Mincing Lane

Went to a lecture at the Clothworkers Hall, just off Mincing Lane in the City. "Baghdad, City of peace, city of blood". We were taken through a 1000 year history, focussing on a catalogue of disastrous decisions over the last one hundred years. Very enlightening but also depressing. 500 people are being killed every month just by car bombs. The speaker declared himself an optimist, but couldn't find much to be positive about. Oh dear, oh dear.

On leaving I took solace in a brief stroll through the streets of our fantastic city of London. People walking home from offices, drinking with friends in bars, eating in restaurants. Finding this little court, which has recently been regenerated, I delighted in the lighting along a hoarding.The hoarding is only temporary around a construction site. But the effort has been made to illuminate it with changing colours.

The hoarding will probably be gone in a year. Removed peacefully in an organised manner. In sad contrast to the continuing chaos in Iraq.