A BC staffer starts the day’s program by telling us that it is 333 years to the day that the Great Fire of London started in 1666. But, he says, “Don’t worry. Fire protection is much better today.”
We listen to the Head of the North American Division of the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Philip Priestly, Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE), which confers on him an honorary knighthood, but not high enough to be called “sir”. He is an old-time politician and speaks with a lot of dramatic pauses, making him sound like Winston Churchill. He asks us, “Do Britain and the U.S. have a special relationship?” When we all say yes, he says, “No, they don’t! No Whitehall minister would say that they do.” I don’t quite understand his point and he doesn’t elaborate.
Dennis Kavanah―a professor of politics from the University of Liverpool—speaks quickly in clipped words and I have to listen carefully. He gives an excellent comparison of US and UK political power. He says, “The prime minister does not have the constitutional powers of the president, but he is more powerful.” In a Unitary government, as long as the party is behind him, the prime minister can do whatever he wants. But the president has to work within a system of checks and balances, a written constitution, federalism, and weak parties. He must build coalitions for the things he wants to do and the resulting initiatives are riddled with compromises.
Lunch is elegant: curry, quiche, green beans, salad, and a seafood dish. I pass on dessert, a chocolate mousse kind of thing. I am proud of myself as I also pass on the biscuits and tarts at tea.
There are four bottles on our table—sparkling and still water and lemon and orange barley water. I pour a full glass of the orange barley water (the Queen drinks barley water) and take a sip. It is thick and strong and sweet. One of the British Council staffers brings me a clean glass, points to the water and says, “You have to dilute it.” Oops. Andy who is sitting next me said he did the same thing earlier. We have an embarrassed laugh together.
The break room looks out over a pretty garden. Across Embankment Road is the Thames where I see a huge crane and construction equipment in the river. Apparently, it’s a Ferris wheel that is being built for the millennial celebrations―something called the London Eye.
There is a mini coup d’etat as some of the Fellows want an agenda change to discuss the program’s travel schedule including the other planned group meetings in Edinburgh, Northern Ireland, and maybe even Belgium. The BC staffers quickly arrange to have someone here tomorrow afternoon to answer our questions.
I return to my room and change and head out walking down the Embankment. I intend to go to Harrods, but unfortunately I have missed it; they close at 7 PM. I retire early and watch a Morse mystery on TV.
Jody’s UK Memories 