Explanation and Ancient Ceremony

What a long day! This morning my friend Alison and I visited one of our church regulars, Matty, who is currently in Colchester hospital after having collapsed a couple of weeks ago, and who has subsequently fallen and broken her hip whilst in hospital! As she lives on her own, she can’t go home until a care package has been arranged for her. The nurse told us there are currently 30 people ahead of Matty in the queue for carers to come in regularly. What a state the country is in!

This afternoon I took the train up to London and went into my old workplace, Broadcasting House, to attend a BBC Alumni event. Quite by chance I bumped into my old friend and teammate Sue on my way past the Langham Hotel, and we had a very quick catch up. Once inside BH, we were treated to an hour of BBC News Analysis Editor Ros Atkins in conversation with former Panorama journalist Felicity Cowie about his career and his book “The Art of Explanation” followed by Q&A’s from the audience. I was impressed by his incredibly thorough approach to his journalism and his analysis broadcasts. He makes his programmes look easy, but everything is planned and researched in minute detail and nothing is left to chance.

After getting Ros to sign my copy of his book, and a drink and some nibbles, I travelled over to the Tower of London to watch the Ceremony of the Keys, which has taken place every evening at 10pm pretty much unchanged for about 700 years. It was fascinating to witness living history. We weren’t allowed to film or take pictures of the actual ceremony, but I have included shots of the Bloody Tower and the famous White Tower in my extras along with a photo of the entrance to Broadcasting House. I finally got into bed at just gone midnight, quite shattered but happy.