a randon end to the day...

... it started of wonderfully - got up early, did some work, had a coffee, Imyril and boy arrived to take me to East London to collect furniture. Came back to flat, set up new library (yay!), headed West for food, and then went to the Electric Cinema to see Watchman. Great day.

arrived home at about 11.45pm and as I was walking to the flat, I saw great bellows of smoke coming out of the abandoned building a few doors down. There were firemen around, so I didn't really pay that much attention. Walking to the flat, the smoke was very thick and I needed to breath through my pashmina. Got into flat and breathed in the clean air. Mistake. Flat was full of smoke, as I'd left the small window in the toilet open. I thought it not sensible to go to sleep in a smoke-filled flat without finding out if said smoke was dangerous. Closed window and headed outside and met Pip and her husband (whose name has momentarily escaped me) who live in the flat next door to burning building. Was told by firemen not to go back to flat if full of smoke. Waited around for a while. Pip and husband were in dressing gowns, so popped back to flat (after checking with friendly police) and got a couple of coats for them. Met Parker, who lives above Pip and husband. Everyone was getting cold, so as I needed to check on the flat, made peppermint tea for all and, as flat was still smoke-ridden, resumed my place on street corner. We were pushed back quite a way across the road and the New Kent Road was closed. Parker's friend arrived from Wapping (where he'd been able to see the fire!). More waiting around and watching the fire. Went back into flat a couple of times to open windows on the side of the flat not receiving smoke. At about 1.30am, checked on flat again and still eye-watering so opened more windows on that side. Got whiskey for Parker, his friend, Pip, and husband. Kalhua for me. About 2.20, firemen came to tell Pip, husband and Parker that they could go into their flats to pick up things, and good news all round - no serious damage to either property. My flat has almost cleared of smoke now and will sleep with windows open. Firemen have confirmed that smoke is not dangerous (not chemical), so I am all completely safe.

going to bed now, as almost asleep. nice to meet some of the neighbours though.

UPDATE: Here's the Beeb report!