They say a week is a long time in politics, but what about sport, not to mention finance? The past seven days have been remarkable if for nothing more than their volatility, with headlines changing faster than terrorism alerts on British motorways. Is mentioning the tennis a bit like mentioning the weather? So obvious a topic as to make this entire blog worthless, and likely to jinx any chance of a sunny outlook?

I'm sure there was something to complain about this week, but for the life of me I can't remember what it was. And I'm definitely not the only one suffering from an overdose of brain-washed cheerfulness. From the beaming grins waltzing down every British street yesterday, you'd be forgiven for thinking Danny Boyle completed some kind of Men in Black-style manoeuvre with that singing cauldron of flames.