4 APRIL 1998, Page 26

Castles in the air

THERE is no room for the Guards to parade on Horse Guards Parade. Their parade ground has been cluttered up with bouncy castles. I told you this was going to happen but you may have thought I was teasing. It is all part of Asem, the great Asia-Europe Meeting being staged in Lon- don this weekend. We are not used to boon- doggles here, preferring to doggie off to other people's boons, but this one is a cork- er, featuring 25 heads of government and a full freeloading cast of thousands, all clasp- ing their buckshee air tickets. The bouncy castles house an exhibition for their benefit, called 'powerhouse uk'. Who is paying for this? YOu will, starting on Monday.