Suburban Life with a Capital “S”

As you may have picked up, I struggled growing up in Essex surrounded by ordinary boys, shopping precincts and the temptations of Raffles cigarettes and deodorant abuse. Later I struggled in different ways when I lived in Soho – night-time screaming (mostly outside the flat) and the tang of urine in the air (ditto). Through … Continue reading →

Essex: The Case for the Defence

As we drove into my mum’s village last Sunday, Rob turned to me and commented “Christ, it’s like Northern Ireland” referring to the high number of flags adorning every house, car, bike and child. I felt shocked and depressed at the sense of menace I felt on seeing all these flags (St George, in this … Continue reading →

Everyman – Philip Roth

I’m way beyond being able to review any Philip Roth books objectively. There are those that I love and those that I want to devour again and again and will never be able to get enough of. His latest book, Everyman, is a dead man’s reflection on his life, how it was for him to … Continue reading →

Things Best Left Unsaid

I embarrassed myself the other day in front of a respected fellow knowledge worker by mispronouncing the word “renege”. To make matters worse, my co-worker’s method of notification was simply to use the word in conversation later in a different context, but this time with the correct pronunciation quite deliberately spoken. It’s not a unique … Continue reading →

5 Things I hate about the World Cup

1. Having to explain to blokes that you’re just not that into it.This year more than any other, men around me are somehow expecting me to be interested and enthusiastic about the World Cup and have looked actively disappointed when I say I can take it or leave it.2. When I do try to make … Continue reading →

Argentinian Brute Force

Blimey, posting that last rant felt a bit like the time I demanded my hard-hitting article “Rape is not a Dirty Word” went on page 3 of an essentially light-hearted student listings rag. So on a lighter note, Fuerzabruta was thrilling, astonishing and sexy; it’s a Latin athletic dance event including feats such as sprinting … Continue reading →

Working Class Made Bad

As soon as I hear about a working class person ridiculed in a way that could be construed as snobbery, I have to leap to their defence and shout loudly until the noise of their braying accusers is drowned out. So here I go. That John Prescott had an affair was not unusual for a … Continue reading →