"A United Kingdom" London Travelogue by kzngirl

I’ve just had the most profound moment. At twelve noon today, we all took a two minutes silence in remembrance of those who died in the London bombings last week.

All of us in our office block left our offices and trooped downstairs. We pooled out into the hot summer sunshine out side the Hammersmith Broadway Chambers. Across the road the offices emptied and the pavements started to fill with people.

As the bells from a distant church tower chimed twelve, everyone fell silent. The sun beat down on a city falling silent.

Pedestrians stopped their walking, buses drew to a halt and so did the black cabs. For a full two minutes the whole of Hammersmith drew to a stop…there were no people walking around, no people talking. Every car, bus and bicycle stopped where it stood. It was profoundly moving.

I had a lump in my throat as I felt the sense of unity sweep across the city.

All across London, all across Europe, we stopped and took a moment to think of the families and lives torn apart by the bombs. We remembered them, and in the silence I felt united, I felt unafraid and I felt proud.

I am so proud to be able to stand alongside my fellow Londoners and take a stand against the terror that reigned through this city a week ago.

We are not afraid.

Back in the office, people are talking, cars and busses roar below us, sirens scream and life returns to normal.