Last year I dreaded Christmas. In the last few months of the year, many sad things were happening, including deaths of people I knew and cared about. I decided I wasn't doing Christmas. I was not in the mood. I would stay at Stratford's new Premier Inn and work over Christmas.

Then I decided, I would write a note to my colleagues and provide them with fruit pies and drinks. I knew that some of them would have been glad to be getting paid double rate whist others would not have even wanted to be there! My gesture was designed to bring some cheer to the workplace, even if I was not feeling cheerful.

In any event, things did not go according to plan. I was asked to work the Christmas Eve night shift, at a location twenty minutes walk away from where I had expected to work, on Christmas Day.

I took my goodies to work with me. After my shift, I went straight to the workplace I had hoped to work at, on Christmas Day. I knew if I went to the hotel first, I wouldn't make it. I laid the staffroom table with the things I had bought.

I felt passionate about doing this because these staff were doing a potentially dangerous job, in the cold, on Christmas Day. They were there to protect the Olympic Park for the London 2012 Olympics.

My gift was gratefully received and the manager arranged for me to get a lift back to the hotel. I had a good breakfast, shower and long sleep.

When I woke up and reflected on my morning, I realised that I had in fact DONE Christmas. If Christmas is about giving, I really had done it. In my attempt to take my focus off my pain, I gave my colleagues the present of knowing, that if I couldn't physically work with them, I would encourage and think about them from my distance.

The strange thing about it is that I now have very fond memories of that Christmas. I believe Christmas 2011 will be my favourite Christmas for many years to come.

Merry Christmas everybody!

Okay so I said I haven't been out for a while. I did go out in London on Thursday night though so, after a famine of no posts, today you're getting two.

To tell the truth, I had no intention of writing a post about the place I visited on Thursday night because I was there as a guess at a friend's birthday party. However, I have to say it seems, a great night was had by all.

The place I visited was the Troy Bar in Hoxton Street, Shoreditch. The food was great and the atmosphere was amazing. The evening was hosted by the fabulous Lady Lex. She was really quite funny and able to put people at their ease for an open mic night backed by a reggae band. You can't beat live music and this music was real.

What was particularly nice was that people felt able to participate whether they considered themselves singers or not. The place felt relaxing at times and exciting at other times as people surprised the audience with their choices of songs and their talents.

Lady Lex assured us that this event happens every Thursday night and encouraged us all to come back on the Thursday after Christmas.

While I cannot promise that I will make it back there this coming Thursday. I do think I will visit again because I had a lot of fun.

If you like to be in a place of good vibes, maybe I'll see you there some time.

I'm so sorry it's been a long time since I posted on here. I actually worked at the Olympics and it was a long while before I went out any where. I've been busy trying to get a job to pay for all the exciting places I hope to visit in the coming year. I will be posting regularly as soon as I get in gear. Please bear with me.

If you would like to follow me on twitter, you can find my twitter page by clicking on the picture of The Queen Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben).

Have you been as glued to the London 2012 Olympics as I have? I've not been watching so much as taking in the atmosphere in Stratford and around London in general.

The question now is what can we do now that the Olympics are over? Well I've come across something that might be of interest to you if you are in England. I've found a wonderful little app that gives information about what is happening in London, and beyond, during the Olympics and Paralympics.

The best thing about it right now though, is that it also provides information about what is happening between these two great sporting and athletic events.

If you are looking for something to do between 13th and 28th August 2012, look no further than the 'London 2012 Official Join in App,' which you can download to your mobile.

Have a good time exploring London and the United Kingdom as a whole. You may even discover why William Blake referred to it as a 'green and pleasant land'.

Yesterday, the Olympic torch reached London and Boris Johnson, the mayor was not sure if we would come out to see it in large numbers. As it happens quite a lot of people have come out to witness the sight.

A lot of people in London are still not excited about the Olympics because they feel that they are not wanted. They have paid for it in their taxes but have received the worse tickets. Some did not receive any at all.

I believe that a lot of people are now out trying to see the Olympic torch relay because that is the only part of the Olympics they will be able to participate in. That is a shame. I remember the excitement I felt for the Olympics as an 8 year old child.

Boris Johnson is right about one thing though. This is our once in a lifetime opportunity to have the Olympics in our country and in our town so we might as well make the most of it.

I for one, intend to do my utmost to ensure I get to see some of the relay before Friday!

If you would like to check out the route of the Olympic torch through London, click onto the running man beside this post.

Today was an exciting day in a way. Athletes have started arriving for that well-known event which begins on July 27th.

Had it not been for the items that were high up on the news agenda, I think that the news today would have been very different. It would have been all about the weather. Yes, it was raining yet again today and I was left wondering what had happened to the summer and the sun I thought I would be basking in now.

Luckily, I found something to take my mind off the weather. Would you like to know what it was? Click on the picture of the woman in the rain to find out.

Hi,
Welcome to Beverley's London. I am a true Londoner. I have lived in London all of my life and have resided on both sides of the river Thames. I think London is a great city and I hope that you like it as much as I do. Over time, I will share with you what I love about the place I call home.