blog
From an auctioneers to auction
On Friday I travelled down to Maidstone in Kent, to deliver a speech for Clive Emson, whose land and property auctioneers was celebrating it's 21st anniversary. The room was so packed that I wasn't left in any doubt about Clive's popularity in the area, and as I didn't escape until 4.30pm, you will have a clue as to how good a party it was.
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Proof reading
I have just returned from Majorca, where I was reading the proofs of Only Time Will Tell, the first volume of The Clifton Chronicles, which will be published on May 20 next year. In truth, you're meant to be looking out for small mistakes ('backer' instead of 'banker' for example), but the trouble is, one always has one or two fresh ideas at the same time.
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Test Match Special
They tell me that Test cricket is finished. It's boring. It can no longer keep one enthralled for five days. And once again, the cynics and the belittlers have been proved wrong. The first Test between India and Australia in Mohali, must have been among the most exciting in history, and once again V V S Laxman, who so often plays second fiddle to Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, came to India's rescue.
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From the home of cricket to the seat of valour
On Tuesday, I caught the train to Sheffield to speak at the Sheffield Cricket Lovers' Society 50th Anniversary charity lunch, in support of five local charities - Help for Heroes, Wellbeing of Women, Neurocare, Cavendish Cancer Care and Sincere Support.
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Yes, Prime Minister
On Monday evening Mary and I went to the opening night of Yes, Prime Minister, at the Gielgud Theatre. I won't say a great deal about the show as I'm an 'angel' (investor), but I was of course delighted to read such good reviews the following day.
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All's well...
And so the cricket season is over, and Pakistan should be taking off from Heathrow airport as I write this blog. I don't have a great deal to say about yesterday's match, other than Eoin Morgan's century and fielding were both quite remarkable, and with no disrespect to Andrew Strauss our distinguished captain, I would have given man of the series to Aamer Gul.
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Speaking aloud
Last night I spoke at the Hampstead & Highgate Literary Festival, and was greeted by a large and friendly crowd. I opened my speech with the questions: How many of you have thought about writing? How many of you have written a book? How may of you have been published? Over half the room put their hands up to question number one, 17 to number two, and sadly none to question three. Once again showing how very difficult it is for new authors to get published.
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Watching the game
Yesterday I had to make the decision whether to attend the England v Pakistan match, after Mr Ijaz Butt's irresponsible outburst accusing England of cheating. On the one hand, I wanted to make a protest, but on the other, I didn't want to insult my host, Naynesh Desai, who had kindly invited me to his box at Lord's.
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Claim and counter-claim
I hear that Sir Alex Ferguson has accepted a bribe from a Pakistani bookmaker to allow Man City to beat Man Utd when they next play against each other at Old Trafford; the score will be 0-6. If you believe this, then you'll be among the very few people who accept that England threw the One Day International against Pakistan last week. Mr Ijaz Butt, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, has made this fatuous claim, and more importantly, has said he will name the England players concerned.
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Chariots of Fire
On Sunday morning my wife Mary ran in the annual Chariots of Fire race in Cambridge, and completed the 1.7 mile course in a commendable 16 minutes, raising money for two very deserving local charities: Home Start Cambridge, a voluntary organisation offering support to young families at difficult times, and Wallace Cancer Care, which provides a drop-in centre at Addenbrooke's Hospital offering pr
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