Return to a high point of my life
Nov. 26th, 2002 12:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
major_clangerWhen I was very small my parents took my brother and I on a special surprise trip. The surprise came after we went to this anonymous-looking London street (I didn't think to look up) where we went into an unremarkable building, got into a lift, and went up.
And up, and up, and up. Very fast.
The surprise was lunch at the top of what was then known as the Post Office Tower, in the rotating restaurant that gave amazing views out over London. I can't remember exactly when we went, but it can't have been later than 1974, as that's when the tower was closed to the public for security reasons.
And last night, 28 years later, I was back.
In my current job I do a lot of business with various bits of BT, particularly those that sell to HM Government. I thus find myself enough of a Favoured Customer to be invited to assorted technical seminars and other such events. A couple of weeks ago I was called up by my main contact to see if I'd be interested in a presentation on business continuity (i.e. the art of not going down the tubes when your communications systems die on you). The carrot was the venue: the BT Tower, alias the PO Tower of old.
So, half-seven last night saw us munching on our canapes as we overlooked London from 550 feet up. My previous visit was by day; night is a different but equally incredible experience, the city receding in lines and grids of white and yellow light. Alas, the former restaurant isn't rotating right now (the drive mechanism needs fixing) but that just means you had to wander around for the view instead of having it all come past you.
I'll have to try to get back again sometime. Hopefully sooner than 2030.
MC
And up, and up, and up. Very fast.
The surprise was lunch at the top of what was then known as the Post Office Tower, in the rotating restaurant that gave amazing views out over London. I can't remember exactly when we went, but it can't have been later than 1974, as that's when the tower was closed to the public for security reasons.
And last night, 28 years later, I was back.
In my current job I do a lot of business with various bits of BT, particularly those that sell to HM Government. I thus find myself enough of a Favoured Customer to be invited to assorted technical seminars and other such events. A couple of weeks ago I was called up by my main contact to see if I'd be interested in a presentation on business continuity (i.e. the art of not going down the tubes when your communications systems die on you). The carrot was the venue: the BT Tower, alias the PO Tower of old.
So, half-seven last night saw us munching on our canapes as we overlooked London from 550 feet up. My previous visit was by day; night is a different but equally incredible experience, the city receding in lines and grids of white and yellow light. Alas, the former restaurant isn't rotating right now (the drive mechanism needs fixing) but that just means you had to wander around for the view instead of having it all come past you.
I'll have to try to get back again sometime. Hopefully sooner than 2030.
MC
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I too remember a trip up the PO tower in it's heyday and have always wanted to return.
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Re:
Date: 2002-11-27 06:37 am (UTC)