Rough summary (not entirely serious - make up your own minds):
1400: People arrive. Police have a pronounced presence, with a van in the Square itself, and some horses around the corner.
1430: Around 50 have turned up, including a bunch of CAGers, a delegation from PC, and three folk from iva.co.uk, who cleverly spotted the bandwagon, and lengthened the list of organisations supporting the rally by 50% (from 2 to 3), thus making it look even more impressive.
1445: BF approaches the entrance, announces his presence, is answered by a member of security. All notice that rather conveniently the rotating doors are "out of order". Upon enquiring whether or not someone from the OFT will be attending, the door is locked in his face.
1500: The invitation is repeated. Apparently the OFT now does want to send someone down. The door remains locked, rather humorously causing couriers and OFT staff to be denied access to the building.
1530: Nobody has emerged from the door. Decision is made to disperse. Someone mentions the word "public" in a sentence, and is immediately greeted by "Pub? What a splendid idea!". The police are thanked for their work, and issued with CAG business cards. Most of party decamps to the Princess Louise to start the party early.
1600: Approximately two dozen protestors arrive at the PL, and are told that the upstairs lounge bar will be open from 6pm.
1730: Five News airs. Nobody is watching it, due to lack of TV in the pub.
1745: Commotion as people start to move upstairs.
1755: Queue builds up as the door to the lounge is locked. The Pink and Green Brigade decide to swap shirts. In the absence of any opposition, they resolve to merely swap shirts with each other instead, causing much confusion later in the evening.
1757: Signs of unrest as the lounge is
still not open.
1800: Someone opens the upstairs door. Cries of "about time too!" abound.
1900: Many revellers not from the protest arrive. Signs of inebriation apparent in some of the early birds.
1930: More random people entirely unconnected with CAG start to turn up. Repositioning now becomes necessary.
1939: Germany invade Poland. War is declared.
1945: War over, we win 2-0. Hurrah.
1945.30: Detonation of atomic bomb above Holborn destroys any remaining poor-taste war references with extreme prejudice.
2000: BF sets up a bar tab for CAG members. And there was much rejoicing.
2030: Signs of inebriation apparent in a larger number of CAGers. Possible link to bar tab conjectured.
2100: Bookie points out that size does matter, and that she prefers a large one. I point out that a small one is generally easier to handle and less intrusive, and often produces pictures that are just as good. The situation continues downhill from here, however, a good time is evidently had by all.
Doubtless someone will do a more serious write-up later, while we take the damage report. So far, I see a page on the
BBC, though its tense agreement leaves a little to be desired. Written at 1240, a good hour before the protest begins, it states it has already taken place.
Five News - complete with video clip (I assume - they're using some crazy-a*s plugin that breaks in my browser).
MoneyExpert previews it. Even the
LSE has its take on it. Namechecks on
MoneyNews.
Any word on the total of TV appearances? That is where we can judge our real exposure for now - anything that turns up in the papers tomorrow is a bonus.
OFT London protest rally 1st December 
