Entering the security vestibule offered little comfort, and shortly our guide led us to the chamber. We proceeded, a different route again! As we entered the Central Lobby we found ourselves ahead of our guide, a young man of relative inexperience. What happened next was all over in a wink of the eye but exemplified the ingrained and unquestionable duty to ‘protect’. We turned into the Commons, Laurent and I, and were spotted by two uniformed and armed guards who, one of them, on seeing us and not our guide, as his small frame was hidden behind mine, reached for and unbuttoned his revolver. He was ready to shoot! Calamity! Our nerves were tested. He saw our guide an instant later and put the weapon away. We were not shaken. It is not after all
commonplace to have firearms presented toward you but the speed of the incident minimized the effect. We duly showed our authentication and we were allowed to continue.

We were wet and dripping against the hallowed carpet of the Commons chamber, unpacking equipment. Today I made many photographs of the ‘red line’. It’s presence in the chamber, as a piece of décor which catches the eye, far outweighs it’s apparent symbolic value. More ‘debris’ photographed and many more recordings of time keeping instruments, some apparently archaic.

4th day [7th November 2000]

It is difficult to imagine the noise and strife, which must be generated when this chamber is in full use. I understand that after the chamber was bombed, some 50 years ago; the emphasis on rebuilding it was placed on architectural sympathy with the original design rather than any changes which would assist the acoustics. Each sound is deadened, footfall is unheard and yet outside of this dark sanctum we hear shouts and activity as the Palace comes awake. The chamber gives an unreal sensation of security. The symmetry itself, if one is not wary, begins to order the photographs one makes. The near converging parallels of Tudor green benches, the red line, the symmetry, all conspire against me, as if to impose an appreciation of England, an illusion of order and democracy. It will be necessary to smash this down if I am to get to the bottom of it all, to understand.

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