Stephen Stratford

Author of a dozen, editor of hundreds. Random precision.
Tom Stoppard: "Age is a very high price to pay for maturity."
Me: "I want my money back."

[Stephen Stratford @StephenStra]

Nearly three weeks on, he'd be amazed and quietly chuffed to still be making headlines [Sarah, on Stephen's behalf].
Obituary: Stephen Paul Stratford, 1953-2021 https://t.co/tfuWW0dbEF

[Stephen Stratford @StephenStra]

@johnnycleaver @sophiekoh First concert: Thelonious Monk, Tauranga
Last: Mudsharks, Raglan
Best: Frank Zappa
Worst: too many to mention
Loudest: Led Zeppelin
Seen the most: Hello Sailor
Most surprising: Geraint Watkins. London. How to bend a harmonic
Next: none
Wish I could have seen: Joni Mitchell.

[Stephen Stratford @StephenStra]

@fundypost I have been to a marquee at Government House in Auckland. It was the only time I have been kissed by a Governor-General.

[Stephen Stratford @StephenStra]

@KilmoreKarina @thebooksdesk Second thoughts are often better thoughts.

[Stephen Stratford @StephenStra]

@Cain_Unable I mostly use Popper and Wittgenstein. In one of Stephen Potter's Gamesmanship books he recommends, when a bore is boring about conditions in, e.g Mexico, one replies, "But only in the south." I have used this many times against men with beards and it works.

[Stephen Stratford @StephenStra]

@neurula Whole, I think. Decades ago I was in an Indian restaurant where I was a regular, had in mind a curry calling for cardamoms but no idea where to buy them. Asked the waitress for advice. "How many?" she said. "Five," I said. She went to the kitchen and came back with five. Free.

[Stephen Stratford @StephenStra]

@kimknightnz The 1950s were a confusing time, and not just because I was at primary school.

[Stephen Stratford @StephenStra]

That's Kevin Ireland on the left and George Mackay Brown on the right, I reckon.

[Christopher Howse @BeardyHowse]

Either the pub wasn't open yet or they had no money. The step does not look comfortable for old bones.

[Stephen Stratford @StephenStra]

@dritchie Strong agree with both sentences.

[Stephen Stratford @StephenStra]

@dritchie More evidence for the Stratford Theory of Numbers: https://t.co/sKXGu3WFvZ

[Stephen Stratford @StephenStra]

@RobbieNicol Aerial top-dressing. Never thought I would tweet about this, but it pre-dates some other suggestions.

[Stephen Stratford @StephenStra]

On p90 there is a photo of Picasso in 1937 working on "Guernica". He is wearing a tie. I have male painter friends who are buttoned-up but not to that extent.

[Stephen Stratford @StephenStra]

Apollo magazine, June issue, p76, there is a portrait of NZ Wellington publisher Roger Steele. It is billed as "The Vision of St Anthony" by Sebastiano del Piombo, but it is Roger to the T.

[Philosophy Matters @PhilosophyMttrs]

Today's Definition

[Stephen Stratford @StephenStra]

@suecopsey @vandasymon Ian is a proper intellectual so wouldn't have to pretend. Son of a friend did some work at his place in France pre-fame and was creeped out by all the true crime books on the shelves. Thought he was working for a serial killer. Ian is also great company so you'll have fun, Vanda.

[Stephen Stratford @StephenStra]

@BenThomasNZ I have no memory of this but I am told that when he was 10-12 he would come to our house and I would tell him off for being too loud. I wouldn't try that now,

[Stephen Stratford @StephenStra]

@tmurphyNZ Strong Benny Hill vibe off Rudd there.

[Stephen Stratford @StephenStra]

@ruralmaori Also: did you not have an older sister?

[Stephen Stratford @StephenStra]

@Barbacaca This is so like an episode of The Fast Show with Caroline Aherne as the wife and Paul Whitehouse as the man on the right.