Zimbabwe Protest in London

On my way to the QEII centre yesterday for the the RTPI's annual planning convention I saw a large group of protesters. This was the Westminster part of London where the UK houses of parliament and other government and embassy buildings are situated.

The protest was around 300 strong at least. There were Zimbabwean flags, and orange banners with citizen logos. I wanted to join them but they move quickly and I have committed to promote a very worthwhile project at the convention centre so I had to be there.

The crowd was fairly quiet for such a large group especially when you consider how strong a case they have. Why this is I cannot say. I have seen protests in other parts of town about the Mugabe regime for years now, so perhaps these particular protest groups are fatigued, or perhaps it is just not their style. The banners are bright enough, the message strong enough, and the support they will get will no doubt be wide in any case.

Stromness, Orkney - out of time!

Although I lived a long time in Scotland I was still amazed by Stromness when I went to Orkney for the first time in 2008. Living in London the past while added to the sense that I was visiting somewhere pretty special. Where London roads have traffic jams at 3 a.m., the towns of in Orkney are quiet during the day. There are no queues anywhere. You might get a few people walking in the streets, or a handful of cars driving through the Stromness.

But even without a city home, the place would have real charm. The town is incredibly atmospheric, reminiscent of a different era, with the layered low-rise buildings and a stunning rugged coastal backdrop.

There are a handful of shops and a really decent local museum, with well kept realia of Scapa Flow. This natural harbour was the resting place for a German fleet scuttled in 1919 under peculiar circumstances (although I doubt there could be ‘normal’ circumstances to sink your own ships!).

It is after all a harbour town and ultimately if I get to go again, I will definitely take the ferry – the place is supposed to look at its best from the water! I would also like to see the old man of Hoy a little closer, tour around more.

I flew connecting in Edinburgh and there is a certain charm taking a 27 seater plane – much closer to being in a (very noisy) car than, say a 747. The airport is pretty small but you can rent a car directly there.