The Opposite

• The Eurovision Song Contest

  Tonight, millions of people across Europe – and even beyond – will be huddled in front of their TVs watching the Eurovision Song Contest. For many people, the event has become as important an annual fixture as the Cup Final, the Rose Bowl or even...

• The humble bumble bee

  Of all of the insects in the world, there are none quite as lovably stupid as the bumble bee. On what do I base this statement? Well, for starters, this is an insect that gets up early in the morning, while all other insects are quietly snoring under...

• Tomism

  I invented Tomism on a beach in Greece about nine years ago when I first met the delightful woman who, four years later, proved herself lunatic enough to marry me. She’s Norwegian. Like many Norwegians, she has a name that is almost impossible to p...

• 10 things to do before you die.

  As the seventeenth-century English poet Andrew Marvell wrote, But at my back I always hear Time’s winged chariot hurrying near. And yonder all before us lie Deserts of vast eternity. Which is not exactly cheerful, but old Andy did have a point: wit...

• Igor

  The history of Hollywood – and a few other places – is strewn with forgotten heroes, but none have been quite as thoroughly strewn, or forgotten, as Igor. This is strange indeed because if you so much as mention the name Igor to most people, the...

• Unboxing

  There will be many of you are unfamiliar with the word “unboxing” and to tell you the truth I was too until recently. You must admit, it’s a slightly unusual word. You might conceivably be forgiven for thinking that it refers to one of the man...

• Down by law.

  We all live in societies that are governed by rules. And, believe me, few societies are governed by quite so many rules as the one I live in. You see, Norwegians have wonderful laws – handmade, finely crafted, honed to perfection. People come from...

• The Art of Defensive Shopping

  Mention the phrase ‘defensive shopping’ to most people and those who have heard the expression before will probably think that it refers to not succumbing to temptation, impulse buying or sales pressure. In other words, defending yourself against...

• It was a dark and stormy night

  It was a dark and stormy night, and the Captain said to Jim, “Jim, tell us a tale!” So Jim began. “It was a dark and stormy night, and the Captain said to Jim, “Jim, tell us a tale!” So Jim began.” “It was a dark and stormy night, and...

• Living space

  No, before you grasp the wrong end of the stick firmly in both hands, this is not a neo-Nazi rant about ‘lebensraum’. I’m talking about the space that we live in, our homes. I am frankly amazed that so many people live in houses that are quite...

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