March on, march on

[nineveh_uk]

I have - given that the local train line is closed for engineering works - bought myself a coach ticket to London for the Brexit march on Saturday. Words can scarcely express how much I do not want to do this. I am getting myself there on the combination that I will feel guilty all day and long after if I don't, and that I will (hopefully) meet up with friends I haven't seen in a while to see myself through it. But I really wish I didn't have to. It's a minor hardship compared to what many people are going through with this complete mess, but it shouldn't be happening at all. I am beyond furious with the whole thing.

Fuck knows what is going to happen in parliament in the next 48 hours.

If there's one thing that tells you how cut-throat academia is, it is that my employer has people who have moved here from continental Europe to start work within the past 3 weeks. Because when it comes to the risk of Brexit vs never getting that job chance again, the job wins.

Comments

[pensnest]

My family (well, four of us) will be piling into a car for the march, as we have discovered that it's possible to park in Marylebone for only £14.90. I have many other things to do this weekend, but I can't help feeling that I want to have been at the march... so I totally understand how you feel about it.

What with us lot and Extinction Rebellion, it should be... interesting... in Town tomorrow.

[nineveh_uk]

I have many other things to do this weekend, but I can't help feeling that I want to have been at the march...

That is it exactly. I don't want to go, but I want to have been.

[sir_guinglain]

I don't think I'll get to the march. It could just lead to me feeling even angrier about the situation and this so-called deal.

[nineveh_uk]

It is all so absolutely enraging. Though surely with your cold of this week it would be a bad idea for you to go anyway?

[timetiger]

I hope the march is not too onerous for you. It does seem like the right thing to do.

[nineveh_uk]

Thanks. It's mostly just a long day that I could do without, but I am tricking my brain by telling myself that what I am doing is reading a book on a coach to London where I am going to see friends.

[caulkhead]

Daft question from one who has never been on a march - can you join it as it's going on? I really want to go (well, I don't, but I want to have been), but I've got a longstanding appointment in the morning, so I wouldn't be in London till 12-ish.

[nineveh_uk]

I have also never been on a march, so I don't know! I'm mostly hoping that it is possible to get away from the bit that involves hearing speeches in parliament square early, because I don't think I can hack a 9am coach and then 6pm coach back and want to nip home on the train earlier than that!

[el_staplador]

It is. Last time they closed Westminster tube station, though, so you might want to look up an alternative ahead of time.

[nineveh_uk]

Thanks, that's worth knowing. I shall be wearing walking shoes and there are plausible tracks to Paddington. I suspect that what I do is going to depend on whether friends have children with them and need to go home, or don't in which case I am happy to spend a couple of hours in the pub!

[el_staplador]

Yes. In fact, if this one is anything like the last one you may end up getting more marching in by turning up a bit later and joining in part-way along the route. Apparently last time there were so many people that some of them never got out of Hyde Park. (I was marching with a wheelchair using friend, so only did the short route from Trafalgar Square.)

[caulkhead]

Thank you! That's really useful to know

[el_staplador]

Good luck! My experience is that I always enjoy them far more than I expect to - hope it works the same for you.

[nineveh_uk]

Thank you!

[joyeuce]

I would like to have been there, but a combination of a streaming cold and the need to take a child who doesn't cope well with noise or crowds has decided me against it. I've made a donation to People's March instead and will just have to be with you all in spirit.

[nineveh_uk]

Either one of those would certainly have had me out!

[lopezuna-writes.livejournal.com]

Good for you! I accidentally ended up in London during the last march, so I joined in. The atmosphere was very good-humoured - loads of people out for the day with their kids or their dogs. Walking shoes are definitely a good idea though.

[nineveh_uk]

I was very glad of the walking shoes, especially when it started bucketing down, as they were new in the summer and proved 100% waterproof even with water streaming over the tarmac. You were certainly right about the atmosphere - very good humoured, scarcely any police in evidence, did get quite distracted at one point by adorable baby in a carrier.

[azdak]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Ian Dunt says he can hear the crowds outside roaring at parliament - this is so important for combating the "will of the people" stuff.

[nineveh_uk]

I didn't even get to Parliament Square! There were so many people that despite being in good time we only got as far as Whitehall, though we could just see a screen and hear a loudspeaker!

It ended up being much easier than I had anticipated even though I was very tired in the evening. But it was sunny for the first several hours and there were lots of placards, so in the end it was much better than I had anticipated.