It’s NOT A Knockout, It’s An Utter Disgrace: Stuart Hall gets just 15 months
Paedophile Stuart Hall, 83, will be out for Christmas. Today the monster (whom the BBC continue to describe as a “veteran presenter”) was jailed for just 15 months on 14 counts of indecent assault. One of his victims was just nine years old.
William Dalrymple suggests the past should guide anyone considering invading Afghanistan
Last night I attended a reception hosted by Sir Tom Stoppard and the Founders’ Circle of the London Library at the East India Club with my great friend Barbara Minto. At it, the writer and historian William Dalrymple gave a brief but fascinating talk about the discoveries he’d made researching his latest work, Return of a King: The Battle for Afghanistan 1839 – 42.
Lord McAlpine shares his views on how to deal with the media
In his 1999 book, The New Machiavelli: The Art of Politics in Business, Lord McAlpine, who successfully defeated Sally Bercow in a libel action today stated:
“Another option is for the businessperson to learn the art of dealing with the media, using all the tricks that go with that trade – such as the false defeat: when a person seems to lose, in order to gain public sympathy, or the false triumph: where a person seems to win in order to appear strong – thus giving credibility to any number of dubious propositions that person may wish to make in the future. Neither of these ploys are examples of the use of true facts, rather of false facts given to the media to chew on, much as a dog chews on a bone”.
The sale of a £400,000 castle owned by a man who was an inspiration for the creation of James Bond’s nom de plume Sir Hilary Bray, Bt and for many elements of 007’s character also
Count Robin de la Lanne-Mirrlees (1925 – 2012) is largely thought of as the man whose persona Ian Fleming “borrowed” to create James Bond’s assumed identity, Sir Hilary Bray, Bt. Now, following on from his death last year, there is an opportunity to buy one of his many properties, Inchdrewer Castle, and the title that goes with it, Baron of Inchdrewer.
The Steeple Times asks artist and sculptor Marina Cowdray: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”
The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?
Accepting each moment as it appears.
“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?
Laugh often and don’t take life too seriously.
Kerry Katona was considered unacceptable in 2007. Who or what is unacceptable in 2013?
The weather has been unacceptable.
Tony Blair misses being Prime Minister. What do you miss most in your life?
I don’t miss anything as everything is all here with us right now.
What might you swap all your wealth for?
Health and happiness and peace of mind for any one suffering.
Donald Trump was once a case of: “If you owe the bank a thousand, they close you down; but if you owe the bank a billion, you own the bank”. What’s your view on the banking crisis?
I would leave the banking crisis to people that understand banking.
What phrase or word do you most loathe?
There are no taboos in my dictionary.
In the UK, some people consider charity to “begin at home”. What’s your view and what causes do you personally support?
Charity starts at home and in our local community. I have created a place of silence for people needing to step aside from the challenges of daily life. I am hoping to expand on this idea through the sales of the sculpture ’The Meditator’ which I have dedicated to this cause. I also support local charities and I am an international patron of Live to Love and an international advisor to The Oxford Centre of Mindfulness. Both of these charities are ones I feel can make a difference to peoples lives.
The judge in Law Abiding Citizen states: “I can pretty much do whatever I want” before being blown up whilst answering her mobile phone. What’s your view on the appropriate use of such devices?
Make use of it and enjoy it while we have it.
If you could fill a carriage on The Orient Express, who would be your fellow passengers?
All my family and if there is any space, Sixto Rodriguez for some great music. I enjoyed watching the film Searching for Sugar Man.
If you were unfortunate enough to end up on death row, what would be your last meal and where would you eat it?
A takeaway primavera spaghetti from Ziani’s restaurant in Radnor Walk sitting beside the Thames watching the boats pass by.
What time is it acceptable to consume the first drink of the day?
I gave up drink years ago although any time you want a drink is acceptable if it is going to make you happy.
A Negroni, a martini or a cup of tea?
A cappuccino.
Whose parties do you enjoy the most and why?
I love a party at home with my children and friends. We generally laugh a lot.
Who is the most positive person you know?
One of my girlfriends who has been in a wheelchair for 35 years.
What’s your most guilty pleasure?
Getting back into bed with a good book and a cup of coffee.
If a tattoo were to sum you up, what would it be of?
A spiral, as it can remind me of a 360-degree turn on another view point.
If you were a car, what marque would you be?
A tuk-tuk as its fun to weave in and out of the traffic and it’s characterful.
Cilla Black presented Surprise, Surprise. Tell us the most surprising thing about you.
Less is so much more.
What’s currently sitting on your mantelpiece?
A pair of bronze hands that I cast of His Holiness the 12th Gyalwang Drukpa.
Viscountess Cowdray is an artist and sculptor.
For more information about The Meditator, go to: http://www.themeditator.com
For details about Live to Love, go to: http://www.live2love.org and for information on The Oxford Centre of Mindfulness, go to: http://www.oxfordcentreofmindfulness.org
The future for red telephone boxes
The red telephone box is something that tourists often cite as being symbolic of Britain. Just like the red London bus and the red pillar box, though, these Sir Giles Gilbert Scott designed kiosks are sadly disappearing from our streets.
Killed by the mobile phone revolution, British Telecom successfully lobbied to remove public telephones as usage has declined dramatically. The company state that calls from payphones have fallen by more than 80% in the last five years and that around 60% of the boxes cost more to maintain than they generate in revenue.
The Steeple Times asks journalist and author Jessica Fellowes: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”
The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?
To learn from history – in all senses of the word – but listen to the needs of the present.
“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?
“No man lives by bread alone – he needs his bit of crumpet”.
An opportunity to buy 110 books that previously belonged to Bernard and Ruth Madoff
An ebay seller with a 99.1% rating is selling a collection of books and stationery that they claim was previously owned by the Ponzi schemer Bernard L. Madoff and his wife, Ruth. A price of $1,250 is sought including shipping.
Previously auctioned in the US marshal’s seizure sale of the possessions of the couple, the titles of the 110 books give a unique insight into the psyche of this monstrous pair. Amongst them are:
If only someone had studied Bernie’s bookshelf when his activities were first questioned in the 1990s. Perhaps then he would have been brought to book a little more speedily.
Whilst this sale concludes on 30th January 2013, other books are also available as single lots at prices starting at $50. Even more bizarrely, other listings include the Madoff’s hand initialed bathroom scales ($50), two carbon monoxide detectors owned by the couple ($50) and their Sony DVD player ($175).
The truth, as they say, is often stranger than fiction.
To bid on the books, go to: http://www.ebay.com/itm/BERNARD-BERNIE-MADOFF-RUTH-PERSONAL-110-BOOK-LIBRARY-COLLECTION-/261149254961?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3ccdb56531
Matthew Steeples reviews “The Middle Class ABC” by Zebedee Helm and Fi Cotter Craig
Described as “indispensable and entirely charming” by Stephen Fry, The Middle Class ABC captions itself “a toilet loo book” and is an ideal Christmas present for anyone you know who winters in Norfolk and summers in Cornwall.
“Middlings” is the term Helm, a contributor to both Private Eye and The Lady, and Cotter Craig, a television producer, use for this book which covers all manner of the affectations and afflictions of the middle-classes. It’s all about The Archers and AGAs and Zoopla and Ziplock Bags here and frankly it is a spiffingly light-hearted, jolly good read.
Kirsty Allsopp and Kevin McCloud better watch out. The Middle Class ABC could make for a great television mini-series.
The Middle Class ABC is published by John Murray and priced at £14.99. ISBN: 978-1-8454-6820.
This “Boswell of the bluebloods” was a writer whose tips came from unnamed sources and “waiter[s] serving [him] risotto at dinner parties”. (more…)