Showing 1 - 7 of 7
Delicate art of being nasty and nice
Roger Crutchley, Published on 31/03/2024
» One word we have been subjected to almost on a daily basis recently is "diplomacy" as politicians grapple with the world's woes without much success. A dictionary definition of diplomacy is "tact or skill in dealing with people". Unfortunately it is more complex than that as the world is in such a mess. Perhaps Ambrose Bierce was nearer the mark in his Devil's Dictionary when he described diplomacy as "the patriotic art of lying for one's country".
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.
Final curtain for 'Forces Sweetheart'
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 21/06/2020
» It was sad to learn of the passing of Dame Vera Lynn, Britain's wartime singer known as the "Forces Sweetheart''. Although she was 103, her death still came as a shock as she was one of those inspirational people you thought would go on forever.
Anthem angst and hits the singers hate
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 01/12/2019
» Rod Stewart is currently on tour in the UK belting out all his old songs, including Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?, which is admittedly pushing it a bit for someone the age of 74. The old rocker has confessed in the past that he dislikes singing that number, but the fans always demand it. This appears to be an occupational hazard among singing stars.
Stairway to a kind of heaven in Bangkok
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 10/07/2016
» The recent case in which Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page and Robert Plant were cleared of stealing the opening riff of their massive hit Stairway to Heaven reminded me of the first time I heard a Thai band play the song in Bangkok.
Bowie a Starman in the Bangkok moonlight
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 17/01/2016
» Thirty-two years ago, on a cool night in early December, I was with a group of friends standing on the field at Bangkok’s Army Stadium. Only a few weeks earlier I had played football at the stadium, but I didn’t have my boots on this time — we had gathered at this rather unlikely location on the Vibhavadi Rangsit highway to witness David Bowie in concert.
Goodness, gracious, great balls of fire
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 08/11/2015
» The Bun Bang Fai rocket men of Isan may beg to differ, but Thailand is not exactly in the vanguard of space exploration. We still get occasional sightings of UFOs, but most turn out to be the result of someone consuming too much amber liquid.