Zygote has written an entry about the demo yesterday. And this is mine.
Setting:
time: 5:00 GMT. Place: main entrance to Albert Park, Middlesbrough. Weather: cold. Very cold. There’s frost on the ground. The genetalia of brass monkeys don’t stand a chance. And I’m the first one there.
Eventually, people start appearing. I start speaking to 4 people who I end up accompanying on the protest. They are Charlie, Linda (Myra), Lindsay and Beth. I’ll post pics of them as soon as they appear on the relevant site.
They, unlike me, have signs with them. But they, unlike me, did not go out drinking the night before.
Their signs are: 2 peace signs, “Drop Bush Not Bombs”, “Myra Says No War” and one, strangly enough saying “I Agree”.
We make our way down to London. 3 semi deckers leave from Boro.
We stop at services on the way. I pay over £6 for 1 bottle of Dr. Pepper (shock), 10 cigarettes, a Mars Bar and a sandwich.
We get to London and get off the bus early as we are stopped in trafic not far from the starting point. Do you want to see the route?
I started at point 1.
There were the usual funny signs. Such as:
“Go Brazillian Lose The Bush”
“Have Sex With Bearded Folk” (as a guy with a goatee I agree)
Front of sign:”Ban Foxhunting”. On the back: “Sorry, Wrong Demo”
“Stop Insulting Poodles”
made out to look like a newspaper: “Bush admits: I don’t know shit. OK you got me. I don’t know what I’m doing”and
3 gloves and 1 empty chocolate biscuit box on bits of wood. (Honest. I’m not making that up.)
There was a cheer for the two guys, one with a Blair mask, one with a Bush mask, with weapons of mass destruction with a world stuck on the end sticking out of their flies.
On the way round I hear a rumour of 1,000,000 people in London for the demo.
And I walked. And walked. And stopped. And started again. On the way round I purchase a “Don’t Attack Iraq” badge, a whistle (for making noise) and a pair of shades with “Peace” on one lens and “Not War” on the other.
Just before Picadilly Circus I buy a slice of pizza for £1.95.
All the way round the demo would erupt into noise for various reasons. People watching for shops, a helecopter, things like that. Just after Picadilly circus it goes a bit mental. A drum band kept playing and everyone dances, shouted, cheeres or blew whatever noise maker they have. Someone takes a photo of the other four around the “Mrya says” sign and then takes a close up of the things the girls wrote on their cheeks. He’ll put it on his website.
We stared walking about 12:30. We reached Hyde Park at about 5:30. When we got there someone with a megaphone informed us that about 2 million people took part.
2 MILLION PEOPLE!
They were expecting half a million. The government are saying 750,000. It’s still the largest demo in Britain.
We were going to go to Hyde Park. But we decided to look for the bus instead. And went totally in the wrong direction.
So we started walking back. We passed someone selling no war t-shirts. £3 each or 2 for a fiver. I went to buy one. The guy cut us a deal. 6 for a tenner. We agree and end up getting 7. So I have a spare.
Wandering around looking for the bus. Eventually I saw “Teeside coach 77”. Just after that I saw someone hug a coach for the first time ever.
Back on. This was 6:30. We leave at 7:30. Stop on the way home. 2 bottles of Dr. Pepper (shock again) for £1.59. Bargain.
And then 1:15am. Place: entrance to Albert Park, Middlesbrough. Weather, still a bit cold.
Summary:
Money spent on stuff: Shades = £3. T-shirt = £2. Whistle = £1. Badge = £1. Total = £7.
Time away from Boro = 18 1/2 hours.
New people met = 4.
Length of time before legs forgive me = 3 days (min).
Length of time before I forget day = depends on when I die.
Would I do it again? Hell yes.
Will
Loading comments...