London/UK: Mayday?

08:15 / 12.04.02

ok, me too. If no one has any objections, I'm going to email this thread to a couple of people who might be interested.

10:02 / 12.04.02

Let those of us who can't make it tomorrow know what's decided- I'll put my email back on my profile if you don't wanna say in public.

Prisoner no. 1300

10:45 / 12.04.02

Bunking school, going. Hopefully they won't turn a protest into a detention camp like last year.

16:41 / 12.04.02

Rats, I can't make tomorrow till later on but I'll see you there eventually.

17:01 / 12.04.02

Me again. I'm with Chairman Mao, I'm not up for anything illegal.

I have a slight quibble about last year being a failure. A lot (all?) of the shops on Oxford Street were shut for a proportion of the afternoon and the police tactics (which by some accounts were totally unlawful) were called into question by the mainstream press. Both of these things I would define as a 'result'. Though I would agree that there was a sickening proportion of loosers looking for trouble. A bottle smashed a few feet away from me at one point, not something which I see as progressive or helpful in any way. My worst moment was overhearing a bunch of would-be looters saying, "Christ, there's no money to be had in this is there? Let's go home." Fucksake!

13:21 / 15.04.02

Progress report:

Me, Gozer, Lentil and [someone whose real name I remember, but not their ficsuit] had a chat about stuff on Saturday.

We agreed a basic plan which has a few elements to it and is (I think) completely open to amendments, omissions and additions but is a start. I won't post details here, but it's fun, different and has a broad remit that I think most Barbelith posters could agree with.

We arranged to meet up on Thursday round Dalston (my suggestion: the jazz bar around the corner from Dalston Kingsland as it has nice sofas and isn't too busy) to a) see how we've done at organising various key elements of 'the plan' and b) see if we've any more ideas.

Anybody who wants to get involved should come on down.

Bill - sorry not to have chatted on Sat - didn't see you about (though I was kind of preoccupied once the evening started...)

15:57 / 15.04.02

I hate to be awkward, but Thursday might be a problem for me. I've got a commission due on Friday (I thought it was next week - not very good at keeping a diary!), so I may have to work. I've cancelled my other social engagements for this week to free up time, but there's a lot left to do, I'll have to see how it goes. I'm free on the weekend though.

16:00 / 15.04.02

I also wrote this at the end of my last post but because i put it in the wrong sort of brackets it didn't appear (spot the html novice):

silver lining - I've got an interview for a 3-days-a-week job on Wednesday, so if I get that i'll have a lot more time for preparations.

09:47 / 16.04.02

What time Thursday? (or whichever day, if it changes) and what's the name of the bar? (Dalston's handy for me, cos it's ten minutes' walk up the road.)

10:28 / 16.04.02

Looks like I may be fairly late at work - if we could do it around 8ish that'd be peachy for me. Lentil - would that give you enough time to finish your stuff? Also - the things you said you'd take on, do you need to pass them on to someone else if you're busy this week? Maybe moominstoat could do 'em...

10:53 / 16.04.02

Mm, sorry to miss ya Lyra (and everyone else) on sat. Fate sent me on a different route that night.

Oh and thursday's gonna be awkward for me too, sorry.

06:23 / 17.04.02

8-ish good if Thursday's still a goer- but (sorry to repeat myself) what's the name of the bar? And I'd be more than happy to take on stuff (depending what it is, of course).

07:49 / 17.04.02

I'll have to see how much I can get done tonight, but if I do need to work tomorrow the only way I could fit it all in would be to meet early and then work, which i can see isn't going to fit with everyone else. Sorry about this.
Regarding my tasks, I've got a good suggestion for one of them (I'll PM Lyra the deets tomorrow if I can't make it), and the other i was planning on doing some research on company time today & tomorrow. However, if anyone has any good ideas about, or wants to find out where to hire/get tables & chairs for a day, dive right in.

rizla mission

08:06 / 17.04.02

So .. is there any way I could be of help? Even if I, y'know, don't turn up until the actual day?

angel

13:37 / 17.04.02

Tomorrow is not good for me either unfortunately, but please let me know details and how to help.

13:50 / 17.04.02

If there's a better day to have this then surely it will be better to re-arrange...

17:56 / 17.04.02

I'm helping film a mate's music video in victoria park all day saturday - we could meet up then, cos they don't need me for most of it. There are plenty of pubs nearby if it's cold, if it's warm we can hang out in the park...

18:58 / 17.04.02

Name a pub and a time... (and possibly directions... I'm not the best at finding my way...) Saturday's cool though.

Tony Montana

21:19 / 17.04.02

I'm up for it! What's the plan?

07:27 / 18.04.02

Satyrday's definitely better for me too, I could quite go an afternoon pint. There's a decent looking pub on the north edge of the park, can't remember what it's called though .... (looks around pleadingly for help)

Shortfatdyke

07:32 / 18.04.02

that'll either be the pub in the park (at the hackney end) or the firkin (at the hackney wick end).

07:43 / 18.04.02

The Pub in the park (is this the one at the end of London Fields) is lovely. Especially if the weather's nice.

08:03 / 18.04.02

Royal Inn on the Park, 2pm.

277 bus will take you all the way there from either Canary Wharf, Hackney Central, Dalston or Highbury & Islington. I'd suggest getting a tube or overland railway to one of the above and transferring to the bus.

Bethnal green tube is about 10-15 minutes walk from that pub, and quite a pleasant walk at that. Take the exit for Roman Road. Walk down Roman Road, past the Buddhist Centre, the school and the market. Walk over the bridge over the canal and walk one block to the traffic lights where you turn right. Keep going straight along Grove road and you'll come to a roundabout (where you can dance with Rosa if you want). Go straight over the roundabout and walk up the road (park on both sides of you) until you see the pub...

08:12 / 18.04.02

Cheers. Will be there, with bleached hair and probably a leather jacket with a white Coil symbol painted on the back if nobody I've met before's there. (I kind of like the idea of meeting up with a bunch of people- most of whom I know only by "codenames"- to plot stuff. Sort of like hanging out in St James' Park feeding the ducks and carrying an umbrella...)

09:11 / 18.04.02

YO.

I am down.

We rollin'.

I wish I'd posted a description of myself before last saturday, it would have saved me an awkward fifteen minutes of nursing my heineken while I tried to sum up the courage to ask a group of strangers "excuse me, but, do you know... Barbelith?"

09:36 / 18.04.02

Happened to me the first time I met people too... fortunately, Flame was carrying a bunch of banners for the demo we were going on, so I didn't feel TOO awkward asking if he was the right person, cos I figured even if he wasn't, we were going to the same thing anyway...

14:12 / 18.04.02

sat looks like thw best for everyone but can't make it as im moving house...just keep me in touch

11:31 / 22.04.02

Well, me and stoatie met up and shared a pleasant drink and smoke with some random gentleman and his infant daughter.

I wouldn't say a huge amount of progress was made, so it might be an idea to catch up at some time soon.

Angel - it'd be great if we could catch up sometime soon and discuss entertainers of various descriptions and their availability.

I think I have placard printing well in hand - next weekend will be placard construction time and anyone who wants to help is welcome.

Location is our most urgent need - stoatie is on the case so far, but we need to nail this down asap.

Other bits and pieces, I don't really know.

How's everyone fixed to meet up some time this week?

11:48 / 22.04.02

hmmm. sounds like a great time was had by all?

well im free tomorrow night-i can probably get to anywhere within zones 1-4,

id prefer to meet south london though,

and with the obvious amunt of interest this is getting it maybe better to sort out something less grandiose but more practical...just an idea

c'mon people now, smile on your brother...

13:29 / 22.04.02

Yep, South or Central London best 4 me.

Also, Lentil said:

...as there is an officially sanctioned protest going on at the same time. It would be quite easy for the press and police to draw a false distinction between the nice respectable anarchists who dissent within approved boundaries, and the horrible anarcho-terrorists who just run around causing trouble.

And that appears to be exactly what they are doing. Do a Mayday search on Indymedia for recent press articles and comments. The feeling on the part of many is quite negative re: how we're gonna be treated. Sorry to have to mention it, but woulda felt bad if I hadn't.

14:27 / 22.04.02

Okay, well committed motherfucker that I am, I'm willing to make the trek to south london tomorrow night.

Peeps who definitely ought to be there (going on interest so far) are: gozer, lentil, stoatie, bill, angel (if we still need the circus performers, and she's up for it...)

anarchoprotestmachinego!

Who's going to suggest a venue? I might hazard the suggestion that someone's house might be better than the pub, seeing as we're being serious about this and all...

15:12 / 22.04.02

where are you based, we could make this easier for us all

15:38 / 22.04.02

Live - Bethnal Green, work Euston/Kings Cross. But I honestly don't mind (too much) heading south. If we work this out today I can probably arrange to kip at my mate in Herne Hill's place and pack an overnight bag...

15:43 / 22.04.02

How about the white bear at kennington, 2 mins from the tube stop, opposite side of the road, just turn left when you come out, any time after 5