Sheffield

Now that I've had some food and sleep, I can write all about my adventures. It all began on Friday night, at about 5pm. I awoke from my 3 hours of sleep and checked Facebook, to find an invite to a demonstration in Sheffield. After not a lot of thought, I decided to go. So I packed my bag and set off, kept awake only by energy pills. Ioan met me at the train station and we went back to his house, via the vodka shop. We sat down and began to drink. Kayleigh arrived, in an incredibly drunken state, and then details become somewhat more fuzzy. Kayleigh went home to sleep, and a couple of Ioan's housemates came round.

I do realise that I am at best an obnoxious drunk. At worst, a violent liability. After half a bottle of vodka I managed to get hold of a kitchen knife, causing much panic and consternation, and also for some reason I ran away in just my socks, crying and laughing maniacally, and scaring the wandering students. Luckily I was found and bought home. It was all so rock'n'roll, drunken escapades, and waking up the next morning in another strange bed. I should really stop doing that. I admire the bravery of the guy. Or his clarity in seeing through my psychopath act. Or possibly his opportunism in seeing that I was really wasted. Anyway it was all good fun.

Waking up was a nice surprise in that I did not have a fatal hangover. Which is lucky really, because today was the actual mission. Me, Ioan and Kayleigh walked, with only Ioan having any idea where we were going, for many many miles to the green where the demonstration was starting. It was a nice walk. I would loveto do some photography in Sheffield actually, some of the old industrial buildings would make brilliant image. The march was from Ellesmere green to the middle of the city. I'd never been on a real protest before, and I will definitely be getting involved in more. We got placards and a police presence, closing roads and stopping traffic as Socialists, Anarchists, Muslims, trade unionists, pacifists, regular folk all marched together, chanting and waving banners. Marching done, speeches began over an almost non-existent PA system.

The situation in Gaza is horrific and criminal. 1.5 million people are crammed into a tiny area of land, under occupation, blockaded in by a massively superior military force. Human rights for these people are practically non-existent, they live in constant fear as Israel seems free to break international law as it likes. They bombed a school with white phosphorous, for fucks sake. Then they tried to deny it. When the UN exposed them, they then claimed that militants were firing on them from the position. Even if this was true (and I don't say it isn't possible), this presents a chilling insight into Israel's campaign. Children are regarded as acceptable collateral damage. This can never be justified.

After the speaking, I got the train back to Derby, utterly strung out with exhaustion. I staggered around Derby, wondering why my stomach hurt and then realising that I had not eaten anything for the past sixteen hours. Greggs to the rescue, nice warm food to revive me long enough to buy some drawing paper and get the bus home. What an awesome adventure I had. The past 24 hours had absolutely everything. I hereby pledge to have many more adventures like this.

And, dear reader, look up the situation in Gaza. Look up the situations around the world. Don't just ignore injustice. Take action!