The flags went down pretty quickly after the end of the Commonwealth Summit in London; the sunshine disappeared too, another unseasonal burst of cold and rain injecting a more sombre mood in the week following the multi-layered meetings. All the paraphernalia was also swiftly dismantled; this included the vast Media Centre, which had been erected on the grounds of Marlborough House, and the gigantic room constructed in the gardens of Lancaster House to permit a circular table around which all 53 members could sit, together with their respective assistants (one spotted doing her on-line shopping during a prolonged meeting!)