Thirty years of poisonous put-downs, family humiliation and Christmas dinners from hell. Trudy Palmer has endured her mother-in-law, nicknamed Napalm, long enough. But this Christmas, an unexpected guest witnesses the carnage, and the festive celebrations take a spectacular turn.
Remote Control – The Clash, the Establishment and CBS, the Record Company That Humiliated Itself.
The Clash attacked the establishment with Remote Control, only to discover their own record company was controlling them. Their furious response, Complete Control, exposed the music industry's hypocrisy. The ultimate punk irony? CBS happily released the song condemning itself.
Popular Idioms and Phrases: Going Doolally – A Very British Way of Losing Your Marbles from Mumbai!
From nineteenth-century British soldiers stranded in India to everyday British conversation, the expression ‘going doolally’ has a fascinating history. Discover how boredom, illness and military slang gave us one of our most wonderfully peculiar descriptions of eccentric behaviour.
Short Story: I’m Not a Racist, But.
Trevor was the undisputed pub philosopher, holding court with his cronies and declaring himself an expert on everything. But when he unexpectedly falls for Petunia, a mixed-race barmaid, his deeply ingrained prejudices threaten to expose the man behind the bluster.
Reaching Breaking Point at the Antiques Fair!
A prestigious antiques fair at the Royal Albert Hall, a successful dealer and her reluctant husband, and an eccentric heiress with an extraordinary talent for getting under people's skin. As a disappointing weekend unfolds, an increasingly exasperated Stuart discovers that dealing with difficult customers requires considerably more patience than he possesses.
I’m Not a Racist, But… The Popular Phrase of the Pub Philosopher
“I'm not a racist, but…” Six words that invariably warn you something unpleasant is coming. From pub philosophers to casual conversations, this familiar expression attempts to disguise prejudice as reasonable opinion. But who is really being fooled? A look at the origins, contradictions and extraordinary staying power of one of the English language's most revealing conversational disclaimers.
The Celebrity Traitors: Hype, Hysteria and the Licence Fee
Apparently, the entire country is obsessed with The Celebrity Traitors. At least, that's what the BBC and the tabloids would have us believe. But is Britain really gripped by this supposed television phenomenon, or are we witnessing a publicly funded broadcaster desperately trying to demonstrate its own importance?
Why Is the Green Room Green? And What Really Goes On Behind That Door?
From Shakespearean actors to rock stars, politicians and television celebrities, the green room has witnessed centuries of gossip, nerves, outrageous behaviour and bruised egos. But where did its curious name originate? Discover the fascinating history of this backstage sanctuary, where glamour and human vulnerability meet behind closed doors.
Popular Idioms and Phrases: The Full Monty: From a Full English Breakfast to Full Frontal Nudity
From a cholesterol-laden Full English breakfast to unemployed Sheffield steelworkers stripping naked, few expressions are as wonderfully British as ‘the full monty’. But where did it originate? Field Marshal Montgomery, a famous tailoring empire or something altogether different? Discover the curious history of three words that conquered the world.
Tricks of the Vintage Trade No 1: How to Stop Sticking Drawers
Sticking drawers can turn a simple morning routine into a wrestling match. But the solution might already be sitting in your kitchen cupboard. Drawing on decades of experience selling vintage furniture, here's a remarkably quick, inexpensive trick using ordinary olive oil that could have those troublesome drawers sliding smoothly again.
Quick Reads: The Clash, Cheat, The Villains of Hackney and the Price of Honesty
In 1970s Hackney, a young father struggles to support his family while working in a pub riddled with corruption. Surrounded by thieves, he clings to his principles until desperation presents an extraordinary opportunity. With £25,000 within reach, he must decide whether honesty is a virtue he can still afford.
Quick Reads: The Narcissist and the School Drop-Off!
Make both our days by buying a copy of my book! Something About England: Amazon.co.uk: Harris, Mr Christopher, Turner, Louise: 9798181129351: Books Welcome to Denham, a fictitious Sussex village where behind respectable doors, well-tended gardens and familiar faces, things have a habit of going badly wrong. Obsession, ambition, deception, jealousy and petty rivalry run through this collection of tragi-comical and satirical short stories. From poltergeists and lottery winners to cricket club feuds and environmental disasters, ordinary people embark on discovering just how quickly an ordinary life can unravel into an extraordinary mess. Darkly funny, occasionally poignant and populated by characters who are rarely quite what they seem, these stories explore the peculiarities of Middle England, and the uncomfortable territory between respectability and ruin.