Leisure Suit Hammy in the Land of the Lounge Lizards

I couldn't let the O2 visit go by without a comment on the "VIP" area. First, it is huge. There are obviously an inordinate number of important people. Second, I confess they do it well. After you enter the gates having tops of water bottles confiscated (it's an elf and safety fing, mate), you then enter the VIP lounge where - apart from being able to buy water bottles, you can buy a wide selection of good food (mostly cooked in front of you) lounge around and prop up bars (as here) At the appropriate time you go up to your private room (with soft seating and a free bar). The room then leads out into the seating, sandwiched between the two steeply raked banks of seating for the hoi polloi. Definitely the way to go.

I know this isn't the best photo with the menu in the way, but I couldn't resist it or the title. Remember that?

The O2 Dome

I was fortunate enough to be invited as a corporate VIP to the O2 dome to see Alicia Keys. I could carry on at great length on the subject, (and may yet) but let me just leave you with the conclusion - it is a fantastic venue.

The O2 Dome

Turn 90 degrees from yesterday, and you get one of the best views of the O2 Dome.

It's quite funny, when I started my elephant series, I planned to include the Dome as London's largest (white) elephant but events have overtaken me and it has since been rebranded "The O2" and has staged some pretty impressive concerts. To start with, I bridled at the blatant commercialism of the branding exercise, but actually, why not? It was only mouldering beforehand, and they've breathed new life into it. Good luck, say I.

Oh, and because I couldn't find the right clip for Private Frazier's "We're all doomed" catch phrase (which comes to mind each time I think of The Dome), here is a link to more Dad's Army clips than you can shake a stick at.