Photo: Rose for Thomas

The Memorial is best at night. There aren't the tourists and the schoolkids, and the constant conversations about mortgages and pop stars. You can be here alone with the odd messages and crinkled flowers, without the traffic roaring by. The names won't apeak to you of course, but they do make their suggestion, particularly about this war the granite commemorates: what a useless loss of energy and potential, how many names lost for causes nobody will ever celebrate? This rose was left for Thomas, a few days before, but it is a gift for every visitor.