Categories: Capital Read, Inside the Queensway

ITQ goes to the G20: We're definitely not inside the Queensway anymore, Toto.

by kadyomalley on Tuesday, March 31, 2009 10:03am - 37 Comments

Oh my goodness, you guys! I’m going to London! Today, even! I fly out from lovely YOW this afternoon, and should be landing at Heathrow at the crack of dawn tomorrow morning, whereupon I will likely immediately get hopelessly lost. (Just playing the odds here, people.)

Anyway, I fully intend to provide as constant coverage as I can of the various pre- and post-conference events, as well as as-close-to-live-as-possible-blogging of the meeting itself on Thursday, so check back regularly for updates starting — hmm, around 3am tomorrow, I guess. Stupid timezones. Oh well, it’ll be there when you wake up.

Fun fact: Did you know that Toto was originally intended to be a Boston Terrier, and was even drawn as such in several subsequent Oz books? Wikipedia says so,at least, so it must be true.

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  • Scott M.

    I’m excited for you! You’ll be dead tired for the next week, but at least you’ll have fun!

  • CAPS

    Kady, as a foreigner in London you will definitely have to remember to LOOK BOTH WAYS BEFORE YOU CROSS THE STREET! In fact, make sure you look RIGHT twice!

    Have fun and I look forward to reading your dispatches.

    • Lord Kitchener’s Own

      Allow me to reiterate this advice. Look BOTH ways Kady! You think you’ve got to get used to looking right first, but the streets are SO crazy in places, that you still have to look to your left sometimes on one-way streets that sneak up on you. So, just when you get used to the strangeness of looking right first, you step off the curb, and almost get creamed by a car coming from the left! Luckily, on many curbsides in London now they have the words “LOOK LEFT” or “LOOK RIGHT” literally pained on the curb at the cross walk (seriously, it’s that crazy).

      While in London, always assume a car could come barreling around the corner from EITHER direction, because more often than not, it can!

      • Alex

        When I was in Dublin I noticed they have “LOOK LEFT” and “LOOK RIGHT” painted on the curbs as well. Definitely helpful!

      • Cameron Macleod

        “literally pained” – excellent slip of the tongue.

        • Lord Kitchener’s Own

          lol

  • James Connors

    “I will likely immediately get hopelessly lost.”

    I thought Blackberries, at least your Formula One model, have GPS and voice directions, even for walking from point A to point B? Anywhere in North America and Europe I thought? I’m sure a saw a review somewhere that said your ‘Berry would walk you from any tube station to any theatre or hotel in the City?

    • James Connors

      ps ~ Should have mentioned much sooner; even people born in London, raised in London, even London Taxi drivers who have passed the ‘Knowledge’ all have a copy of ‘London A-Z’ to refer to. Pick one up and bill it to Macleans. It’ll be the cheapest thing on your expense account the entire trip, I’ll bet.

      And paper beats Blackberry, even, in some circumstances.

      • Mulletaur

        Sage advice.

  • http://www.savedarfur.org Sophia Geffros

    Wow, Kady have an awesome time!
    around 3am tomorrow, I guess. Stupid timezones. Oh well, it’ll be there when you wake up.
    We’ll stay up for it ;)

  • archangel

    “. . .whereupon I will likely immediately get hopelessly lost.”

    And that will occur immediately on landing, since Heathrow is patterned after a medieval hedge maze. Good luck with that Kady.

  • Two Hats

    Safe travelling, Kady, and enjoy the trip!

  • http://scottdiatribe.canflag.com Scott Tribe

    Looking forward to the ITQ reports!

  • Elena

    I agree watch out for incoming trafic, it feels weird to look the other way that we’re used to but it makes a difference!
    Do you know if the PM is leaving tonight too or tomorrow?

  • conservative.ca

    Safe travelling Kady, and as others have said, remember: look *left* before crossing in London. Left, left, left, say it 3 times and you won’t forget :-)

    • Cameron Macleod

      This seems like unhelpful advice, or a joke that I’m not quite catching.

      Look right Kady! :-)

      • Scott M.

        LOOK OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Mulletaur

    G-20 update : Sarkozy says he will not sign any final communique if there are no ‘deliverables’ included. Ironic considering that he has never delivered on anything at all during his presidency.

    • http://carnewsandviews.com jwl

      He’s also threatening to walk out of conference if they don’t agree to a global bank regulator. I think Sarkozy is just trying to get les rosbifs wound up before conference starts and this is just a bit of bluster.

      • SAB

        They think they will get to have it in Paris.

  • Alex

    Have a great trip Kady. Congrats again! I look forward to your posts!

  • http://phantomobserver.com PhantomObserver

    And of course, as your travel distraction, you could try the “pub touring” option: visit a pub, try a pint of a brand you’ve never tasted before, visit the next pub, repeat, and see how far you get.

    • http://coyne kc

      If its old speckled hen, not far:)

  • Wascally Wabbit

    Forget taxis – take the Underground – then you’ll REALLY get lost! Kidding!
    There is a very nice train service into Central London from Heathrow.
    Last hint – when you are lost – step into the nearest Pub – they will be so delighted by that lovely rapid fire Canadian accent – they will give you directions – and a free pint to see you on your way!

  • Harbles

    Good luck getting some sleep on the flight. Perhaps warm milk? I understand it’s best to not go to sleep until local bed time over there. Anyhoo have a trip!

    And for obsessive ITQ fans you can follow the progress of the flight here.

    • Harbles

      Duh oops wrong flight.

      here .

  • Toby

    Thankfully you fit in the overhead compartment

  • http://www.jackmitchell.ca Jack Mitchell

    Good luck, Kady! To think I’d be looking forward to the G20 meeting, all thanks to you.

  • http://coyne kc

    Have a blast Kady – try the faggots, their delicious. I’m serious! :)

  • http://www.maple-leaf-forever.com Lord Bob

    You know, come to think of it, it’s really not fair that Kady’s going to London whereas Paul went to Kandahar, is it? I mean, one of them is a dangerous hellscape run by a corrupt government where citizens live in constant fear of being murdered or robbed on the street, and the other one is in Afghanistan.

  • Douglass

    Have a good flight! I look forward to hearing about your adventures!

  • John W

    Maybe I”ll even get interested in this thing. Wasn’t looking forward to CBC droning on with party line and CNN with the celebrity thing going and the party line. Macleans.ca every day.

  • Harbles

    Like she just took off . Eh.

  • madeyoulook

    Mind the Gap!

  • Scott M.

    Uh oh… No updates and it’s 4 hours after she was supposed to start.

    You don’t suppose she has an international roaming limitation on her BBY…?

  • Catherine

    Good morning, Kady!

  • Ken S

    Just curious to know, what’s the cost of a pint of bitter in downtown London?

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