Zooming in along the M40 this morning, I was taken by a ticklesome urge for a change. Instead of thrusting straight into the heart of the City (well, Angel, at least) along the Inner Ring, I took a left at Hanger Lane, and headed round the top, dropping down via the A1. This took me through Archway, Holloway and Highgate - all with various faded memories of occasional youthful sojourns. The most spectacular sight though was all new - somehow, I'd never seen the view over the City from just north of the Arch bridge. It was about 7:30, with the sun rising in the East. The Barbican towers bathing in a dreamy, golden dust bowl. What a sight - there's probably some similar scene (in LotR, perhaps) where the travellers round a bend and are stunned by the glorious vision spread before them. Anyway, that's how it felt. What a way to start the day.

London really is the most wonderful place to work - capable of surprising you and moving you, if you just dig a little deeper.

Of course, it took an extra 30 mintues to get to work, but that's the cost of experimentation.