london 2012
So, after almost three years of planning and spending, it’s finally here and I have to admit I’m almost excited. Almost. Thankfully, in the nick of time, my natural state of half-empty depressed pessimism returns undaunted and intact. Phew. Yep I’m a curmudgeon and proud of it. My issue with the Olympics is three-fold – first it won’t make money, second, it’ll cause a shed load of sh*g & hassle and thirdly, I’m sick to death of the media coverage already.
It’s already cost ‘the nation’ an anticipated £11bn, four times the proposed amount when London first put in their bid, including £40m on a basketball arena and £19m on a waterpolo venue, both of which are being demolished after their events are finished. So much for a legacy.
Forgetting the G4S security debacle for a second, is it just me that’s confused by the 30 miles of ‘Zil/Olympic lanes’ debacle? I’m sure I’ve been snapped in the wrong lane on Egham bypass and last Saturday on the way to Heron Lake my passenger took to shouting at the armed Police, operating a ‘permanent’ set of temporary traffic lights, that they need to get a proper job and start shooting criminals instead! I fully expect to be £130 the lighter before much longer. These lanes remind me of nothing more than the Soviet politburo of old being whisked down Kremlin boulevards avoiding all contact with the riff-raff of society. In one Greenwich Street all speed humps have been removed to avoid upsetting their champagne en-route. When they’re done and gone they’ll be replaced at a cost of £50,000. A cost to us the taxpayers that is.
For the rich and wealthy however there’ll be no such delay. The Thames will be the smart route through London. With moorings having sold for upwards of £150,000, your favourite celebrities and oligarchs would be hard put to see any difference between the principality of Monaco and the Isle of Dogs. Historically, our kings & queens have travelled by river to avoid London’s uncomfortable and dangerous road network. No change there then.
