Sunday 3 April 2016

Why I love the Spectator magazine

Blogging is hard in an iPhone and iPad and there have been territorial disputes over my husband's laptop.

But in the spirit of not quitting the blog, I'm cheating by posting a picture ironically of words.
One of the few magazines I read for words not images is the Spectator.


Regardless of your political leanings, there are very few publications with writing that entertains without having to refer to monosyllabic catchy jingles nor name drop like an up and coming Hollywood agents intern.



Hope you are all well and happy spring/Autumn wherever you are. X

24 comments:

  1. love it, post more pls! did you see Chalky White died? x

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    1. Will do! But the two eclipses last month wore me out!!! I need to watch Boardwalk xx

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  2. My goodness, I do hate to see myself written up and skewered like that! Though, in my rather feeble defense, striking a pose, and carrying pretensions, is probably a somewhat universal trait. If my memory serves me right, I first became the one of those Spectator characters back in my university days when I discovered how to wear black, smoke Gauloises, and watch Bergman films. Over the years, I hope that I have just become more refined in my poses and pretensions. Oh well, C'est la vie...

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    1. Ha! But isn't it the funniest!!?! Hope you well GF x

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    2. CSW
      It is, indeed, the funniest...

      Cheers!

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  3. This brought back memories - haven't seen a copy of the Spectator for years.

    Used to travel long haul Business for work in the days when First and Business sometimes shared the same lounge. Back then together they occupied a very small number of seats on the planes compared with now. Expanded exponentially since. But it was at that time a fairly small world where people got to know each other as they'd frequently meet up by chance. It was a kind of clubby feeling without the pretentiousness or space commanding tactics described above. Once met a guy who turned out to be CEO of a major Australian company (and his wife) when our Qantas flight arrived dreadfully late at Heathrow and we were both transferring to the same flight to Madrid. We first got talking on one of those terrible buses they used to have where after flying for around 22 hours you stand clutching the straps and try not to fall over the hand luggage as the bus twists around the airport perimeter to take you to the relevant terminal. Despite our dash to the transfer desks we missed the flight. The BA staff didn't want to know and were totally unhelpful about getting us onto the next one. This is where I was so glad to be with him as his CEO persona kicked in. A large man, he started whacking the desk in front of the staff member and dropped a few names requiring attention. He then looked after me too and made sure I was on the flight with them. Next he had the staff find us a room and some coffee while we waited - he was quickly back to being a pleasant, quietly spoken businessman. Later on subsequent trips I met up with him again in lounges and he was always v kind and treated me as a long lost friend. Also came to know a number of others, including politicians, from similar meetings. Didn't experience any of the "first class lounge" persona back then, just comrades (fellow travellers?) wearily dealing with the hassles of long haul work travel.
    Pammie x

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    1. Crazy marketing and airmiles has put a stop to that! Public travel is now so old school in its divisions it's like the titanic! I actually find those buses and getting on the Tarmac to board refreshing! But airports are getting so crowded that it's rather stressful and one needs a vacation soon after!! Xx

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    2. Those buses are not so refreshing if you've just spent two weeks working round the clock preparing for international meetings. Then travelling for 22 plus hours. I used to feel just about ready to collapse from lack of sleep. Would get the rest of the day and night to recover and then had to hit the ground running. Was always a bit afraid I'd literally hit the ground. Break my nose maybe? But somehow the adrenaline always kicked in for the whole of the work time and I even actually enjoyed it - then when it was over I'd just crash on the flight home and sleep like a zombie.
      Nowadays it's so much easier because I only travel for pleasure. But not First. There are so many people in the Business lounges there's not much opportunity for poseurs. So crowded as you said!
      The real VIPs aren't usually in Business or even in First Class Lounges anyway. Once or twice have accompanied VIPS. We were taken down the plane steps when it pulled up at the airbridge - then ushered into waiting cars parked planeside and whisked into a VIP lounge and plied with drinks. Meanwhile staff took our passports to get them stamped by Immigration and then picked up our bags from carousel and loaded them into boots. That's how VIPs travel. They'd just sit back and relax over drinks or coffee and then be taken off to their hotels. It was fun to have had the experience and see how the other 5% travel. But you don't get access to duty free shopping from these areas. I guess real VIPs don't need it anyway. But I was disappointed! Pammie xx

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    3. Let's face it as you say the next level of VIP's dont use the lounge. In fact they don't even use Heathrow. Why would you need a lounge when you get on your own plane right? Xx

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  4. And then there's me, hiding under a sofa in the lounge panic eating cheesecake screaming into the phone "why don't you just come see me in Ohio?!" About ten minutes before I slither out of the airport.
    Haven't heard of this magazine. I need new magazines, I miss them. I love a woman who travels the world but won't spring for her own laptop. I understand. My laptop is ancient and I just don't care enough about technology to replace it. Meanwhile I feel different sets of china for Easter and May Day are perhaps more essential than oxygen.

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    1. Oh Stephen! You have caught me out hehehe. I just can't commit and funny BC I drafted s post about stuff where I splurge and stuff where I'm so tight!!! I'm such a sucker for porcelain and must post about my crazy justification of my collection. I can't wait to see some more of your collections and the reasoning!! X

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  5. Hello CSW, You should study that article for more tips on pushy and assertive behavior, so you can appropriate that disputed laptop and publish more articles. You just have to know how to talk and act toward that kind of person.
    --Jim

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    1. I need that stance and talk to the marriage version of HR! I am getting a laptop soon alas BC I hate having to wait around!

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  6. hysterically accurate, what expressive writing! best to you rie
    debra

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    1. Writing lasts and while a picture is worth a 1000 words it requires a good vocabulary!

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  7. That's not me in a lounge. I'm over at the buffer getting food and drink, assertively.

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    1. Lounges are so busy nowadays anyway so I just walk around the airport getting circulation going.

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  8. Another great post. I would like to hear about what you mentioned to Stephen about stuff that you save/splurge on. I have an issue with this myself. Just want to save on a lot of stuff so I can throw more into my VCA fund. I know you will be sympathetic and not judge me! Ha ha. xx

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    1. I've had to cash in my VCA funds Jill!! I might have to start a proper pension fund ;p xx

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  9. Love the snippet from the mag.
    You have to be on your A game in our home to use the iPad or the favorite lap top as I compete with husband, teen & tween. Everyone wants the one device despite kids having Mac air books, phones and a near dead Pc, 2 iPhones & iPod at the ready. Husband always wins with his "I need it for work". Den x

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    1. I will get a laptop this month I think though I've been saying that for the past year!! I thought a iPad and iPhone would be enough but it just isn't anymore! Xx

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  10. Newspaper article made me giggle............SO TRUE!
    I would NEVER be able to do my POSTS from a PHONE or IPAD........I think I'm the only person in the world who NEVER USES AN IPAD............YUCK!

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  11. I am totally going to claim I know about topiary just as soon as possible.

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  12. That is fabulous. What terrific writing!

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Thank you for dropping by!