This is the entrance to Gorky Park. Probably the main one, granted, but there are dozens of ways in. My park at home where I play tennis every weekend has more of a ‘hole in the hedge’ kind of thing. Slightly understated, modestly humble but more importantly, Stalin never intended to drive 300 tanks into – Read More-
So my first love was St Petersburg and I really thought there could be no other. But then I came to Moscow. And I thought it would be dirty. And smelly. And filled with mafia (which it probably is but they generally don’t advertise) and pickpockets and all tea would be served with either lemon – Read More-
I’m on the Sapsan, the fast train between St Petersburg and Moscow. Its awesome. Currently travelling at 209kph through the Russian countryside and building up speed still. Feels like crawling over Brent Cross flyover at 45 (which is actually 5mph faster than the speed limit there, as I know to my cost). The train takes – Read More-
I know its MY problem. I know in some respects I’m not ‘normal’. Who is? Logically, statistically, the world would be the most boring of boring places if everyone was strictly on the mid-line of a normal distribution in every facet and parameter you could measure. So my ‘deviation’ is that I lack patience generally – Read More-
Part 2. We must have walked 10 miles today. Possibly more. All of it simply fabulous in the glorious Russian sunshine, Sunshine. We started with a ‘free walking tour’ which we always take in all cities we visit. Because they’re so much better than proper, pay-as-you-go tours because you only pay the guide what you – Read More-
So a geezer called, modestly, ‘Peter the Great’, built himself a city. As ya do. If you’re a Tsar and own, quite literally, the entire fucking world. Bit like Putin today, but with less hypocrisy. Because Peter wasn’t a ‘communist’, wasn’t a ‘man of the people’, he was a god. From each, according to their – Read More-
This was my third night camped out in Windsor. At least it hasn’t rained. Its been just fantastic, sitting on my folding chair on a really nice bit of pavement, outside Greggs bakery who provide me with all (the carbs and sugar) I need. The atmosphere is wonderful, almost ‘electric’ as our crowd of union-jack – Read More-
I genuinely worry about the people you see walking down the street glued to their phones. No matter how inappropriate the setting; busy central London tube station in the rush hour, travellers moving in all directions at once, and there’s a ‘tosser’ staring at his stupid fucking screen with a set of studio-quality speakers attached – Read More-
When does someone who is ‘not an antisemite’ become an antisemite? Interesting question. Took me ten minutes to sort out the wording. But the answer, even though you’d think it should be some event or duration, is in fact ‘Jeremy Corbyn’. And here’s why. The Russians tried to murder a couple of people in Salisbury. – Read More-
The situation in Israel is getting bleaker by the day. They opened the new American Embassy in Jerusalem on Monday and there were ‘protests’ by Palestinians. Those in the West Bank marched, held signs, shouted comments and generally, protested. Which they have every right to do in a democracy. What happened in Gaza was different. – Read More-