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| Big Ben seen last Saturday afternoon |
When foreigners think of England, they will often picture the famous tower that houses Big Ben in the grounds of The Houses of Parliament in London. It is a symbol of our nation just as The Eiffel Tower is a symbol of Paris, France and just as The Statue of Liberty is a symbol both of New York City and the USA in general.
Big Ben is actually the great bell within that tower which should really be referred to as Queen Elizabeth Tower. However, let us not be too pernickety, most people know the Victorian tower itself as Big Ben.
Currently subject to an expensive maintenance programme, the tower has been hidden by scaffolding since the spring of 2017. That scaffolding is scheduled to remain in place till the summer of 2021. Why the work should take four long years I have no idea. Incidentally, the estimated cost of the renovation is £61 million.
Anyway, the nub of today's post is to point out that throughout the Brexit nightmare our nation's most recognisable symbol has been shrouded from view. Arguably, the presence of the scaffolding is itself symbolic - suggesting national embarrassment or shame. Only when the political horror show is over will Big Ben be seen again.
And what will Big Ben witness when the scaffolding is finally dismantled? I hope it will see a nation that has stepped back from the brink, recommitting itself to The European Union after dumping mad Brexit fantasies in the bin. Conversely, the clock tower may find us living in Boris Johnson's dream world, bathing in unicorn milk while the oompa loompas gather cash that is falling steadily from the sky.
Currently subject to an expensive maintenance programme, the tower has been hidden by scaffolding since the spring of 2017. That scaffolding is scheduled to remain in place till the summer of 2021. Why the work should take four long years I have no idea. Incidentally, the estimated cost of the renovation is £61 million.
Anyway, the nub of today's post is to point out that throughout the Brexit nightmare our nation's most recognisable symbol has been shrouded from view. Arguably, the presence of the scaffolding is itself symbolic - suggesting national embarrassment or shame. Only when the political horror show is over will Big Ben be seen again.
And what will Big Ben witness when the scaffolding is finally dismantled? I hope it will see a nation that has stepped back from the brink, recommitting itself to The European Union after dumping mad Brexit fantasies in the bin. Conversely, the clock tower may find us living in Boris Johnson's dream world, bathing in unicorn milk while the oompa loompas gather cash that is falling steadily from the sky.
£61 million! That's a drop in the ocean compared to what Brexit will have cost us when this mess is all over. xx
ReplyDeleteYou are very right TLON! If Brexit happens we should immediately cancel the HS2 project as it will bankrupt us.
DeleteThe symbolism of Big Ben being covered throughout the Brexit mess is interesting. In order for our Statue of liberty to properly convey what our country is going through with Trump it would have to be smeared with orange feces. :( I am so tired of both Trump and Brexit. When will sanity prevail?!
ReplyDeleteWe may never witness sanity again.
DeleteIt's all just one long nightmare. There's still a glimmer of hope that sanity will prevail......
ReplyDeleteI saw that glimmer on The People's March.
DeleteIt is an interesting visual metaphor, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteI guess that Brexiteers might interpret it differently but in any case it is a poetic co-incidence.
DeleteAlthough I knew about the renovation work, I never made the connection with the current political situation - until now.
ReplyDeleteI only thought of it when I looked up at the hidden tower on Saturday.
DeleteI think we will be there sometime in June. I sure hope things are settled, one way or t'other by then. What a mess! Hard for some of us Americans to worry about you, our British friends, when all we can do is worry and rant and rave about our own orange mess!!
ReplyDeleteIf you are coming to Britain next June you will probably be able to buy £10 for a dollar. If you see me begging in the street, I hope you will cast a crust in my direction.
DeleteSomehow renovation works on public buildings is costly and time consuming. Our senate is now closed for years.
ReplyDeleteIt does seem to be the case but I think that the Chinese would sort out these old buildings much quicker.
DeleteOther than the fact that you misspelled "persnickety" (!) your analogy is very apt.
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ReplyDeleteWow. Perfect. Symbolism can be powerful.
ReplyDelete