July 7, 2005
what’s important…..
Obviously being not only British but human puts a day like this in perspective - time is late at this moment and bed is beckoning - but I will stop to say this:
When news broke on the bbc news the first thing I did was ring Anna’s work to make sure she was Ok - when I spoke to the receptionist and she said ”I’ll put you through” all I could say was ”Thank fuck for that” - later I learned Cassie was in Italy - Tom had the week off (he works above one of the tube stations bombed ) - Stuarts family was fine - in the end everyone I knew was OK - apart from Masher who was in the Kings Cross carriage - burnt hair and cuts and bruises - he’s in hospital now - but Barnes says he’s OK - physically - it was freaky as no mobile or email systems were really working to get through at first - the news suggested it was injuries and transport gridlock - an attack at the mechanism of London itself rather than a body count - but still not knowing for sure was terrifying - I’ve never lost anyone from my circle of friends - when the bottom must drop out of existence and you feel hollow and helpless.
I wasn’t surprised when I heard the news - eventually this would happen - all I wanted to know was how bad - anything compared to September 11th would rip the soul from our country in the same way as the Twin Towers did America - someone I knew would be gone - our country scarred forever in the same way - I don’t feel relief exactly, don’t get me wrong - but ever since September 11th I’ve been waiting and the underground was the way I thought they’d do it - not Heathrow - not the houses of parliament - not the London eye - the underground is part of the inherent heart of London and it is not really manned to the hub with security or protection - buy your ticket with thousands of others and jump off at your stop - it is an important and easy target for those that wish to bring the fear we knew was coming.
And what I see when the dust settles could of been so much worse - which is no comfort to those killed or those that have lost someone - any attack is a terrible thing - but it’s like a tidal wave you see coming rather, than one you’ve got your back to - and our people stood strong today - our public services stood strong today - our leader stood strong today.
When news broke on the bbc news the first thing I did was ring Anna’s work to make sure she was Ok - when I spoke to the receptionist and she said ”I’ll put you through” all I could say was ”Thank fuck for that” - later I learned Cassie was in Italy - Tom had the week off (he works above one of the tube stations bombed ) - Stuarts family was fine - in the end everyone I knew was OK - apart from Masher who was in the Kings Cross carriage - burnt hair and cuts and bruises - he’s in hospital now - but Barnes says he’s OK - physically - it was freaky as no mobile or email systems were really working to get through at first - the news suggested it was injuries and transport gridlock - an attack at the mechanism of London itself rather than a body count - but still not knowing for sure was terrifying - I’ve never lost anyone from my circle of friends - when the bottom must drop out of existence and you feel hollow and helpless.
I wasn’t surprised when I heard the news - eventually this would happen - all I wanted to know was how bad - anything compared to September 11th would rip the soul from our country in the same way as the Twin Towers did America - someone I knew would be gone - our country scarred forever in the same way - I don’t feel relief exactly, don’t get me wrong - but ever since September 11th I’ve been waiting and the underground was the way I thought they’d do it - not Heathrow - not the houses of parliament - not the London eye - the underground is part of the inherent heart of London and it is not really manned to the hub with security or protection - buy your ticket with thousands of others and jump off at your stop - it is an important and easy target for those that wish to bring the fear we knew was coming.
And what I see when the dust settles could of been so much worse - which is no comfort to those killed or those that have lost someone - any attack is a terrible thing - but it’s like a tidal wave you see coming rather, than one you’ve got your back to - and our people stood strong today - our public services stood strong today - our leader stood strong today.
I was proud to have come from my country today in a way - but more so than that I was eternally grateful those I cared about are Ok and fucking gutted for anyone lost I didn’t know as well.
Spo | July 7, 2005
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