Memorable Olympics Games

                                                                                      
The date was set, the plans were made, there were doubts, a few alarm bells but once the London Olympics got underway everything went according to plans. The Games were as exciting as they were compelling to watch. Perhaps what marks out  this Olympics, in equal measure is that the organisation was top notch and the athletes were in top form and graced the occasion with sterling displays.Some of the actions were epic beyond belief. Records were broken, records were made. Legends were confirmed and legends crowned. Usain Bolt cemented his place in the annals of athletics folklore, Michael Phelps confirmed his claim to the throne as the most decorated Olympian of all time. New gems were discovered too. Few people outside athletics probably ever heard of  Greg Ruthersford. The 25 year old topped the table in the long jump winning the gold medal for Team GB, what about the 15 old American Katie Ledecky who beat our own favourite and brilliant Rebecca Adlington to win the gold medal in the 800m free-style swimming race. These are athletes to watch out for from now on. Rebecca, like most of Team GB performed well and did herself and the nation proud. Well done to all of them.

The standard of organisation was raised by the Greeks when they hosted the world in Athens, the Sydney Games went well too but London has raised the standard a notch. Its now up to Brazil to deliver such spectacle in Rio come 2016. We know the Brazilians can organise a party but can they combine that with effective logistics and management capable of living up to London2012? We shall see.

The London Olympics

I must confess I havent been caught in the Olympics fever gripping London at the moment. To be honest I have done my utmost best to avoid anything Olympic-related. Save the traffic lane restrictions, I havent been impacted by the Games at all. Well, if you discount last Thursday while out shopping on the Kings Road. The road was lined with  shoppers and shop keepers alike. The Olympic torch was coming to west London and passing through. The announcement on  the PA system said |Joana Lumley was going to carry the Olympic torch. What? Joana Lumley in a jogging suit hopping down the Kings Road ? Now that is a sight worth beholding. In all truth, the sight of Joana Lumley doing is anything is worth beholding. I couldnt wait for her though.

Now the Games have started I have watched a few events on television. I wish Team GB the best.

Drought Fears And Food Prices

Its 2012, Britain has had dip in rainfall for two years and its starvation time. Disaster! How can our harvest be lean and our grain silos empty in a year  we are inviting the world to our country for grand occasions. The Queens`s Diamond Jubillee and the Olympics are just months away and the country is being told life as we know it is about to cease. Why?  There has been a relatively dip in rainfall for the last two years.  A situation said to be affecting farming and food production and invariably would lead to poor harvest, non production of certain farm produce and a hike in food prices. 

The South East has seen the least rain over a couple of years, while the rest of the country has enjoyed a relatively normal rainfall. How many farms are in London? Or  in the whole of the South East for that matter. If the majority of the farms that produce our food are not based in the South East how is it then that the drought in the South East will have such a dramatic impact on food supply and prices.

It boggles the mind that with all the technological advancement and scientific inventions, our  ability to farm and produce food is still largely dependent on and susceptible to the vagaries of nature.  I dont think that befits a nation in the fore front of technology. Even if it doesnt rain at the expected level for three years I think we should stiil be able to carry on at the same level of production. Maybe this is a wake-up call to our policy makers. More attention has to be paid to how we can leverage technology not only for a more effective food production but aslo to save us being at the mercy of nature the way we are now.

Why do people entrusted with our money like to make silly decisions, then make it seem like they are doing us a favour? A couple of years ago the famous Routemaster buses could be seen gliding through the streets of London. An icon of the city. Globally recognised just like the celebrated red phone box. Then some smart alec decided the buses were to be pulled off the streets. Citing health and safety among other spurious reasons why we were better off without the eponymous buses. Now the buses have been  reinvented and reintroduced on our roads. At a whopping bill of £7.8 million for 5 units. Mathematics has never been my forte but I reckon that comes in at about £1.3m per bus. What a wind up.

Boris Johnson was in his most ebullient element yesterday while introducing us to our new expensive run around toy. Informing us how our lives will suddenly turn brighter, glamorous and our bank balances as lush as the rainforest  by catching a glimpse of the new Routemaster on our streets. Well not exactly in those words but something pretty akin to that.  I think all they needed to do was refit the old stock. Add new features like eco- friendly engines for example.

Westminster Council Parking Charge

Its been a while seeing an unpopular decision as Westminster council`s  plan to introduce new parking charges from next January. Not since the Poll Tax imbroglio. You know its serious when Boris Johnson and Ken Livingstone publicly and unequivocally agree on an issue. They, like a multitude of people are against the new charges. Much vociferous opposition has been raised by a broad spectrum of the population. The business owners in the West End dont like it. The churches dont like it. In fact so strong is their feelings about the the issue that they plan to put up  thier own candidates come 1014 says Churches Together in Westminster. Didnt even know churches had a trade union. Theatreland is outraged. Club and restaurant owners are at arms. Even the government is not impressed. A view expressed by the delectable  Transport Secretary Justine Greening this week. But neither her, nor Mayor Boris Johnson can intervene. So all the perfectly coiffured one could do was urge the boffins at Westminster council to have a rethink about the issue.

The question is, given this seemingly unanimous objection to the parking charges, why is Westminster council going ahead with the plan? According to Collin Barrow, leader of the council no one likes government decisions that involve charges. Am with him on that. But the council surely should not be seen as engaging in extortion and putting businesses at risk. Which to all intent and purposes is the case here.

My own view is that the scheme has less to do with traffic calming and more a means to raise revenue for the council. Its not about traffic calming at all. If you want to know what night time traffic tailback is go to Madrid. A city I frequent and know fairly well. The amount of traffic in the centre of the city at these hours being targeted by  Westminster council is most definitely higher, if not double what we have here. Ideally I think the council should scrap the idea.

Greenwich

I was at my old stomping ground Greenwich on Sunday. Not much has changed in the area. It warms the heart to see the Cutty Sark is being restored to it`s old glory. The ship has always been a notable point of interest in London.

The restoration is being financed by the Lottery Fund and the History Channel and is due for completion early next year.

Boris Johnson For Mayor

I am not a betting man but if i was my money would be on Boris Johnson flying the flag for the Conservatives come next year`s mayoral election. I support the choice. I do not have anything against Bozza {as he is now referred to} but he is not having my vote. Not that i am a Livingstone sympathiser as well. I do not think Livingstone listens to the people of London or carry out the wishes of the majority of the city`s inhabitants and stakeholders. Unless the Liberal Democrats come forward with a creditable candidate with a half- decent chance of winning then i shall refrain from voting in the election.

What i would like for London is a charismatic,urbane,well travelled,business savvy character with a strong link to the city. Someone who knows the city well. Someone not shackled to or encumbered by political affiliations and ideology nor driven by the quest to make political gains or points. Someone who appreciates not only the need to sell London as a brand to the world so we can maintain a competitive edge over other world class cities, but also commited wholeheartedly to finding practical and lasting solutions to the challenges faced by Londoners.

Whose name comes to mind here. One Richard Branson. I think he fits the description of what kind of mayor i envisage for London. Proven business acumen,seen a fair bit of the world{owns a bit of it too}, is well conversant with London, has a fresh outlook and and is not lacking in charisma. Please Richard Branson, be our mayor.

London Letter Bombs

What is going on ?.First it was the IRA,that was kind of sorted out by Tony who then got bored of not seeing Londoners bombed to bits so invited the Al-Queda and just as we seem to be getting used to losing leg and limb for daring to venture out we have some fellow/fellows(yet unknown)aiming to maim Londoners by mail.

A pattern is emerging in the episode. Seems someone or some people with a grudge against the Government and its policy(read seemingly unjustifiable,indirect taxation of car owners) have decided to take matters into their own hands.The first attack was on the offices of Capita. An outsourcing firm that handles the payments for the congestion charging scheme. We know the extension to the scheme is coming in less than a fortnight. Could this be a protest against the extension?

The DVLA in Swansea has also been sent one of these mail bombs. Surely some very very unhappy motorist has an axe to grind. Sending mails to these places would not bring any fruitful result. It only places ordinary pen-pushers going about their job in serious jeopardy.They do not make the decisoions in these places. Sooner the mail bomber realizes this the better.

Congestion Charging Extension Countdown

Despite widespread disquiet with the extension of the Congestion Charging Scheme in central London Ken Livingstone forced the idea through and this month sees the scheme starting in a sizeable swathe of west London. For a couple of weeks red C signs have been springing up on newly included areas. I must confess its kind of weird to see those dreaded C signs on streets which they never were before. There are even talks of confused tourists paying the toll to drive on these roads even though the extension does not start until the 19th of this month.

I do not believe the extension to the scheme has anything to do with traffic calming or congestion. Just a cynical way of taxing the public. The Mayor saw the immediate revenue potential in widening the scheme and thought wise to take advantage and raise funds. With the emphasis on `immediate potential` because respected studies have shown that it is not financially beneficial in the long run to extend the scheme.

One wonders then why, if there is no considerable concrete benefit to traffic flow in these areas and the cost involved in the long run Livingstone still decided to go ahead with it.

Sloanes Square Up

A storm is brewing in the Royal Borough Of Kensington & Chelsea. The council wants to redesign a notable part of the borough-Sloane Square but residents are not happy with the new design for the Square. As a stakeholder and a frequent visitor to Sloane Square i thought i should add my voice to the dissent.

Basically the council wants to expand the pavements and turn the Square into a multi-lane crossroads at a cost of £6 million. Why? The money even though mainly coming from Transport for London,is still taxpayers` money and could be better spent on other pressing public needs. The visage of the Square as intended by the council one can not even bear imagining. Think a mini Spaghetti junction.

A more sensible alternative design is being proposed by Save Sloane Square -a group formed expressly to fight the council`s proposed designs for the square.