Yesterday, over lunch at a Sicilian restaurant in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, one of our number told us about his daughter seeing but not seeing the actor Hugh Grant. His daughter is a gifted musician but is also a qualified lawyer and earns her living that way rather than via the precarious route of being a professional musician. Nonetheless she was at the lovely little St Ann’s Church in St Ann’s Square last Thursday or Friday rehearsing for a Christmas concert to be given there by Manchester’s Law Society. One of her companions pointed out to her that Hugh Grant was sitting at the back of the church listening to them rehearse. Unfortunately she was wearing her reading glasses so that she could follow the music they were playing and singing, rather than her distance glasses which would have enabled her to make out who was sitting at the back of the church. Such is life!
Hugh Grant, I was informed by another of our group, was in Manchester for “that Chanel thing”. I wondered if he was making an advert for Chanel but it turns out that Chanel had taken over a section of the Northern Quarter to house its Métiers d’Art fashion show. They put an awning over Thomas Street, lined the street with seats for the rich and famous to watch the show and the street became the catwalk. Who knew? Well, not me anyway! Manchester is an artistic and creative hub, it seems. There is even talk of the English National Opera moving here! There you go!
Thinking of those who can afford to buy Chanel-designed clothes, those who can attend such fashion shows, imagine inheriting so much money that you find yourself with an inheritance tax bill of £10.5 million. People really do that … well, some people really do that! Here’s a link to article about just such a case. It seems there is a thing called Acceptance in Lieu (AiL):
“The AiL scheme allows people to settle an inheritance tax bill by transferring important cultural, scientific or historic objects to the nation. In the past decade, the scheme has brought £479m worth of artworks and other objects into public ownership.”
In this case a miniature of an ancient Greek marble statue, Apollo Belvedere, created 500 years ago by Pier Jacopo Alari Bonacolsi, known as Antico, is being donated to he Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, being added to their “outstanding collection of Renaissance and baroque bronzes”.
So this AiL scheme allows those who have the means to keep their substantial means without actually selling the art works as they will be able to go and see the valuable art works in the museum. I suppose it also means that they no longer have to pay an insurance premium on the aforementioned valuable piece of art work. Such is the life of the rich! But at least we lesser mortals can also view the art works.
Then there are “superyachts”. I have seen such vessels and have long queried why they are called “yachts”. Surely a yacht not so huge and should have a sail or two. I decided to google it. Here is what I found:
“yacht /yät/
noun
Any of various relatively small, streamlined sailing or motor-driven vessels used for pleasure cruises or racing.
A vessel propelled either by sails or by steam, most often light or comparatively small, but sometimes of large size, used for pleasure-trips or for racing, or as a vessel of state to convey persons of distinction by water.
A light and elegantly furnished vessel, used either for private parties of pleasure, or as a vessel of state to convey distinguished persons from one place to another; a seagoing vessel used only for pleasure trips, racing, etc.”
So, not a “boat” for ordinary folk!
Another source told me this:
“The Commercial Yacht Code classifies yachts 79 ft (24 m) and over as large.Such yachts typically require a hired crew and have higher construction standards. Further classifications for large yachts are: commercial—carrying no more than 12 passengers, private—solely for the pleasure of the owner and guests, or by flag, the country under which it is registered. A superyacht (sometimes megayacht) generally refers to any yacht (sail or power) longer than 131 ft (40m).”
Some of them are as large as 230 ft (70m). More than “superyachts”, these are “megayachts”They can have swimming pools and helipads! They are like small(ish) cruise liners. Roman Abramovich has one which is worth rather more than $800 million. It must need quite a crew. Surely you can’t call such a vessel a yacht, which nomenclature to me still suggests a vessel you need to actually sail by manoeuvring the sails! Regardless of whether or not it is a yacht, it is a huge world-polluter:
“owning a megayacht is the most polluting activity a single person can possibly engage in. Abramovich’s yachts emit more than 22,000 of carbon every year, which is more than some small countries. Even flying long-haul every day of the year, or air-conditioning a sprawling palace, would not get close to those emissions levels.”
The writer of this article says they should be banned - as indeed should nuclear bombs and certain types of weapon, but that is another matter - before it all gets completely out of control.
“If leaders refuse to act, it is clear what is coming next. Just as megayachts arrived to displace superyachts, the world’s billionaires already have their sights on their next prize: the gigayacht.”
Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!
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