I still find it odd how, every year, the fact that winter will contain occasional cold spells still creeps up on Italians (and, I believe, Greeks and Spaniards). OK, so it isn't worth installing double glazing -- though it might help keep things cool in summer -- but it might nevertheless be a good...
To Sorrento for a couple of days, to catch up with dear friends who are visiting for a week. The kinds of friends with whom one just takes off where one left off, despite not having had much serious contact for a year or more. About Sorrento and the Amalfi coast, least said soonest mended. I mean, t...
Reflections on Italian Taste: why do people bang on about the Italian sense of taste and style? True, some Italians are tasteful and stylish. But everywhere one looks there is evidence to the contrary. For each perfectly conceived piece of modern furniture, there are so many hideous piece of repro...
On Saturday a 15 ringgit cab ride brought me to the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia, at last away from the hotel-conference centre axis. It is a good place, full of interesting things to see and people seeing them. And if KL is very Blade runner, then the forest is very Raiders.
