Author Archives: Paul

Better known as Mother’s Day. But for centuries, Laetare Sunday was the Sunday half-way through Lent, the day on which mothers were brought gifts by their children and everyone was excused their Lenten obligations. American greetings cards companies then co-opted the tradition of Laetare Sunday and re-packaged it for profit, but I’m glad that they […]

The James Last Orchestra are about to play the Royal Albert Hall for the 90th time. And the veteran bandleader, not far off 90 himself, has announced that this will be his final tour. With his cheesy line in popular classics, James Last has always been regarded as spectacularly naff but nonetheless, a phenomenon. He’s […]

Suspended after a “fracas” with a BBC producer. The “liberal” left are celebrating with the sort of aggressive abuse they always dish out to anyone who dares to disagree with them. Clarkson spends his life deliberately riling the establishment. But of course, you’re only allowed to do that if you’re left-wing or, like Russell Brand, […]

I’m not referring to my sexuality, I’m just reviving a word my mum would use when she meant “unwell”. I remember her telling me that my dad had “turned queer in the night”. A comment which could have put me into therapy for years. When you work for yourself, you (literally) cannot afford to be […]

I have nothing against the long-serving presenter of Woman’s Hour. I’ve been on Woman’s Hour and she was very nice. Though, I have to say, not overburdened with broadcasting brilliance. Which is why I was astonished to discover that Jenni Murray was made a Dame in 2011. For what? Maybe the honour was for some […]

And it’s important that we recognise this. All over the world, women are oppressed, subjugated and treated like second-class citizens. Usually, the more religious a society, the more prevalent this is. I’m not naive enough to suggest that sexism and misogyny have been eradicated in this country, but I do struggle to remember a time […]

Beautiful spring day today. It won’t last but I think it’s safe to say that we won’t be seeing any really cold weather for quite a while. Which means my ridiculously warm, down-lined American parka will spend another year undisturbed in the wardrobe. It was made for those severe New York winters that we’ve witnessed […]

Is it just me who sniggers every time this annual competition comes around? Surely I’m not the only one to whom the phrase “Young Brass” doesn’t mean a teenager playing the trombone.

For a special screening of ‘R’ Story – a documentary charting the history of QPR, made by a group of largely unemployed youngsters from the Shepherds Bush area. It was backed by the Octavia Foundation, a charity which helps people of all ages who are struggling with unemployment, ill health and poverty. The film showed […]

This long-forgotten 1971 chart-topper could never be described as a gentle, sensitive piece of work. It’s been long forgotten principally because, with such sexist, predatory lyrics, it’s best described as “of its time”. And yet this down and dirty stomper contains references to Nabakov and DH Lawrence. What’s more, the band’s name has its origins […]