ON THE BLOCK

Let us make it clear; there was no "block party" on Harrow Road last week. Fair enough, it was quite close to the Harrow Road, but it was actually in West Kilburn. The photos that circulated were of the Mozart Estate. So there was no "riot in Maida Vale" as has been reported. It must have been really horrible to be near it, though my colleague who lives there heard nothing except the helicopter. Still, Harrow Road was a more accurate location than you often hear from the media, as things happening in W10 are usually said to be in Ladbroke Grove or North Kensington, I have to say that when it was very hot you did have the feeling that people were becoming fairly oblivious to the consequences of their actions, particularly after having been confined to their homes for the best part of three months.

Our ability to sleep on the hot nights last week was not improved by the seemingly constant presence of the police helicopter. One night Colville Gardens, the next night Mozart, and then events you never heard about. I can't help wondering how much that costs, and whether drones might not be more efficient. Perhaps you can't fly drones after dark, but the summer evenings are long, and I have been told that helicopters are fantastically expensive to run. It does sometimes seem that the Met use the helicopter, like police horses, as a means of intimidation, but I'm afraid I don't think it works, as it seems to encourage kids to imagine that they're in a video game.

Our joy is unconfined at the news that we are to be allowed to worship more or less normally again. We shall be humming rather than singing, and the peace will be a nod rather than a handshake, but it will be so good to have the congregation back in church. Now I am busily writing protocols and thinking up ways round hazards, while one of my people bravely produces a risk assessment for every fantastically unlikely eventuality.

I have booked a haircut. Ludicrously expensive, but they will earn their money!