Originally Posted By dshyates With all hell breaking loose in the UK, I am a little concerned about our friends over there. How are you guys doing?
Originally Posted By u k fan I can't speak for everyone, but the ones I know of live in towns or cities where I don't think much happened. We had a little bit of trouble here, but in my town that means very little (someone probably kicked a car). There were large gangs of youths hanging around on Tuesday evening in the town centre, but as I say I don't think it came to much. I think they were hanging around on the off chance that if something did happen they could join in. My brother lives in London and although where he is was fairly quiet there was some looting about 5 minutes away from his house and someone tried to break open an ATM. Thankfully it's all calming down now. I'm supposed to be in London this weekend and I am seriously considering whether to bother!!!
Originally Posted By Malin It does look like the situation is calming down now. A slow response from the Police and Government caused the problems to get out of hand in the first place. Its a very sad and embarassing event. Especially with the Olympics in London next year. Myself I was well out of the way of all the trouble. My only concern is that like U K Fan I am also traveling to London very soon. Fortunately its only the one night on my journey to Anaheim for the D23 Expo. Although I'm not really that worried.
Originally Posted By dagobert I'm going to London in three weeks, but I'm not concerned right now. I think the situation will have calmed down by then.
Originally Posted By hopemax I have been wondering about Dave. I don't know what his current job entails, but it seems like this would have the potential to overlap. And if not directly, he would know people. I know the things he has seen have caused great anxiety, and this has to be very upsetting. So I worry for him, even though I don't know him, like some LPers do.
Originally Posted By sarahwithbaloo Hopemax thank you for your concern we were actually in London the Saturday evening that it all kicked off showing Mr X the sites. Luckily we were the other side it seems so when I had relatives calling the next morning to check we were OK I was a little confused. Not sure if we had problems in our town as we were in the Netherland this week but I know that my MIL says her town has had some nasty problems.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Thanks for your concern hopemax, I did have a few people I know effected, but nothing serious. That said, I have yet to read all my emails having returned from Holland this morning to be diagnosed with tonsillitus, so concentrating on getting better. Sadly these riots have not come as a huge surprise.
Originally Posted By dagobert Welcome back Dave and hopefully you will recover soon from whatever that is. I can't wait to read your trip report and it's great that you haven't had any problems with the riots. My parents are already a little bit concerned that we are going to London, but I don't think we will be effected by the riots and currently it is very quiet over there.
Originally Posted By u k fan I went to London last weekend and didn't see anything personally of the aftermath, but some of family did. My brother's local mall was hit and was still boarded up!!!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Thanks guys. I will aim to get a trip report up, but our trip was riddled with lots of issues of server crashes, illness, extended family illness, a freezer that died when we had a power cut, and other little picadeloes to keep us busy. But I will get photos and reports up as and when I can. Dagobert, I would imagine you will be ok as long as you stick to touristy areas. We were there showing Mr X around the night it kicked off, and knew nothing about it.
Originally Posted By dagobert >>>Dagobert, I would imagine you will be ok as long as you stick to touristy areas. We were there showing Mr X around the night it kicked off, and knew nothing about it.<<< At the moment we are not worried at all, since nothing had happened in the last days.
Originally Posted By mawnck I hope Mr. X is doing OK. He's got some "issues" in his neck of the woods as well.
Originally Posted By Rsey103 I've had a death in the family and have been out of the loop. What are people rioting about in London??
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo mawnk, indeed Dave has much on right now, but we had a fantastic, albeit brief visit on his stop over in London. All being well, he should be having a great time in New England right now.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo sey103, my condolances on your loss. Last week there were riots that started in London but then ignited up and down the country in many of the major cities. It started over a police shooting (very rare in the UK, guns are pretty much illegal), some was in protest to the unelected coallition government and the austerity policies, and a great many seem to be opportunist hooligans that want to cause trouble and loot stores. Sadly these sorts of things were common place during the Thatcher years, but things like Facebook make it easier for them to mobilise.
