UK: Rioting in north London

They shuttered Hastings last night expecting trouble, but I don't think anything happened.

Haven't read through the entire thread but I'm wondering - is anyone else experiencing a total lack of questions or comments about the rioting from friends and family in America?  It's bizarre that no one (bar one friend who was just here a couple weeks ago) has expressed concern or asked about it.  Normally my family tends to ask about this stuff and I have a friend and former co-worker who always thinks we live in London 

I find it strange that none of my American friends or family have mentioned anything about this to us. My father just called this morning to get my husband to help him with computer problems. Not a word about the riots. What's up with that? My husband's family lives in Australia and they haven't called or sent an email to see if we're okay or anything. Maybe it's not getting covered there at all. Since they are British I would think that they would at least be interested and try to contact us to find out more about what's going on.

I hope all this madness is over and there won't be any more problems tonight.

I called the night before last and left a message on my Facebook that we were safe and in no danger.  My dad didn't seem to know anything about it and neither did my sister.  I was worried because I think they think that London is a bit like New York, and compact (and tall buildings but that's another story).

I still think they think it's sort of like the protests earlier this year.  I think what's different for us here is that it is so widespread, not a protest, and totally unpredictable.

I didn’t find out until after I was home from work, but my mom sent a series of panicked emails to my fiancée making sure that he was ok and that our new house was ok.  He reassured her and explained that Borehamwood is nowhere near any of the rioting.  My mom then asked him if he intended to join in the rioting.  My DF replied that he’s too old to riot, that he’d rather stick to fraud now.  My mom didn’t write him back.

I'm getting most of my information from uk.msn.com   

Yes, normal policing to deal with a Leeds game.

Just that everyone is now getting jumpy.

Yeah, it was mostly quiet here!  Whatever my friend saw (the guys marching & the riot vans) was something that went to Town Hall but nobody seems to know what it was about.  It made folks around jumpy though.  And other than that, Tykeman is right - just the football!

So far (touch wood) I'm really happy that Leeds has managed to stay out of this foolishness.  There was a peace march in Chapeltown yesterday, in the afternoon, with parents and community group leaders calling for neighbourhood calm & order.  They also interviewed some community/youth group leaders on the local news last night - and those individuals, along with parents & police, seemed to be keeping a high profile out on the streets in the areas where there were any worries over something developing.

I am hoping that the cold, rainy weather we are experiencing will keep everyone indoors and out of trouble tonight. I just wanted to say I am thinking of all of you who are living where this is happening and hope you are all hanging in there.

So far (touch wood) I'm really happy that Leeds has managed to stay out of this foolishness.  There was a peace march in Chapeltown yesterday, in the afternoon, with parents and community group leaders calling for neighbourhood calm & order. 

Good for them!

Somehow when you reported the youths marching through the city centre, it conjured up images of Cybermen tromping along! 

I am hoping that the cold, rainy weather we are experiencing will keep everyone indoors and out of trouble tonight.

I was wondering about that too!

Somehow when you reported the youths marching through the city centre, it conjured up images of Cybermen tromping along! 

Now that would have been interesting!! 

I've had a few people contact me but none really knew what was going on.

This was sent to me today and brought tears to my eyes:

Now that I know that stuff is going on in Manchester I just emailed my SIL to make sure all is well. My husband reads the BBC site several times a day and hasn't said anything about Manchester. Need to go and read myself.

This was sent to me today and brought tears to my eyes:

Love the tray!!

http://www.operationcupoftea.com/

That's just class right there. Someone brought those folks up right! Their Mums will be so proud

Brilliant!