h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

"Have a look at the statue as you go past and message me if there's anyone there? I don't want to go at 5 and be the only one there with my dove." Were the approximate words my girlfriend said to me before I left for work. As most people know, we started bombing officially bombing Iraq again on this day, a matter of hours before I post this.

So I'm sat on the bus, it's a lovely day, not one befiting such a sad occasion. I'm thinking there should be a thunder storm, wrath of god style. But no, there's lovely sunshine, not too hot, but just nice. When over the radio from the bus companys HQ comes "Message to all drivers... Castle Street is blocked by... by war protesters. Avoid Castle Street, repeat, AVOID Castle Street. Use the normal back way into the station. I repeat, war protesters are blocking Castle Street, come into the station via the back way."

You're certainly not going to be alone with your dove, I think to myself as the driver stops the bus at the next stop and explains "A bunch of bloody students are having a little demonstration, we're not going to be able to go down Castle Street..." (just for the passengers who couldn't hear his 80 Db HQ message).

Upon arriving in the station, curiosity gets the better of me and I just have to go and look, just to see what 'A bunch of... students' looks like. So I walk down St Marys Street, amused as I watch car after car being directed left when they really want to go right. At the corner I look, and I can see about 200 people, topps, packed onto the corner of Castle Street, lost in the middle of the group is a guy with a megaphone, saying something just on the verge of hearing, but getting large cheers each time he finishes a sentance, so I assume it was good...

Now I'm sat in work, writing this before I start taking calls, longing to be there, protesting, saying (as is my girlfriends favourite) "Not in my name."

I think I'll go down and see if they're still there. Thanks.

The police didn't seem to bothered about moving them on when I was there, but that was over an hour ago.

Yeah, I got there and it had dispersed. But I have an all day bus pass now, so I can go down for the 5pm one (and return my library books).

It was worth going down there just to see the BBC Wales studio van being booked by a pair of traffic wardens. :D "Are you going to be back here for the one at five?" "Yeah, yeah."

How sucky, how dare they disperse teh big protest!

Still, at least you can return your books later...

Ahhh, they've come to protest outside my offices... so sweet that it'd move just for me.

Seriously tho, there was suddenly a whole heap of noise, everyones heads turned then the chant of "No! No War!" began, a much louder noise than such a small looking crowd should be able to make... I want to be down there...

Still... only 2 and a half hours of work to go... maybe they will still be there when I finish (although it is quite cold out there...)!

So unfair, it'll be totally gone, and there will be cars there when I finish work. Goddamnunfairworld!

Heya - I don't know if you heard anything about the protest turning into a riot, but I'm home safe and sound, with chicken. See you soon.

You got chicken without thinking about meeeee?! So unfair!

Anyway, not heard anything about riots, the people sat near me didn't even know what it was for!!!!

Anyway, home soon!

We can go for chips if you want. When the police broke up the protest, it was almost two hours until you finished work. :/ I didn't really want to hang around in the town centre for all that time. Sorry.

Shock and awe has started. Half of southern Baghdad is in flames, every building. :P

Sure you don't want to go to that protest tomorrow?

Oh, and while Baghdad burns, one of the massively surgical, precise and humane cruise missiles we're hearing so much about has hit an oil refinery ... in Iran.