Monday Moan 2

Jubilation - what's the story

Jubilee celebrations - OK, I go with that. Not really sure why every such event has to have a big concert attached to it - all to do with our celeb culture I suppose. If we have to have one then I get the idea of major artists who have spanned much of the Queen's reign - Elton John, Tom Jones, Paul McCartney, Shirley Bassey, Peter Pan, etc. Even Lenny Henry as host, I suppose. BUT Cheryl Cole, Jessie J, will.i.am, Grace Jones ........... what on earth possessed the organisers to engage such people? An embarrassment of riches? No, just an embarrassment.

Still, at least we were spared George Michael.

And don't get me started on Fearne Cotton, Tess Daley and 'Bambi' Matt Baker .......

Swansong for the monarchy?

No Royal celebrations would be complete without some 'balancing' moan in the press somewhere (thank you this time to the Independent) about how the great British public are all being duped by the establishment and the time is coming when the anachronism that it the Royal Family will have to go. Unfortunately, serial anti-Royalist Yasmin Alibhai-Brown's argument was rather undermined by her list of 'gifted' British people who might be considered for the role of titular head of state - Joanna Lumley, Colin Firth, Jenni Murray, Carol Ann Duffy, David Beckham, Jamie Oliver and Ken Loach amongst them. At least her last nominee - Helen Mirren - has some experience in the role .........

Euro 2012

The next few weeks will be full of Euro 2012 articles - beautifully juxtaposed with the euro articles we have been seeing for the last couple of years. Based on evidence so far, it looks like Greece (sponsored by Germany) could be the first to leave the competition, having displayed no imagination and provided no excitement at all in their quest to stay in the fold. Poland look to have had stage fright in their first test and seem destined to remain in the second level of Euro powers. The biggest surprise so far has been that Italy appear to have got the jump on Spain, despite widespread predictions of Italian fragility and instability. The more fancied Spanish have so far suggested that they'll get round to some decisive action when they feel like it and not when everyone else thinks it is necessary.