Last Tuesday we thought we were leaving behind the safety of Coronavirus free Sussex as we headed off on an A380 Airbus flight to Dubai. We quickly learned how wrong we were!
 
The last time I visited the Kingdom of Dubai was 1989 when the population numbered just 444,000. Today that figure has risen to 3.3 million, transforming this coastal conurbation into the most populated city in the AEU.
 
Built upon the proceeds from oil, today less than 5% of the Emirates revenue comes from oil, relying now on trade, tourism, aviation, real estate and financial services, to create the wealth and employment.
 
On Friday some 2,500 Triathletes from 101 countries worldwide, set off for the 2020 Dubai Iron Man, cheered on by around 20,000 spectators of which I was one.
 
The race began with the swim; a quick sprint into the sea as the sun rose above the horizon. This first section, a 9 km dash out into the Arabian Gulf, around the marker buoys and back to shore.
 
As they returned to the beach they struggled to get their bearings with the low sun shining directly into their eyes. From there onwards through the transition arena as they stripped off wet suits as they ran, dashing towards their waiting racing bikes.
 
With cycle shoes already strapped to the pedals, they grab helmets and glasses.
 
As they set off on the next leg, a 90 km course due west into the desert along a deserted motorway, they settle into a steady rhythm but determined to inch ahead of those they set off alongside.
 
Each are driven to make good time; in my son Matthew’s case, he was aiming for an overall time of under 5.5 hours  to achieve a personal best. He also hoped to qualify for the World Championship Iron Man in New Zealand in November.
 
The wait for the riders to return from the desert had its moments. The place was awash with over excited supporters, and enthusiastic organisers determined that we should be kept abreast of what was going on.
 
The noise from the music and announcements is ear shattering and relentless but nothing was going to drive us away from being in the right spot at the right time to cheer our ‘Iron Man’ on, as they arrive back approximately 2 hours later.
 
They abandon their precious racing bikes and quickly transition to the final change into running shoes for the last leg. This being the 21.1 km half marathon along the coast road, part of which they loop twice before returning to the Finish - exhausted but triumphant.
 
My Iron Man did indeed achieve his personal best. Not only did he finish sub 5.5 hours, but he slipped over the finishing line in under 5 hours – 16th place out of 186 in his age group, and 117th out of 1,105 overall.
 
We had left behind the UK’s poor mobile connections, road works littering the rubbish strewn M23 as they install the ‘not so smart’ smart motorway, and poor signage to Gatwick.
 
Arriving in Dubai you are automatically connected to the Wi-Fi and internet where ever you go. Including way out in the desert, keeping us connected to the rest of the world and indeed each other. How different to our poor connectivity in the UK.
 
However, is Huawei really the answer? Should we hand over control of our state security and entire networks to the Chinese government? Or should we wait until less toxic and manipulative state controlled independent companies catch up with the technology?
 
If the Chinese can build a brand new thousand bed hospital in just over a week to cope with the Coronavirus, perhaps we should take a leaf out of their book. We must speed up building vital infrastructure and developments. Sadly chance would be a fine thing with our current planning laws.

A new dawn broke last Saturday as we left the EU. As for British Agriculture there are opportunities which should transform farming in Britain, although some farmers are struggling to interpret exactly in which direction the government wishes us to proceed.
 
Realistically we are at a cross roads as the government opens up alternative avenues. No longer will we take directives from faceless bureaucrats in Brussels deciding our fate via the Common Agricultural Policy. However, it is far from clear exactly what the vision is that Boris and his ministers have regarding the future of farming. Will they major on food production, or lean heavily towards the environment and ‘public money for public good’?
 
It would be sensible if both could run side by side. Our number one priority is to provide food - sustainably, ethically and economically. Farming enhances the environment, it really is not responsible for climate change. In fact if one listens to the science, the opposite is the case.
 
Animal welfare, with few exceptions, is beyond criticism. Our crops, grassland, woodland and extensive grazing of scrubland, capture more carbon than we produce. Those members of the public, who venture out into the countryside, and plenty don’t, understand the part farmer’s play in creating its beauty, and ensuring the supermarket shelves are full.
 
Chairman of the Committee on Climate Change, Lord Deben, in his latest report ‘Land Use: Policies for a Net Zero UK’, said “The time for discussion is over and the time for delivery has arrived; backed by legislation if necessary.” He believes that changes can provide new revenue opportunities for farmers, better air quality and improved biosecurity.
 
The committee recommend, amongst other changes: that the public reduce consumption of beef, lamb and dairy by at least 20% per person. Tree planting is increased by 100m trees/year. We take 20% of land out of traditional food production, and move into long-term natural carbon storage.
 
Interestingly Chris Stark, the committee’s chief executive, admits that to reach their suggested goals, we must all change our diets. And, although he admits grass-fed beef is ‘less damaging’ than other beef production methods, he still insists we should produce fewer cattle. Clearly this will result in our beef being replaced with imported beef, produced under higher greenhouse-gas-intensity and food miles. How sensible is that?
 
British agriculture is apparently responsible for 12% of all greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore 88% comes from alternative sources. I would have thought that rather than target farmers who are doing a vital job feeding the nation, and creating a countryside so greatly loved by the public, and tourists, it is surely more sensible to concentrate upon those who make up the 88%. Most of which is emitted from towns and cities, transport, manufacturing, power stations, all of which generate a huge amount of waste.
 
It seems incredible that our under resourced police who should be rounding up criminals, are wasting valuable time investigation individuals who they suspect are ‘thinking’ non PC thoughts!
 
I wonder how my generation and those before us survived without overzealous ‘thought police’, protecting us from people voicing their opinions, cracking jokes at our expense, being called a derogatory name, being allowed to fail and debating with people we do not agree with. We also had to fend off the odd bloke with straying hands, without sending him to the gallows, as well as a mountain of other challenges, which are character building and part of life’s rich experience.
 
It is time to stop this free fall movement which curbs free speech. It has now become pathetic that people can be shamed or condemned for what they say or write. Some of us don’t really care, but the less robust do. I trust that in this new decade with a Prime Minister who speaks freely and advocates free speech, common sense will prevail.