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We never met him, but Elaine and I owe Philip Barnes a great deal. Founder of the travel charity ACE (Association for Cultural Exchange) in 1958, when we Elkingtons were still living in Cyprus, he died on 27 July. The trips we did to Syria, northern Cyprus and Crete in recent years were all with ACE, and we have another coming up to Istanbul. A fantastic organisation.

Over our heads Buddies Stilted Architecture Museum Snøhetta studio Snøhetta studio, 2

Pebble-like modules for model buildings

Great lunch at a small restaurant behind the cathedral. Later, absolutely blown away by a visit to the Architecture Museum, where the work of the Snøhetta is featured, ranging from the Oslo Opera House to the Library of Alexandria. Bought the book Snøhetta Works – and have been dipping into it ever since. Have also been reading Antony Beevor’s stunning book D-Day.

False modesty aside, there are a fair few things I feel I have contributed over the years, but the triple bottom line continues to amaze me with its stamina.  It’s more or less exactly 15 years since I came up with the term, after perhaps 18 months of wrestling off-and-on – with the help of Andrea Spencer-Cooke – in an attempt to explain the core sustainability challenge to business audiences.  The term has popped up repeatedly at conferences I have spoken at this year, most recently at the Oslo Sustainability Summit, where I spoke on Tuesday.  Now The Economist is on the case.

Opera House 1 Opera House, 2 Opera House, 3 Opera House, 4 Opera House, 5 Opera House, 6 Opera House, 7 Opera House, 8 Opera House, 9

We have walked around – and over – the Opera House several times now, in sunshine and in the twilight. Glorious.

Elaine and I walked around the Oslo Opera House twice today, once in full sunlight, once in the twilight.  What an astounding building it is.  Photos will follow when I have a certain cable to hand.