I'm stuck in the centre of London today in the middle of the UK first major terrorist attack since 11/9.
Apparently (I'm receiving my news relayed by text message from Sharon - although now I'm in an Internet cafe I'll take a look for myself) there's been at least 4 bomb explosions on buses and on the Underground. Virtually all public transport has stopped. There's no buses. There's no underground.
Taxi ranks have queues reaching round the block and taxis drivers who pass you on the street with no passengers are chuckling to themselves like they've just won the Lottery.
The city is filled with tourists who don't have the first clue where they are or how to get where they need to be. And, to be frank, I rank among them. I need to be on the other side of the city. I have no map. There is no public transport. I have only a vague idea as to where I am let alone how to get where I'm going.
I've taken a short break in an internet cafe within sight of the Houses of Parliament rather than try to fight my way through the crowds.
As I'm in the south of the city at the moment I think I'll abandon the attempt to get to the north of the city to catch my train home (as I've typed this, I've heard that the station I needed to get to has closed anyway). I think I'll go and stay with friends south of London. I'm going to go and see if trains are running to the South.
What a fucking nightmare. However, compared to the devastation I'm sure the attacks will have caused to some, I'm sure my troubles are a minor inconvenience.
We've moved! theaardvark has a new home at www.theaardvark.co.uk
