OK, so I’m going to break down my “what happened at Eton” posts by day to avoid Eton-overload syndrome. For more details, photos and newsletters check out etoncollege.com and click on Summer Courses > Brent-Eton. (It’s a bit of a weird website so you can’t link to specific pages.)
Right then, on Monday (too early in the) morning we gathered at Brent’s Bridge Park Leisure Complex to get on a coach bound for Eton. Course Director George Fussy, who bears a remarkable resemblance to a certain US President, then presented us with a lovely black folder that screamed “Hello, we have money here!”
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Hi everyone – I’m back from Eton! Which I will blog about a lot later – I’ve just got soooo many emails and things to do right now as you’d expect. So this post is only about one thing – the London Attacks on Thursday which have dominated the news ever since.
Like everyone, my first thought was for family and friends. I was shocked, yes, after the euphoria of winning the Olympic bid but not surprised that something had happened. London was always going to be a major target, it was a question of when, and how we would respond. My deepest condolences to the familes of those murdered and everyone who was caught up in the savage attack.
But London is a strong city. It lived through the Blitz, and the IRA bombings. We’d shown only the day before how proud we were of everything London had to offer the world. Nothing can defeat the spirit of democracy, it’s something the bombers could never understand.
We need to reflect, and consider how it feels to live in a part of the world where this happens on a regular basis. But we also need to pull together and carry on with our lives. It’s what we did at Eton, and it’s how we will win.
Many thanks to everyone who sent emails of support from abroad as well. Democracy, together.
Well, actually, no. This message has been pre-recorded in case I don’t get my hands on some nice juicy internet access up here. Please assume I’m having a great time \ pronounced dead at 0800 hours (delete as applicable). Tash just phoned from Barcelona and she’s having a great time… although since this post is “in the future” she’s back today. Hooray! I better get a present! Along with Alex Trafford, who needs to start blogging again. Soon.
Incidentally – I believe the winner of the Olympic Bid has now been announced. Here’s my reaction:
– Paris: Well, surprise! They were the favourites I guess, and I gave them about a 65% chance of getting it. And if it all goes wrong, we can now watch safely from across the channel.
– London: Yay! Hahaha – take that Paris! I always knew we would get it! And our fantastic transport infrastructure will definitely be able to handle millions of extra people, no problem!
– New York: Hmm, that was unexpected. I’m sure Alex Newman would be pleased with the result, but still, wow.
– Madrid: Ur, again, didn’t see that one coming. According to the BBC though, it had the highest public approval rating of them all. So it looks like they got what they wanted 
– Moscow: Yeah right. I mean – must be a typo or something. Sorry Russia!
It’s a personal column this week, as I prepare for a week long summer school at Eton. Time for some mixed feelings!
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It’s been a bit quiet over the past few days – partly due to El Barto suffering some downtime and Natasha, Alex Trafford and the others going off to Barcelona for a week. I’ve been sleeping late, and so yes, it’s been quiet.
But elsewhere in the world things have been continuing as normal! Or not, as Live 8 proved today. Bob Geldof’s message I think is important here – when he says “This is not Live Aid 2.” It’s not about a burst of charity centred around a pop concert that won’t do anything for Africa in the long term – it’s about what “eight rich white guys” decide to do on Wednesday. So whether you like Bob Geldof or not (he has his moments) for god’s sake at least sign the list. Aid is important – but so is dropping the debt and most of all, fair trade. Which all ties in with the EU’s budget dilemmas, as I’ve said before.
I’m also unusually excited about Saturn. Not because it’s rings have their own atmosphere – although they do, and that’s cool – but because it appears to be slowing down.
“Saturn is rotating seven minutes more slowly than when probes measured its spin in the 70s and 80s – an observation experts cannot yet explain.”
Slowing down!? That’s not good! Today Saturn, Tomorrow Earth. And if that happens, we might have to go to school and\or for even longer each day. Think about it.
And finally – advance warning – I’ll be on the Brent\Eton Summer School from Monday till Saturday (which I’ve got mixed feelings about, but more of that in DomSez.) So if you try to comment on this blog during that time, it’ll be held in a moderation queue. If you email me, don’t assume it’ll be read until the weekend. If Saturn explodes, send me a text.
Linda Moffitt on Colombia: “Such a sweet memory of the four of you meeting up in Colombia!” Dec 2, 07:42
