1. Ewes Sew Shell Mead Ear 2. Watch the Grate S Cape on Tea V 3. Organ Eyes a U Tube Pub Quiz 4. Bee a Thursday Knight Clapper 5. O Pen a Bottle O Berg And E 6. Get (up) after LUNCH 7. Rays Mill E N’s Walk King Round One’s Guard N 8. D Liver Gross Aries 2 A Neigh Boar.
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1. Drive 2 a Holly Day Cottage 2. Shake hands with a Strain Jar 3. Throw a Party 4. V Sit A Hare Dresser 5. Watch a Cricket Match 6. Meat ones Grand Pear Ants. 7. Fly to Hamster Dam. 8. Sink Brow Nail in a Baaaah. 9. Goat 2 A Moo v. 10. Fire up A Barber Cue By the Serpent Tine.
This week, The Spectator proudly becomes the first magazine in history to produce its 10,000th issue. To celebrate, we’re offering readers the chance to win one of 50 commemorative Spectator tea towels.Enter now Winners will be notified on 20 May. Terms and Conditions.
The United States has long regarded itself as better prepared for a pandemic than any other country in the world, but it assumed the disease would be flu, rather than a coronavirus. This was a failure of imagination. The Sars epidemic showed the world that coronaviruses can lead to acute and fatal respiratory diseases. The Asian countries that suffered most from Sars updated their pandemic response kits accordingly, with mass testing and patient-tracing technology. Neither Britain nor America thought to do likewise. In Britain, we’re starting to admit to flaws in our pandemic response. Donald Trump is less inclined to do so, and is instead directing his fury at China
Before the government announced its Covid-19 economic safeguarding scheme to pay up to £2,500 a month to ‘furloughed’ or rested employees – the ‘Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme’ – a number of business owners and managers talked to me about their creative ideas to continue operating and trading on a different model after lockdown. But as soon as they were told that they could in effect shut down and still pay something to their staff with government subsidies, they gave up on those imaginative routes to operating and went into hibernation. For example, the PM in a press-conference before he became ill, tried to encourage pubs, cafes and restaurants to convert into
This month, The Spectator becomes the first magazine in history to print 10,000 issues. At a time when the nation is in need of good cheer, we’d like to celebrate. Subscribers can claim 39% off our commemorative Spectator gin, produced by Foxdenton Estate Company, a family-run distillery in the home counties. Usually £40.95, subscribers can own a bottle for just £24.95, including free postage and packing*. Enter GIN39 at checkout to receive your discount.
I’m finding it harder than I thought to concentrate while playing bridge online. And not just because my two children are constantly at home. No, my worst distraction turns out to be… myself. Until now, I’ve never fully appreciated the importance of sitting patiently while you’re dummy. Often, I’ve found myself wishing it wasn’t considered rude to read a magazine or stretch your legs when a hand is taking ages. During my first ever online game last week — a Young Chelsea duplicate with Peter Taylor — I took full advantage of my invisibility. Whenever I was dummy, I would reply to an email, or fetch a snack; at one
17 min listen
On the latest episode, Andy and Benedict talk to comedian and author Andrew Doyle, the brains behind the Twitter persona ‘Titania McGrath’. Andrew explains just why he’s so suited to self-isolation, the politicisation of coronavirus, and which quarantined celebrities he feels most sorry for.
The Spectator Wine Club is a club without sub. In fact it isn’t really a club at all, since no membership is required; no proposing, no seconding and no minimum order. Our nine merchant partners – Armit Wines, Corney & Barrow, FromVineyardsDirect, Honest Grapes, Mr Wheeler, Private Cellar, Swig, Tanners and Yapp Bros – represent the cream of the UK’s independents and boast centuries of experience between them. They all have particular areas of expertise and stock wines that you would never be able to find on the supermarket shelves or local off-licence. It works like this: I taste a range of 20 or so wines from each merchant, whittle
20 min listen
Camilla Fayed is an entrepreneur, restaurateur, and daughter of Mohamed Al-Fayed, former owner of Harrods department store. On the podcast, she talks to Lara and Olivia about her childhood love of Finnish cuisine, interning in the Harrods kitchens, and Farmacy, her vegan restaurant chain.
I could list all manner of things I don’t try, because I know I won’t like them, like skydiving and revolting cocktails. But there’s another list of things I don’t try, knowing I might like them just a bit too much. ‘Puzzle Rush’ was, for some time, in the second category. Chess.com is one of the websites where people go seeking out internet games, and their release of ‘Puzzle Rush’ in late 2018 was an instant hit. The challenge is to solve as many chess puzzles as you can in five minutes. The puzzles get gradually harder, and after three strikes, you’re out. It goes to show that even games
A puzzle used in the solving championship, composed by Vittorio de Barbieri in 1918. White must give mate in two moves, against any defence. It is tempting to use the long diagonal directly, but the solution is more subtle: look for a move without a direct threat. Answers (first move only) to chess@spectator.co.uk by Monday 30 March. There is a prize of £20 for the first correct answer out of a hat. Please include a postal address. Last week’s solution 1 Rhf3! breaks the pin. 1… exf3 2 Rxe7 Bxe7 3 Qe6 and White won.Last week’s winner Robin Murfin, Lyme Regis, Dorset
The unclued lights consist of one author, two titles and four characters; ignore one accent. The titles (three words and five words) are pairs. Across 6 50% caught in large-scale disease outbreak (8)12 Get everyone out of Aleppo, due to lunatic taking over (10)13 Rolls makes an impression (9)14 Killer gets into motor car (4)15 Wherein somehow I see the cold? (8, two words)17 Vagrant’s absolutely not bonkers (5)21 Eccentric work about witch being an old ass (11)22 Isn’t conscious, so zones out (7)24 Who supplies seashells essentially? (3)26 Aim for boundary (3)28 Geneticist analysed sockeye salmon, not finding mace so different (7)33 Sink sailor at end of voyage (5)35
It was impossible to imagine, when I filed my column a fortnight ago, that I would be writing this one in a new and totally unrecognisable world. All places of social activity have been closed, which of course includes bridge clubs, and all games, leagues and tournaments have been postponed ‘until further notice’. The last event to take place was the trials for the World Bridge Games due to be held in August in Salsomaggiore. Eight teams competed over three days and two would qualify for the two-day final. Those two teams were Black and Phoenix and I don’t think anyone would argue that Black was the favourite. But these
In Competition No. 3141, you were invited to submit a song we can sing instead of ‘Happy Birthday’ during hand-washing. Congratulations all round: this challenge produced a cheering entry — funny, varied and drawing inspiration from far and wide; from the Knack’s ‘My Sharona’ to the Hokey-Cokey. Commendations to David Silverman, Frank Upton and Nick Syrett. The winners earn £25 each. And now the peak is near, So wash your hands with soap and water. My friends, I’ll say it clear, We wash our hands because we oughta. We’ve lived a life that’s free With many friends who all desire us; But now it’s time to kill Coronavirus. We
BIG, the solution at 21D, can be associated with the ten unclued lights. First prize Elizabeth Shorter, St Austell, CornwallRunners-up John Fahy, Thaxted, Essex; Roger Theobald, Laverstock, Salisbury
Bridge is obviously another casualty of the coronavirus. Clubs have closed their doors; tournaments have been cancelled; championships have been postponed. Safety, of course, comes first. But for many of us, the prospect of life without the constant challenge and stimulation of the game, or the companionship of our fellow players, is pretty miserable. There is a silver lining, though: we can still play and practise online. In fact, I intend to do a lot of it — especially bidding with my regular partners. Thank God for BBO (Bridge Base Online)! To keep our bridge brains sharp, we can also browse through BBO’s Vugraph archives and re-live the action of
