Every so often my local paper runs a ‘dine for £10’ collect the tokens style offer in association with selected restaurants. Having for once actually bothered to a) buy the paper and b) cut out three tokens, I went to Seven Dials in Brig[…]

Mario Puzo’s The Godfather is that relatively rare thing: a book that most people agree is surpassed by its film adaptation(s). I agree too, but crikey, some of his other books are GREAT. I am very fond of The Sicilian, which takes the true-ish[…]

RIP Michael Donaghy. Far far too soon.[…]

The Robin Hood is a People’s Pub. All the net profits are given away to worthy community causes. Hurrah! I have no idea how much money is actually left after costs are met but judging from the beer prices (usual Brighton extortion) it must be a[…]

Possibly the greatest advantage of working with international students is the exposure to international snack foods that comes with them. Recently I have eaten home-made Iranian sweets (actually too sweet for me despite much good will and obvious au[…]

Vodou Nation is essentially an allegorical rock opera about Haiti’s troubled past, from the slave rebellion and the founding of the first independent black state, to the continuing struggle against leaders corrupted by money, alcohol and sex. H[…]

P.Y.O. spells SUMMERIt’s that time of year again when middle-class families don the suncream, stock up the Volvo with punnets, and drive down A-roads until they see the magic words: Pick Your Own.I’m not sure if they have the PYO concept […]

The Post-TV Diaries: part 6
Through various mechanisms I have had the opportunity to watch television in my own house twice during the past week. And what did I vicariously experience? 1) desperate humiliation (England v France) and 2) someone fartin[…]

The Post-TV Diaries: part 5
Something incredibly wonderful has been restored to me since television left my life: TIME. Not just in the sense that I have more of it, though I definitely do. But the whole concept. When you have TV, clock-time becomes […]

The Post-TV Diaries: part 4
During the English summer, there should be absolutely no need to watch TV. All our traditional activities such as attending car boot sales, playing amateur versions of cricket in turdy parks, erecting gazebos, and getting […]