A Girl Can Dream

 

Sunshine, Shadows, Balconies & Forms in Gallarate

 

 

The Brother and HRH Michael

Had to remove the blog with the picture of my brother and HRH. Something about copyright and infringing image ownership or rights. Just how, I wonder, does the Press do it's job?

Quote for the week

"Created by the wars that required it, the machine [armies] now created the wars it required."

Schumpeter.

 

Sounds about right, folks.

NYC & Philadelphia: a flying visit

A quick dash to the USA with a brief stop in NYC to see my friend Mikey and a couple of days in Philadelphia. It rained throughout.

Mikey Kay, BBC America newbe.

Union Trust Steakhouse, Philadelphia, in a former bank building.

Probably the best airline meal I've had.

 

Miscellaneous scenes from the weekend in Italy

 

The Times: Long-term thinking (Analysis by Deborah Haynes)

"It is all very well for the Government to say that it supports efforts by British defence companies to export weapons, jets and other pieces of military hardware, but it is a doomed policy if the Ministry of Defence no longer uses them. One of the first questions any potential buyer in Asia, the Middle East or the Americas will ask is whether the Army, RAF or Royal Navy uses the lorry, aircraft or vessel that a British company is trying to sell. If the answer is no — such as when the Indians were told about an as yet untested version of the Eurofighter jet that could fly off an aircraft carrier — then, invariably, interest wanes. This is the mismatch that would be corrected if the Government had a more joined-up idea about how its Armed Forces should be equipped and what its defence industry should be building and exporting. The problem, however, is money and confidence."

"The Government needs to ensure value for money at a time of austerity and rightfully is wary about turning to British companies to invest in developing and buying new gear after past contracts were mired in delays and inflated costs. Choosing, instead, to buy jets, helicopters and vehicles off the shelf from America is cheaper in the short term, but it will mean the end of a sector of British industry that has created hundreds of thousands of jobs, generated huge amounts of wealth and added to the reputation of innovation that Britain enjoys. The defence industry also provides the country with sovereign capabilities such as nuclear submarines that are needed for national security. Intelligent investment and support must be targeted at this sector or else it will lose its world-leading edge and Britain’s global significance will erode further."

Wise words from Deborah Hayes.

http://goo.gl/8lwa6

Grim-some

Last night's Dim-sum gave way to this morning's Grim-some. Unpleasant; thanks world's favourite airline.

Congealed egg, singed at the edges, melded into a base of burnt bacon. Note how the sausage, when prised from the eggy stuff, left a lovely impression of its original position. Which is more of an impression than it left on me!

Nice flaps.

When in Delhi eat Japanese

Final night, final meal before heading home. Keep it simple and eat in the hotel: decisions, decisions!  Tempura wins so head for the Japanese restaurant at The Hyatt. Gluttony ensues. I hear the siren Gym calling.....

Images from a day in Delhi

So much for finding the sun.

In the traffic. Again.

Parliament buildings. Or rather a part of the vast complex.

Bird's eye view, towards Connaught Circle.

The Gate of India. Just visible in the distance!

Street stall.

Street scene. Very exciting but what do you expect from a phone camera?

And I work, too. Too much excitement for this blog...