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Designers from everywhere had descended on the area. Lots of enormous cameras and those people without pointed their mobile phones upwards to record the event.

This is a building that can be seen from everywhere in London and it seems to have affected everyone. The building had the air of a craft having landed from an outer world, a modern day pyramid that had some super human quality and spiritual dimension.

Having lived and worked with all of the trucks and workmen and dirty streets for such a long time it was really refreshing to see the hoardings down, clean, white paving stones revealed and an area that we can be proud of rather than simply 'get through'.

When the inauguration hour arrived (10:15pm) the lights began, helicopters circled and everyone was looking upwards. Disappointingly the music could not be heard from where we were standing, directly at the foot of the Shard and from the TV coverage watched later in the night it seems that the bulk of the lasers were shone across the river for the benefit of north Londoners and those in the city.

As we wandered back through the streets cars were stopping and taxi drivers were jumping out to steal a view. I did sense that this would be the first of many Shard 'Spectaculars' designed to draw attention to, and sell occupancy of, this massive structure.

We popped into the Leather Exchange just before closing time to enjoy some final drinks and a lovely (if not small) cheeseboard to round up the night.