24 May 2012
Blondie’s Friend

It has been a bad week for disco: Robin Gibb, one of the Bee Gees, and ‘disco queen’ Donna Summer passed away. I’m nearly fifty, so you could say I’m one of the disco children. I turned 15 in 1977, the year in which the film Saturday Night Fever was a smash hit. Those could be called my glorious years: I still had a full head of hair. Find out more


8 May 2012
Mr Soapy and Other Inanimate Objects

I recently watched an interview on BBC Breakfast with a representative of the Cloud Appreciation Society and the author of a book called Clouds That Look Like Things. Find out more


2 May 2012
The Tulip Agreement

During the past few weeks I’ve frequently been reminded of the 1634–1637 tulip mania. In the early seventeenth century, French ladies at court would pay hundreds of guilders for a tulip flower, which they wore in their décolleté at gala evenings; a wonderful image. Find out more


24 May 2012
Complete List of Columns including May

All columns published since 1 October 2009 Find out more

16 May 2012
Turtle Doves

David Cameron sometimes signed his emails to Rebekah Brooks, former editor of the News of the World tabloid, with LOL. David was under the impression that it meant Lots of Love. Find out more


11 May 2012
The Past

In those days I often climbed onto the roof of the hospital, sometimes alone, but often with my friend Ewout. It was a kind of addiction. Find out more


4 May 2012
What’s your History?

Closing date midnight (GMT) 31 Dec 2012 - Shortlist 31 January 2013 - Awards ceremony 27 February 2013
Find out more


3 May 2012
5th Instalment of Eline Vere

An emerging inappropriate crush & her sister’s in-laws Find out more