My Writing
THE DAY GARRY SOBERS SCORED A CENTURY WITH A HANGOVER
I was 15 when I saw the great Garry Sobers play for the first and last time at Lord’s. It was memorable in many ways, not least for being a colossal innings defeat for England, greeted with a massive pitch invasion by West Indies fans. It was even more memorable for witnessing Sobers’ last ever century – completed in three parts, the biggest one with a raging hangover.
This is a rather marvellous gem from the vaults – Vivian Stanshall being interviewed by Toyah Wilcox on a long forgotten TV show back in 1982.
I’ve stayed in a lot of hotels. Some good, some bad. Some luxury escapes, some fleapits. But none could compete for all-round awfulness with The Walton Hotel in Nottingham.
TThe Apprentice is, I think, the only reality-adjacent TV show I’ve ever watched. I’m a big fan, largely because of the unrelenting idiocy of (some / most of) the contestants.
I know it’s very early in the year, and there are plenty more idiocies to look forward to in 2026, but I have already read what will surely be a contender for Stupidest Phrase to be published in a national newspaper this year.
Trump is given an imaginary “World Peace Prize” by FIFA in advance of this summer’s football World Cup finals. And, like the moron he is, he seems to think it’s real.
TIM COOPER – ANOTHER VIEW
Evening Standard, 16 December 2016
For a long time I’ve thought about starting my own food blog. Trouble is, restaurants wouldn’t like my reviews much because every time I eat out, something goes wrong. Well, not EVERY time – that would be impossible – but as near as dammit, and much more often than is statistically likely.
