Lazin' on a Sunday afternoon

In the summertime when the weather is high
You can stretch right up and touch the sky
When the weather is fine
We go fishing or go swimming in the sea
We're always happy
Life's for living, yeah, that's our philosophy

Leeds castle. Hazy evening.

Kentish Idyll

Twisting country lanes, mainly single track, to a relaxed house in the country.

Terror in London

Living as a Londoner, most of my life has included the awareness of our capital city as a target for terrorist attacks. The most sustained period was when the IRA sent bombs to major areas of our city as their violent protest about Northern Ireland.


The current attacks unleashed in Central London, using a bus and tube trains are from another source. Although arguably claimed by al-Qaeda, these attacks don't give warning and don't give an explanation.

So using the most commonplace symbols of London life - the red bus and tube, we now have an unknown killer in our streets.

Union Jack

The Union Jack is reflected in raindrops on a car window from the electronic message sign at the NASDAQ Market Site in New York's Times Square July 8, 2005, which has been displaying the flag as part of a tribute to victims of Thursday's bombings in London.

Many Blogs throughout the world are displaying a Union Jack today as a sign of global support for the United Kingdom in these troubled times.

Explosions in London's commuter systems early yesterday killed at least 50 people and injured more than 700 during the morning rush.

In a Tube Train

These are other peoples' stories.

Read Pfff tell from one of the trains.

And then the after effects.

And another...

Paris

In Paris today, near la Defence.

The texts and emails started arriving at around 10:00 local time. London's phones were jammed and the mobile network appeared to be down.

By 11:00 we had pieced together the story.

London 2012 Olympics

Maura told me that we'd won.

I'd heard the build up to the decision on Radio 4 earlier in the morning. The UK representative Tessa Jowell sounded very bouyant. We all knew that Paris was the only real competition. Another Britain/France Moment.

Hmm. I'm in Paris tomorrow - I wonder what Bertrand will say!


Some of my preferred coverage of the build-up comes from an East London based blog from Diamond Geezer who has captured the environment and the local spirit of sometimes faltering hope well. Bow, Stratford, and all points East do well from this decision.

New beer keeps me awake at nights

So someone has invented a beer which contains caffeine.

Anheuser-Busch is launching its caffeinated beer in the UK. BE (Beer With Extra) contains 5% alcohol, 60.4mg of caffeine, guarana, and ginseng. In the US, BE is sold as B-to-the-E (BE).

No chance of falling asleep after a beer now.

Arrange those chairs

Vestibular Unisinos is a simple point and click game which simply asks you to arrange chairs in various picturesque settings. Waste some hours.

Film School - Point 'n Click

Great Generation

Live8 London late evening

Half an hour later, huge applause greeted Pink Floyd's arrival on stage at 11pm. Today's concert marks the first time the legendary band have played together in over 20 years. Speaking earlier to reporters, they were reluctant to suggest this could be the start of a reunion tour.

Under the slogan NO MORE EXCUSES the band played Breathe, Money, Wish You Were Here and then finished with Comfortably Numb.


The Who's Pete Townsend

Peter Kay apologised for not being Robbie, and led the crowd in a mass karaoke version of Do You Know the Way to Amarillo? The comedian introduced "the Spice Girls! No. The Who? The Who!" Appropriately enough, the classic band performed Who Are You and Won't Get Fooled Again.


As night fell, David Beckham came on stage to introduce "his good friend" Robbie Williams. Williams is one of the day's most eagerly anticipated performers. His arrival brought a much needed shot of adrenalin; he opened with Queen's We Will Rock You, segueing into Let Me Entertain You, mixed with the Killers' "I've got soul but I'm not a soldier" riff. A rendition of his classic track Angels finished the brief set.


Sting followed, performing hits including Message in a Bottle and Every Breath You Take.


Mariah Carey, backed by the African Children's Choir, and, true to form, wearing a dress at least two sizes too small, sang Make It Happen, Hero and We Belong Together.


Shortly after 8pm The Scissor Sisters bounced onto stage. Singer Ana Matronic told the crowd to "put on your dancing shoes", and the New York group sang Laura, Take Your Mama, and a new song - the first act to do so - called Everybody Wants the Same Thing.

Matronic told the crowd they were going to "rewrite history."