The suave mix of European-style boutiques and the turkish approach to city planning in the shopping haven that is Istanbul's Taksim district were having a pleasing effect on my sensory inputs when the text's started flooding in.

"Are you OK?"
"Hope you're OK?"
"Text me back to let me know you are safe."

Immediately, i'd assumed that something had happened in Istanbul. The last few trips out here had resulted in me getting caught up in earthquakes of great magnitude. But then I'd worked out that the people who had texted me didn't know i was abroad and furthermore they were from international friends and colleagues.

It lasted a second, but i can truthfully say that it felt like time had stood still upon the realisation that something had happened in London.

Channels of digital data unavailable to me (lack of internet cafes) and the mobile network seemed to have all but disappeared. I just suddenly felt totally alienated. The overriding feeling was that I wanted to leave this foreign land and come straight back home. To be with the people that I work, play and live around.

My comments and thoughts about what actually transpired are muddled, ridden with emotion and irrelevant at this point. Needless to say, sullen looks and pensive moods prevailed for the rest of the day. Prayers for the grieving, sympathy to those affected.

In the meantime, i can only post up a picture of where my headspace is currently at right now. The collision of speed and colour that is Kadikoy port in Istanbul. For audio accompaniment stick on 'Kinshaha Express' by Richard H. Kirk (off his recently reviewed 'Earlier/Later' album)

A good twelve hours after the event and how do I feel? Like I want to leave this foreign land and come straight back home.

For more words read the following (I'll keep updating as I get more articles)