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Back in the UK after a week in Tallinn and it's rather cold - looks like poor organisation to me because London is cold win a hint of snow while Tallinn is mild and rainy.

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Mandy and the Russians

Is it possible that Lord Mandelson could already be embroiled in the scandal that will cause his third cabinet resignation? It looks (BBC story) as if the vultures are circling, keen to know exactly what went on between Lord Mandelson and a Russian billionaire, and when. 

Commuting

First day on a commuter train since May and over-crowding seems to have got worse. Previously it was possible to board at Southampton Airport Parkway and find a seat by Winchester but today nobody got off from my carriage so I sat on the floor.

More trains, please, and more carriages.

Train was on time, though.

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Bonuses

There is a lot of talk on the news today about the bonuses paid to city traders who are, apparently, being blamed for the current financial crisis. As far as I can see, however, the problems stem from the lending of mortgages to people unable to afford the repayments in the long-term. Rather than the traders, it is the bank managers and branch financial consultants who have lent money inappropriately and it is they that should have their bonuses cut. Let's leave the traders alone and let the market punish them - they're the people who might, if we're lucky, be able to trade and bargain their way out of the current difficulties, eventually making life easier for everyone.

Punish the people who lent the money, and the idiots who borrowed it, not the traders who, it appears, are guilty only of earning a lot of money for doing a difficult, challenging and stressful job.

The Thrill Of Flying

Imagine my excitement when, upon boarding this evening's flight to Tallinn, I found that the inflight magazine has received it's quarterly update! What delights, what scintillating examples of the jounalist's arts, might await my eager eyes?

Imagine my disappointment, then, as I find articles entitled "Baltic Bird Paradise", "Estonia's Tax Phenomenon" and, my favourite, "Heat up the Sauna". Sleep cannot come quickly enough.

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Short Day

And my "working" day is now over and I'm off to Tallinn. Three and a half hours isn't really enough time to setup a new laptop, sift through my emails (only 300 - could have been much worse) and catch up with colleagues but I'll be back in London next week and at least I have reminded everyone that I still exist.

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Travelling Again

I am off to Tallinn again today (joy) but only for a short visit (back on Friday). I took a taxi to the station this morning (normally I walk) after collecting cash from the spitting brick. To keep things interesting I forgot my PIN and had to withdraw money on my credit card, which is always a trying experience. I fear the day can only deteriorate.

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Gunships on the Thames

Susie and I were in London on Thursday afternoon to see the Hadrian exhibit at the British Museum (worth seeing if you're a fan of Ancient Rome but give it a miss if think Pizza Hut is the height of Italian cuisine). On the way back to the station I couldn't help noticing the Apache Gunship (link) circling Waterloo Bridge and the Southbank (in case you don't often visit London, it is not normal to see this sort of hardware in the Metropolis).

I have no idea what the thing was doing (although one should not rule out a strike on Tate Modern by a gang of militant art-lovers) but it got me wondering about the circumstances under which I would like to see a Gunship in my vicinity; I came to the conclusion that there are none. This sort of helicopter is a bit like the SAS - everyone is glad that they're around to do their job, but you wouldn't really want to be in the area when they're doing it and if you've spotted them you should probably run away.

Why was it there? Here are four possible reasons:

1. Filming - somebody is shooting footage and it absolutely has to be of an Apache over London. Sounds unlikely.
2. Protection - someone important was in the area and a Gunship was vital to their security. Seems improbable, and it would probably be better to sacrifice the dignatory than to have an Apache shooting at the perceived threat in a city as crowded as London.
3. Other security - maybe the Apache has equipment not available to the Police. 
4. Training - maybe the crew needed training in flying over an urban landscape. Doesn't sound very likely - why choose central London in any case?

Maybe you could suggest some more likely explanation?

Blogtastic!

Long time, no blog. I took a break while we were on holiday but normal service resumes tomorrow. Tune in for meaningless drivel, pointless rants, unremarkable photographs and ill-considered reviews.

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