Have they gone yet?!
Leaders from the G20 countries are currently visiting London to discuss Very Important Things. I have no idea if these Very Meaningful Chats will translate into anything useful, but hope so. Their visit has made daily life in the city more interesting than usual.
The protests started on Sunday with the Put People First March - which we would have considered going on if Mr T hadn’t been busy that day. But the city itself was quiet until Wednesday when different groups met at selected rail and tube stations to go to various parts of the city to protest about climate change, the war and the financial system. Whilst I doubt that politicans take any notice of protests - otherwise the debt would have been dropped and our troops wouldn't be where they are - I hope that they take note of how angry people are and do something sensible to address it.
We spent the day listening to the BBC commentary - “People are outside RBS … they’re smashing windows … they’re inside … They Are inside RBS etc whilst working normally. And there were so many bloody helicopters, London sounded like it had been dumped in the middle of the set of “Apocalypse Now”.
On the whole, it was all good natured. The vast majority of people wanted to make their voice heard, have a good time and then go home. Then there’s the small minority of total morons who just wanted a fight who ruined things for everyone else.
We wandered down at lunch-time and stood at the edge of the police cordon listening to Billy Bragg. They closed the office at 3pm because they were worried that some of the tubes / railway stations would be closed and people would be stranded. This wasn’t a great surprise, as the protests were due to stop about 5pm, around the time that most office workers leave for home. But, as my usual route home was rather crowded, I had to go via Tower Hill and pay extra for an underground ticket. (£4! How rude!) No one came to our office whilst the main protest was happening, but some of the black ninja protesters came along later. They taunted security guards and one of them had bought a hockey stick. Nice!
Shops and offices were boarded up (apart from RBS!) and many offices took down signs in an attempt hide who they belonged too. They took down the company logos outside our building as well as the posters but left the massive company name sign behind reception up. (People don't peer into buildings via the front windows. Apparently). City workers encouraged to wear casual clothes “to blend in”. It wasn’t entirely successful. City worker - dipped head to foot in Gap, possible additions including lap-top bag or leather hand-bag; designer sunnies - real or fake; loafers, very clean trainers or high heels or plumbs. Protesters - banners, painted faces etc. Tonia, one of my colleagues, got well into the disguise thing and spent ages working out her coat and rucksack combinations.
Our company suggested doing this for the whole week. Extremely weird on a Monday morning when you’re the only person in casual wandering about at that time. I spent the whole journey worrying if I’d got it wrong - and didn’t stop until I got to the building and saw others dressed the same. (Dress down also takes more thought than work uniform!)
On Thursday, it was pretty much all back to normal. All the litter had been tidied away and they were in the process of wiping off all the graffiti from the walls. Mainly of the “Fuck The Pigs” variety - very imaginative. The protesters improved the statute of Wellington outside the Royal Exchange by draping it with Skull & Crossbones scarves and signs saying “Drop Acid Not Bombs” - all gone by today (Friday). They also managed to trample all over the daffodils.
Whilst I have no problem with the Great and the Good getting together to chew the fat OR with people exercising their right to express their opinions, I can’t help wishing they’d decided to get with the 21st Century and hold the conference via video. Cheaper, more environmentally friendly and less bother for everyone else.