Camden, London
So first up, Ros made it out of Burma after being seemingly the only western journalist in the country for the past week...or at least the only one using her own name in by-lines. I've not got the low down yet on whether she had to be smuggled out in the back of a rice lorry in a stitched up burlap sack or she simply boarded a plane and waved cheerio. The good news is she's safe. No news from those still there though as the Internet and comms black-out seems to be working frustratingly effectively.
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[As I've been typing I've received an email from Ros:
... All a very sorry story there as you know. Very sad. I was a little jumpy and moved hotel three times - very John Le Carre. But they have bigger fish to fry than me, like those poor monks...]
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Tomorrow, 4 October, is International Bloggers' Day for Burma. For more info check out http://www.free-burma.org/. If you have any web presence or a blog then make a post with Free Burma! as the title and display a supportive graphic and text (I'm guessing relevant to Burma rather than Preston's 5-1 win over Southampton the other day).
Also Saturday 6 October is Global Day of Action for Burma with solidarity marches in major cities and capitals throughout the world, at least in those countries where public protest is allowed. In London there is a march in support of the Burmese people and their struggle for democracy. It leaves from outside Tate Britain in Pimlico at 11:00 and heads towards Trafalgar Square for c.12:45. Wear red. Headbands are tipped as being quite in vogue. For more information see:
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/pm/weblog.php?id=P290.
To be honest, I talked to Jo about going to this and as we both have an irrational fear of crowds (would that be a phobia?), we worked out a compromise - we'd go to the start, then take the dotty boat down the Thames to the Tate Modern, have a coffee and then saunter over at our own pace to the fringes of Trafalgar Square for some chanting and placard waving. I know, I know, it's hardly setting myself on fire in protest or lying down in front of columns of rolling tanks but I'm trying to work within my mental confines here.
Of other less consequential issues, my TagBoard (right) seems to have started displaying advertising. Not happy. I want this to be an ad free blog apart from about those issues, bands, flats for rent, films about bikes, Gerry Mitchell CDs that you can pick up from Amazon for £0.01 etc I choose to promote. Tried to fix the problem by reloading the Tag code (the simple no-ad Tag code) but it seems it's still popping up ads. Grrrr. Don't worry, I haven't sold out...I'll try and fix it when I get a chance.
I've also been suffering from a headache for days now. OK, two days, but it's unlike me and so naturally I am convinced I have a brain tumour. I really hope it isn't the case, it'd be such a frightful bore.
Trafalgar Square lion adorned with Free Burma red ribbons.
Base of Nelson's Column, commemorating his victory at the Battle of Copenhagen, 1801. Someone had tied a red Free Burma ribbon on one of the toes of the figures. It looked rather dramatic...a bit like the chap's foot was bleeding. I'm sure there's a more esoteric and meaningful analogy to be made...but it escapes me.
