Journal Entries
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London feeling nervous?
Posted Jul 28, 2005
Three weeks after the first London bomb attacks, and just one week after the second attempts, I wasn't entirely surprised by the heavy police presence at train and tube stations this morning.
It seems I'm not alone. One rather revealing conversation overhead on my way in to work:
"Loads of police around this morning."
"Well, it's Thursday, isn't it?"
"Yes, but it'll be next week, won't it? It's every other Thursday."
There seems to be an expectation by Londoners that there will be more attacks. We negate the fear by making light of it. By discussing the likelihood of a terror attack in the same way as discussing the likelihood of a thunderstorm, you take away its power to intimidate. Bravo, London!
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Latest reply: Jul 28, 2005
Paradise?
Posted Jul 27, 2005
On the Tube this morning, I noticed a headline in the paper: "He said he'd get 80 virgins in paradise". Apparently, this was what one of the London suicide bombers was expecting as reward for his actions.
Leaving aside his other reasons and motivations, I couldn't help being somewhat appalled by this. Are we (humans, I mean) really so shallow that our idea of the ultimate reward in paradise is 80 virgins?
Not for me, thanks.
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Latest reply: Jul 27, 2005
French class
Posted Jul 26, 2005
Yesterday I had my penultimate French class of term. In my teens, that phrase would have filled me with joy but today it makes me rather sad.
At school, I didn't much care for French. My only experience of the actual country was a brief school day trip to Bologne, where my faltering attempts to speak the language were greeted with patronisingly perfect English from the locals. Although I was vaguely aware that 'having a language' was a good thing, I had no personal need to speak the language, so I made little effort (and frequently got told off for gossiping in the back row).
Now, however, things have changed. We have a house in France, which we visit regularly, and have made friends - most of whom, unsurprisingly for a tiny village in the mountains, do not speak English. So I have dusted off my English-French dictionary and started taking classes.
The difference is that now I have not only the need, but the desire, to learn French. And I'm afraid to say that I've turned into something of a swot. I never miss a class if I can possibly avoid it, I do my homework, and I try hard to use the new grammar and vocab that we've learned as soon and as often as I can. I'm now the annoying kid at the front who always sticks their hand up whenever the teacher asks a question.
It's embarrassing. But at least I can talk to the neighbours...
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Latest reply: Jul 26, 2005
The Ashes - first Test
Posted Jul 25, 2005
So we (England) lost the first Ashes Test. With bells on. It all started so promisingly when we got Australia all-out for 190 by tea on the first day. Alas, it was all downhill from there.
Of course what *really* annoys me is the fact that I'm still bothered about it a day later. It means that I have well-and-truly been sucked into Himself's cricket-obsessed world. I even found myself reading the sports pages in the paper earlier.
Then again, what food-lover can resist a game that officially stops for 'tea'?
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Latest reply: Jul 25, 2005
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AliBaba
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