The Royal Wedding - fashion highs and lows

My mother was glued to the coverage of The Royal Wedding. I admit I was also. The latent Brit in me enjoys a bit of pomp and ceremony every now and then. Mum loves the fashion. I love the fashion faux pas - and my God there were some corkers, from Princess Anne looking like she got out of bed still wrapped in the bedclothes; Tara Palmer-Tomkinson's avant-garde headwear that could have caused serious injury to anyone within two feet of her; and David Beckham wearing the OBE on the wrong lapel - actually, David Beckham attending the wedding at all is faux pas enough.

Below is probably the worst howler of the day, together with how it should be done, and finally, a cameo appearance by Julia Eileen Gillard.

Princess Beatrice (on the right, in case you haven't worked it out), put her own reputation back ten years with a get-up more suited to the opening of a safari lodge in Kenya than her cousin's wedding. What was she thinking? Take out the 'what' of that last sentence, and you would be closer to the money.

For me, the highlight of the evening (apart from Kate's sister Pippa's stunning dress) was Samantha Cameron's teal Burberry outfit, wonderfully accessorised by neck and hair bling, and a tangerine pashmina. She looked gorgeous, and shows how perfectly acceptable it is to pull off a regal occasion without recourse to a silly fascinator. Beatrice, take a lesson.

Finally, Aussie Prime Minister, our own Julia Gillard. She looks different to what we are used to each night on the news, but I wouldn't necessarily say she looks "better". She could certainly be a bit bolder with colour (and I'm not talking about her hair), and be introduced to dresses. Thankfully, Julia didn't do her nation any great embarrassment over her choice of ensemble. Her policies and diplomatic skills are another matter entirely, but it will take more than a fashion makeover to change those.

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Rejoicing for choice in New England

Interesting development in Federal politics:

BARNABY Joyce has confirmed he is considering contesting the northern New South Wales seat of New England now held by independent Tony Windsor.

It could be a gripping clash between the National Party senator, and the National Party renegade now an independent, who have made clear they don't like each other.

Barnaby, or more to the point, the pre-selectors in New England, will have to make some decisions pretty quickly, as an election announcement could come sooner rather than later.

Funny how perceptions change. When Barnaby was first elected to the Senate, many conservatives considered him a loose canon, a bit feral. Now he is refarded as one of the best grass-roots politicians of either side. Someone who can dissect issues and explain them in simple, matter-of-fact terms - often very matter-of-fact.

If Barnaby Joyce decides to stand in New England, I predict the seat returning to the National Party with a swing comparable to those we saw in the recent NSW election.

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Still hip after all these years

Samuel’s Musician of the Week is Paul Simon – quite appropriate considering earlier this month saw the debut of his latest solo album ‘So Beautiful or So What’, and also because Simon is one of my favourite solo artists (although he was pretty good with that Art bloke, too.)

I hope Samuel won’t mind me joining him this week on a tribute to this gifted songwriter.

Rather than include a song from Simon’s latest album, I have looked back to 1973 for the following seldom-heard, musically intense elegy. To be accurate, I should have said 1973 and 1727 (the latter due to a melody line from J S Bach.)



Many’s the time I’ve been mistaken
And many times confused
Yes, and often felt forsaken
And certainly misused
Oh, but I’m alright, I’m alright
I’m just weary to my bones
Still, you don’t expect to be
Bright and bon vivant
So far away from home, so far away from home

And I don’t know a soul who’s not been battered
I don’t have a friend who feels at ease
I don’t know a dream that’s not been shattered
Or driven to its knees
Oh, but it’s alright, it’s alright
For we’ve lived so well so long
Still, when I think of the
Road we’re traveling on
I wonder what’s gone wrong
I can’t help but wonder what’s gone wrong

And I dreamed I was dying
I dreamed that my soul rose unexpectedly
And looking back down at me
Smiled reassuringly
And I dreamed I was flying
And high up above my eyes could clearly see
The statue of liberty
Sailing away to sea
And I dreamed I was flying

We come on the ship they call the Mayflower
We come on the ship that sailed the moon
We come in the age’s most uncertain hours
And sing an American tune
Oh, and it’s alright, it’s alright, it’s alright
You can’t be forever blessed
Still, tomorrow’s going to be another working day
And I’m trying to get some rest
That’s all I’m trying to get some rest

Don't let the facts get in the way ...

The March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan was the most reported distaster ever. Consequently, we were bombarded with levels of misinformation, factual errors and exaggerations never before seen. So much so, that a group of native English speakers living in Japan started a website 'wall of shame' to expose those so-called 'journalists' to whom 'facts' are as obscure as the most complicated kanji.

The video associated with this story is here

and the website.

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Words of wisdom 16/4/11

Over the years I have collected a number of quotes and phrases, and I think a good way of remembering them (for me), and a good way of sharing them, is to commit them to paper - albeit of the electronic variety.

The first series will contain words of wisdom for managers and leaders. If my experience in working under those in positions of authority is anything to go by, they need all they can get.

So, no time like the present....

"An organisation is an interacting network, not a vertical heirarchy. Effective leaders work throughout; they do not sit on top."

-J Gosling & H Mintzberg, "The Five Minds of a Manager", Harvard Business Review, November 2003.

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Flight delays

The on again off again second Sydney Airport saga is on again.

Build the bloody thing already.

Where? Good question. I agree with the Premier of NSW when he said that he can’t envisage it being built in the Sydney basin. I would go further and say I can’t envisage it being built within 100ks of the Sydney CBD.

There is a perfectly decent airport at Canberra. Connect it to Sydney with a very fast train and the two cities would be 50 minutes apart.

Still too far away? Then what about building an airport offshore? From an engineering point of view I have no idea if that is even feasible at Sydney, but, if they can do it elsewhere, then why not here?

But I still think a VFT would be cheaper, and quicker to build.

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Good on BOF (better late than never)

I have been asked why I haven’t blogged on the NSW state election held last Saturday week. Well, two reasons: I was crook with some ‘-itis’ or other the week prior to the election and didn’t really feel like writing about anything, let alone about something which was such a forgone conclusion that no one would read it anyway; and that was the other reason.

All of that being said, I congratulate Barry O’Farrell on a tremendous result, which exceeded my expectations, and I daresay those of most on my side of the political fence.

They say the job of opposition leader is the hardest one in politics. Surely the job of Premier of NSW must be a close second - when the incumbent has to fix the mismanagement and stuff-ups of his predecessors going back a decade-and-a-half.

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Whilst on Barry ... I was most impressed at how he handled Kerry O'Brien on election night. The snub of snubs! Video below.



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