09 November 2017 An Advance Too Many? Chin Chin loses column. By Chin Chin Reduced to an occasional writer! Well, I knew that there were changes afoot at the Shaw Sheet but this is ridiculous. In I came, cheery as always, half an hour before the others so that I have a moment to tidy… Continue reading Issue 128: 2017 11 09: An Advance Too Many? (Chin Chin)
Tag: russia
Issue 124: 2017 10 12: A Sense Of Belonging (Lynda Goetz)
12 October 2017 A Sense Of Belonging A primal need. By Lynda Goetz I happened by chance to listen to part of a programme on Radio 4 this morning on the choral history of Britain. In it, the British baritone and composer Roderick Williams OBE was exploring the way music used to be much more… Continue reading Issue 124: 2017 10 12: A Sense Of Belonging (Lynda Goetz)
Issue 100: 2017 04 17 Bojo Misses the Party (John Watson)
13 April 2017 Bojo misses the party He is right not to go to Moscow. by John Watson It is always wise to be careful what you wish for and the reason normally given is that you might just get it. In the bowels of the Kremlin they must be pondering that at the moment… Continue reading Issue 100: 2017 04 17 Bojo Misses the Party (John Watson)
Issue76:2016 10 20:A tale of two cities (Neil Tidmarsh)
20 October 2016 A Tale Of Two Cities The battle for Aleppo and the battle for Mosul; significant differences. By Neil Tidmarsh In Syria, the Russian-backed regime is fighting to drive rebels from the city of Aleppo. In Iraq, the US-backed regime is fighting to drive Isis from the city of Mosul. Compare and contrast…… Continue reading Issue76:2016 10 20:A tale of two cities (Neil Tidmarsh)
Issue 57: 2016 06 09: The Gift of Tongues (Chin Chin)
09 June 2016 The Gift of Tongues Foreign travel for the English. By Chin Chin The polls may be inconclusive, but there is one certainty. Once the referendum is over, we will all need a holiday; and this year, of all years, it should be a holiday abroad. Either Remain will have won, in which… Continue reading Issue 57: 2016 06 09: The Gift of Tongues (Chin Chin)
Issue 46: 2016 03 24: Week in Brief: UK
24 March 2016 Week in Brief: UK DWP: Iain Duncan Smith has resigned as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions following a proposal in the Budget to tighten the criteria for personal independence payments to disabled people of working age. Although Mr Duncan Smith had originally approved the change, he was unhappy at its… Continue reading Issue 46: 2016 03 24: Week in Brief: UK
Issue 45:2016 03 17:A Lenten Change of Heart in the Kremlin (Neil Tidmarsh)
17 March 2016 A Lenten Change of Heart in the Kremlin Does Putin read Shaw Sheet? by Neil Tidmarsh Remember the piece in Shaw Sheet four weeks ago called ‘Maskivrovka’? It concluded by saying; “Perhaps someone ought to tell the Russian leadership that … Lent is now upon us, and Lent is the season for… Continue reading Issue 45:2016 03 17:A Lenten Change of Heart in the Kremlin (Neil Tidmarsh)
Issue 41:2016 02 18: War and Peace (Neil Tallstory)
18 February 2016 War and Peace by Neil Tallstory Thought Andrew Davies’ BBC TV adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s classic was too modern, with its incest and male nudity? Huh. Try this for size… Chapter LLLCCCCXXXXXIV Natasha rushed round to Andrey’s apartment as soon as she heard that he was back in Moscow from the war. … Continue reading Issue 41:2016 02 18: War and Peace (Neil Tallstory)
Issue 41:2016 02 18:Maskirovka (Neil Tidmarsh)
18 February 2016 Maskirovka In Russia, the season for masks isn’t over yet. by Neil Tidmarsh The Russian leadership has made some fairly confusing statements recently, but the most confusing of all must be prime minister Dmitri Medvedev’s comments this week on Saudi Arabia’s pledge to send war planes and ground troops to help in… Continue reading Issue 41:2016 02 18:Maskirovka (Neil Tidmarsh)
Issue 38: 2016 01 28: Geneva (Chin Chin)
28 January 2016 Geneva A seating plan for peace. By Chin Chin If there is one thing which permeates the Christmas holiday it is seating plans. It may be a season for goodwill but if you put Great Aunt Margaret next to her sister-in-law at lunch you will discover that the only references to charity… Continue reading Issue 38: 2016 01 28: Geneva (Chin Chin)
Issue 31: 2015 12 03: An Uncertain Endgame
03 December 2015 An Uncertain Endgame by John Watson It is right that British politics should be dominated by the question of whether to bomb ISIL in Syria and it is to the credit of Westminster that the division is not down party lines. Clearly the decision bothers MPs and it is good that some… Continue reading Issue 31: 2015 12 03: An Uncertain Endgame
Issue 29: 2015 11 19: Paris
19 February 2015 Paris Blocking the road from hell By John Watson The thinking behind the outrage in Paris is hard to understand. This was no assault on the bastions of the capitalist and military establishment. It was an attack on innocent people enjoying a pleasant evening out. “Thank God it’s Friday” many of them… Continue reading Issue 29: 2015 11 19: Paris
Issue 28: 2015 11 12: Week in Brief: UK
12 November 2015 Week in Brief: UK SHARM EL-SHEIKH: Although the action of the British government in promptly grounding flights in and out of Sharm el-Sheikh was initially condemned by Egypt as being unwarranted, it has been justified by the conclusion of the investigating authorities that the destruction of the plane bound for St Petersburg… Continue reading Issue 28: 2015 11 12: Week in Brief: UK