Trinity Test

July 16th was the date of the Trinity test. First Nuclear Bomb. Nothing was ever the same.

Moment of Silence

Londoners and tourists visiting the British capital have made a point of going about their business and leisure as normal - or as near normal as possible, following last Thursday's devastating terrorist attacks, which killed at least 53 people and injured around 700.

Today, a week after the attacks, there was a two minute silence throughout London and the rest of the UK and many parts of Europe. With many others, we went outside to take the two minutes of silence on the hot London streets at midday.

Electronic Freedom

The Electronic Frontier Foundation has been around in the internet for many years and argues - amongst many things- on behalf of bloggers, publishing useful advice about rights, privileges, and protections.

Bloggers are entitled to free speech - The EFF works to shield from frivolous or abusive threats and lawsuits. Internet bullies shouldn't use copyright, libel, or other claims to chill legitimate speech.

Bloggers have the right to political speech - The EFF works with public interest organizations to ensure that the Federal Election Commission (FEC) doesn't gag bloggers' election related speech. Bloggers also have the right to stay anonymous - including providing a guide to help with strategies for keeping identity private.

William appears

Julie had managed to get seats in row 3, which was around two metres from the stage. In addition to a strong set from mainly the second album and the recent arena tout, Will Young sang three new songs, which will no doubt already be available as mp3 captures from the many cellular phones in the concert.

Mara Carlyle

Enjoyable, talented and slightly quirky singer. First album called 'The Lovely'. Mara disarmingly handles sensuous glissandos and leaps into a heartstopping upper register with deliciously buttery phrasing. She makes it all seem casual. Her folk singer style covers many genres augmented with ukelele and saw(!) amongst the instruments.

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.