Cut the red tape

The Wrecclesham Parish Magazine popped through the door this afternoon, and I found the most engaging page to be (as I often do), "And Finally...". My mother-in-law would especially like it (I must show her next weekend), being particularly interested in the calling of attention to ridiculous societal and legal red tape, and the proferring of alternative ideas to the juggernaut of central government.

This issue we had both. And the one paragraph of three that I've not stopped thinking about is a different approach to the Olympics. I quote:

Wouldn't it be wonderful if if the ... London Olypmic Games ... scrapped all the current plans, upgraded ... existing sports facilities, ... opened the Games with a simple ceremony involving the Queen cutting a ribbon, ... reallocated the medal count to favour sports in which anyone could participate regardless of wealth ... and spent some of the ten thousand million pounds ... in sports facilities for schools and local communities?

Now, I don't agree with everything here, but it's great to read of somebody thinking more broadly about how we could do the Olympics. By not spending so much money on what can be seen as a marketing exercise for the UK, rather than anything at all to do with sport, we would be putting our money where our mouth is, and actually spending it on our communities, and indeed making a far more powerful and longlasting political statement than any hollywood-quality, oscar-directed, cultural-navel-gazing, money-down-the-drain, corporate-ticket-nirvana opening ceremony.

Ten Answers, from Jeremy Hunt MP

Last week, on the day that Jeremy left for China, I blogged about the ten questions he wanted to answer whilst at the Olympics.

Well, his ten answers are now available on the ConservativeHome website.

Press! Press! Press! Press!

Press releases flooded into my Waverley email account today, but rather than inundate everyone else, I'll just mention one of them.

It's one about a Waverley Theatre Forum on Wednesday 27th August (next week), being held in the Ben Travers Theatre, Charterhouse. I mention it particularly as I blogged about theatre in Farnham last week, and so wanted to give this a bit of a push.

You can get more details, and information on how to attend, by visiting the Waverley website.

Face recognition, and other stories

A few random thoughts today

1. I sometimes find it hard to put names to faces, especially when out of context. I bumped into a lovely lady in the Wrecclesham Post Office today, who I know I've spoken with at a village meeting (I think), but in the PO, I really couldn't place her name. It happened to me the other day on the train - a regular customer at our coffee ship, and blow me if I could work why I knew her, and why she was smiling nicely at me in familiar ways.

2. I'm still envious of Jeremy. Watching the pursuit cycling team win gold today was the reason.

3. The pile of reading material on my bedside table has increased by one. I received a booklet about Audit Committees, as I joined that committee this year, and the next meet is in a month or so. I'll take it on a flight with me somewhere I think.

Ten questions, from Jeremy Hunt MP

I'm envious. Our MP Jeremy Hunt is off to the Olympics in Beijing. So-called 'Super Saturday' and my brother-in-law's infectious excitement, has made me more envious that I thought I would be.

Today, he's penned ten questions for trip, and they're published on the ConservativeHome.com blog, the home of all blogs Tory.

Aspiration. Inspiration.

I'm going to join the Farnham Theatre Association.

I've been pondering this on and off over the weekend, as on Friday, I was inspired by Anne Cooper and Abigail McKern. Listening to their passion for theatre, the positive impact on a town and its culture, and the potential for youth involvement, I couldn't deny what a good aspiration it was to have a professional, commercial, and successful theatre in Farnham.

Whilst I wouldn't call myself a regular theatre-goer, I have seen quite a lot of shows in London over the years, been to the Maltings a few times, and I used to perform in a light operatic society some time ago (as well as attending tap, modern and jazz classes, but don't tell anyone).

But, it's not that I'm a buff: much more that I was captured by Anne and Abigail's passion and aspiration. And, my support is independent of whether the Redgrave is retained.

I simply like the idea of an active theatre in the town, and all that it could bring.