They got us, and we coped.

All the casualties have now been hospitalised and in most cases released. Reports have come in of lost limbs, terrible burns, generic blast injuries, but very few deaths.

Eyewitnesses, while surely in shock, have been calm - almost matter-of-fact about the attack - one man, sitting on the back seat of a small paramedic car with a big pressure bandage held to the side of his head was almost dismissive: "I heard a loud explosion, like a bomb went off, then I was lifted off my feet and stuff"

"And stuff"! He was caught in a terrorist attack, bombed off his feet, came withing feet of death or much worse injury and he describes it as "I was lifted off my feet and stuff". Amazing!

Blair seems suitably traumatised - and actually quite impressive with the other seven world leaders ranged behind him, Bush looked and sounded as nonplussed and ditzy as usual and the people of London have reacted with stoicism and quiet determination.

What a vast difference between this and the other attacks around the world. Regulars will know I've got no time for national pride, but you know what, this once, I do feel some pride, for the capacity of Brits to take this on the chin.