Yesterday, I observed the two minutes of silence to remember those killed in last week’s bombings. After work, I walked to Trafalgar Square to take part in the vigil. I arrived just after it had started, but I heard a lot of the speakers. There were moving speeches, prayers and poems from across the political and religious spectrum. There were leaders from the major churches and religions showing a united front. There were London celebrities with sincere words calling for a united city. Sebastian Coe spoke of the Olympic bid and how we’ll build a fitting tribute to the people who lost their lives last Thursday. Union leaders and politicians offered words of support.

But the biggest applause went to members of the transport companies whose buses and trains were attacked, and to the emergency services who attended the sites to rescue victims. For once, we were not a celebrity-obsessed nation but were there to support the people who keep London moving and safe.

The vigil seemed to go on forever. Perhaps it was too long, but when everybody’s words were sincere, how could you stop it? It was a united city saying, “We will not back down in the face of your bombs. You will not break us”.

Sadly, for the media, it was just another news story. There were camera crews from across the globe at one end of the square, and various reporters were applying their make-up or dabbing the sweat from their brows as technicians plugged in things and waved cues. Behind all the tributes coming from the front of the square were a selection of “Londoners are gathered …” and “back to you in the studio”. Reports were being filed in a number of languages via a fleet of satellite trucks being powered by noisy generators in the corner of Trafalgar Square. Maybe it’s because I was right beside the media, as I couldn’t get any further into the square, but the chatter (and the smiles and laughter of some of the production staff) seemed inappropriate somehow. I hope they got their story.

On this day…

2006: Changing The Face of Pop
2003: A 4 Minute Warning
2002: Spending Money At Last

Just before 12 noon today, my colleagues and I walked onto the London street outside the Holborn office where we work. It was a bright, hot, sunny day in Central London. The kind of day that has you sweating within moments of being on the street. When we reached street level, we walked into a crowd of people who had come from the buildings all around. These were office workers whose desks are probably just metres from mine, but I don’t see them. I probably walk past them most days as I approach the door to the office, but I just don’t see them. Today, we stood crowded onto the street together.

At 12 noon, the bus turning the corner in front of us stopped, and the driver turned the engine off, right across the junction. The taxi at the traffic lights opposite didn’t move when the light turned green, and the cyclist near him didn’t try to jump the red light. Most of the pedestrians who were walking stopped.

A silence descended upon London. Not the silence usually associated with a city. A city’s silence is usually punctuated by horns and alarms, by mobile phones ringing or engines passing. No, this silence was eerily silent, but it was silent.

And we bowed our heads to remember.

It was a moment when this huge, diverse city that I call home was united in thought. It’s a moment I don’t think anybody who was there will forget.

On this day…

2003: 1789 And All That
2003: Wind Power
2003: Power of the Idea
2002: Number One
2002: Ask Homer (and remember HotWired)

I am back from my Silverstone trip – of which more later – and am back in work today. As I was not in town on Thursday, I can’t really talk about what it was like in the aftermath of the bomb blasts. It was strange hearing the news emerge on the radio as I was sitting in my house answering work-related emails. Of course, there were moments when I connected with the people I know to check they were all OK. I have, however, felt odd all weekend answering the text messages (and today the emails) from people asking if I am OK. I am very grateful that people thought to contact me – and so I hope I’ve replied to everybody – and happy to report I am safe.

Central London has an estimated population of 7 million people – with many more commuting to work here – so the real chances of being involved are minimal. I almost feel guilty about not having anything to add to the people who contacted me. I was well away from anything and, if I had been in the office on Thursday, I would also have been well away. I am most definitely with Anna on this topic. I wasn’t there. It is unlikely I would have been there. I feel incredibly lucky not to have been anywhere near, but I wasn’t.

There has been some excellent coverage across all media, but one thing has really intrigued me. If you had been on an underground train and there was an explosion, would you have got out your mobile phone and taken pictures or video? I can say with certainty that I would not have done so because I forget to take mobile pictures at good times, never mind in times of chaos. I’m not critical – I understand the police are appealing for people’s pictures – but I am amazed that people thought to do it.

On this day…

2003: Summertime in Paris
2002: 497

Of course, the day has now changed totally. For those friends of mine who have contacted me, thanks for your thoughts. We are both fine right now, but it’s unlikely you’ll be able to reach me on my mobile, as the networks are deluged with people trying to contact others. BBC News has the latest.

On this day…

2005: Silverstone, Here I Come
2005: On A Lighter Note
2003: Well Thank Goodness
2002: “Vent Your Pure Male Macho Juice”