One bad thing, many good

[brutti_ma_buoni]

It's July 7, so we're remembering. Seven years now, since 52 people died in co-ordinated bombings on London transport. I wrote almost my first meaningful post on LJ that day, shaken but unsurprised. I didn't know then how lucky I'd been - I'd never really believed that anyone I knew could have been caught up in it, but I now know that some

Comments

[sparrow2000]

It's surreal to think about it being seven years ago. I can remember it so clearly. At that time I used to travel to London a lot for work and whenever I stayed overnight, I'd always walk through Russell Square on my way from the hotel to the office. I remember I was due to be at meetings at the South Bank on the 8th and when we heard the news about the bombings, being told to cancel my plans and stay in the north.

Back to the present, these are really lovely photos and actually make me feel just a little homesick. I love the idea of the dancers just sinking back into the grass when they'd finished

[brutti_ma_buoni]

Yes, it feels very recent to me too. I was at work, where I still work, so it's very much still my life. (Though I was in the process of moving out of a flatshare which was turning bad, and I remember my flatmate offering to drive from Islington down to collect me in Kew if I couldn't get home. We were barely speaking at that point, but it wouldn't have occurred to him not to offer.)

The dancers were rather wonderful in the setting of such a very English meadow and park. I've got a lot of pictures with their backs to me, but they were very much in our faces, interacting at times. The ending was a masterpiece. You can imagine they bounced back up to take their bow pretty quickly though!

I can complain about the weather if it'll make you feel better. *g*

[sparrow2000]

I can complain about the weather if it'll make you feel better. *g* Chuckle.

It's funny, people over here still complain about the weather. For the first couple of years when I heard them, I just had to say, don't be ridiculous, at least you get a proper summer here with guaranteed sunshine. But summer was late starting this year and didn't really get under way properly until this week because we were on the wrong side of the jet stream and we were moaning like crazy, just like everyone else. I guess we've been assimilated! *g*

[kazzy_cee]

It doesn't seem that long ago - 7 years! I wasn't working in London at the time (working locally) but Mr Cee was, and fortunately he missed everything as he came home early that day so he was OK, but for a while I couldn't get hold of him which was worrying. RIP all those killed.

I love the dancers :) How very eccentric..

[brutti_ma_buoni]

I know! I feel like so little has changed since in some ways.

I was at work out in Kew, and I knew most people wouldn't be in the centre except my mum, but as soon as I heard when the bombs went off I knew she wouldn't be affected as she only travels off peak. So I was comparatively relaxed, especially as the office was full of panicking girls and most of our managers weren't able to get in to work. I was being very sensible at people, and only came over all wobbly on my way home.

[rebcake]

What a lovely park. And what a great idea, frolicking children in the meadow and forest. How unusual! *iz sad*

I also usually suspend my cynicism when I see The Youth being active and uncynical. Though MiAmor has walked out on many a school play, I assure you (never with McDiva performing, of course).

Anyway, stay safe and sane as the hordes descend!

[brutti_ma_buoni]

It is lovely, and I should go more often. Especially as the 2 mile walk home is pleasant enough to make me bother to do it the healthy way instead of hopping on a bus.

I don't think anyone dropped out of the audience at all, which is pretty impressive considering skulking off into the park would have been simple. A huge amount of goodwill and visible enjoyment will get you over a lot of slightly ropey performance.

[curiouswombat]

It seems quite amazing that it has been 7 years. I remember it on LJ - it's when this icon came from - I can particularly remember a lot of the Americans who didn't really know the Brits very well kind of gushing sympathy at us all en mass - and then not knowing what to make of the people here and on the news saying 'Huh! Call that a terrorist attack - we've been attacked by proper terrorists we have, and this lot are a bunch of amateurs!'

I do love the idea of the children dancing you all on, for a walk in such a cool place.

[brutti_ma_buoni]

Yeah, I remember being all 'I grew up with the IRA, mate' at wellwishers. For it was so. I had coffee at Victoria with a very good friend on about 9th July, and we discussed what her obit should say, just in case (her husband promised not to call her 'my rock' - she's a journo and hates the cliche. I think 'she made a smashing lasagne, even if she could be grumpy at times' was his eventual in-case tribute). What are you going to do, after all? Not be like my non-London distant cousins who won't come into town because of the terrorists, that's for sure.

Though looking back at my journal I can see that after the second attempted wave I did start to get a bit freaked. Oh well. Stiff upper lips may slip at times.

[thismaz]

7 years. My goodness. I knew nothing about it until the evening, I still don't know how. But I remember watching on the news, all the people walking home because there was no public transport and feeling so proud of them, which is really kind of silly. But I have tears in my eyes, now, too.

Those are wonderful photos of a beautiful park.

Happy anniversary.

[brutti_ma_buoni]

I heard about 9/11 about six hours late, having handed in my thesis and gone off for a celebratory shop. Sometimes, life doesn't stop for tragedy, until it does, and you end up in front of the TV with everyone else, tears in your eyes.

It was a good day, in all sorts of ways.