Lifestyle

I have a Scrooge-like aversion to carols and candy canes in mid-November but now that we are into December I feel it is permissible to use the C-word – 'Christmas'. It is coming whether we like it or not so here are my Top Ten 'Festive Gifts for Informed Imbibers' which, un-coincidentally, all happen to […]

To the marvellous early 18th century Rook Lane Chapel in my beloved home town of Frome last night to hear literary giant Alexander McCall Smith hold forth on his second string career as a hugely popular novelist, sources of inspiration, international travels and diverse personal projects to an unsurprisingly packed house. Credit for this booking […]

Here at Yapp Brothers we have long-harboured a passion for good Gallic memorabilia, be it corkscrews, enamel advertising panels or vintage vehicles and visitors to our picturesque premises in Mere seem to enjoy viewing our growing collection.     Ten years ago we stumbled across a lovely old blue Citroën H-van, that had been residing […]

The last three offerings served up by my Literary Association (alright 'Book Club' if we must avoid pretension) have been pretty hard to digest. Kurt Vonnegut's debut novel 'Player Piano' is set in a dystopian future where machines are taking control, Malcolm X's autobiography didn't have many laughs and Richard Yates' 'Revolutionary Road' was beautifully […]

Village life ticks along throughout the year, but in the summer months there's a hidden collective force that seems determined to make hay while the sun shines. Well, I say hidden force but my wife and her routine partner in crime Nikki are often the whirlwind that seems to make these things happen. Last year, […]

After a recent bout of insomnia, in the early hours of the morning with the glow of my Kindle tempting me to download something new I stumbled on "I Blame Morrissey" by Jamie Jones. So far so good, it’s always reassuring reading another music obsessive's take on the 1990s indie bands. For me, it started […]

The English asparagus season is upon us which is a cause of celebration in its own right. I boycott the inferior, factory farmed Peruvian stuff with its indefensible air miles, which is available all the year round in the supermarkets, so tend to go overboard when our peerless home grown spears become available. The big […]

The affinity between fine wine and great music has long been documented so I thought it might be fun to recall some of the best wines that I have been privileged to sample and pair them with resonant recordings released in the year of each vintage. Of course, taste in anything is subjective and dependent […]

My 13 year-old son Will loves nothing more than fossicking around in the shed or attic in search of interesting archaeological discoveries. This week he unearthed my old Sony 'Walkman' and a box of cassette tapes and he was absolutely delighted. To my surprise this veteran iPod habitué loved the retro look and feel and […]

My Dutch colleague Bianca and I share a predilection for fondue and there has been a long-running debate over which of us executes the superior version. Chivalry and modesty prevent me expounding my thoughts on Bianca's interpretation of this celebrated dish of the mountains but let's just say that the Low Countries aren't noted for […]