Sun sun sun

My first easter in London was wet and grey, if I remember well. And though the weather is generally better here than in the Dam, of course that weekend it wasn't. The second year I planned to go away, until a friend anounced he'd celebrate his 30th that weekend and hope we'd stay in town. Bastard then decided to stay in Peru for a bit and Easter weekend turned out wet and grey with no friends in town. So this year I planned to go away once more. Until friend Gorkem suggested a visit, and I decided to stay. And third time lucky: what a glorious weekend. Ridiculously warm for the time of the year.

Poor GG had to spend Saturday by himself as I'd gotten sick on Friday night and couldn't move, but luckily I was alive and kicking on Sunday. Brick Lane, Shoreditch, Spitalfields, via the empty City to London Bridge and the boat back to the Wharf. A perfect Sunday. Monday was spent walking from my place to Tate Modern, with a lunch break at Dim T in front of my office (new office, I may add, in the most amazing location, I can see Tower Bridge from my desk!). And off GG went again. A weekend with a fab friend, in the sun, after a few stressful weeks at work was just perfect. Glad I stayed!

Sunny days, but not for all

Canada Square is the home of HSBC, of Citibank, of several restaurants, a gym, a supermarket. It's buzzing during the week. And it does not buzz more than on a sunny Friday during lunch hour. Office staff read a book on the grass, eat their lunch at one of the tables scattered around the square, or sit on one of the benches, chatting away. Nothing says Friday more than office workers relaxing. It's the sign the weekend isn't far. And where better to relax than in the sun? So I bought some sushi and joined the crowd. So far so good. Happy feelings.

A stones throw away, a plaque is covered by flowers. When I walk up to see what it says, I notice the other people around it are crying, and comforting each other, and are not nosy office workers like myself. I quickly walk away, and look up the date on the net. Ten years ago today, when the HSBC building on 8 Canada Square was being constructed, a crane collapsed, killing three construction workers. The people I saw must have been relatives. Mourning the loss of their loved ones, by a stupid accident while the three men were at work. Their 21st of Mays will never be sunny again.