Manchester Terrorist Attack..!
If you're not friends with me on any other social media... I AM SAFE! Yes, I know you'll assume that I'm a massive Ariana Grande fan but I wasn't at the Manchester Arena when this happened:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-england-manchester-40007967
The feeling was similar to when we attended Garbage at Manchester Academy and came out and found that the Paris Bataclan had been attacked mid-gig, you can't believe that individuals who that very day were walking the streets amongst us and then reduced to a pile of bloody limbs, by some absolute abortion, pushing nonsense religious extremism.
I went to the vigil for the victims last night, the thing is, it does play on your mind, it is close to home, the Arena is less than 2 miles from our house. You do now visualise what would happen if someone came through the door of the pub or venue with a knife or a gun or a bomb and let rip, on the way in last night, I wondered if it would happen again, particularly with other folks being arrested during the day (including someone on Carlton Road, where we used to live on till last year)
The vigil, which was surprisingly brief but very well attended and included this poem:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=josaDi9ZBvE
Which left many people emotional. As did the Sikh group who handed out free water on a hot day and received many shaken hands and hugs as a result. It was a beautiful occasion.
As regular gig goers, it affected us even more than standard Mancunians, Toni was anxious about a repeat performance from yesterday and didn't go plus Jim left after the vigil but me, Stevo, Lisa, Jamie, Rachel (as well as her sister and fella) and Alex stuck about for a few drinks in another venue that stages gigs, The Tiger Lounge.
It proved to be very healthy, we all revealed the dark fear that we have imagined what it was like to be there last night or if it were to happen in the pub we were in, it was almost group therapy, further proof that we are stronger together.
It makes me certainly empathise with people in places like Syria and Iraq, who are subjected to this on a regular basis. It plays with your thoughts, lingers in the dark corners of your brain and you contemplate death more than you really should.
Much more to come on this probably but I'm short on time this evening too.
So, in defiance of the terrorists, I am off into Central Manchester to watch Manchester United play Ajax, to meet some friends, drink a few beers and talk freely and openly; which is exactly what they don't want me to do.
Stay safe people and if the exceedingly unlikely happens, remember that I want you all to love, not hate.