I'm in London and feel safe
Jul 28th 2005, 4:37 pm
#1
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,848
I'm in London and feel safe
Howdy folks,
I've been in the UK & spent a couple of weeks in Italy since the beginning of July and today I've had to go in to Central London to get another L2 visa at the US Embassy - so I'm now at the Easy Internet Cafe in Oxford St.
I've only had a chance to have a glance at the other threads here, but as you can imagine there is saturation coverage of the latest arrests and ongoing searches to try to find the 'missing' three terrorists and there seems to be a new development almost every hour. My sister was quite worried that I had to go with my son to the Embassy today.
Rather than drive to London and trying to park, I took the train in to Euston station. Absolutely everywhere the police are highly visible - at the mainline stations, tube stations and 'walking on the beat'....most of them seem to be in groups of at least three. I should imagine that there are quite a number of plain-clothes cops around too. In the vicinity of the US Embassy there were many cops with large machine guns and 'secret service' type earphones.
It's all very reassuring. There are many, many Arabs and people in Islamic dress shopping in the Oxford St stores (Selfridges, Debenhams etc.) and there always has been....I guess many of them are tourists as they leave the UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia etc. to escape the Summer heat. I'm not in the least perturbed but I do think that the heavy and visible police presence calms the public somewhat.
I was delighted to be in and out of the Embassy in 2hrs 15 mins.....last time I was there for 41/2 hours! I wasn't asked a single thing, other than who does my husband work for.
A good day so far...
I've been in the UK & spent a couple of weeks in Italy since the beginning of July and today I've had to go in to Central London to get another L2 visa at the US Embassy - so I'm now at the Easy Internet Cafe in Oxford St.
I've only had a chance to have a glance at the other threads here, but as you can imagine there is saturation coverage of the latest arrests and ongoing searches to try to find the 'missing' three terrorists and there seems to be a new development almost every hour. My sister was quite worried that I had to go with my son to the Embassy today.
Rather than drive to London and trying to park, I took the train in to Euston station. Absolutely everywhere the police are highly visible - at the mainline stations, tube stations and 'walking on the beat'....most of them seem to be in groups of at least three. I should imagine that there are quite a number of plain-clothes cops around too. In the vicinity of the US Embassy there were many cops with large machine guns and 'secret service' type earphones.
It's all very reassuring. There are many, many Arabs and people in Islamic dress shopping in the Oxford St stores (Selfridges, Debenhams etc.) and there always has been....I guess many of them are tourists as they leave the UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia etc. to escape the Summer heat. I'm not in the least perturbed but I do think that the heavy and visible police presence calms the public somewhat.
I was delighted to be in and out of the Embassy in 2hrs 15 mins.....last time I was there for 41/2 hours! I wasn't asked a single thing, other than who does my husband work for.
A good day so far...
Jul 28th 2005, 4:43 pm
#2
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Joined: Jun 2004
Location: New York
Posts: 475
Re: I'm in London and feel safe
That is very good to hear!
I hope you enjoyed your holiday!!
I hope you enjoyed your holiday!!
Jul 28th 2005, 4:46 pm
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: I'm in London and feel safe
Originally Posted by Englishmum
Howdy folks,
*snip*
A good day so far...
*snip*
A good day so far...
Last edited by Franklin; Jul 28th 2005 at 5:36 pm. Reason: To make post smaller.
Jul 28th 2005, 5:07 pm
#4
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,170
Re: I'm in London and feel safe
Good to hear from ya
Jul 28th 2005, 5:32 pm
#5
roamin in the gloamin
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: Illinois
Posts: 1,400
Re: I'm in London and feel safe
I was wondering where you were,I remember you talking about going home for a few weeks.Enjoy the rest of your holiday.
Jul 28th 2005, 5:34 pm
#6
Open All Hours!
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 617
Re: I'm in London and feel safe
That was great to read, thanks for sharing. Have a great rest of the trip
Jul 28th 2005, 6:32 pm
#7
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,296
Re: I'm in London and feel safe
Thanks for posting. Enjoy yourself over there
Jul 28th 2005, 6:35 pm
#8
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2004
Location: Boston suburbs
Posts: 132
Re: I'm in London and feel safe
Great - glad to hear you are unperturbed by all that has happened. I was kind of sad to hear on the radio that retail had been hit hard, and people were staying away.....
Pleased you got the visa sorted too.
BTW, do I know you from a different expat forum you used to subscribe to?
All the best for the journey back.
Jan
Pleased you got the visa sorted too.
BTW, do I know you from a different expat forum you used to subscribe to?
All the best for the journey back.
Jan
Last edited by janj; Jul 28th 2005 at 6:42 pm.
Jul 28th 2005, 6:36 pm
#9
Re vera, potas bene.
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: Cape Cod MA..Davenport FL
Posts: 2,405
Re: I'm in London and feel safe
A friends been riding the tube the last few days ....and he says everyone is talking more than normal.....and that he's not seeing the amount of mistrust that the papers are leading you to believe is happening......
Jul 29th 2005, 12:31 am
#10
Senior Moment
Joined: Nov 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 5,008
Re: I'm in London and feel safe
Originally Posted by Englishmum
Howdy folks,
I've been in the UK & spent a couple of weeks in Italy since the beginning of July and today I've had to go in to Central London to get another L2 visa at the US Embassy - so I'm now at the Easy Internet Cafe in Oxford St.
I've only had a chance to have a glance at the other threads here, but as you can imagine there is saturation coverage of the latest arrests and ongoing searches to try to find the 'missing' three terrorists and there seems to be a new development almost every hour. My sister was quite worried that I had to go with my son to the Embassy today.
Rather than drive to London and trying to park, I took the train in to Euston station. Absolutely everywhere the police are highly visible - at the mainline stations, tube stations and 'walking on the beat'....most of them seem to be in groups of at least three. I should imagine that there are quite a number of plain-clothes cops around too. In the vicinity of the US Embassy there were many cops with large machine guns and 'secret service' type earphones.
It's all very reassuring. There are many, many Arabs and people in Islamic dress shopping in the Oxford St stores (Selfridges, Debenhams etc.) and there always has been....I guess many of them are tourists as they leave the UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia etc. to escape the Summer heat. I'm not in the least perturbed but I do think that the heavy and visible police presence calms the public somewhat.
I was delighted to be in and out of the Embassy in 2hrs 15 mins.....last time I was there for 41/2 hours! I wasn't asked a single thing, other than who does my husband work for.
A good day so far...
I've been in the UK & spent a couple of weeks in Italy since the beginning of July and today I've had to go in to Central London to get another L2 visa at the US Embassy - so I'm now at the Easy Internet Cafe in Oxford St.
I've only had a chance to have a glance at the other threads here, but as you can imagine there is saturation coverage of the latest arrests and ongoing searches to try to find the 'missing' three terrorists and there seems to be a new development almost every hour. My sister was quite worried that I had to go with my son to the Embassy today.
Rather than drive to London and trying to park, I took the train in to Euston station. Absolutely everywhere the police are highly visible - at the mainline stations, tube stations and 'walking on the beat'....most of them seem to be in groups of at least three. I should imagine that there are quite a number of plain-clothes cops around too. In the vicinity of the US Embassy there were many cops with large machine guns and 'secret service' type earphones.
It's all very reassuring. There are many, many Arabs and people in Islamic dress shopping in the Oxford St stores (Selfridges, Debenhams etc.) and there always has been....I guess many of them are tourists as they leave the UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia etc. to escape the Summer heat. I'm not in the least perturbed but I do think that the heavy and visible police presence calms the public somewhat.
I was delighted to be in and out of the Embassy in 2hrs 15 mins.....last time I was there for 41/2 hours! I wasn't asked a single thing, other than who does my husband work for.
A good day so far...
Sarah
Jul 29th 2005, 1:02 am
#11
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2004
Location: Millington, TN
Posts: 533
Re: I'm in London and feel safe
That's reassuring to hear Hope you enjoy the rest of your trip, say hello to hubby for me! Enjoy.
Hope you enjoy the rest of your trip, say hello to hubby for me! Enjoy.
Aug 10th 2005, 10:40 am
#12
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: NJ
Posts: 1,272
Re: I'm in London and feel safe
Just got back to Stockport from a 2 day trip to renew our visas at the US Embassy in London. We left the children with my parents and had a fantastic 2 days. Yes, there is a big police presence but I actually felt safer and less intimidated than when we have visited big cities in the US.
My big shock was seeing armed police wearing bullet proof vests on Stockport train station when the Euston trains pulled in. The train journey has changed a lot since I last visited London, it took 2 hours to get there and it only cost £24.00 each for a return ticket, off peak of course.
I loved London but am a Northerner through and through and when we went into Manchester city centre last weekend I was really impressed at how much it has changed, especially the area around the Printworks and Triangle.
Only one week left in England and then back to life in NJ.
By the way it has only rained twice the whole time we have been here and that was during the night.
My big shock was seeing armed police wearing bullet proof vests on Stockport train station when the Euston trains pulled in. The train journey has changed a lot since I last visited London, it took 2 hours to get there and it only cost £24.00 each for a return ticket, off peak of course.
I loved London but am a Northerner through and through and when we went into Manchester city centre last weekend I was really impressed at how much it has changed, especially the area around the Printworks and Triangle.
Only one week left in England and then back to life in NJ.
By the way it has only rained twice the whole time we have been here and that was during the night.
Aug 10th 2005, 11:08 am
#13
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: I'm in London and feel safe
Originally Posted by krizzy
A friends been riding the tube the last few days ....and he says everyone is talking more than normal.....and that he's not seeing the amount of mistrust that the papers are leading you to believe is happening......
Surely not.
Aug 10th 2005, 2:54 pm
#14
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Joined: Feb 2004
Location: Mid West >> UK
Posts: 1,239
Re: I'm in London and feel safe
Safe journey back Englishmum I have missed your posts.
Aug 10th 2005, 3:23 pm
#15
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,848
Re: I'm in London and feel safe
Originally Posted by ladylisa
Safe journey back Englishmum I have missed your posts.
Sadly in the last few hours I've learned that two very good expat friends are leaving the US: one family is leaving for a new posting in Abu Dhabi - they sold their house in one week despite only learning that they were moving three weeks ago....they will be gone on August 26th and the husband has already started his new job there. My very best mate here will be getting her US citizenship imminently and returning to the beautiful Gold Coast in her native Australia in November. I feel bereft.
I always feel a bit down after returning from the UK and visiting my mum and siblings so this latest news is a bit of a blow. I can't even get a cuddle from my husband - he's in Sri Lanka right now with a group of volunteers from his company building houses with Habitat for Humanity for the Tsunami victims, I haven't seen him for 3 weeks but I fully support the cause.