For years I’ve taken the home-cooked food from my family for granted. Having children has changed all that and three fabulous dinners have made me realise how short-sighted I have been. I...Read More
If I don’t quite know what the purpose of this blog is yet, I have a better idea of what it is not. And what it is not, is a platform for my own political beliefs. But it is hard not to mention poli...Read More
As far as this blog is concerned, I am feeling rather remiss at the moment. There has been a lot of distraction this summer. For my neglect, I can only offer apologies and excuses. Where to begin wi...Read More
Not wanting to detract from the fine meal enjoyed at Patron, there was one further thing to mention from our visit. It seemed pertinent given my gripe about service at the Magdalen Arms. My complaint ...Read More
Before the arrival of children, it’s easy to take your freedom to go out of an evening for granted. Some of the nicest nights Mrs OBEM and I spent in our pre-children days were those random ev...Read More
This time last year, I paid my first visit to the Magdalen Arms in Oxford. It started off a really good run of eating out in the city. Some excellent meals at Oli’s Thai, the Chester Arms, the P...Read More
Eleven days into January and Mrs OBEM’s attempts to stay ‘dry’ for the month are going well. I haven’t even bothered, January is miserable enough. But her stoicism has got me t...Read More
A conversation with a colleague yesterday reminded me how important traditions are at Christmas. Most families have their own traditions – how the house is decorated, the putting up of the tree ...Read More
It is rare that we leave the children overnight. But for the last few years, we have done precisely that around November time. That it coincides with Mrs OBEM’s birthday lightens the present-buy...Read More
Twenty years since our one and only holiday, I packed my bags to join four friends from school for a two night break in Valencia. The Trip Following a thoroughly enjoyable trip to Bilbao with some of ...Read More