Author Archives: j futrell

Driven To Drink – my time (albeit brief) with the late Alan Wicker

Posted on July 14, 2013 by j futrell

I met Alan Whicker once, a long time ago. I think it was in the sprauncy resort town of Costa Smerelda, where men wear sarongs, and there are Sunseeker launches in the bay, far north on Sardinia’s east coast. It … Continue reading →

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Honest PR – shock

Posted on June 18, 2013 by j futrell

I get a lot of emails from PRs. And by that I mean a lot, between 25 and 100 every day. Most don’t interest me; they are either inappropriate (I don’t write a lot of articles on women’s underwear, albeit … Continue reading →

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Artful Wine

Posted on April 9, 2013 by j futrell

Chateau La Coste is the most unusual vineyard in France. In fact, it’s probably the most atypical vineyard in the world. In fact, it doesn’t look like a vineyard at all, in the conventional sense. There is no clutter, no abandoned … Continue reading →

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J.Simons – The American Way

Posted on March 6, 2013 by j futrell

The mark of a truly great shop is the way in which the staff know, almost telepathically, what you want, even before you do. And I’m not talking about those algorithms used by iTunes that seem to think my next … Continue reading →

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Hooray for Hornets

Posted on January 7, 2013 by j futrell

I confess to being a textbook male shopper: In as much as nine times out of ten I will put off buying clothes until the last minute, and then walk away with the first the thing I try on, in … Continue reading →

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The Man From Whitton

Posted on December 8, 2012 by j futrell

I met a man from Whitton the other day. “Where,” you say. Well just hang on moment. He didn’t actually say he was from Whitton, at first. Initially, he only confided that he was from somewhere near Twickenham, whereupon noticing … Continue reading →

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Kim at The Affordable Art Fair Hampstead

Posted on October 28, 2012 by j futrell

Those Londoners who haven’t been down to Cornwall to see Kim’s embroidery/paintings will have the opportunity to enjoy them in the flesh, later this week. From Thursday to Sunday (November 1-4) a selection of her works will be on sale … Continue reading →

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Summer at the Serpentine – Thursday nights with my mate Bob

Posted on July 21, 2012 by j futrell

I learnt a lot of things about London and Londoners on Thursday. For example I learn that Michael Caine made his screen debut in the 1961 film The Day The Earth Caught Fire, playing a London bobby ushering members of … Continue reading →

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A Very Special Dog

Posted on June 27, 2012 by j futrell

Tashi Delek, the most photographed Airedale Terrier in Cornwall, died peacefully on the settee, in the living room of her home in Padstow.Tashi, or Tash, or Snoo as she was known to Kim and myself was born in Grantham. She was … Continue reading →

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It’s Good To Talk

Posted on June 13, 2012 by j futrell

When I returned to my desk, after a couple of days in the west country attending the funeral of an old school friend, I booted up my laptop to find 252 emails awaiting me. The subjects therein ranged from outward … Continue reading →

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