Lunchtime and a stroll down to Trafalgar Square. As I emerged from the office, the bells at Westminster Abbey rang out and continued to ring out throughout my break. As I circled Parliament Square I passed the statue of Abraham Lincoln, and reflected how he had been assassinated at the hands of a relative of Mrs Blair. I was not permitted to walk up the left hand side of Whitehall people with offices on that side were required to show their photo passes.
It was fairly slow going along the right side of Whitehall it was not possible to stop directly opposite Downing Street and photograph - a policeman did ask me to keep moving. Opposite the Treasury I assaulted a policeman; he didnt seem to mind. Perhaps he noted a stray elbow as I slung my camera round my neck to protect it from the crowds rather than over my left shoulder to protect the blisters on my right neck.
A party was underway in Trafalgar Square, with some funky Arabic pop music blaring over the sound system. A giant screen displayed greetings from far afield, and pictures of giant Pretzels. I mooched around, looking at the variety of folks gathered old and young, scruffy, casual and smart, a variety of races, different group affiliations.
I was there at approximately one oclock. There was a sense of something in the air, but not, at this stage the most exciting. Writing now and monitoring the webcam, the crowd has grown significantly. This is before the arrival of the march. Who knows what numbers will assemble?
At the end of the Mall, near Admiralty Arch were a number of low loaders containing concrete barriers.
Meanwhile, my manager went over to the colour printer and found this. Shit! I thought, I wasnt sure whether or not I had pressed print, but it certainly hadnt come out on the b/w printer. He proceeded to pass it round the office to considerable guffaws from all and sundry. He guessed I was responsible
