Showing 1 - 7 of 7
On top of the world in Kathmandu
Roger Crutchley, Published on 14/09/2025
» I was sorry to read about the unrest in Kathmandu this week. As a kid in the UK during the 1950s I used to daydream about far away places with strange-sounding names. One of those places was Kathmandu.
Can't beat question time in the 'bear pit'
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 06/02/2022
» While normally steering well clear of British politics I admit to having enjoyed recent live TV sessions of the UK Parliament. The weekly Prime Minister's Question Time (PMQ) held on Wednesdays is far more entertaining than any soap opera. Witnessing the verbal jousting as the PM attempts to side-step a withering grilling is sheer theatre. It is almost like being the accused in the dock at a court hearing.
The magical world of far away places
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 04/04/2021
» Earlier this week I was chatting with friends about which places around the globe captured their imagination most when they were kids. One was fascinated by Mandalay, while another said Pondicherry caught his eye. Zanzibar was another name that cropped up.
From the doghouse to the White House
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 24/01/2021
» When President Barack Obama first took office in 2008, the BBC observed that he would be inheriting "the in-box from Hell" -- and they were not far off the mark. However, Mr Obama's in-tray was rather like a goody-bag compared to what lies in store for President Joe Biden. You wouldn't wish this in-tray on anybody.
US president who loved the Big Mango
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 28/07/2019
» Last week it was the moon landing, today it's another 50th anniversary, US President Richard Nixon visiting Thailand. Just a week after congratulating the US astronauts on the lunar triumph, Mr and Mrs Nixon landed in Bangkok on July 28, 1969, on their way to embattled South Vietnam.
Sometimes you just have to walk away
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 03/03/2019
» The Hanoi summit may not have gone quite as smoothly as planned, but I'll leave that for the experts to dissect. One suspects the expression "sometimes you have to walk" will be widely featured in forthcoming panel discussions. Nonetheless, the summit did have its entertaining moments.
Don't judge these books by their titles
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 25/11/2018
» It is generally agreed that a snappy title helps the sales of a book, although some can be a real turnoff. With this in mind, for 40 years the English literary magazine Bookseller, has been holding an annual award for the oddest book title. Also known as the Diagram Prize, last year's winner was the enthralling The Commuter Pig Keeper which just edged out the thought-provoking Nipples on My Knee.