• OPINION

  Taste of inflation from a reliable sauce

  Roger Crutchley, Published on 03/12/2023

  » I am not sure where Bangkok stands in the list of most expensive cities released by the Economist this week. Singapore and Zurich top the table but judging from recent visits to the supermarket, Bangkok must be racing up the inflation charts.

• OPINION

  Cornish pasty has its moment in the sun

  News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 20/06/2021

  » The most important outcome of last week's G7 summit in Cornwall was undoubtedly the appearance of tempting new versions of the traditional Cornish pasty. One bakery came up with a large pasty called "Biden's big-un", while also on offer were "Merkel's minted lamb'', "Macron's mixed veg", and the cheese-filled "Boris' Stilton".

• OPINION

  Lots of promises as big day approaches

  News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 02/04/2023

  » With the Great Event, otherwise known as election day, just around the corner, like most countries in the world we will have to brace ourselves for regular helpings of political poppycock including plenty of promises from prospective candidates. Still, it could be fun.

• OPINION

  French learn about their Aussie 'mates'

  News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 26/09/2021

  » It is encouraging to learn that it is not just Thailand that gets into deep water involving contracts over submarines. France is most upset with Australia for pulling the plug on a nuclear submarine deal, resulting in various shades of not-so-diplomatic name-calling. Standing out was the rather poignant observation from the recalled French ambassador to Australia that "what makes me sad is that we thought we were mates but we were stabbed in the back".

• OPINION

  There have probably been better years

  News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 26/12/2021

  » Well we've just about scraped through the Year of the Ox. It was a strange time, rather like living in a vacuum, not entirely sure what would happen next. Nothing could have been worse than 2020, but 2021 wasn't far off. At the start of the year there was hope that the cloud of Covid could be shaken off and we would all become happy folks in the Land of Smiles again, but it didn't quite work out that way -- it's the hope that kills you.

• OPINION

  When shortwave radio was my best friend

  News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 12/03/2017

  » After 20 years the BBC is ending its foreign-language shortwave transmissions from Nakhon Sawan after failing to renegotiate its agreement with the Thai authorities. The transmissions were directed mainly at places like Afghanistan and Pakistan where radios are sometimes still the only source of news.

• OPINION

  Steady now, just 'keep calm and carry on'

  News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 03/07/2016

  » For something that sounds a bit like a second-rate breakfast cereal, Brexit has created the most monumental commotion in Britain since David Beckham damaged his precious metatarsal.

• OPINION

  One fishy tale of becoming a Mister

  News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 19/03/2023

  » I got into a tangle last week referring to the Italian immigrant restaurateur Caesar Cardini as Senor when of course it should have been Signore. Apologies to all. I should have known better than to start dabbling with foreign honourifics. I have enough problems dealing with Mr, Mrs and Ms.

• OPINION

  Cold War getting too hot for comfort

  News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 20/02/2022

  » Having been brought up in the 1950s and 60s during what was known as the Cold War, I find it a bit sad that after all the ensuing decades nothing seems to have changed. Russia and the West are at it again, still calling one another names. But as long as it remains name-calling we'll take that.

• OPINION

  Unearthing the true meaning of tea money

  News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 23/05/2021

  » Thanks to readers for their entertaining comments and emails on last week's PostScript concerning the delights of drinking tea. There were assorted inspiring tales of eccentric tea ladies, quirky tea-time habits and important song lyrics I had overlooked.

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