After a busy day, which included a brown-bag lunch at Volans with SustainAbility co-founder Julia Hailes and several people from SustainAbility, I headed across to King Edward VII’s Hospital for my first cataract operation. It’s said that this is the world’s oldest operation, having originated in India and been brought back to the West by Alexander the Great. Whoever I need to thank, thank you – given that failing eyesight is a pretty depressing experience. Elaine came to keep me company and we spent some four or five hours going through the rituals, even though the surgery itself took only 15-20 minutes. Looked after a wonderful nurse from Zimbabwe, who was about to fly back to the country for 5 weeks: we talked about the cholera epidemic there and the terrible state of the country. Later, when I had recovered from the sedative and anesthetic, Elaine and I took a taxi home, getting out by Barnes Pond – and when I looked up the street lamps and incoming aircraft lights were surrounded by 180-degree coronas of brilliant sparkly lights.
Alarm bells at the Science Museum
The fire alarms went off at the Science Museum this evening, part way through the celebration of the Cambridge Programme for Industry’s 20th anniversary. Several hundred of us were herded out into the street while what look like the Ghostbusters crew moved in the opposite direction. Earlier, I had taken part in a lively panel discussion in the IMAX theatre. Polly Courtice kicked us off and then Professor Robert Mair (Master, Jesus College) chaired the panel, with Jonathon Porritt (Forum for the Future), Doug Parr (Greenpeace), Emma Howard-Boyd (Jupiter Asset Management) and I in the hot seats. Charmian, Sam and Smita came from Volans — and Sam took the middle pair of photos below.
Science Museum, detail Perhaps accidentally, a Sam’s-eye view through rail Sam’s-eye view of panel: Jonathon, Doug, Robert, Emma and me Christmas lights as I head home
Barnes Pond and the Thames running low
Who’s Who
Family reunion
Rupert taken over my shoulder by Sam
Left the GIIN reception (see previous entry) to catch a cab across to the Duke of Cambridge pub, where Charmian and I were due for the first joint Christmas dinner between the SustainAbility and Volans teams in London. In addition to Charmian, other Volanders there were Sam and Smita. A rather noisy — but completely wonderful — family reunion. Struck me that of those present from the SustainAbility side, probably the longest serving — part from myself — was Rupert Bassett, our designer.