Sunday, October 26, 2025

Charlie and Mamachari

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Borrowing a bicycle… Charlie:  I need to pop down to the shops. Hiroshi:   うん、いいよ。うちの二台目の自転車、使っていいよ。 Use my Mama-chari. Charlie:  A what? So...
Wednesday, October 22, 2025

The Ballerina also READS

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Coping with a feisty research assistant… Antonio : I need a summary of Mali’s history by close of play today. Olivia:  I have a ballet class...
Wednesday, October 15, 2025

Carnivore vs Vegan

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Down the road from the farmers market... Helen:  Nice boots. Did the cow die of natural causes? Grace:  I’m sure it did. Vintage, thank you ...
Tuesday, October 7, 2025

Travels with a Cactus

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Staying with a friend… Sylvia:  You travel with a cactus? Antonia:  That’s Rolenzo. I’m writing a book. Working title:  Travels with My Cact...
Monday, October 6, 2025

Offer of designing a hotel

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1885 Job interview… Lady Burdett-Coutts : I heard you picked up a building and moved it. CT : Ah, yes. Chicago. It had its difficulties, bei...
Wednesday, October 1, 2025

White Mooncake Rabbit

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It’s mooncake time when the Jade Rabbit in the moon pounds the elixir of immortality (I’m a bit keen on that). Full of ingredients like lotu...
Tuesday, September 23, 2025

A Dream of Red Mansions

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At the theater… Harold : Are you, by any chance Professor White? Professor White : I am. Harold : I’m Harold, I took your Chinese Literature...
Friday, September 19, 2025

1847: Francis Rejoins the Family Firm

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Bernard urges a thoughtful Francis… Francis : Feels oddly familiar yet foreign. London’s hustle has its own rhythm. Bernard : It’s in your b...
Saturday, September 13, 2025

Setting out from Berlin 1796

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Family meeting… Rene : Berlin has limits, but London… it’s buzzing with ships, trade, and opportunity for an underwriter. Father : Clearly, ...
Thursday, September 11, 2025

A talk with an underwriter in 1802

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A booth at the coffee shop…  Mr. Norton:  Your porcelain shipment is a fragile commodity. The charge for insurance is contingent upon the de...
Wednesday, September 3, 2025

Sarawak Laksa

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Choon Hui Café 06:45 am… Antonio : Sarawak Laksa. Medium size. Coffee and Poppia. Mei : Poppia maker’s not in today, sorry lah. Antonio : Th...
Monday, September 1, 2025

White Borneo Rabbit

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WHITE RABBIT WHITE RABBIT WHITE RABBIT Arriving in present day Sarawak was not quite the Borneo that Biggles flew into in a Beaufighter in W...
Tuesday, August 26, 2025

Using Surnames as Forenames

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Getting to know you… Harry Winston:  Been meaning to ask why do you go by Oliver when your first name’s William? William Oliver:  Well. In s...
Wednesday, August 20, 2025

Histamine Memory

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Seeking help… Jeff:  I used AI to generate a list of questions a doctor might ask me. Dr Sirinat:  Hmm. Very helpful. You’ve had hives for t...
Sunday, August 17, 2025

David Gibbins: Marine Archaeologist

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A writer who can do thrillers and history… Antonio : He writes thrillers, is a diver and an academic. Trifecta. Ricardo : He caught a few lu...