Key: When you see the letters FT, it means Factoid. Small facts and figures you may find useful at your next dinner party. Begin the conversation with “Did you know that in South Africa…”   Richard called G at 6 in the morning. He offered to take her  to visit S in hospital. Richard’s name…

Help! It is not often that one gets that golden opportunity, the long- hoped for chance to be somebody’s hero. It usually starts with a cry for help. Help! She cried, and despite the danger of walking nose-first into a cliche, G and I headed for the unmistakeable phenomenon of white woman screaming, on her…

…The Angry Birds did not attack on the flight! Safe, sound, gone to ground. Cape Town grins under a gentlemanly sun while the Mountain sits above like a giant ogre’s brow, seemingly protecting this sprawl of a city. A vast curve of bay, skyscrapers and ships. And perched between Mountain and city, the gurning University…

To Zumania or Bust! Heathrow again! This time Terminal 3. My last flight 3 weeks ago was from Terminal 5 and the walk from terminal entrance to plane totalled 1.9 km. So far I have walked 1 Km in T3. Not great carrying a banana, and having left the walking stick in the minicab. The…

  Behind me, my nephew listens to bluegrass music and taps away at his iPad, working from home. Or rather, his parents’ home – he lives in LA. On the floor below mom looks around her from her bed, and wonders where she is. Shortly I will accompany sister to bully the tiny watchmaker who…

Reasons for Thanksgiving In Madaya Syria Omar, a fifteen year old boy, threw himself off a balcony a few days ago. Separated from his mother, suffering daily horrendous bombardment, he saw no alternative. He survived, and people from all over the world have sent him wonderful messages of love and support. Who cares about the…