Best Use

Best Use / 2018-04-30 / Nick Sallnow-Smith My title is a real estate term. It captures the idea that for every plot of land there is a “best use”. A use which will create the most value from that site, given its location and nature. Rural sites with good soilContinue reading>

Is Everything Under Control?

Is Everything Under Control?  /2018-03-29/Nick Sallnow-Smith You may not think it from my title but this piece is about the Budget. Let me explain. Human beings, when faced with the chaos of nature, crave some degree of certainty. Governments respond to that innate desire with welfare programmes, the promise toContinue reading>

One Ring To Rule Them All

One Ring To Rule Them All /2018-02-28/Nick Sallnow-Smith No, not an article about dogs for Chinese New Year. I thought you might have had your fill of those. Instead my title was triggered by The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra’s performance last month of their final “opera in concert” of Wagner’s RingContinue reading>

Do Turkeys Vote for Xmas?

Do Turkeys Vote for Xmas? /2017-12-31/Nick Sallnow-Smith I thought that over the holiday season I would write on a topical subject. Of course the classic phrasing of my title would be “turkeys don’t vote for Xmas”. The implication is that even as stupid a bird as a turkey (I don’tContinue reading>

Please sir, I want some more

Please sir, I want some more /2017-11-31/Nick Sallnow-Smith My title this month, probably the best known piece of dialogue in all of Charles Dickens’ novels, is the brave question from orphan Oliver Twist to the tyrannical master of the poorhouse. I was reminded of it this month at a presentationContinue reading>