Diary

Life & Society

The rebranding of Germany

• 03 July 2006

It was hot and I was late. There was a little tussle and I was soon in the company of the German military. So not arrested exactly, but not entirely innocent, either

Live and kicking at Leeds

• 26 June 2006

As Pete Townshend slashed out the opening chords to "Substitute" I found myself involuntarily yelling and running towards the stage. They were playing just to me!

The name is not as it seems

• 19 June 2006

I was treated to the sight of an ultra, ultra Orthodox Jew wading into the sea fully clothed - fur hat, long wool coat, shoes and socks

My dinner at Dorneywood

• 12 June 2006

I shall tell you about a party I went to 14 years ago. Bear with me - it does touch on contemporary affairs

Diary - David Lodge

• 05 June 2006

I am shown the outside of 2 All Saints Terrace, where Graham Greene had lodgings, and which served as the model for many disreputable houses in his work. There is no plaque

Diary - Robert Shrum

• 29 May 2006

The "curse of Shrum" is that, supposedly, I have worked for every losing Democratic presidential nominee in six elections, but never for Bill Clinton. Wrong, wrong, wrong

Diary - James Naughtie

• 22 May 2006

Governments in trouble don't get nastier, but nicer. Lord Falconer was a fluffy teddy bear in the studio the other day, and my encounter with John Reid ended with: "Cheers, Jim"

Diary - Andrew Martin

• 15 May 2006

"You polled 302 votes," the council officer told me. "And was that the lowest of any of the three Greens in the ward?" I asked, morbidly fascinated. "I'm afraid it was, Mr Martin"

Diary - Helen Oyeyemi

• 08 May 2006

I have been arguing with another writer about Battlestar Galactica. I take aliens very seriously and don't appreciate light entertainment being made of them

Diary - Alain de Botton

• 01 May 2006

I've been Booton, Botten, Alan, Alun, Allen, Ellen. My car insurance is made out to a Mr Bottom. My dentist calls me Elaine