Afternoon:
15°c
I leave my tent in the St Paul's protest camp every day to go to work at Harper's Bazaar
Kiki Madden3 Nov 2011
For the past two weeks I've been sleeping in a tent outside St Paul's Cathedral. Many will find this surprising, unlikely, and even irritating.
They are opinions I've heard expressed pretty vigorously, up close and often with added spittle, from a series of enraged City workers passing through Paternoster Square. It is usually an intolerant besuited type who wishes to exercise his own right to freedom of expression and proclaims his general displeasure thus: "Go home, grow up, and get an [effing] job."
Well - I have a job. I'm a freelance journalist. By night I've been sleeping at St Paul's, by day I've been working for the glossy magazine Harper's Bazaar, no less. But after my shift in the magazine's fashionable Soho offices I take a Boris Bike back to base camp and the donated tent which has become my second home.
And yes - I do also pay my taxes. I even arrive punctually for work and neatly turned out, having showered for £2 locally - and with the secret of my sleeping habits an irrelevance to my employers. It's no real hardship to get cleaned up and apply my make-up with my little camping kit of mirror, mascara and wet wipes - with the assistance of the 24/7 hot tea and coffee tent. I leave my belongings during the day, knowing they will be looked after, not stolen.
I'll admit I'm no full-on radical subversive - indeed I'm solidly middle-class, thanks to my parents' hard work and commitment to their children (both were teachers, and they managed to raise three of us to have better prospects than they enjoyed). But I am also part of the 99 per cent - those excluded by the current capitalist system and whose economic mobility is pretty much zero.
So why am I here? Good question. It may be harsh, uncomfy, potentially ludicrous and pie-eyed optimistic but... well, I'm committed to doing whatever I can in the hope of positive change. Simple. Sure, it often hurts in the morning, when you rise from a stone-cold damp bed, or when you are rudely awoken in the night by noisy police helicopters or foreign film crews filming from above. And it's little fun waking to the cathedral bells at 7am.
But, though many readers will think this protest/movement/gesture is daft and doomed to failure, I'm happy to endure the discomfort of camping on historic flagstones - losing my voice in the process - because I'm at heart hopeful that something will give.
When I've not been working, and contributing to the London economy, I've been jolly busy in a way I can only presume the Prime Minister would applaud: I'm currently volunteering at the London Occupation Library - established by my friend Ashley Bignall, 30, from Wandsworth, who like me has never taken part in any radical direct action before. He observed the Stock Exchange protest, as I did, via the internet and decided that a free library was a necessity for the camp. Ours is dubbed StarBooks - and is opposite a protest-friendly Starbucks, which allows us to use its toilet facilities (and has also become a wifi-enabled refuge for all the bitterly cold BBC types who are sent down to film us in the evenings).
As well as helping at StarBooks, I've been hosting a weekend crèche for the mums and children who have visited - and become a default Lost Children outpost for the occasional runaway two-year-old who's needed an eye keeping on her, and a spot of Maurice Sendak for distraction. I've assisted lost tourists too (speaking five European languages helps) and delivered endless cups of hot tea and coffee. I've given out hugs, listened to occasionally ranty people, welcomed vicars and bishops to a comfy chair and a blanket at our library - and gone to work too.
Some kind pro-activist brought a piano along a few days ago and since then I've been offering free piano lessons when I'm not busy - the impromptu choirs that have gathered around have been, in the view of some of our visitors, "inspirational". My friend Warren, a weekend dad to four, brought his delightful eight-year-old Jacob along last Saturday - and they ended up staying (we found them a warm tent and sleeping bags). After I'd played piano and ukelele with Jacob on Sunday, he announced happily: "Kiki, this is my best holiday ever. When my Mum tells me I'm old enough, I'm going to come here and live with you." Gosh.
Ashley - while he's not running the free library, whose books are all donated - is a paid primary carer for his great-aunt; the multitude of others who live at St Paul's or who drop by when work and family commitments allow are an incredibly diverse bunch.
We have regular visits from older people who thank us with tears in their eyes for protesting on their behalf, and regret the fact that they cannot physically stay with us; we get tourist mums pushing their Bugaboos through and we entertain their children while mum goes for a free hot lunch and cuppa from the Tea and Empathy tent; from the Food Tent, run on donations, we are feeding 1,000 local homeless people who somehow survive in the City; and we have a horde of foreign students who have found the very cheapest place to stay in central London.
Last weekend I was part of the washing-up drill at the Food Tent and welcomed two women - one of them keen to make a donation. I led her to the Resources Tent (that's where you will find spare tents and sleeping bags - all donated) and was amazed to discover that she was not only donating £2,500 but is also a very senior City barrister.
Young and old - yogis, Falun Gong and grumpy Anglicans - they've all come by, been welcomed and have largely been charmed. I'm enjoying looking after children, giving out books, hugs and music lessons, and nipping into the Cathedral when it's open - my poppy worn with pride.
I do hope that the Queen will turn up to Remembrance Sunday and Rowan Williams would be another grand arrivee. I will keep a blanket cosy for him and would be happy to worship along with him - prayers are being said constantly.
I'll admit that I'm frankly amazed by the turnaround in my own life - to be disporting with bishops and working-class alike, to be handing out books to interested parents and lost tourists, to greet old friends and make new ones.
The point is that I do believe, as the song goes, that change is a-gonna come, and indeed that it's essential. In the words of John Wesley, one of the many holy men represented by statues in the grounds of the church, "Do all the good you can, by all the means you can...to all the people you can."
Reader views (17)
Well done Kiki for having the courage to make a change.
The ignorant invective directed towards her is sad. What research have critical posters done or do you expect to be spoonfed? The reason why we are in this mess is greatly due to the ignorant dumbed-down society not even realising it's being had & by whom.
The article illustrates someone working in a job respected by mainstream society that would probably not be associated with the occupy movement, yet still has the principle to be a positive force within our society in so many ways. If you want to criticise her for demonstrating that, you need to take a look at yourself. Are you really prepared to face the issues? You all deal with money every day, it's central to your lives, yet how many of you know much about it? Watch "money as debt".
Sir Josiah Stamp, former Director of the Bank of England said "Banking was conceived in iniquity & was born in sin. The bankers own the earth. Take it away from them, but leave them the power to create money, & with the flick of the pen they will create enough deposits to buy it back again. However, take away from them the power to create money & all the great fortunes like mine will disappear & they ought to disappear, for this would be a happier & better world to live in. But, if you wish to remain the slaves of bankers & pay the cost of your own slavery, let them continue to create money." Think about it & educate yourselves.
Once again, well done Kiki...you're inspirational!
- Noor Khan, London, 09/11/2011 21:44
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I agree - perfect opportunity to explain exactly what the protest is about, and what changes the "99%" you supposedly represent are demanding, yet there is nothing in your article? Others have written far more eloquently than I can on the hypocrisy of your actions and this article.
- MG, Essex, 07/11/2011 16:05
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Kiki, I think you are great and I think its really important what you are doing.
The narrative that the 99% have to suffer for the mistakes of the 1% has to be challenged and you are doing just that.
Well done to you and the rest of the campers for bringing this issue to the forefront of political debate.
You rock!!
- Emily, London, 04/11/2011 10:48
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The 99% you claim you represent is busy hard at work, not slagging off freebies in an inane and insane 'protest' in London. It is the same system you slag off that enables you lot the luxury to engage in a pointless and mindless activity around St Paul's. Care to change all of this for the old Soviet Union? Or worse, Africa? Get a life lady. We are not fooled
- Pirato, Houston, Texas, 04/11/2011 00:53
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probably most of the negative comments are "intolerant besuited types" pretending to be outraged public ...glad to see at least 1 journalist doing job instead of reading the internet and watching TV to get their stories
- Timnicebutdim, any tax haven, 03/11/2011 18:24
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I would like to place a small bet that within 5 or 10 years all these "protestors" will be high earners in the very companies they are decrying - if some of them are not already.
- Patrick, Dalston, 03/11/2011 15:52
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The arrogance of people who say they represent the 99%. What 99%? I am not in the 1% and I don't want you to represent me, because you were not elected and I don't know what you stand for. YOU don't know what you stand for, just what you are against.
Everything you described in the article is based on the capitalist system. Even Starbucks, whih is normally the first place to be trashed by your fellow travellers.
Yes the banking system needs to be reformed, yes capitalism is imperfect, but it has brought untold prosperity to hundreds of millions. Come and ask the czechs where I live what they thought of living in the kind of society your lot seem to want to go back to. Big government telling everyone what to do. And getting it wrong every time.
If you want to pitch your tent somewhere, go do it in Brussels. There is where the downfall of our prosperity was originated, by stupid people who thought having economies like Greece, Portugal, Ireland and Spain having the same borrowing rights as Germany, Netherlands, France and Sweden made economic sense. And encouraged banks to lend to them on unprecedented scales, backed by the ECB.
THat is why we are all in trouble now.
- Stephen Rothbart, Prague, Czech Republic, 03/11/2011 14:15
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"Ignore the rest" - so that's your version of 'legitimate debate' is it?
- Ruth, London, UK, 03/11/2011 14:04
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Typical of the kind of people who think that by targeting a national icon they are stopping world debt. I too hope that the Queen turns up for Remembrance Day alongside all those who have some respect and treat these posh campers with the contempt they deserve.
Grow up love - if you're that desperate to save the world go and volunteer in a real refugee camp somewhere.
- Bored of the idle rich, London, 03/11/2011 14:01
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Ignore the rest here Kiki,
I'm glad someone is standing up against the corporate welfare that is our banking industry.
- DK, London, 03/11/2011 13:41
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You need a heart of stone not to laugh at this fool of a woman.
- Blowtorch, Surbiton, 03/11/2011 13:29
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"It may be harsh, uncomfy, potentially ludicrous and pie-eyed optimistic but... well, I'm committed to doing whatever I can in the hope of positive change. Simple."
Its none of those things Kiki. What does "positive change" actually mean? You have no idea as you've had the chance in writing this article, and you still couldnt express what you wanted. How is it simple?
You sum up the protest completely.
Clueless and without a point.
- Andyr, St Ives, 03/11/2011 12:51
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Lady you live in la la land. You are protesting about Bankers and you work for a fashion magazine that promotes Capitalism in its worst form. The excess of spending horrible amount of money on clothes, bags and shoes. Each season.
I work in the City. I don't earn a fat cat salary. My salary goes on my rent, my bills, food with a little left over to save for my first home. At age 40.
None of my colleagues have ever bought anything designer. Or even looked at Vogue, Harpers or the such. We just work very hard, very long hours with the constant threat of redundancy.
Still jealous?
- Yuk, London, 03/11/2011 12:34
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Kiki, you're just selling this as a glorified camping trip, with free hot meals thrown in for Bugaboo-pushing mothers & the homeless alike. It all sounds jolly lovely but the way you describe it there seems to be little point to it other than a happy get together. What luck for foreign students to get cheap digs! Did the Standard deliberately choose someone with no self awareness?
- Ruth, London, UK, 03/11/2011 12:27
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Oh god, you incredible hypocrite! does it make for nice dinner party chat? your body language in the images speaks volumes my dear, you couldn't lean any further away from the masked protester if you tried! did you not get the chance to protest when you were younger? Harpers exist to cater for just the strata of society you claim to dislike! so do something useful, make harpers political, useful or at the very least interesting! I find endless adverts for Louis Vuittons just a tad tiring darlin!!
- mike, London, 03/11/2011 11:57
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Kiki writes: 'But I am also part of the 99 per cent - those excluded by the current capitalist system and whose economic mobility is pretty much zero.'
This sentence makes no sense!
It suggests that 99% are excluded by the current system - where's the evidence for this?
- Jez, Lambeth, 03/11/2011 11:12
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Apart from slagging off 'City Types' that are trying to get to work and earn money that will keep our economy going, you work for 'Harper's Bazaar' a magazine that celebrates and promotes the fripperies of the very class of people you are protesting against.
You self righteous hypocrite.
- Hansel, London, 03/11/2011 11:06
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