THE wonders of modern technology usually fail to amaze me but I was astounded last weekend to discover that a country as important and powerful as the UK was supposedly being run using little more than a Blackberry and, moreover, from a luxurious private holiday getaway in Corfu.

It was the news that Lord Mandelson was running the country while on holiday armed with the 21st century politician’s obligatory smartphone, that led me to ponder why on earth any government needs an army of civil servants – and which consumes millions of tax-payers hard earned cash every year, year upon year – when a small handheld gadget can do the job.

The holiday snaps of politicians of all nationalities enjoying themselves in a foreign land far away from home also begged the question as to why, when the ordinary folk bearing the brunt of the banksters avarice and politicians’ follies are being encouraged to holiday at home, why those who got the world in this mess are not leading by example?

The exceptions to the rule this summer are the British Premier Gordon Brown, US President Barrack Obama, France’s President Nicolas Sakorzy and Russia’s very own action man Vladimir ‘Flex Those Pecs’ Putin.

Having taken his own advice, Brown is spending three weeks combining a family break in the Lake District with voluntary work on community projects in his Scottish constituency. How different from his predecessor, Tony Blair, who favoured making the most of friends’ hospitality, as long as those generous souls owned luxury villas or moored their yachts in sunny climes.

Obama is also holidaying at home, surfing in Hawaii – where he was born – while Sarkozy, fully recovered from his recent collapse while out jogging, is sunning himself on the French Riviera, where there is an outside chance he could bump into one or two of our own beloved politicians.

However, when it comes to proving which head of state can out pace the others, then judo master Putin wins the fitness stakes hands down. It is not August unless Vlad gets his shirt off for the media. The former Russian President – now prime minister – postured and posed in various action man scenes on horseback; up a tree; tagging whales; guiding a mini-sub to the depths of Lake Baikal and participating in other very manly activities with his bodyguards and stereotypical Siberian nomads and horsemen.

The scene that will take some beating – even by California’s macho man governor Arnold Swarzenegger – was the sight of Putin doing the butterfly stroke in an icy Siberian river. Cosy scenes of political leaders and their families building sand castles, strolling down a leafy country lane or enjoying even the most extreme rides at a theme park, don’t quite instil the same confidence that the Russian people must feel in their leader’s resolve.

They can sleep easy in their dachas in the knowledge that when the going gets tough on the world political stage, then Putin will fight their corner and with all guns blazing.

German politicians were also making the headlines while on holiday. Having taken her official car and its driver 1,483 miles to the Costa Blanca, health minister Ulla Schmidt then had the misfortune to have it stolen. In a more alarming incident, a former Bavarian state leader was nearly devoured by an alligator while on holiday in Florida. No doubt if Putin had found himself in such danger he’d have torn the beast apart limb by limb.

Those who stick their heads above the parapet by seeking political office – whether that is world leaders or our own humble coteries of Senators, Deputies and Constables – have to accept that practicing what they preach is par for the course of a life in government. They must accept that wherever they go the media and the public will be keeping a beady eye on their activities.

The new UK political campaign group, 38 Degrees, has set the great British public a fascinating task over the summer holidays by asking those patriotically holidaying at home to send in photos of any MPs and Ministers they encounter on their travels.

We Islanders are also being encouraged to enjoy what we have on our doorsteps rather than spending our holidays – and money made in Jersey – to the benefit of another economy.
Let’s face it; there is a tendency among we rock dwellers to forget what we have or to appreciate why the Island draws visitors from all over the world. In many cases the only contact the locals have with visitors is passing them at the Airport or the harbour as they arrive and we depart for all points of the compass.

August is the best month to be in Jersey and come to that, to be at work. Getting to and from the daily grind is a doddle and the pace of life lessens to a slow and relaxed plod, while the only traffic jams are those caused by floats heading for the Battle arena.

While we are being urged to stay at home and enjoy what is on offer in the way of events, leisure and sporting activities and places to visit, how many of our beloved politicians are doing the same?

I feel a public poll coming on. What a novel way to idle away high summer, than by spotting which members of the current shift at Charlie Chuckle’s Laughter Factory are doing likewise.
As an incentive the lucky ‘Memberspotter’ to capture images of the most Members out and about should receive a suitable prize for executing such a commendable public duty – such as a rib trip to the Minquiers, a kayak adventure or a year’s membership of Durrell.

So, if you spot a Senator living life to the full by blokarting or kite surfing in St Ouen’s Bay; jet skiing or being pulled around the Royal Bay of Grouville on an inflatable banana you will score 15 points.

Should you bump into a Deputy meandering through aMaizin’s delightful maze, lost in his or her thoughts in the War Tunnels or pedalling along a cycle route – give yourself ten points, while five points is the reward for logging a Constable at rest or play.

Finally, if you encounter a minister doing any of the above then double the score.