This week’s page nineteen narrative comes to you from London, where I am enjoying a few days on holiday among the Army, arts and artefacts.

It is said that if you are tired of London then you are tired of life, and I concur. This city is full of magic and so much amazing history, I never say no to the opportunity to come here.

That said, throughout my career I always avoided living in the big smoke. Now I know I would love it.

There is always something happening here, always something being built. In Greenwich I saw a now and then photograph of Canary Wharf across the Thames, bereft of buildings 30 years ago, now a concrete jungle, and still growing.

The cranes are also shortly about to appear on Helensburgh’s waterfront, amid the row surrounding the supermarket development there.

I have to scratch my head a bit at the premise of the objections, that the building will spoil the beauty of the site. Isn’t that a bit late? It has already been spoiled by two swimming pools.

The demolition of the original building was a blessing, but to replace it with another concrete erection was a huge mistake. It should have been sited ABT - anywhere but there.

And while we’re at it, who on earth designed it? The fact that swimmers look out onto the car park and not the sea would suggest that they got the plans upside down. That is purely and simply staggering.

My only foray into this argument has been to say that the new pool should have been built elsewhere and the entire frontage turned into a park, in keeping with the rest of the corniche.

We need a green space with grass and fountains for people to sit and enjoy, with a stage at one end to attract performers, and cafes and bars facing the sea where the recycling is now. The recycling!

We’ve all heard of the Edinburgh Festival, so how about starting a Helensburgh Festival and instead of the Fringe, have the Front? The sea view is Helensburgh’s best attribute and the most should be made of it. Instead there is already an eyesore there.

One is one too many, but if there is one, there may as well be a hundred and one. This is why I have no skin in the fight for the seafront site.

Although, while we’re at it, we should have embellished the pier. I scratch my head when I see these floating gin palaces moored beyond the Captayannis. Who in their right mind would want to go on a cruise to Greenock?

These vessels should be berthing in the burgh, or at least offshore close enough to allow tenders to carry people with money to spend here. But that ship has sailed.