History’s New First Draft, is a Newsweek piece about how civilians are now reporting the news through Blogs and websites, using mobile phones and cheap cameras.

The writer spoke to me, and so I get a bit of a mention, but it’s a pretty good article in its own right.  For those of us watching the news live, it was obvious that the mainstream media were using a lot of amateur content.

I finish a job, and start to roll back to Station for a nice relaxing cup of tea.  As I pass one of the roads on my route I see a lot of firefighters, loads of police and a Duty officer’s car. 

“Hmmm”, I think, “Something interesting there”.

Then I notice a strong smell of gas.

“A-ha, that’s what they are there for, someone has left the cooker on”.

So I continue on my way, with a bad taste in my mouth and roll up to the Station…

…Only to find a load of Officers, strange ambulance crews (well, I say strange, but what I mean is crews from out of our sector), and some St John’s people.

“Something happening”, I ask.

“Yes”, says one of my friends, “We are roaming London ready to deal with anything out of the usual”.

“In fact”, she continues, “We are here because there might be a Chemical incident in Lucas Avenue”.

“Oh Bugger”, I think.

So I let them know that I drove past it, and they tell me to sit in my car so that I don’t contaminate anyone.  Apparently one of the tests for nasty chemical stuff came back positive.

I’m not too worried, if it was anything that nasty I’d already be dead.

They retest their samples, and it’s actually negative, the team are stood down, and I’m allowed out of the car, and back to work.

 

Still it’s nice to know that our people are still on the ball.

False alarm, more details when I get home this evening.

You may be amused to know that at the moment I am being quarentined as a potential poison gas victim. I do have a funny taste in my mouth. More when I know myself...

It seems that the LAS is back to normal. No hospitals are closed, the Underground is recovering and the buses are pretty much back to normal.

London isn't in fear, and we don't seem to be hanging Muslims from lamposts. Instead we are dealing with it, and getting back to normal. This shows the resiliance of Londoners no matter the faith, ethnicity or class.

I think Mayor Livingstone summed it up best when he said,

"I want to say one thing: This was not a terrorist attack against the mighty or the powerful, it is not aimed at presidents or prime ministers, it was aimed at ordinary working-class Londoners," Livingstone told reporters.

"That isn't an ideology, it isn't even a perverted faith, it's mass murder," Livingstone said. "We know what the objective is. They seek to divide London."


Now it is up to the nurses, physiotherapists, medical applications, therapists and all the other allied services to take over the long term and continuing healing process. These people are often forgotten but have a vital role in saving life and function.

Once more the blogsphere provided up to date news as well as reporting on what the mainstream media was saying.

We have a highly unofficial messageboard, there have been a lot of messages of support. Here are a few excerpts (all unedited).

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The LAS and its sister services did a stupendous job today. I doubt if any city in the world could have mounted a similar response. The press talk about heroism. I'd rather talk about professionalism, organisation and effectiveness.

The street level emergency may have wound down, but a lot of our healthcare friends and colleagues are still working hard to save the lives and assure the recovery of the many victims.

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I was involved in the incidents from start to finish and can honestly say no matter how much we moan and whine , it all "came together " today , be it the LAS , the LFB , the Voluntary services , hospitals , the DSO's and AOM's we slag off , the met , the MOD plod , BTP, private amb services helped out, Miat teams , medical teams , HEMS , london buses who conveyed walking wounded , the GP's and district nurses who set up treatement centres in schools, joe public who gave out food to 999 personnel , the outer county services who responded to assist and anyone else i may have missed.

I might regret this , but i can actually say i was proud to work for the LAS today

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I've been on duty all day out in the 'burbs in south london. We've been listening in on ch9 most of the time. To those involved you have my total admiration for a job superbly done, you're all a credit to this service.

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I have to say I have never seen a service as organised as the LAS were today. I offered to go to work and when I arrived there was absolute calm and proffesionalism amongst every rank.

To be honest I thought it would be a nightmare but I was proved wrong. How well everyone did was astounding and a credit to the service.

Well done all involved and especially well done to all in CAC and gold control for organising what can only be described as a massive operation.

Also, well done for all the Tech, para's, ECP's and TQAT's. You can feel very proud all of you.

Thanks also to all the outer counties that assisted. Cheers Boys and girls. Your efforts will not be forgotten.


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Just got home. It was a bit of a bugger out there today.
Drink. Shower. Drink. Sleep.
Talk to you all later...

Well done folks - went as well as could be expected.


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well done all those who attended today, and well done to CAC on channel 9.

was listening in, and communication was second to none.
fantastic job.

Phone link went down to one of the recieving hospitals,
CAC put out G.B for any crew at hospital to relay blue call info.

Fantastic


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I am proud today for the Service I work for.

We all moan, we have grips about what now seem trivial matters.

Many of us came together for what was a horrendous and cowardly act of lunacy.

Everyone deserves a large pat on the back safe in the knowledge you all did a fantastic job.


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(If anyone wants their comment taken down, let me know)