Aftermath

As a rational exercise, the staged events of the last eleven days don't stand much scrutiny. Danny Boyle would have rejected half the costumes, if they'd come to him as sketch ideas; Andrew Lloyd Webber would have dismissed two dozen repetitions of a funeral march not-really-by-Beethoven; Trevor Nunn would have banned shuffling entrances and exits, and halved the dialogue; and Gillian Lynne would have stormed out if the only step she could use was the slow march. 

Given all that, those who produced, presented, staged, shot, and took part came together in a marvellous confection that kept people watching and listening for an extraordinary length of time. 

I've particular love for whoever worked out how to get the sailors and gun carriage through the archway into Horseguards and back into line again. 

Of course, I've stored up a few gripes. 

I'm not happy with 'tri-service'; what's wrong with 'the armed forces' ?

Should we have made it clear that Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle have a bigger staff than most five-star hotels ?

Might we have raised an eyebrow about what the Royal Piper does for the rest of his working day ?

Did Huw loll in his chair a little too much ?  Why always two guests at once ?

Can someone count the number of different 'closing montages' made at the OBs, London and around the Nations ?