All my local parks are overrun by crows and grey 'squirrels' (and overflown by squadrons of screeching parakeets). In one of the smaller parks, favoured by people who like to feed cute critters, the population of crows and squirrels is densely concentrated, and they are increasingly living cheek by jowl ... Read More...
Month: November 2010
Philip Wilkinson - of the English Buildings Blog - is the author of over 40 books, including The English Buildings Book, and a new book called The High Street, written in conjunction with a major BBC TV series (episode 2 is showing on BBC1 tomorrow night at 9pm). In this series of posts, Philip ... Read More...
Originally sited at 100 Pall Mall – a private townhouse – the National Gallery opened in its current Trafalgar Square premises in 1838. Being situated in the ‘very gangway of London’ is a key element of the National’s raison d'être. As Mr Justice Coleridge wrote in 1857, the Gallery should ... Read More...
A trio with a strong classical background , The Low Anthem hail from Rhode Island, and bring a welcome touch of humanity to the increasingly bland world of up and downloading, and although they know how to stomp, there is usually a bittersweet sadness about them that lingers in the ... Read More...
As I wandered around the Frieze art fair this year (all very exclusive and mwah mwah, dahling), along with a blast of chilly air from London’s first cold snap, I also caught wind of complaints about frozen funding. In addition to checking out the trends and observing changes in style, ... Read More...
Continuing today's Dabbler Soup double-bill, we're delighted to present Ian Buxton, our new drinks correspondent. Ian is one of the UK's leading drinks writers, specialising in whisky and spirits, and is the author of the bestselling book 101 Whiskies to Try Before You Die. He will be bringing us exclusive articles on ... Read More...
Bonfire Night, Guy Fawkes Day, Fireworks Night...so odd they named it thrice. Whatever it's called, on this one The Dabbler is delighted to welcome the wonderful Jassy Davis, proprieter of Britain's most delicious food blog Gin and Crumpets, who offers an appropriate recipe. We're hoping that Jassy will be bringing us ... Read More...
Remember, remember, the fifth of November, gunpowder, treason and plot. Remember, too, the distressed pig, saved by Special Agent Blot. The distressed pig was in a leaking rowing-boat adrift in Tantarabim Lake. Agent Blot swam out to it and fed it with nutritious cake. As the pig grew becalmed Agent Blot took ... Read More...
The discussion sparked off by 1066 and All That reminded me of something I'd written on how one's appreciation of history changes over the years - in particular, one's attitude to its 'knowability'. I've tried below to categorise my own attitudes over time. I would think that in our mostly ... Read More...
[The story so far… Art Garfunkel has plagiarised Alain de Botton's tweets in order to write Adult Contemporary hits; Ed Balls has vowed to 'squash' Ed Miliband...] Tap tap tap Tap tap tap. What is that determined tapping? Tap tap tap go the elegant fingers of Nina, loyal housekeeper to the Mayor ... Read More...
