February 2012 The New Year has come and gone and we saw it in upstairs in John Bootes' and Fernando's flat.  After the first few fireworks the smoke made it easier to watch the display on TV.  Stephen and his family came to spend Christmas in Olney, so much planning went on, garden lights were laid out, menus planned and Mathew is photographed here with Hannah on Christmas Day.  In London the weather has been sharply chilly, and St Pauls looks good from the balcony. A number of our friends have ailments, common enough in our age group, but one, Paul Guerra, has developed a brain tumour and after surgery is having radiotherapy.  Here he is with Joyce

This site is about

• The Barbican, the Barbican Centre and the neighbourhood facilities, is now Grade II listed.  It is about 50 years since the first ideas were proposed to develop the bomb-damaged site.  The 12.5 million face-lift to the public areas has been completed, but changes continue, with the opening of flats in Frobisher Court, development of the Heron Tower on the site of the old fire station, and the movement of two cinemas.

• The views from the towers are great and from the balcony one can see a panorama  including St. Paul's and new office buildings as well as the London Eye and the Houses of Parliament.  Within walking distance are modern office buildings by virtually all of the finest architects of the day.  The newest building to appear is the skeleton of the Shard.

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• The Barbican flat

  the interior of the Barbican flat

• The home in Olney

• Family and friends

• Map of the Barbican