Her Majesty’s X Factor
When the Queen marks 60 years on the throne with her Diamond Jubilee celebrations this week, millions of Britons will pay their respects, and party with her, during a four-day holiday weekend. We’ll...
View ArticleThe British Are Coming
Olympic athletes and spectators arriving in London last week might have felt a tad underwhelmed by the attitude of the locals towards the world’s greatest sporting spectacle. But they needn’t have...
View ArticleOxford Embraces Cross-Dressing
Students returning to Oxford this term after their summer vacation will have a new privilege to enjoy. Although they’ll still have to wear dark, formal academic clothing (called “subfusc”) for taking...
View ArticleHow British Conservatives Rose from the Dead
A charismatic liberal candidate convinces voters to reject the center-right as “uncaring extremists,” and carries the election. The conservatives are confused and demoralized. The party battles...
View ArticleTo the Victoria Station!
When Britain’s Labour Party elected arch left-winger Jeremy Corbyn as its leader last weekend, it waved goodbye to any hope of forming a government anytime soon. Corbyn’s supporters may have aped...
View ArticleTony Blair’s Comeuppance
The Chilcot report into Britain’s part in the 2003 Iraq war, which was finally published on Wednesday, is three times the size of the Bible. The executive summary alone runs to 150 pages. It took seven...
View ArticleForgive Me, Lord, for I Have Virtue-Signaled
Ever since virtue signaling became a thing, and a sin, on both sides of the Atlantic, I’ve been determined never to indulge. Why? Because it’s the preserve of the needy and weak, and those who are more...
View ArticleAn Open Letter to U.S. Soccer Star Alex Morgan
Dear Alex, Congratulations! You’re in another World Cup Final. What an achievement for you and Team USA. If, as I fully expect, you win on Sunday, making it four World Cups in total, there will be no...
View ArticleAre You As Intimidated By Hotel Swimming Pools As I Am?
As a relatively frequent traveler on vacation and business, I think I know how to behave in most international settings. I can usually be relied upon not to choke on the buns at breakfast and to...
View ArticleBusiness vs. Coach: The Class Divide in the Sky
She actually patted me on the bottom. Not in an affectionate way. Still less a sexual way. I don’t expect either of those things at my age. No, it was more perfunctory and aggressive than that. She was...
View ArticleAmerican Visitors to Europe Beware
France is my favourite destination on earth. I love the food, culture, history, language — you name it. I adore Paris. But be warned: as with many European countries, if you’re looking for friendly...
View ArticleA Battle That Brits Will Always Win Against Americans — Drinking
It was alarming and embarrassing in equal measure. Halfway through a posh, international dinner party near London, the woman to my left put it to me bluntly: “You’re a functioning alcoholic.” It was...
View ArticleBritain in the Fall (of Brexit?)
It’s official: We Brits are fighting nothing less than a civil war, with the elites on one side and the people on the other. And this war isn’t over something that’s merely crucial, like the economy,...
View ArticleCoping With the NHS: A (Very) Personal Story
“Nah, ’e still ’asn’t peed.” She might have been talking about an aging dog, but, no, she was referring to me. It was a few hours after an operation on my sinuses, my first experience of hospital...
View ArticleThe U.S. and UK Should Get Over Their Class Obsession
With the surge of Bernie Sanders, visible even from across the Atlantic, the nuggety issue of “class” seems to be raising its ugly head in U.S. politics. If ever there was a case of society shooting...
View ArticleCoronavirus Can Lead to Pneumonia — Here’s How Horrible It Is
There’s been much talk about how coronavirus, for many people who contract it, will be not much worse than a heavy cold. Thank heavens for that. Sadly, though, for some, it’ll develop into something...
View ArticleWhy I’m Actually Enjoying Social Distancing
I’ve always been a bit odd, I think. For example, ever since I was a small lad, I’ve fantasized about a remote, solitary life. That’s not normal, right? Well, it’s a desire that’s never left me. So,...
View ArticleDitching the Rat Race During Quarantine
Even before all this COVID-19 stuff, you couldn’t fail to notice a fast-developing genre of television series that might be described as “Ditch the Rat Race.” They showcase people who have left modern...
View ArticleLiberals Browbeat Boris Over Coronavirus
There’s no pleasing liberals. You can instigate the most socialist set of policies in living memory, you can shut down a huge chunk of private enterprise, you can rack up government debt that will take...
View ArticleGood News: COVID-19 Canceled Sports Day This Year
There’s a famous photo of Princess Diana taking part in the mums’ sprint race at Prince William’s school sports day, 1989. Young, free, joyful, unbeatable, she’s like a gazelle in full flight as she...
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