A Carol For Christmas

The Pogues
Fairytlae of New York



Briefing Notes: The finest song ever written about Christmas. A tale of Irish immigrants, dreaming of happier times in holidays past whilst sleeping of their intoxication in a New York jail cell. The protagonists' hopes and dreams, once held in youth, have eroded and died. A different side to the usual Christmas sounds and imagery.

Further Information: The Pogues are playing at the O2 tonight!

Contrarian To Celebrate

Christopher Hitchens

'Human decency is not derived from religion. It precedes it.'

Briefing notes: Much missed erudite author, orator, teacher, iconoclast and polemicist. Not afraid of challenging authority, faith or even Mother Teresa. His clarity of argument is astonishing to hear or read along with his total believe in humanity itself. His passing at the hands of cancer was a great loss to the world, although the wretched disease did inspire him to pen a series of beautiful pieces on his experience in fighting off death.

Further information: Hitch 22: A Memoir - Christopher Hitchens 

Mortality - Christopher Hitchens 

God Is Not Great - Christopher Hitchens

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-s9AyNQyCw

Bounder!

Terry Thomas

Briefing notes: Comic actor celebrated for playing cads and rotters. Highlights of his career include School For Scoundrels, Private's Progress and voicing the character Hiss (the snake) in Disney's Robin Hood. Always superbly outfitted and sporting a gap in his front teeth and his trademark cigarette holder. Thomas notably exclaimed  hugely popular catch-phrases including 'what an absolute shower' and 'hard cheese' which are sadly underused in the present day. Thomas suffered from Parkinson's disease and existed for many of his later years in virtual obscurity until his suffering was uncovered and a benefit gala organised in his honour. 

Further information: Bounder! The Biography of Terry Thomas - Graham McCann 

School For Scoundrels - Hal E Chester 

Kit List

Boxer Shorts

Briefing notes: Must always be 100% cotton. Plain, striped or check print acceptable. No cartoon characters, 'jazzy' motifs or slogans. No buttons, labels or branding on the outside of the waistband. Waistband to be covered on both sides by the same cotton as the rest of the short. Best I have found are Turnbull & Asser who fulfil all the criteria specified above. Expensive but if bought in the Winter or Summer sales worth the investment.

Further Information: http://store.turnbullandasser.co.uk

Sprezzatura

Style Influence

Gianni Agnelli

Briefing notes: Patriarch of the family controlling FIAT motor cars. He was in his life, Italy's most successful business man and certainly the most impeccably dressed of its nationals. He combined high quality Italian tailoring nonchalantly with small yet important touches of flair. The most celebrated of theses flourishes was the wearing of his watch on the shirt sleeve rather than on the actual wrist.

Further information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gianni_Agnelli

December

Watch
Constellations - Nick Payne Duke of York's theatre
Argo - Ben Affleck
Peep Show - Channel 4
The Fear - Channel 4

Visit
Death a self-portrait - Wellcome Collection
The Pogues - O2 Arena

Eat
Roganic -Marylebone
St John Hotel - Leicester Square

Read
The Colony Room Club 1948-2008. A history of bohemian Soho - Sophie Parkin
The Last Holiday - Gil Scott-Heron

Listen
Little Green Cars - John Wayne

Image
Dirty White Trash - Tim Noble & Sue Webster

Erudite Eccentric

Colonel Blashford-Snell - 'Blashers'




Briefing notes: Immaculate gentleman explorer and high-spirited lecturer.

Further information: http://www.johnblashfordsnell.org.uk

Essential Read

The Road To Wigan Pier
by George Orwell

Briefing notes: The first half of the tome presents Orwell's insights into the existence of the working class living in the the industrial towns of Northern England in the years before the outbreak of World War Two. The second, explores Orwell's own beliefs and thoughts on socialism. The themes touched upon in the prose have remained relevant to life since its publication and perhaps in this current moment in time, more relevant than ever.

Further information: http://www.george-orwell.org/The_Road_to_Wigan_Pier/index.html

Kit List

Penny Loafer (slip-ons)

Briefing notes:  American east coast heritage. Compliment practically any type of suit, considered to be too casual for black tie and morning suit occasions. Can be black, ox-blood, brown, suede or tasselled. Manufacturers recommended include Crockett & Jones and Edward Green.

Crockett & Jones - Sydney

Edward Green - Piccadilly

Further Information: http://www.edwardgreen.com, http://www.crockettandjones.com

Künstler

Polly Morgan

Briefing Notes: Taxidermy specialist, works convey the beauty in fatality.

Further information: http://pollymorgan.co.uk

Kit List

Socks

Briefing notes: Wool, cashmere, silk or cotton. Hand linked toe to avoid discomfort. Plain or subtle pattern. No cartoon characters, slogans etc. I recommend two manufacturers Scott-Nichol and Pantharella. Both make in Britain and their offerings are of the highest quality.

Further Information: http://www.woodsofshropshire.co.uk/mens-socks.html

 

Amiable Rogue

William Donaldson

Briefing notes: Satirist, bon viveur and the mastermind behind the Henry Root letters.

Further information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Donaldson

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1492841/William-Donaldson.html

November

Watch

The River - by Jez Butterworth at The Royal Court
The Master - by Paul Thomas Anderson
Amour - Michael Haneke
Secret State - Channel 4

Visit

Pre Raphaelites - Tate Britain
Theatre of War by Cecil Beaton at the Imperial War Museum
Cenotaph - Remembrance Sunday

Eat

Colbert - Sloane Square
Burger & Lobster - Smithfield
Garnier - Earls Court

Read

The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists - Robert Tressell
Merckx: Half-Man, Half-Bike - William Fotheringham

Listen

Woodkid

Image

The Menin Road - Paul Nash