Protestors!

[busyglen]

Normally I'm quite a placid person, but at the moment I am fuming!!

We have just returned from taking my Mother in Law to M4 Reading Service Station, to meet her son from Wales. He is taking her back for a holiday with them and we decided to meet him halfway as it's a long journey from Kent.

We started out at 10.0am and were doing fine until we got to the M25 and virtually came to a standstill. We crawled for ages, but managed to escape at the junction of the M3 as we were going via Bracknell to miss Heathrow.
We eventually reached Reading SS on the M4 at 12.30pm (30 mins later than anticipated) and stopped for a cup of tea and a short chat, before we passed MiL over to number 1 son.

We then started on our trek back, stopping at Bracknell for a meal, and left there at 2.45pm. When we reached the M3 it was heaving with traffic, which was going quite slow, but actually moving. Eventually we got to the
M25 junction and again joined a go slow, which quite often stopped completly. Every lane was jam packed, bumper to bumper, and whilst waiting to move we had the radio on. We heard that a protestor was on one of the gantry's and police were trying to get him down, but because it was over the road, it was difficult and dangerous!

Now I am not against protestors in the main, but to be honest, I don't know what this `father' had to gain from the upheaval he caused. Nobody on the road would support him, especially as it put a lot of motorists in a bad mood, which could have had a knock on effect. Luckily we saw mostly concern for fellow motorists, and people moving over or letting people in to help where they could.

We eventually arrived home at 6.0pm. Over 3 hours after we left Bracknell. A journey which would normally take us a couple of hours from Reading on a good day. As we arrived home, we heard on the news that a `Father for Justice' had been brought down from the gantry and had been charged!!

Sorry to rant on, but both of us feel shattered, and we have to go to London tomorrow (not via the M25), so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will be a good run then.

You can now go back to reading the more interesting posts! ;)

Glenys, getting down off her |soapbox|

[Neil Wilson]

Hi Glenys
Sorry to heard about this.
I belong to the other 'fathers' group which is a charity, who seeks to obtain, for the children, the best possible blend of both parents in the lives of children.
Personally I do not agree with the protestor's methods and can not understand why they protest like this, as it must have an adverse effect on the child and the relationship with the father.

[Marie C..]

Have every sympathy with you. The roads are hard enough to deal with even at the best of times. During the holiday season they are a nightmare. Motorways and mainroads are just not the place for such demonstrations. These people endanger the lives of other childrens' fathers.... so where is the justice in that?
And I have sympathy too for the fathers denied access to their children but the law is their only resort at present and they need to re-think their actions.
M

[Pam Downes]

Haven't seen the news so I don't know how secure the idiot was on the gantry but one slip while getting up there would have guaranteed that his childen would no longer have even an absent father. Plus probably some other children could have been left father and/or motherless if there'd been a major pile-up.
Climbing buildings to publicise your cause is one thing, and may get you some sympathy. Holding up the traffic on the M25 or any other major road will get you and your cause nothing but scorn and condemnation.

You didn't actually do too bad Glenys if your journey took 'only' :) an hour extra. I'll never forget one horrendous day when it took us 4 hours to do 100 miles on the M25 and M11.
Pam

[Waitabit]

Good Grief!!, & here am I thinking if I lived over there I could swan between places at my leisure in pursuit of whoever I could find,..historically+ Familialy.(should that have 2 'l's?

Up the supporting Fathers,or Fathers in protest (in the nicest way) but have a care for others too.

Wendy

[busyglen]

You didn't actually do too bad Glenys if your journey took 'only' :) an hour extra. I'll never forget one horrendous day when it took us 4 hours to do 100 miles on the M25 and M11.
Pam

Actually Pam, it usually took us two hours from M4 Service Stn to home, but I quoted from Bracknell, so you can add at least another 30 mins. ;)

I feel much better today, although tired, and not looking forward to the trip up the M2/A2 to Catford and back later today. Tomorrow, hopefully will be a better trip to Sussex along country roads to a place between Crowborough and Uckfield for my sisters surprise 80th party.

Roll on Monday.....we can then have a rest! |snore|

Glenys