Every now and again in my day job I get to do something quite amazing and unique. This week was one such occasion as I got to go on a tour of one of the City's tower developments.
Now this is a building that is going to be 52-storeys when it's complete and it's definitely not complete, well it is nearly at full height but such 'fripperies' as glazing have only started being fitted on the lower levels.
Access to the upper floors (30-ish is as high as we went) is via an external hoist and then an internal hoist. We finished off the last few floors using a temporary staircase which is scarily close to the edge of the building.
On the upper floors there is just fresh air and a chest high metal barrier between you and a plunge. My hands are sweating just thinking about it. To say it was a monumental battle of mind over matter for someone who doesn't like heights is an understatement but I was determined not to miss such a fabulous opportunity. The views are incredible and there is no glass to hinder photography.
Sadly there will be no public viewing platform and I'm quite jealous of those people for whom it will be their work place when it's finished.
What I loved the most was being so close to the City's other iconic towers, you get to see detail on those buildings few others see.
London was dusted with the white stuff yesterday (more forecast today). It's become an annual thing in recent years or so it seems to me, I'm sure it never used to be thus in the capital.
Expect more snowy shots later but here are a couple I snapped, in my slippers, from the front door about an hour into the first flurries (it's cold ;0)
I like Leake Street's contradictory appearance. On the one hand it looks threatening and gritty. It runs underneath the railway lines behind Waterloo Station and you can hear the trains rumbling overhead. It's exactly the sort of street your mum told you never to walk down.
But when you do it is something quite different, a gallery of graffiti, a showcase of urban artistic talent. It has its own page on Wikipedia and is known as 'Banksy Tunnel' having hosted the artist's 'Cans Festival' five years ago.
It's a place where graffiti artists are encouraged and unlike the graffiti gallery underneath the Queen Elizabeth Hall on the nearby South Bank, you can get up close without fear of getting in the way of skateboarders.
One day, I'm going to go back with my big camera. One day.
Heard the music as I was walking through the Square on my way home and wandered over to see this group of people all synchro dancing.
They were people of all ages and sizes, all having a good time. It had been planned and rehearsed but to what end other than for fun and a bit of exercise I don't know.
Protesters on the steps of St Martin's in the Field, London.
I googled who Tahla was and came across www.freetahla.org a site dedicated to Tahla Ahsan, a man with Aspergers who has been in prison for 12 years without trial in America.
Another great example of the freedom, justice and democracy we westerners pride ourselves in.
London is getting very good at putting on free stuff.
Take today, Regent Street and Piccadilly Circus were closed to traffic and a series of stages were set up for a variety of circus acts - even high up between the pillars of one building a long rope dangled begging for a performer.
From professionals to newbies from schools and clubs: trapeze, juggling, dance, acrobatics, tightrope - almost too much going on at once you could just wander from stage to stage. And, among the crowds there was the odd character or two to spot as well as pot plants and park benches down the middle of the road on which to take a bit of a break.
TFL were damned if they did and damned if they didn't. After months of warning of transport armageddon in London, the roads have proved quieter than normal - apart from Waterloo Bridge which has been nose to tail north bound since they changed the direction of traffic going through the Kingsway tunnel.
I don't think I've actually seen an Olympic vehicle in the ORN on my route to work since the games started although they have been very good about letting all traffic use them when it is quiet.
Noticed that it was quieter than normal in central London last weekend and I do feel sorry for all the businesses which were hoping to do some extra business during these tough economic times. Basically all but the non-Olympic tourists have been scared away, and all the Olympic tourists seem to be hanging out at the games venues rather than venturing into town.
And of course now there is a massive back peddling and lots of encouragement to get people into town so we could see some travel chaos yet (I'll be disappointed if there isn't any and I'm denied a whinge).
So what has it been like in London otherwise? Well around near work (Holborn) there have been lots more foreign tourists (and we normally get our fair share being so close to the British Museum), and more oddities to spot: a rather strange foreign film crew with presenter wearing a plastic crown and a comedy fake moustache for one. A few of the shops have adopted Olympics themed window displays but it isn't quite like the West End.
Holborn Tube is awash with official helpers and trying to cross the junction nearest the office is a pain because they've blocked off one side, presumably so as not to hinder the non-existent Olympic traffic. It just means that everyone tries to cross the road further up beyond the crossing and therefore risking their necks.
We aren't suppose to live stream the Olympics on our computers at work mainly for connection speeds but we've snuck it onto one screen and huddle around during key races. As the Team GB girls got the gold medal tally rolling and we started moving up the medal table, couldn't resist teasing an Australian colleague. Feeling very proud to be British.
In fact I've been surprised by exactly how much I've watched. It's amazing how quickly the evening goes when you think, 'I'll just watch this next event'. Have got quite teary watching the women rowers doing so well and then watching them get their medals.
The British press have been quite well behaved getting behind our athletes and celebrating our wins. Apart from the Daily Mail, of course, which has caused a storm by referring to British competitors not born here as 'plastic Brits'. It's actually more depressing that it sells enough copies to stay in business.
Anyway back to the fun of the Olympics, I have too many questions about the variety and style of the different sports outfits but most of them should stay in my head.
