... Not because I don't want her around me, but because the break and an extra day on top will be good for her after all that's happened this week. Most of this posting is dominated by the very tragic event that occurred in Woolwich last Wednesday.
I lived on the road where the Barracks is close by and where the Primary School is and indeed attended Mulgrave Primary School myself. This very sad incident is tragic enough but when you have an attachment to the area, I think it brings on a whole new emotion. However, I can in no way know how all this must feel for Drummer Lee Rigby's widow, family, friends and all those at Woolwich Army Barracks. I've shed buckets of tears myself which Lillie, a close friend and a client of mine have witnessed. So, God only knows how those close to Lee are suffering.
On the afternoon, about half an hour before it happened, Lillie and I were on our way home, travelling down Ha Ha Road on the bus and saying how lovely it was to see the Army and its horses using the previously used 2012 Olympics sanded, fenced area for training the horses as we passed. Lillie said how cool it was that they were using fences for the horses and riders to jump over within the space. We were both in good spirits and I mentioned how I love the Barracks and all that I've seen there ever since a very small child. Our school was invited to a Silver Jubilee event all those years ago. So, that's how far back my history goes. Lillie enjoys hearing about my childhood and about a place she has come to know well.
We had been home over an hour I think. I had spoken to my son and I remember it wasn't a short call. Lillie and I also had our baths and had just settled down. Lillie was watching something on the tv and I had just logged in to Facebook. That's when I first heard about a soldier being attacked in Woolwich and that the police were on the scene. The details were sketchy and all sorts of conflicting info was being shared on Facebook. I switched on Sky News. All I can say is, what I was viewing was shocking, confusing and then it dawned on me exactly where in Woolwich it was happening.
I do not want to go in to how I reacted then because it was a painful experience, that Lillie unfortunately witnessed. And I don't want to EVER feel like that again. What I can say is that my thoughts have been with Lee's family and friends ever since. I have been trying to get a grip on how I've been feeling. Some friends have been absolutely great with listening to me and yes hearing me cry. I've also discovered that some of my friends who lived on the same road as me and/or went to the same primary school as me have been shocked by all this too.
Sadly, there have been some comments about the area and I have defended the old place I have an attachment to. More than an attachment, I experienced some of the best times of my life living in Woolwich. Yes, there have been some not so good times too, but that can be said in all areas. But, what no one can take away from me is that I was a part of a great community and I am so proud that Woolwich residents, workers and people from surrounding areas are all pulling together again. I am thankful for some of the personal messages I have received while defending an area that is much loved. I didn't want to be put in that situation as we should all be thinking about Lee and his family and friends.
Unfortunately, this isn't possible when there has also been a back lash going on against the Muslim community. I am disgusted to hear so many horrible things being said and I can say also from people I have known and know. It certainly has been a time where my head has truly been filled with non stop talking. I've even had to take the action of deleting people from my Facebook friends list and even considered others too. I was also deleted from one for sharing my opinion which I was told was embarrassing to the person because of the person's friends. Good I'm glad I was deleted and have done some deleting, I do not wish to be friends with bigots and yes xenophobic types.
My thanks extend to the people who picked me up from what I was feeling. I was given a Facebook friend's number to talk to anytime and told by some others close to me to just focus on what I know is the true and rightful way to behave. And I've listened to these people and feel much better for doing so. But, it has not stopped me from spreading the word of peace, compassion, understanding and empathy.
I hope I've educated at least one person with sharing what I call a 'bigger picture' story on Facebook. A piece I so relate to and is how I see things. It was written by another Blogger http://scriptonitedaily.wordpress.com/2013/05/23/woolwich-terror-we-must-resist-having-our-enemies-constructed-for-us/ So, if what is read by more people opens their mind a little more and stops some people from jumping on the bandwagon and just think first, it may end up preventing another act of violence, whether verbally, physically and fatally against another innocent human being. At the end of the day, there are always two sides no matter how painful one side can be and feel.
As for Lillie, I've had to sit down with her and discuss this tragic and violent incident that has occurred so close to home and to an innocent young man, who had his whole life ahead of him with his wife, two year old son, his family and indeed his career with the British Armed Forces. Lillie clearly understands that this incident was horrific, but she has also learnt not to start pointing the finger at a particular group and lay the blame with them. She also knows that more and more info is coming to light and so she is learning that a knee jerk reaction and following what unfortunately some people have said is not the answer. I am so very proud of her.
Despite my feeling in regards to these knee jerk reactions, I understand that people are angry as well as upset. But hey, that anger and upset is not just within a particular groups' hearts. This has impacted on so many people from all walks of life. I would like to think and hope so much that unity can win through and that there is no more divisions or influence to divide our communities and indeed the UK. We all live under the same sky. Let's lead the way for a better future instead.
Lillie will be home on Tuesday, I have spoken to her everyday since last Friday afternoon. She has been having fun and that makes me smile. After all that's what she as a child deserves and should be entitled to. My last sentence applies to all children across the whole world. They should be sheltered from harm. This would continue on to the next generations to come. What a lovely ideal that would be.
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