The Pleasures of the Dentist

Lunch with the affable Wang Zhengming, Vice President of NCPA, and colleagues. They have a posh restaurant high up in what might be described as the white of the Egg. He's looking for further collaboration on training programmes etc. Let's see. We talked a lot about the London Olympics. It's funny, whenever I get into a conversations here about this, they're hardly ever about the sport. Like many, Wang loved the opening ceremony and admitted he shed a tear or two. 
It being Friday, we had a couple of glasses of wine. I was tempted by a third as I had a dental appointment later and could perhaps have dispensed with the injection. Hate the idea of dentists and the sore mouth afterwards, but funnily enough I don't actually mind the lying back in the chair being operated on. You just lie there, staring into a light, opening your mouth and thinking. 

Proms

This summer I've been dipping in and out of a coffee table book about the Proms, roughly in parallel with this year's season, its 118th. It's an amazing thing, the Proms. From humble beginnings at the Queen's Hall in Langham Place in 1895, it has grown into what is the biggest classical music festival on Earth. Can't say I've been to many, but it's just so good to know that it's there. I think I first became a fan when they did an all-nighter of Indian music in 1981. I remember staying up until 7am taping it all. I like the fact that you can buy a ticket for £5 - if you don't mind standing. I like its mix of serious and light. I don't even mind the slightly silly (but ultimately fairly harmless) patriotism of the Last Night - which incidentally is broadcast on Chinese TV.   

Hospitality

Conferences are bad for my waist line. The buffet breakfast, the coffee breaks with pastries, the heaving buffet lunches…  It went one stage further this (mid-)morning. In addition to kaffee & kuchen, we were plied with market noodles, skewered chicken, beer, a shoe-shine and a weird dance by five of the hotel staff. One cannot fault the hospitality of Chongqing Intercontinental Hotel. 

Hotpot in the Haze

So, having last week worked out a rough China arts strategy for the next three years, today I joined other colleagues to work out a national strategy for everything else. We are grandly called the China Operations Team - or COT for short. All interesting stuff and, as ever, good to touch base with non-Arts staff from Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing etc.

In the evening we ate hotpot in a restaurant overlooking a fake galleon jutting out from the cliff and the gigantic stanchion of a half-built bridge, somewhere between the greys of the Jialing River and (I think) sky. It was straight out of a Terry Gilliam film. As night descended lights appeared, revealing the profile of Chongqing Grand Theatre (aka The Tank) on the opposite bank. Its massive river-facing façade comprises the biggest video screen I’ve ever seen, on which was a succession of car ads.

Afterwards we bussed it to the top of a hill overlooking the city where greenery, a welcome breeze awaited, and what would have been a fantastic view on the three days a year when there isn’t haze. But it was a nice, jovial evening ending in mass giggles.

To Chongqing (again)

A day of various minor crises (including news of AS Byatt suffering a fall on holiday in France which may mean she cancels her China visit at the end of this week*), all adding up to a fairly stressful day. Then off to Chongqing - my second visit in a fortnight. “So, how’s tricks?” asks Greg, as we take the airport train. My so-so answer confirms that I am fast becoming ‘not my usual smiley self’. Must be more positive and put things in perspective.      
(* actually she’s OK and is coming.)

Pan's Person RIP

Louise with Dee Dee

A million middle-aged British men mourn the death yesterday of Louise Clarke, aged 63, founder member of Pan's People.  For most teenagers, boys as well as girls I should think, Pan's People were essential viewing every Thursday evening on Top of the Pops. They'd be there, dancing in skimpy outfits to whatever chart-topping band couldn't make it in person that week. Remember, this was pre-music video. Louise was my favourite.

Fox in Socks

This afternoon Alyssa and I read a short biography of Theodor Seuss Geisel, aka Dr Seuss. I remember loving Green Eggs and Ham, The Cat and the Hat and One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish amongst others. Even now, I'm struck by how genuinely strange they are, both the story-lines and his bizarre illustrations. They're sort of borderline scary, but always positive. In his last book he ends I think with the line: "Will you succeed? Yes, you will indeed. (98¾% guaranteed.)"