Objectively, this is an amazing piece of architecture: it’s god-knows how many storeys high and looks very sleek.

But can you imagine living there, on the 18th floor, looking out over a building site, with trains roaring past?  What’s more it’s right next to a busy road, and bang in the middle of a down-market housing estate.  

And the cost of buying there?  A snip at £200,000 for a small two bedroom “apartment”.

The building may look modern and stylish now, but give it a few years … By 2012, it will most definitely be past its prime.

If I had £200,000 to spend on a home … you can bet your life I wouldn’t be investing in the Stratford Eye.

The sky was blood red, with large splashes of yellow; the photos don’t do it justice.

And obviously sunsets in the city are not as nice as sunsets on the beach, but this was pretty spectacular nonetheless.

Just back from meeting my friend I. for a coffee and some chocolate cake, before she heads home to Sri Lanka for the holidays.  It’s a bit of a pre-Christmas tradition and it was great to see her.  We also walked around Stratford in the fog and took these photos …

Hope you all have a fabulous Christmas with lots of R&R in the company of your nearest and dearest!