A social guide to appearing knowledgeable about the Six Nations. For those who know nothing about rugby, but don't want to look like an alcoholic who's only joining in for the beers. Step 1: Understanding the conversation There have already been weeks of TV shows and podcasts building up to the start of the tournament. … Continue reading 6 Nations for n00bs →

Since 2015 it has been UK law that the government must spend 0.7% of UK GDP on foreign aid. Needless to say, this is a controversial subject. When the headlines discuss how the foreign aid budget has been used to invest in private hospitals and upmarket Brazilian gyms it is understandable that people get angry. … Continue reading Can Governments Buy Friends? →

Like many people my insides were forced to convulse this week by an American guide to brewing British Tea. Repeated below for your horror. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0j13qYUqXU Beyond controversial Now you expect ol' grumpy Southern Oatcake to go on a 15 paragraph monologue on how this is the latest reason to escape from American cultural oppression. But … Continue reading The Unreasonableness of The Average Tea Drinker →

I thought that Lockdown would free up hours upon hours of extra time for the greatest podcasters to find new ways of thinking, dig out the most intersting stories from their field or really think about the way in which they keep us entertained. I envisioned the finest and funniest minds, transferring their most polished … Continue reading Lockdown Podcast Review →

... of a friend of mine. Of course. Who is variably referred to in the first, second and third persons. Friday 3rd April. Was when I intended to write this but the days have been sliding by and it didn't happen, OK! 0900: After half an hour of alarm snoozing finally arise to prepare for … Continue reading Corona Lock Down Diary →

The internet is coming in for a lot of love in these covid times as we all come to the realisation that we never have to meet our colleagues or extended family in person, ever again! And in the midst of global financial ruin it has been great news for stockholders in everyone's new favourite … Continue reading Decline and Fall (of the Internet) →

In October 2018 I spent a week in Albania and Kosovo. I did 2 hours of research, all on Albania, by watching The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan and Dear Albania by Eliza Dushku. The former was very useful as it recommended a Raki bar with a frighteningly varied selection. The latter was less useful for … Continue reading Dear Albania Reloaded →

The UK government has announced that it will not be giving out visas to low payed, low skilled foreign workers once the new immigration laws come in after Brexit. Priti Patel's public reaction to this was to calm businesses by announcing that there are 8 million economically inactive Brits ready to take the place of … Continue reading Not such a Priti idea →

I have been reading "The Intelligent Investor" by the peerless Benjamin Graham. People were not so concerned about climate change when it was last revised by the author in 1973, but it contains plenty to think about for the modern investor. Or, indeed, divestor. Since I kicked off with a provocative title, let's clear a … Continue reading Why divesting from fossil fuels might be a bad idea →

The voyage of England vs New Zealand. Homer**, October 2019. Godlike Eddie, Zeus' equal in his mind's resource, looked down as if from Olympus. Such was the great size of that hollow ship of Yokohama, the wearer of the red button could scarce make out his men gathered on the green deck below. The war … Continue reading The Trial of Eddysseus →