9 October 2009
A good day. Lunch with one of my oldest friends, 92 year old Geoffrey Hanscomb, at my favourite fish restaurant in London, Skeekey’s. When I say oldest I mean the one I have known longest. GAH gave me my first holiday job, 60 years ago and we have been good friends ever since. I started […]
8 October 2009
Horror of horrors, wisdom tooth extraction day. Went to Addenbrookes at lunchtime to have it yanked out. Not a happy experience particularly as they managed to break the tooth and leave a small part of the root behind, which meant a lot of poking, a certain amount of cutting and the loudest drilling that I’ve […]
7 October 2009
This evening I finished another long Chinese novel – The Brothers by Yu Hua – a strange story apparently shortlisted for the 2008 Man Asian Literary Prize. Described on the dust cover as a highly spirited comedy of society running amok in modern China, which follows two brothers riding the dizzying rollercoaster of life in […]
The Anecdotal Ramblings of an Elderly Arbitrator
A Dinner was held at The Athenaeum in London on 30 July 2009 to celebrate Mark’s contributions to arbitration and to life, organised by John Tackaberry QC. Here is the video of Mark’s “anecdotal ramblings”, with thanks to Monti for the source DVD:
6 October 2009
I braved the wind and rain today for my weekly geriatric golf walk. I managed 16 holes before my legs started giving out but that was around two and a half hours walking, so not too bad. I kept reasonably dry but what does one do about a soggy kilt? It’s also getting a little […]
5 October 2009
My geriatric flu jab today but not swine flu. Apparently the vaccine will not be available until the end of this year. I just hope I don’t pick up anything in China or Thailand. Now my hands are virtually useless, permanently at right angles to my arms unless I am wearing a wrist support, I […]
Loving Husband
A man had two of the best tickets for the England v Wales final of the Six Nations. As he sits down, another man comes along and asks if anyone is sitting in the seat next to him. “No”, he says, “the seat is empty.” “This is incredible!” said the man, “who in their right […]
Bounced Cheque
Shown below, is an actual letter that was sent to a bank by an 86 year old woman. The bank manager thought it amusing enough to have it published in the New York Times. Dear Sir: I am writing to thank you for bouncing my check with which I endeavored to pay my plumber last […]
4 October 2009
Out for a pub lunch at the Barleycorn, Duxford, with my lovely today. Sunny enough to sit outside; so a cigar.
3 October 2009
For those readers who are interested in the progress of my gadgets — an update. You may recall that I attempted to enlist the help of three knights of the realm who, by virtue of the previous posts they held, were very well connected with the City of London. I say were, because they are […]