Cutty Sark, BBC and battle between Physics and the soul Plus BBC Chair under threat.

Last week I met up with former Euronews colleague Shaun and we visited the Cutty Sark at Greenwich.

Cutty Sark Hull and Café

It's over 40 years since my first trip to visit the Cutty Sark as a schoolkid studying in Essex.I believe the focus on the museum has changed as our current use of history has changed, it seemed to me there was quite a focus on the Chinese side of the Tea Clipper business (is is a coincidence that this is happening while Chinese tourism is booming in the UK?) Entrance is now around £12 for an adult and that is without extras like the café.
Labeling of  the parts that are original was useful with 'original' parts one colour and replacements another this put me in mind of the dilemma highlighted in BBC Radio 4's The Philospher's Arms about the Drifters Trigger's Broom (and much more).
It was interesting to  discuss with Shaun the battle between Physics and Philosophy - how do the two tie together and what if it is all Physics as Prof. Hawkins and co are saying  ( just chemicals and the like with no free will).

Whatever the spin that's being put on the crisis at the BBC Lord Patten is the chairman (of trust?) and is under pressure to exit, this could be worse that the mess around Dyke and Davis departure in 2004 and is having the effect of making mark Thompson look good.
It is quite easy for Patten to be generous with other people's money but I'm puzzled why a resignation should give George half a million pounds (plus a generous pension I expect) - if he's being honourable and taking the blame how can he take the money too?

Goodbye George Entwistle and Hi to delonix Regia

Not looking comfortable George?

So George Entwistle has gone from the post of BBC Director General and it is most  unlikely that he will be seen as  little more than a footnote in the organisation's history. Should he be anything more it will be that he will be the point when the organisation rapidly goes downhill.

Ed - next DG perhaps?

The decision to appoint internally was with hindsight a bad one and it is questionable that the selection of  next DG should follow the same path. Amongst the recent applicants for the post Ed Richards would be a good choice and would not have made the same mistake as Enwistle did (Asleep at the wheel and then a startled rabbit in the headlights) - perhaps the idea of getting someone to do the job (but not the headhunters) on the cheap was not such a good one .Could be a good time to look outside the BBC for a new perspective?

Nash at Kew

We went to Kew today the Autumn colours in the tress really lovely and quite a few visitors bit of a shame they've closed one of their cafés already meaning long Queues at Kew. 

In a perfect world my tree in a few years

Picked up some Delonix Regia seeds while we were in Cyprus and have sown these (indoors in a propagating tray )I hope something comes of them but it'll be a challenge!

Naming restaurants and bars in Cyprus

If only

Now over my vacation I spent quite a bit of time reading and learning about philosophers - wouldn't it be great if the Socrates restaurant in Protaras actually was run by a great philosopher who'd hang out there and explain things to you?
Not only were there a few branded places (like McDonald's and Costa's) but there were other places that used TV shows as their brands like Cheers, Friends and Happy Days further up from the main drag was The Flintstones - not sure they'd all got clearance from the MGMs of this world but at least they were having some fun with identity in a tongue in cheek post modern  way.

Yab a dab a doo- Wilma

As well as starting the reading of the useful  Philosophy for Life: And other dangerous situations written by Jules Evans I read Nile Rogers amazing autobiography Le Freak.

They didn't know my name and were closed

Would Rachael hang out here?

Hot in Cyprus

Arrived yesterday evening at Larnaca airport (Cyprus)  and about 90 minutes  later were at our Hotel Capo Bay. Here's a picture of it -more about the vacation when I return after 7th November.

Nice Hotel

Here's a picture of one of the pools at the hotel taken with my Blackberry Playbook internal camera.

My Left foot