Mary Reid

I haven't written anything about the disaster in Burma - what can I possibly say that isn't trite?

But the report in The Observer today was headlined Burma exports rice as cyclone victims starve.

Yes, this takes callousness and obscene power to even greater depths. Burma is exporting rice to Bangladesh from one port, whilst millions are on the edge of starvation in one of the main rice growing areas within Burma, where crops have been destroyed. Rice exports are controlled entirely by the military regime.

Skilled relief workers must sit in hotels in Thailand waiting for visas, and only a handful of planes carrying emergency supplies are allowed in, with little evidence that the supplies are reaching the survivors.

Meanwhile, in a bizarre effort to fool the rest of the world that the generals have everything under control, they have gone ahead with the planned referendum on a change in the constitution that would give even greater powers to the military.

In God's name, what can we do?

Well, we've certainly seen variety in the productions at the Rose! - from a naked Romeo, through the exuberance of The Ragged Child to a sparkling Peter Hall production of Uncle Vanya.

This Saturday there's a spectacular aerial dance show from the amazing Ockham's Razor. I remember catching a glimpse of them on TV some time ago and thinking that I must try to see them live - and here they are in Kingston!

Next week, it's another shift, this time into high comedy with Come on Jeeves, based on those wonderfully camp stories by P G Wodehouse.

Incidently, it's worth going into the theatre to book seats in person. As well as avoiding booking fees, at the moment they are giving away 20% vouchers for Frère Jacques (the French restaurant by Kingston Bridge) with the tickets.

Annual Council is the occasion when a new Mayor is installed, and yesterday we welcomed Cllr David Berry to the office.

The new Mayor is a Liberal Democrat councillor in Alexandra Ward. As we heard, David was involved in computers before some of of the councillors (but sadly not me) were born!

David will be supported by Cllr Rohan Yoganathan as Deputy Mayor, clearly hoping to establish a family dynasty to rival the Reids!

This is a sad day for those of us who value small shopping parades, centred around a post office, and their place within local communities.

The Post Office has announced that, in spite of energetic and informed opposition by all parties, it will close all six post offices in the borough that were under threat.

In fact, 155 post offices will close across London. Only seven of those on the original list were reprieved.

A few weeks ago we had a debate in Council on the threatened closures. I mentioned:

Cllr Steve Mama claimed that he had a hotline to the Government and that we could expect some concessions.

Hmm ... didn't work, then.

(In case you don't know, Steve Mama is the only Labour councillor on Kingston Council.)

Thanks to NewsBiscuit and Iain Dale