Notes From Afar
London was again a victim of bomb attacks today.
Three tubes and a bus were targeted, but this time the terrorists were even bigger amateurs and did not successfully detonate one of the bombs.
Warren Street tube station was targeted; a station I pass through everyday on my way to work.
I had to walk some of the way to Euston tonight, here is a shot of Warren Street tube station.
I didn’t realise just how close it is to Euston.
We were finally allowed out of the building around 15:30 shortly after the news that Euston station had reopened.
There was no other way across London other than to walk which is what I did.
Clutching my A to Z I walked past Buckingham Palace and the Mall decked out in Union Jack flags to celebrate the end of WW2. Then up through St James and into a strangely quiet Regents Street.
For those that haven’t been to London Regents Street is one of the main shopping streets and usually exceptionally busy with both people and traffic. Today there were no busses, no taxis and only the odd car.
I was reminded of War Of The Worlds with people fleeing London in a ‘mass exodus’.
As I got closer to Euston the crowds of people walking become greater as they funnelled into the street leading to the station.
I was expecting chaos at the station and a long wait for a train, but it couldn’t have been more different; I stepped straight onto a train and was home in 35 minutes.
It was a monumental day in many many ways.
A day that makes you realise or reinforce who and what is precious to you.
I’m feeling sick at the moment.
My geography of London is rather poor and I was actually quite proud to have found my way almost to where I work.
I’ve just seen a news report showing where the bomb blasts were.
I could of easily walked out of Euston and straight down towards Russel Square where the bus bomb was. Luckily I headed out the side of Euston and walked down Great Portland.
That feels far too close for comfort.
I commute into London on a daily basis.
I arrived at Euston station just after 9am this morning to find them shutting the underground station access and telling us that the main underground lines are shut for the day.
I realised from this that it might be a big problem or alert but wished that I had known then how bad it was so that I could have turned around and gone home.
I decided that queuing for a cab inside a station during a possible security situation would be a bad idea and so thought I’d start walking and look for a cab on the street.
I got as far as St James Palace before I finally got a cab and started to learn what had happened from my cabby.
I’m now in my work building in Victoria and we’re being told not to leave the building.
The tube, busses and overland trains are all stopped.
At this point getting home may be difficult so we have booked hotel rooms just in case.
I feel very distant and isolated from my family who are safely 50 miles north of London.
As I was walking I tried repeatedly to call or text my wife but could not get anything through. When I finally got to the office and spoke to her she was in tears of relief.
Today is not a good day.