Arthur's Column

Last Week in London

Rain all round it seems - I see a fair amount of rain in Montreal where the Canadian grand prix is about to run, and it looked a tad wet in Cape Town where the Ozzies handed the semi-final spot to the Poms in a superb game of rugby union. My money was erroneously on the lads from down under, so tommorrow will be expensive! The World Cup is shaping up for a huge finale. Next week will see France vs South Africa and New Zealand vs England. Both games will be excellent, although I have fairly fixed views on the probable outcome of the first!

Yesterday I was invited to watch the rehearsal for the Queen's Birthday parade also known as "Trooping the Colour". Yesterday's performance was a practise session, complete in all respects except that the coach which bring Her Majesty to the parade ground was empty. The massed bands (400 soldiers on foot and more on horseback) provide plenty of music, and 5 units march in various formations presenting the colours to the Queen. I was lucky enough to get front-row seats on the parade ground just behind Downing street (where the Prime minister lives). Have to offer condolences to the mounted soldier who lost his sword toward the end. Apparently this is a serious offence, and he will no doubt land rather deep in it. For a full write-up see the pointer to the article next week in the Mall.

Discovered a great lunch-time pub last week - Ye Olde London near St Paul's. Just walk down Ludgate Hill and you will find Ye Olde London on your right. Looks small from the front, but actually is quite large inside. You can go down the stairs and find a quaint bistro where for a reasonable price a roast lunch can be had. Looking ahead past the food you will see a much larger bar and an outside garden area! For an area so crowded this small patch of green is confusing and gratifying. Well worth a visit.

Well, the Canadian grand prix has run its course and Alesi has boosted Ferrari into the top of the constructors' points list. The season is shaping up to be quite interesting, with the three top teams all putting in good performances, and some great racing further back in the field. The guy with the least luck (in my view) has to be Coulthard who has shown so much promise, but had problems at the last few races, and then - through inexperience and white paint - seen the end of this attempt so early in the race.

That's all for now...

Last Week

If you fancy yourself as a columnist, look at this.

Back to the London Mall