Ben Williams

“The Dark is Rising” by Susan Cooper must be one of the most atmospheric children’s books ever written - esp at Christmas. But reading it today over my daughter’s shoulder I laugh at my childish unknowingness when I read: “he spent the afternoon shopping for presents in Slough”.

His first wife was of course called Evelyn and known as the she-Evelyn.

Niche observation, but the fact our current elite thinks 5 Hertford Street - a Tardis version of a gypsy caravan - is the epitome of a private club tells you a lot about our current circumstances. It’s actually just Mar-a-Lago in vignette.

If past experience is a guide, this will be good.

Thanks to the Times revealing that the King is selling Balmoral Beard Balm, I’ve got my brother-in-law’s Christmas gifted sorted, and it’s not even August.

I think I have an uncanny premonition of the make-up of a citizen’s assembly. It will be carefully vetted to make sure that it’s representative and balanced. Just like the audience on BBC Question Time.

Just sent my godson a package of books: Alan Garner, Susan Cooper, Ursula le Guin, Anthony Buckeridge, Rosemary Sutcliffe. There is so much excellent out there beyond the inevitable JKR. What else is recommended for bright sub-teen (already has Katherine Rundell)?

Except liver I guess. dutchreview.com/culture/dutch-…

So, are we to see 16 y olds on juries, allowed to join the forces on active operations, to marry (or do so without permission in Scotland and NI), to buy alcohol and cigarettes, and to pose for nudes?

Lovely to walk into my flat after a couple of weeks away and find the central heating had switched on as the batteries in the Heatmiser smart thermometer had failed.

Putting your 15 year old on a solo flight from LHR to Brisbane via Sydney is very odd. Like you are giving your heart to someone else to look after, a bit like something from a German fairytale. Very impressed at her sangfroid however. My first solo flight was just to Paris!

Ahhh, the joys of a bowl of cold, homemade ajo blanco in the sun. Just a shame I’m working and can’t accompany it with white wine.

C/theories about Epstein's death are less interesting than the real Q: how did this ex-teacher acquire such wealth? It's the most extreme example of rising without trace in recent history. Surely he was a Sherlock Holmes villain writ large: a C A Milverton leapt from the page.

Since I keep being told that appropriating stuff from foreigners is the key to our Island Story, surely this means Truss is absolutely right?

My god! That means my mother, my daughter and me all (respectively) qualify! Heading to the showroom tomorrow.

My system is working as intended.