from Hyde Park to Tibilisi

Speakers corner continues. A surreal scattering of solitary men, perched on stepladders, one wall short of a decorating job. Many have thermos cups, as if this is part of a cosy Sunday ritual. They orate into the cold, clear air of Hyde Park corner. Does freedom of speech depend upon having anyone listen?

http://www.speakerscorner.net/

Close by, the 'animals in war' monument, lobbied for by Jilly Cooper, competes for most bizarre London memorial. The stone animals parade forlornly over their strip of grass in the middle of sixteen lanes of traffic, coldly shaded by the playboy high-rises of Park Lane. I like the way gardenvisit.com tries to make good of this. Maybe they have a point.

http://www.gardenvisit.com/landscape_architecture/london_landscape_architecture/visitors_guide/animals_war_memorial

The richest man in Georgia has died. Of course, he wasn't in Georgia, he was in Surrey. West Ham fans, as ever, were on the case first:

http://www.soccerblog.com/2006/09/the_west_ham_buyout_kommersant.htm