I was chilling out in front of the tv with a glass of wine on Saturday night when the phone rang. I saw it was my daughter, in Preston - or at least, that's where she lives so I assumed that was where she was. But it was late, almost 11. A crisis, I wondered as I answered, trying to prepare myself... "You're ok, Mum?" she said, almost before I could say a word. And then I knew it had happened again. So I heard about the London Bridge terrorist attack via the news she was watching 250 miles away.
Why would I have been in Borough Market? Why was anyone there that night? But as I was in Parliament Square on the day of the Westminster attack in March, I could sense the terror. Police yelling "Run, get out, get away." Hearing gunshots, not knowing what you were running from, wondering where to run to... And for those caught up in the Borough Market attack it was also dark.
I had to recce a walk I have coming up which crosses the north of London Bridge. I might have done it yesterday but it wasn't clear how far the police cordon extended so I decided to postpone until today.
At the north end of London Birdge, the City of London Police were out in force, complete with dogs.


Floral tributes were accumulating at the base of the Monument, guarded by police. Almost as if the Monument itself was under attack.


A car was parked in Monument St, outside the Hydrant pub. A passerby went up to one of the many policemen there and said, "excuse me but that car's been parked there for a long time..." "It's ok, we know, that's the Corporation Traffic over there, " was the reply. So we are all being vigilant...

When I finished my walk recce, I found myself back at London Bridge. I could not resist walking across to see the crime scene for myself. It was a cime scene that the police were still investigating but there was nothing to see.

The journos were lined up opposite the ever increasing pile of flowers.

And people were gathering to try and make sense of it all. I began to wonder whether this is 'terrorism tourism'.

I waked back across the bridge, past two City policemen, complete with dragon, guarding the entrance to the City and wondered at the times we live in.

Not to mention we have a general election coming up in three days time. Let's hope we make the right decision for the future of our country.
More photos from today