John Elkington

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.

Julia shoots the office   Sam, Julia and Charmian

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

A few photographs from a walk around Barnes on Sunday — and another shot as I walked to the bus stop to head in to work.

Thames and Barnes Bridge 1   Thames and figure 1   Thames and figure 2   Barnes Pond, sunrise

 

I may be green, but made it into the red book — Who’s Who 2009 — this year, alongside the likes of Daniel Craig.  Am rather glad we didn’t have to race one another along a sky-crane for the privilege.

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.

Sam at work