Diamond Jubilee Fever

London is going Queen's Diamond Jubilee crazy!

Bunting is going up in shops and across roads, street parties are being planned by the thousands, stores are advertising everything from Pimms (oh, yes please) to coloured cupcakes (no thanks).

There's a whole 4 day weekend of events from racing (horses that is), mega gig outside Buck P. (questionable line up if you ask me), carriage procession, church service (its not all fun), a flyby (writing QEII in the sky) and finally the real QEII herself on the balcony to do her waving thing.

Of course the highlight is the 1,000 boat pageant of boats on the Thames: as many ships for one woman as when Helen of Troy made Paris's heart go into thumping overdrive.

A lot more information is available out there, from the BBC's dedicated subsite to the newspapers (e.g. the Guardian's downloadable map here. Techies might be interested to note its being hosted on Google Drive), London focus sites like LondonTown.com have their own take here and of course the official site here.

On the Thames Jubilee Pageant site as well as the map shown above you can also find a lot of information about some of the boats taking part including:

• Fireboats
• Dunkirk Little Ships
• Avenue of Sail (which are separate and moored below London Bridge)
• Historic + Service boats
• Human powered boats (or at least that's what they should be called)
• Recreational motorboats
• Explore Vessels (not entirely sure what that means but they sound and look interesting)
• Narrowboats (I've seen them a few times)
• Kayaks (if rowers toss oars what do kayakers do?)
• Barges 
• Herald Music Barges (can they Handel the pressure - geddit???)
• Passenger Boats
• Royal Squadron

Plus without downloadable PDFs there are working boats, flags of the pageant and a whole swarm of police launches, RNLI orange specials, mean and menacing Royal Marines and the PLA to keep everyone in order.

Phew! What a list! Should be absolutely amazing even if the weather is threatening to be historically appropriate.

But I'm going to miss almost it all.

Ah well, there'll be another one in 350 years or so and Buff assures me that he has it all under control.

Installation review: Underscore

A quick post about last weekend before the Queen's Jubilee mega-bash takes over.

Last Sunday, when the sun still shone over London town, there was an installation in Wandsworth Park on the Thames opposite the Hurlingham, called Underscore.

It allowed you to follow the route of this weekend's pageant, but underwater, with your ears.

As you walked along a curly path under those pregnantly green trees you passed by wooden boxes with names like Kew Bridge, Embankment and Thames Gateway, on which stood monochrome clothed artists with megaphones.

They performed sounds that had been recorded at those places along the way, animalistic croaks and machine like thuds.

I enjoyed the aural walk under Thames so much I did it many times, both upstream and down, then went for an ice cream.

It was a good afternoon.

What's on the fourth plinth now?

Replacing Nelson's ship in a bottle, a homage to "the heroism of growing up"
 

Theatre review: One Man, Two Guvnors - in three words

Very very funny

Nelson's Ship in a Bottle at its new home

While it was disappointing to find the Cutty Sark closed yesterday I took the opportunity while in Greenwich to see Nelson's Ship in a Bottle at its new home outside the National Maritime Museum.

And very good it looks too. It links the navy and empire with the peoples involved, combining a historic sailing ship with fabrics in a way that really works next to the new wing overlooking Greenwich Park (currently filled with Olympics preparations).

This evening there was a reception where its artist, Yinka Shonibare, gave a short talk about his thinking behind the work and what he wanted to achieve.

Make people think was one of his objectives, but maybe as important was to make a connection, for that is where it excels. It opens up the NMM to a wider audience and that can only be a good thing.

You can already judge its success by the steady stream of visitors having their picture taken with it in the background, at home as if it was designed for that location in mind rather than the 4th plinth in Trafalgar Square.

The Cutty Sark is closed on Mondays

A top tip for those in London.

If the weather is great and you wonder if it would be worth taking Monday off work to visit the Cutty Sark, then don't.

The Cutty Sark is closed on Mondays.
 

Diamond Jubilee's Biggest Poster and Culture in Stone

When Liz goes boating next weekend (along with 1,000 other vessels) she will pass this epically big poster from the Silver Jubilee back in 1977.

100 x 70 metres it has been hung on the sides of Sea Container house between Waterloo and Blackfriars.

I was a bit worried about the office workers stuck behind it, their windows darkened by the royal images, as in years gone by I've been to many a meeting there. But fortunately it's currently being renovated.

At its base you'll find the Gallery@Oxo which is currently showing an exhibition of Shona sculpture from Zimbabwe called "Culture in stone" - small but well worth visiting.

More pictures from: Culture in stone

London's burning, 2012 update

London's burning, London's burning

Open a cold one, open a cold one

BBQ! BBQ!

Watch the sun set, watch the sun set

 
 

Diamond Jubilee Top Tip

I was thinking of getting the iPad app The Thames: London's Crown Jewel but it only got 2 out of 5 stars on the Telegraph's tech column.

Not having bought it I save myself £ 1.99 but am unable to say whether that is a fair review or not.

All is not lost, as instead I suggest you make your way over to the BBC for their interactive section on the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Thames Pageant where they show:

• the route
• music barges
• moored boats
• recreation boats
• working boats
• historic boats
• lead boats

Boats it mentions includes the Matthew of Bristol, Suhaili, the Golden Hinde, many narrowboats, some Thames barges, the Alaska, fireboats, HSL-102, lifeboats, Dunkirk little ships, Cutters, Cornish pilot, racing gigs, skiffs, longboats, gondolas, lifeboats, kayaks, dragon boats, shallops, a Viking longboat and of course Gloriana.

Well worth heading over and having a look.

Upgrades Added to the Royal Service at Paradisus Palma Real

The Paradisus Palma Real Resort & Spa has added new inclusions to their Royal Service!

The New Royal Service Experience:

• 200 all new Royal Service suites with In-room Jacuzzi®
• Pre-arrival preference form to allow Butlers to tailor and customize each guest's experience
• Personalized VIP arrival and private escort to the new Royal Service Lounge
• Dramatic new two story Royal Service Lounge featuring; Library, magazines, international newspapers, DVD movie library, CD music library, cultural corner (information about the history of the Dominican Republic, area maps, resort's sustainable initiatives and more), WIFI and complimentary use of iPads
• Exclusive YHI Spa and wellness area
• Exclusive new waterside Italian Restaurant reserved for Royal Service only
• Natural Juice Bar located on the private Royal Service beach
• Pool Concierge Service at the exclusive Royal Service pool to include complimentary sunscreens, healthy snacks, poolside spa rituals, and more
• Personalized pillow menu
• Complimentary cell phone to call your butler with unlimited local minutes
• New in-suite inclusions for Royal Service; espresso machines,upgraded and customized mini bars, Thierry Mugler amenities, international power adaptors, new in-suite dining menus, premium welcome amenity
• Weekly Manager's cocktail party for Royal Service guests

The Paradisus Palma Real is located in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic and is often rated one of the top luxury all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean.

Spring for a little luxury by booking the Royal Service. Perhaps you can save on the air side of your trip and secure a cheap flights by booking your air as far out as possible. The Punta Cana airport is served by international flights on all major airlines.

The controversial restoration of the Cutty Sark

What could be controversial about restoring the beloved Cutty Sark?

It's a historic clipper, part of Britain's maritime tradition, as beautiful as it is functional in getting the first tea leaves back from China.

And yet the project has run into a host of difficulties and the decisions made created a storm equal to anything she saw when rounding Cape Horn.

The trouble was that the Cutty Sark was in a mess, even before it went up in flames. The iron frame had corroded away into thin air, her bones into dust. Resting the hull in a dry dock had stressed it further, warping it out of shape. Wood had rotted, as wood will.

That meant the only options available would be both brutal and expensive - £ 50 million or so was spent re-building her, or rather creating something that looks like the Cutty Sark. For there is a spanking new steel frame on which the hull sits like a 650 tonne coat on its hanger - but it is essential given the ship has now been lifted 3 metres into the air.

It isn't therefore something that could be sailed: it is an exhibit, and some are not at all happy. Indeed the Telegraph called the restoration a grade A turkey. Must admit there are worrying aspects - in particular the top deck is not authentic wood but instead uses modern composites.

I've yet to see for myself (planned for next week) but I have just watched this excellent BBC documentary: "Cutty Sark, a National Treasure Reopened". It reveals that in addition to the technical issues there were serious failings in management.

I'm very much looking forward to exploring the reborn Cutty Sark so I can see for myself whether the right decisions were made.

Book Review: Bounce, the myth of talent and the power of practice

Do you want to race as well as Ben Ainslie?

It sounds impossible, super human performance out of reach to us lesser mortals, but this book by Matthew Syed shows how it could be achieved.

Alas the starting point for the über athlete is childhood, so if those days are a dim memory you're going to be disappointed.

The key task is practice and lots and lots of it. The expert (for its not just about sport) typically has 10 years practice or maybe as much as 10,000 hours.

Its also got to be the right sort of practice, the sort that stretches you outside your comfort zone. As important is feedback, to learn from mistakes, and often these two come from being part of a small highly competitive group.

Motivation is also key, to keep going and it helps if practice is not a burden but a pleasure. As an example the author notes how a top skater could have fallen as many as 20,000 times, but every time she picked herself up and kept going.

One important lesson is to praise effort rather than natural skills. In an experiment by Carol Dweck in 1998 students were split into two groups and give a test. Afterwards one group was told "you must be really smart" and the other "you must have worked really hard" and then asked if they wanted to do an easy or difficult task.

The results were dramatic with the first group choosing to do the easy one, fearing to do badly and hence found out as not smart while the latter more likely to rise to the challenge and choose the harder. In addition when given another test those given the smart compliment scored 20% lower while the workers scored 30% higher.

Matthew Syed is clearly one to favour nurture over than nature, arguing that our minds are sufficiently plastic to learn almost anything.

That is great, as it means anyone could excel; but it is also sad, because so many don't.

Towards the end the book flags a bit and I did wonder whether information that didn't fit the story had been excluded (e.g. given two groups which both had practised equally wouldn't there even be the possibility of genetic factors influencing who wins?).

However its a great read, in particular for those that involved in training or motivating the young.

Book Review: The Pirates! In an adventure with Scientists

Arrrrrrhhh me hearties!!!

Yeh have heard me tell of yon Pirate Captain, arrrahhh! that yeh have! Here he be in print, shiver my timbers, aye, timber, that is where paper comes from, that it does!!

This be the yarn of the Pirate Captain and his adventures with that scurvy crew of his (alas, a little more lime and there'd a few more of 'em left alive, poor souls).

There's be much tales of ham, puking, walking the plank, fair wenches, scientists, sailing the seven seas, wondering what the seven seas are, arrhhh, that there be.

Of course there be high adventure, battling that double crossing son of a gun Black Bellamy and that land lubber, the evil Bishop of Oxford, arrhhh! So listen up good, Jim me lad!

Two cutlasses up for this pieces of eight filled treasure story!!

And ye salty son's of Neptune, remember - if in doubt, do what the Pirate Captain does, and end every conversation with an arrrahh!

Aarrrrrrh!!!!


Picture from: Amazon

Putney river bus runs aground

Uh oh!

This is the Putney river bus hard aground earlier this week. It was stuck on a mud bank for 20 minutes or so, blocking half of the river, prop churning white foam, turning grey waters brown.

If this were to happen during the Queen's Diamond Jubilee 1,000 boat parade it would be bad.

The Thames Barrier is meant to be raised during the pageant to ensure sufficient water but will it be enough?

At low water the Thames isn't that deep - see here and here for more information.

A History of Romance - Rendezvous in St. Lucia

Rendezvous Hotel in St. Lucia is known as The Boutique Hotel for Couples. Yes, this is true. The hotel is small, intimate & charming, having only around 100 rooms. It is luxurious and all-inclusive too. But what I really like, is the romantic history of the hotel's origin... in a time when life was less complicated and vacations were never taken for granted. 

Imagine arriving in St. Lucia in the 1960s when the island was home to only a few hotels. You deplane but opt to make your first stop the lovely white sand beach to the north of the air strip. You walk down this amazing little gem of a beach, taking in the views and gazing in amazement at the tropical gardens lining the sugary sand. Soon a building with a large verandah comes into view. The Verandah is welcoming, with a bar at one end. There's even a butler serving drinks. He serves you a cool and refreshing cocktail of choice. Conversation flows with the rum but soon it is time to go. When you ask for the bill, you are told there is no bill, for this is a private home and the kind gentleman who kept you company at the bar is the homeowner. 

That's the story the hotel's owner Andrew Barnard proudly shared with our office last week about his grandfather's property. He had our full attention as he divulged an abbreviated version of how the Rendezvous in St. Lucia came about. How after realizing his property was desirable to those walking by, his grandfather built 12 private beach cottages and offered them for rent. The 12 cottages have grown into a 100 room resort, but the same friendly service remains.

Rendezvous is the boutique hotel for couples. Smaller than most all-inclusive resorts, yet large in its offerings. The hotel is offering a few not-to-be missed summer promos right now. Contact our Caribbean Travel Specialists for a complete quote!

Cheers,

Queen's Diamond Jubilee - update

Excitement is building for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the 1,000 boat parade on the Thames.

To give you a flavour here are just a couple of the flood of updates:

• The National Maritime Museum has an exhibition called Royal River: Power, Pageantry and the Thames (see picture above)
• There's an article about the exhibition from curator and historian David Starkey about the Thames being 'liquid history'
• They say that nothing on this scale has been seen on the Thames since the days of Charles II
• It is expected to take 75 minutes for the flotilla to pass by on its way under 14 bridges
• To get really into the diamond spirit, CPO Diamond on HMS Diamond is to receive a Diamond Jubilee medal
• The lead boat will be the rowing barge Gloriana, powered by Olympic oarsmen Steve Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent.
• A flyby is planned with the Royal Air Force spelling out ERII in the skies.
• Not all the boats will be joining the parade on the Thames: in particular those Tall Ships that are unable to fit under bridges will remain in the Pool of London - see video here.
• There's been gossip about how the Queen might actually be dreading "the ship thing"
• The mayor certainly isn't dreading the day, saying how it will be better than Dunkirk (well, duh)
• Security has been increased after the boat race fiasco
• The royal couple, William and Kate (bless), will be on-board the Queen ceremonial barge
• The barge will be decorate with a sculpture of Old Father Thames and decorated with half a million gold coloured buttons 
• As the boats pass the MI6 building the musical barges will play the theme from James Bond and the Dambuster's theme as they pass the MoD building
• There's an App for that - yes, go to iTunes to download an application that describes the Thames over the route the regatta will take

There was also this post of mine about preparations - and yes, those mooring buoys are appearing as if the Thames has an outbreak of yellow spotted measles.

Any more good links?


Picture from: the NMM

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