Philip Astor

[Philip Astor @PDPAstor]

@bigdaps Incidentally, did you know the crazy coincidence that Van Morrison was born in a gym, while Jim Morrison was born in a van.

[Philip Astor @PDPAstor]

@ritula I’ve been a fan/listener since the ’70s. Yes, l remember the days of Anthony Howard & John Tusa. You were terrific, as was @robinlustig. Let’s just hope the BBC makes good use of the fine skills of James Coomarasamy, who of course has a history with Newshour & the World Service.

[Philip Astor @PDPAstor]

@DanNeidle Plus no discrete ref to MVs in the Notes, as promised by Johnston Carmichael. There is the following year (albeit by new auditors), when the cost is identified as having been £100,790 - ie more than the Jag, but less than the motor home. 2/2

[Philip Astor @PDPAstor]

@DanNeidle Striking that this is the first year that “Motor Vehicles” has featured as an item in the accounts At ALL. Surely that might have prompted a query from someone - even with no accountancy expertise. 1/2

[Philip Astor @PDPAstor]

@GilesMacDonogh @GroomB At least she’s still in it - unlike her hapless brother who painted it, and was subsequently excised.

[Philip Astor @PDPAstor]

@JamesAHogg2 You could post this every day, as far as l’m concerned. And thanks for sticking with the decanter.

[Philip Astor @PDPAstor]

@montie @bbclaurak I still don’t understand - if, as @TiceRichard claimed, Farage “was not involved in politics at the time,” why did he need a lifetime’s worth of security?

[Philip Astor @PDPAstor]

@thequentinletts Yes, it is irksome. But it's the wholly redundant use of “like” that really drives me MAD.

[Philip Astor @PDPAstor]

@ArmandDAngour @hedgethomist Yes, I was always impressed by Martin's accents, in that handsome script of his. But I was never taught to use them myself, either at Eton or my prep school, where Greek was notably well taught. (On the other hand I can never forgive either for my lifelong uselessness at maths).

[Philip Astor @PDPAstor]

@AdamHayNicholls @greateranglia 17.18 is surely peak peak.

[Philip Astor @PDPAstor]

@peter_sarris @adwooldridge @TheEdwardHowell Go easy on the Pink Gins at 9.30am… He was a delightful man, and a legend in the Gridiron Club.

[Philip Astor @PDPAstor]

@vicderbyshire @sommervilletv Delighted for you @BBCSteveR, but certainly not surprised. Your reports are never less than engaging, insightful and courageous. And of course your piano playing deserves an award in its own right.

[Philip Astor @PDPAstor]

@HughSykes I'm a member of our local Parish Council: voluntary and unpaid. But I'm still bound by the Nolan Principles of Public Life.

[Philip Astor @PDPAstor]

@ArmandDAngour Not forgetting Oxford's EJRA, which may not strictly apply, but I dare say they would have regard to.

[Philip Astor @PDPAstor]

@ArmandDAngour Crikey - I see: HL-J was effectively our age when he retired.

[Philip Astor @PDPAstor]

@ArmandDAngour @FreyaOstara Just as long as we keep the Gods happy.

[Philip Astor @PDPAstor]

@ArmandDAngour @FreyaOstara "To suppose a word’s etymology was what it ‘literally means’ is silly. And by ‘silly’ I don’t mean ‘holy’, though the word is related to German ‘selig’, holy."

Continuing the religious theme, how about εὐφημί ??

[Philip Astor @PDPAstor]

@SophyRidgeSky I don't know if this was your experience, but I certainly remember him parrying any question he didn't like in the course of interviews (not about his private life) by saying, with a hint of menace, that he detected something actionable in the line of questioning.

[Philip Astor @PDPAstor]

@simon_schama @washingtonweek @FranklinFoer Yes, that pathetic but egregious way he barged his way to the front for a NATO photocall was pure Spode.