Showing 1 - 10 of 10
What the world needs now is…
Roger Crutchley, Published on 15/02/2026
» With yesterday being Valentine's Day it seems appropriate for PostScript to have a brief word on matters of the heart. I admit to not being a huge fan of Valentine's Day but in these crazy times anything that promotes love over hate seems worthy of a mention. Although it is one of the most blatantly commercialised celebrations on the calendar it serves as a welcome break from the daily diet of depressing news we have been subjected to lately.
Cheating in exams now a sophisticated art
Roger Crutchley, Published on 27/07/2025
» It was Oscar Wilde who once observed: "Exams sir, are pure humbug. If a man is a gentleman he knows quite enough, and if he is not a gentleman, whatever he knows is bad for him.''
Those elusive influential persons
Roger Crutchley, Published on 29/10/2023
» Most intriguing news of the week is that according to a parliamentary House committee there are only 180 "influential people" in the kingdom and in 10 provinces there are none at all. For those unfamiliar with the term "influential person" in Thailand, it is usually interpreted as someone who is powerful enough not to worry about the "long arm of the law" and can go about their sometimes shady business without fear of arrest.
The Ides of March and perils of power
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 12/03/2023
» This Wednesday will be the 74th day of the year, which admittedly doesn't sound like something to get too excited about. But it is not just any old day. Known in Roman times as the "Ides of March" the 15th marks the anniversary of the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BC.
When the answer is just a click away
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 26/02/2023
» When I was about 12 I committed some misdemeanour in class and as a punishment the teacher ordered me to write a thousand-word essay on baseball and hand it in the next morning. This was something of a challenge as being an English kid I knew absolutely nothing about baseball other than it was some weird ritual they indulged in across the Pond.
Bow Bells rang out but not the accents
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 03/04/2022
» Firstly, a belated follow-up featuring the cockney accent from an American reader who wanted to meet a real cockney when he was in London a few years ago. Aware of the traditional definition of a cockney being "someone born within the sound of Bow Bells", he made a special effort to visit St Mary-le-Bow church, the source of the bells.
From Billy the goat to William Windsor
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 05/04/2020
» An unexpected outcome of the coronavirus is that around the world wildlife is taking advantage of empty towns and visiting the deserted streets. One such example is in Llandudno, a resort town on the Irish Sea in northern Wales. During the past week spotted strolling around the town centre was a herd of Kashmir (Cashmere) Goats, which have been enjoying themselves dining on the town's tasty hedgerows.
If lost for words, you can try a bit of Latin
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 13/10/2019
» In the sometimes entertaining, but often mind-numbing, impeachment debate in the US, something we have been repeatedly hearing lately is the Latin expression "quid pro quo", signifying a favour given in return for something of equal value. Dropping a few Latin words has always been popular amongst politicians, possibly because they think it makes them sound smarter than us ignorant hoi polloi.
The moon and the city noodle shop
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 21/07/2019
» Unless you have been in hibernation you will be aware that yesterday marked the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. Every newspaper and television network has been bombarding us with tales featuring small steps, giant leaps, eagles landing, lift-offs and splashdowns.
When letters get in the wrong place
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 11/03/2018
» It will come as no surprise to readers that spelling is not one of my strongest attributes. I stand firmly alongside AA Milne's Winnie the Pooh when the bear admits: "My spelling is wobbly. It's good spelling, but it wobbles and the letters get in the wrong place." I know the feeling well.