Suspect package at the Bank/Royal Exchange

A little Police activity in advance of tomorrow with the Royal Exchange corner by Bank station being cordoned off to deal with a suspect package. The Police did a good job of not overreacting and kept the roads and stations open, which is hopefully a good sign for tomorrow. I got interviewed by a far-eastern news crew into the bargain but I’ve no idea which station they were from.

Squaring up to the Square Mile

Well, the big day dawns tomorrow with the G20 protestors due in force. There was a small protest this morning down by the Bank of England which passed peacefully but I doubt that anybody’s going to lay a bet on tomorrow’s protests being trouble-free.

The Police have issued advice to City businesses and workers as to how to best protect themselves but if I have one thing to add it would be to plan a couple of other alternative routes home should it all kick off and your normal route home be closed. Seeing as I normally go to Bank Station I got my plans already laid.

If you want to know whether your office is likely to be targeted then Indymedia have a handy map which shows the locations of prominent companies and places. Mine’s on there so I’ll be stocking up on pepper spray to keep the oiks away from my snack drawer (i.e. another normal day in the office).

I hope to be out and about bringing you some photos and updates as long as we’re not barricaded in!

City of London Police G20 Protest Advice
http://www.cityoflondon.police.uk/CityPolice/Advice/BusinessAdvice/g20advice.htm

G20 Protest Map
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/03/425202.html

Clocking In

Just a last minute reminder that the clocks go forward an hour tomorrow morning so for those out partying you need to cram it in a bit quicker becase your favourite haunt may have an hour’s less opening time and for those planning to watch the Australian Grand Prix in the wee small hours of tomorrow morning you’ll need to make sure you’ve set the clock for the right time or else you’ll miss it.

I have a sinking feeling the new F1 season’s going to be a farce with Bernie and Max’s changes taking F1 out of the hands of the drivers and into the hands of the stewards and appeal courts. There’s a limit to how much they can mess with it without ruining it and I’m afraid that we might have reached that point.

Maybe the best things is to stay up late partying and arrive home as the Grand Prix starts! None of this messing with the clock business!!

Lunchtime drama in the City

He sits in his suit and coat on the bench with his dark hair ruffled by the breeze, takes a sandwich from the clingfilm wrapper before briefly examining it, then bites into it. She sits next to him with watery eyes, face inches from his, and she talks quickly with her hands trying to make up for what her words can’t convey. She stops. He utters a few words and she becomes even more animated, the wider gestures causing her long black hair to sway more dramatically with her hands tracing patterns in the air while he gazes off into space, grazing on his sandwich. A few more words from him and she leaps to her feet and walks away with tears flowing down her olive skin, but not too far though and after a minute he puts down his sandwich, stands up and walks across to put an arm around her while she stands as cold as ice, not responding to his touch. They return to the bench, she to talking and gesticulating and he progresses to removing the top from a yoghurt and producing a spoon from a bag, all the while behaving as though nothing at all untoward was going on.

She looks at her watch. They leave.

Just another lunchtime drama played out in front of the City audience. Me? I’d have slapped him.

Police stretched for upcoming protests.

 

You may remember that nearly a month ago I let you know about the upcoming April 1st protests in the City and it seems that this week the press have caught onto the idea with gusto! The Evening Standard is spouting a mixture of fact and hyperbole though other sources are being more sanguine with The Times reporting Commander Bob Broadhurst of the Metropolitan Police as saying:
“We are seeing unprecedented planning among protest groups. Some of the groups of the late 90s are coming back to the fore and there is a coming together of anarchists, anti-globalisation groups and environmentalists. They are plotting and planning what they are going to do and the picture is changing almost every minute. They have some very clever people and their intention on April 1 is to stop the City.”

There are now three protests planned on April 1st:
The G20 Meltdown protest starts at 11am with four groups starting at Cannon Street, Liverpool Street, London Bridge and Moorgate and then marching to the Bank of England at 12 noon.
At 12.30 The Climate Camp starts outside 62 Bishopsgate and lasts for 24 hours.
At 2.30pm Stop The War and various other groups congregate outside the US Embassy in the West End.

Obviously this is going to be a big stretch for the Police so if you work in the City you ought to find out what your company’s response is going to be and you need to think about what contingency plans you may need to have to get home if it all goes pear-shaped.

Met: G20 protesters will stretch us to our limit
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article5946908.ece

Climate Camp 09
http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20

G20 Meltdown at the Bank of England
http://www.g-20meltdown.org/

Fossil Fools Day
http://www.fossilfoolsdayofaction.org/

City of London Police
http://www.cityoflondon.police.uk/

Metropolitan Police
http://www.met.police.uk/

Capture The Flag tonight!

All kinds of strange and excellent things happen in the City and this evening will see “Capture The Flag II” meeting in Liverpool Street Station at 6pm for a 6.30pm start.

For those who’ve never played it they do helpfully explain the rules but basically it’s an adult version of playoground “tag” with a twist. This game is a followup to the original “Capture The Flag” in Covent Garden back in February. If you do go then let me know how you get on but if you see a bunch of people congregating at Liverpool Street tonight you know what they’re there for.

UPDATE:
I’m aware that the site in question has links to Reclaim The Streets and is mentioned on G20 protest sites but I trust you’ll use your adult discretion as to how much weight you give the Evening Standard’s version:
“The group Climate Camp will spend this evening playing hunting games to familiarise themselves with the area and tomorrow there will be a day-long seminar discussing the problems of carbon trading.”

Capture The Flag – London
http://capturetheflaglondon.blogspot.com

Thameslink Moorgate Branch Line Closes

The Thameslink branch line between Farringdon and Moorgate is set to close for good today.  Commuters into the City who used this service will now need to walk from Farringdon or use a tube or bus.

First Capital Connect Managing Director Elaine Holt said: “The closure of the Thameslink Moorgate branch line is an unfortunate but necessary part of the Government-funded Thameslink Programme to reduce overcrowding. In commemorating the end of the line we are celebrating the beginning of the transformation of another – the key cross-London Bedford to Brighton Thameslink route.

“Network Rail can now start rebuilding in earnest key stations at Blackfriars and Farringdon for 50% longer 12-carriage trains. It will mean disruption for our customers but we will do our utmost to help them through this.”

Find out more from First Capital Connect.

Adult Only Event at Musuem of London 27th March

Adult only event, Musuem of London, Friday 27 March, 15:00

The Musuem of London is hosting an adult only event where they are sharing their most recent photography acquisitions.

Come view recent additions to the Museum’s photography collections with curator Anna Sparham. Broad in their subject matter and historical significance, the photographs range from those by famous photographers such as Laszlo Moholy-Nagy to the humble amateur. Gain an insight to the process behind acquiring photographs for the Museum – the selection process, liaison with owners and galleries, decision making and what happens to the originals once they arrive. The event is 40 minutes long and is free with no need to book.

Large Fire Reported in Bream’s Buildings

There are reports of a large fire in the Bream’s Buildings in Chancery Lane on the City’s western border. Smoke has been seen pluming into the sky and eight fire appliances are at the scene tackling the blaze. Early reports suggest that the fire started at the Immigration and Appeals Commission.

Check Twitter for latest on the spot reactions…

What can you see? Post any comments below…

Boob Aerobics or Chav Fighting?

I’ve previously mentioned that gyms and health clubs are having a hard time staying ahead of the game and Gymbox seem to have taken this to heart. Not only do they offer courses with unusual names such as “Chav Fighting”, “Boob Aerobics” and “Bitch Boxing” but they’ve also got a different approach to street promotion as the picture below shows which I snapped just now by Moorgate station.

I think they need to come up with a few more, perhaps something that rhymes with “Moobs” or a catchy phrase for a course that promises infinite sexual stamina, not that I’d need to attend such a course but for those with an interest in the subject my consultancy rates are reasonable…

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