Journal

Dog leash hook outside Barnes chemist 2BP snowdrops One way through the orchid And another

A fraughtish week, with back pains – bravely tackled by a couple of osteopaths by the name of Ron – and the bronchitis I have been nursing through six flights in the past couple of weeks. Still, this morning I collected a course of antibiotics from the chemist – and was somewhat shocked to find that I don’t have to pay for medicines now I am over 60. 

British Museum lion We were actually looking for TIGERS: Nelmara, Maggie, Amy

Very productive day, with white-board and flipcharts, at 2 Bloomsbury Place, with Nelmara Arbex and Maggie Lee of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), working on the new report. For lunch, we ducked across to the British Museum. After a morning spent discussing TIGERS, of which more anon, all we found were endless lions, Imperial and otherwise.

Patrin at the Habor Court Hotel

Ian (Keay) and I at the Birch-hosted party According to a sample of Oli Barrett’s photos, a good time was had by all Patrin and I – and a book for the flight

Just back from US: my flight from SFO was significantly delayed by a crashing downpour as we were about to take off, then we took a while to get into JFK, probably because snow was slowing things down, so until the last moment I was convinced I would miss my connection – but didn’t. Read two books on the way across: David Siegel’s Pull and Chip and Dan Heath’s Switch, plus the latest editions of Fast Company and Wired. All feeding the ferment in my mind.

Oli Barrett sent two photos as I travelled: one of Ian (Keay, our best man way back in 1973) and I at the Birch/Bebo party, and a collage of the Clean & Cool Mission participants. The images capture the good humour of the enterprise which, in turn, reflected its energy, interconnectivity and productivity. Will be writing up my thoughts on it all in my six monthly columns tomorrow – and, hopefully, the first of a series of blogs for Fast Company.

Truly invigorating week – and nice to tie it off with breakfast on Friday morning with Jennifer (Biringer) and Patrin (Watanatada) of SustainAbility San Francisco. A whole bunch of new ideas now fizzing around our collective brainpan.

Patrin

Skateboarders, last night Nick Parker in full flow Propellor outside 100 Spear, 1 Propellor, 2 Illumination, British Consulate UK Trade & Investment Minis Jennifer (Biringer) Patrin (Watanatada) and I Wattson – offered by DIY Kyoto, one of the Mission’s 19 UK cleantech firms James (Lawn), Jaclyn (Mason), Oli (Barrett) and Bronwyn (Kunhardt)

First full day of the Cleantech Forum, which provided a huge amount nof grist for the six columns I have to write on Sunday – on which more anon. In the evening, we made our way across to the British Consulate for a wonderful reception to mark the ending of the Clean & Cool Mission, with participants radiantly happy about the collective adventure we have been on this past week.

My congratulations to Brownyn and James of Polecat, Oli who compered, Richard Miller of the UK Technology Strategy Board, whose support was crucial, and Jaclyn Mason of UK Technology & Investment, based in San Francisco.

Am more than ever determined to see how SustainAbility (already based in San Francisco, in the form of Jennifer Biringer and Patrin Watanatada) and Volans can do to help drive and shape the sustainability movement in this part of the world.