London riots: one week on

by Elizabeth on 15/08/2011

I was due to bring you a book review of On Top of Everything today. Instead, I wanted to interrupt the Summer of Books schedule to say thank you to everyone who has sent their thoughts and good wishes to us in London after the riots last week. The book review will now appear on 10 October 2011.

Normally I’d try to link news stories to project management in some way, but it seems a bit unnecessary this time. There are clean up, rebuilding and regeneration projects underway, but you can read about them elsewhere.

Specific thanks to Raechel, Simon, Ty, Joanne, Sally and everyone else who personally took the time to drop me a note, and Helen for her regular, reliable updates.

I took some photos of my local shopping area on Saturday: there’s a fair amount to do before we’re back to normal.

Boarded up shops

Boarded up shops

Body Shop

Messages of support outside the Body Shop

T-Mobile

More boarded up shops

Smashed window

Smashed window in shoe shop

 

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  • Simson Leigh

    The three lessons learnt that I got from the rioting were: process breaks down without values, what people (apparently) really want are phones, shoes and TVs, and that local people working together can help rebuild a community.

    What were your lessons leanrt?

    • Elizabeth

      I learned that the wisdom of crowds is not always a good thing, and that the galvanising event that generates change can be quite painful.

  • http://edge.papercutpm.com/ Geoff Crane

    Dude! That is some kind of hardcore! I was vaguely aware of something happening but I’ve been so heads-down the last two weeks I haven’t come up for air to really pay attention to the news. I’m so glad you’re okay!

    • Elizabeth

      Thanks, Geoff. Lots of areas in London were affected, and nationally as well. Rehousing the people who lost their homes and getting destroyed small businesses back up and running is going to take longer than repairing some glass in broken windows. But London will manage; communities are coming together to do what needs to be done.

      • http://edge.papercutpm.com/ Geoff Crane

        Good Lord what a mess. :-( However, I’ve always been impressed by folks’ resilience over there. After the city bus bombings a few years ago, and even the Bristol bombing so many years ago. The UK snaps right back!!!

        Big creepy hairy bear hugs to you and I’ll be thinking about you, wishing you well!

  • Rick Valerga

    Elizabeth, the whole experience must be very frightening and I’m sure that it will take some time for that feeling to subside.

    Wishing you well,
    Rick

    .

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