There has been a surreal air to today, since I first received an email from David asking had I heard that the London Underground was closed due to 'power surges'. Of course we all know now what really caused the closure.
Our offices have been strangely quiet and there has been much hushed talk in corners while we have all waited nervously for news of our colleagues who are based in our two city offices, both only yards from Liverpool Street Station. Just as I was about to leave the office, the news we'd been waiting for - our HR Director had sent me an email to spread the word that our team is all accounted for and although there are some grim stories from those in the team who were on affected trains, at least our own people are all safe and on their way home tonight.
There is still no real news about the total number of fatalities - the bus that was bombed was so badly obliterated that they can't even work out how many people were on board, let alone identify them all. It's complete carnage.
It is not the first time our capital city has been the subject of terrorist attacks - we've been through this kind of thing for years with the IRA and now this invidious creeping sickness from much further away.
Never though will this sort of thing kill the spirit of our city or make us acquiesce to the demands of terrorists. If we do, they win and we lose our freedom and our right to the lives we have fought hard to build. The people of London will recover and will be more resolute and stronger. There can be no alternative.
Suicide bombers are not heroes they are cowards who don't have the courage or the will to fight for what they want through democratic means. Their desire to impose their views on others will never work. They are people with no respect for life. As their shattered bodies fall to the ground that is the end of their legacy. They will not get reward in heaven. Their souls will not find themselves in a better place and they will never gain heroic status for their lives from any decent human being. Those people that suggest otherwise are lying and manipulative. Those people who commit these acts or support them all claim to believe in God. This means they will surely end up in Hell in their language. Personally I think they will only end up as a bloody mass of offal, bone and skin on the pavement or a train or whatever and they will be forgotten instantly.
They take with them ordinary people who don't deserve this. They leave a legacy of misery and sorrow for the families of the ordinary people killed.
London is a vibrant city that thrives on its diverse cultural mix and we love that about the city. Make no mistake, we despise these people and will not be cowed by them.
My family and friends all seem to be fine. We've had a bush telegraph of emails and phone calls checking in and checking out. I am thankful but I am also mindful that many people in and around London are not so lucky as I am. I hope they find ways to rebuild their lives.
So, this is my response to the terrorists! We will not be beaten!
My final hope for today is that the perpetrators (because we don't know they were all killed in the attacks) are hounded until they are found and punished. Let there be no escaping justice for anyone involved in this.
Last year I was messing about with mirrors and two years ago, I was in central London making a fool of myself on a train.
