of a character is what actors are for. Some characters are all about keeping secrets, like yours, Ray, plotting …
I went camping this summer, in Dorset with my eldest, Miriam and my youngest, Silas. We pitched camp in our usual busy field a couple of miles outside Swanage, but then on our way to town for fish and chips, we passed a beautiful, empty, wide-open site, and our heads were turned. So back we …
I’m so sorry not to be there with you in the studio this morning. It sounds fun. Having said that, though, perhaps it’s for the best because I have a suspicion I might be just a touch intimidated because my word you’re a disciplined bunch. And, to be frank, I am not. But you, Tom, …
I’ve been feeling old. I went climbing yesterday with my son Silas. We’ve been climbing together for about five years and his fearlessness and strength have amazed me from the start, but the difference now is that he’s a professional. He works at the wall every weekend and he climbs at a higher standard than …
Let’s start with the gross bit. A little while ago I developed an unpleasant ear infection, my ears gummed up and for the next three weeks I was unable to hear very much at all. Now, to be honest, there are times when not being able to hear is a relief. When a meeting is …