I nearly stayed over last night in London after the late-ending day with Parliament.
Angus’ son Jeff is here, and so I woke up this morning glad that I got to stay home today with them both.
London buses are stopped.
London tubes are closed.
We can’t get any information, and all we want is the truth.
The phones are barely working due to the congestion.
Angus’ family has all checked in now-his sister-in-law was evacuated from one station only to take the tube straight into Edgeware Road, the station that became hell. She was evacuated again and is ok, stranded in London like so many others, looking for a way to get home, as the most of the trains aren’t running and London is for all intents and purposes closed.
Frantic attempts to reach my team one by one all morning-most of them come into London via Kings Cross and Liverpool Street, and the Dream Job office we generally use is indeed located in the heart of the financial district. One of my project managers was two streets away from the Tavistock bombing. He is ok, but in disbelief, and stuck in London. After shaky phone calls husky with disbelief and sadness from a few of my team, it has finally resulted in one message sent from one of my lead project managers: “Your entire team accounted for.”
And when I got that message, I buried my head in my hands and cried.
We have suspended all meetings in London for the next few days, and email is quiet as we just cannot believe what is happening.
Angus and I were supposed to be in London this afternoon with Jeff, just as Angus and I are supposed to be there tomorrow. I expect we won’t be there for a while now.
One week ago today I was on those exact tubes and trains through a lot of those very stations at the precise time that they were bombed today.
I can’t bear to leave the house.
I can’t believe our beautiful city has been attacked like this.
We can’t stop checking the news.
I just can’t….
|
|||||
|
Give us a vote?
|
94 comments to |
|
|||
|
Copyright © 2010 Everydaystranger - All Rights Reserved |
|||||
Helen, I thought of you immediately when I turned on the news this morning. Thank you so much for letting us know that you are safe and sound. What a shock. This is horrible. Stay safe, try not to watch the tele too much and give Angus and Jeff extra hugs and kisses. Life is precious. We are all thinking of you. It’s weird how much you mean to me and I’ve never even met you. You are a really special person.
I am so thankful that you and your team are safe.
as everyone else has said – I’m glad to know you’re okay and your family and team…
Glad to know you are safe. My prayers are with you and others in England.
London…
… the dawn came with a slow drizzle of rain here in Tennessee… and news that the World has been attacked again… my Wife woke me up around 4am this morning with the news of bombs rocking her Nation… phone…
I’m a new daily reader – I’ve even delved into the archives a bit. I enjoy your writing very much – and my first thought this morning was “I hope Helen et al are safe.”
I’m so relieved to see that you are, indeed, safe.
I immediately thought of you and thank God you’re okay.
There have been so MANY times I wished that I could hug you — but never more than right at this moment.
I am glad that you, your, family, and your co-workers are safe. We in America share your countries grief.
So very happy to hear from you….I am a lurker, but am horrified at this attack of a city I love and am so very happy to see you are well and unhurt.
So glad to hear you, your loved ones, & your team are ok. It is a shame anyone should go through what the London is now. We are here for you anytime you give us a shout.
I hate it that you have to experience what we felt over here in the States. Hate it that this fear and horror and downright madness is spreading disease-like with no signs of a cure. Thank you for posting, Helen, and letting us know you’re OK (well, as insofar can be expected, in any event).
The numbness will set in once all is quiet again. And that will be even more surreal than the disbelief and shock. Trust me on this (says she who had to drive past the Pentagon and through D.C. to get to work today, amid heavily armed cops patrolling our beloved, and thank heavens still intact, streets).
Helen, I have been thinking about you all morning, I am soo glad you and yours are ok, I am thinking of you..
I hate that this kind of craziness has happened again. Why innocent citizens are repeatedly targeted is beyond me, it is truly disgusting. I am so glad that you and your loved ones are safe; please know that just as you kept us in your thoughts and prayers nearly 4 years ago we keep you and the rest of those affected in ours.
I am so glad you and your loved ones are all right. I got through one sentence of a CNN story and thought, “Shit! Helen!” So thank you for posting this. It’s a big relief to see it here.
As to the rest, I don’t know what to say except that I am so sorry and I hope it doesn’t feel like for you what September 11 felt like for people here but I have a bad feeling it probably does and I wish it didn’t. I wish no one ever felt like that again ever.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you this day. I am so gald that you and yours were all accounted for and safe. What a tragic, tragic thing to have to deal with…
Its sad that things like this have to happen in order for people to pull off those rose colored glasses.
You are one of the first people I thought of this morning. So glad to hear you are not injured. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you in England.
I Remember
Over on Helen’s blog, in her comments, Cathy left this comment: I am a 9/11 survivor and I am here to give you the best advice I know: TURN OFF THE TUBE. Watching the scenes again and again will only add to the inevitable post-traumatic stress and it w…
i don’t know you but i found your words poignant. i was so angry when i heard the news bulletin. but i’m glad you are safe. we are stonger than they. they will not frighten us with their cowardly actions.x
I found you through Random Pensees`–Our thoughts and prayers are with you and yours today, as we know yours were with us on our terrible day. Please take care.
So glad to hear you and those you love and care for are safe. I thought of you when I heard the news on the way in to work this morning and remembered that you typically go into London on Wednesdays, not Thursdays and was a little relieved. Am more releived now that I’ve read your post. Take Care – hugs to you and Angus and Jeff.
Glad you and yours are ok. We thought of you, and worried. As with everyone else, my heart goes out to those precious few who were in the wrong place, wrong time today.
Thank you for taking time to post, Helen.
I’m glad that you’re okay. My prayers are with you.
I too thought of you and Angus all morning, and I’m relieved to hear you are safe.
So glad you and your loved ones are safe.
I’m another 9/11 survivor and I agree that turning off the news is the best thing to do right now. It just gets to be too much after a while.
Thinking of you and everyone there.
Just got home from work and heard the news. My first thoughts were “I hope Helen isn’t involved in any of that”. Glad to hear that you and your family (meaning Angus and Jeff) are safe. Also glad to hear that your coworkers are safe too.
Now let’s start shooting terrorists on sight.
Bless your heart and all of your loved ones hearts!!! Many thanks for posting; I was concerned for your safety since I heard the news.
You and yours will be in my thoughts,
Hugs and much love!
Thank goodness you’re okay!
I was trying to update my boss on what happened in London this morning, and before hitting CNN, I typed in your address, hoping to see you’d posted. I’m glad you eventually did, that you and yours are okay, but am utterly horrified that this has happened.
We share your rage and horror and sadness and shock, and we all have your back here, for what it’s worth.
Glad to hear you and your team are ok. I was in Egham (near Staines) on 9/11 and now I am in the US for this. Quite a feeling of disconnection and disbelief. So far everyone I have heard from is ok and only a few remain whom I have not been able to reach.
H,
I’ve been absent here for ages but couldn’t help but think of you and Angus all day today. I’m so glad to hear that you and all those you care about are OK!
Be well, little flame.
I’m so glad that you posted. All day I’ve been counting all of the people I’ve gotten to know and care about that may have been in harm’s way. Here in New York we can relate, the checking in of anyone who might have been hurt, the touching base, the lack of cell phone access, the sheer unbelievablility of it all. When all was said and done, somehow everyone knew someone who was affected. My husband still feels like he’s suffering from Post Traumatic Stress, definitely shut off the tv, especially in front of children. You are in shock and it’s ok to feel like this. Again I’m so glad that you are ok and that nobocy close to you was hurt.
I came across your blog a couple of days ago..this afternoon while I was cleaning my pool I thought about you and hoped that you were not anywhere near the bombings. The terror is horrible and I pray that things will be ok over there. Things here were horrible when 9/11 happened. I am in the military and every since that day our lives and jobs have changed so much. One day we can only hope that this world will be at peace.
Take care and I will check back soon.
Glad to hear that you are ok. Take care and be careful!
Thank God you and Angus and the kids and the team and everyone are all right.
Your beautiful, wonderful city and all who love it and all who call it home are in my prayers.
Like the others here, you were the first person I thought of, and I sm very relieved that you are ok. I am saying prayers for all the people there in London who are affected. Know that we love you, and wish for your safety….you, all your family there, and your team….
Hi, Helen
Thinking of you and hoping you are doing well. Please know you are in my thoughts and I am so glad you and Angus and Jeff are safe and sound. I know how you feel, I remember the feelings I had the morning of the WTC attacks…. the waiting to get loved ones and friends on the phone. It’s the worst feeling in the world. Please take good care of you and yours. Lots of hugs from Ohio. Jennifer
I’m so glad to read that you and yours are okay. And I’m so sad to know that so many others aren’t. It’s frightening and awful. Too similar to our 9/11. We’re praying for you all over there.
Sending thoughts and prayers across the miles from Australia. I went to church at lunchtime and lit four candles – one for you, Angus, Jeff and Melissa – to give thanks for you safety. xxx
Sometime reader, first time commenter here … I’m glad that everyone is okay. No one should have to go through this sort of thing.
Helen…I am so glad to hear you are all safe. I am still so shocked over this whole thing, I don’t know much else to say.
Stay safe, dear.
The Americans are with you. You have my sympathy. Praying that the people who did this is brought to justice….May God Bless the Brits.
Hi Paul, good to see your post and benediction:-)
Helen, I’m so relieved you and your team and loved ones are okay. It’s so hard to believe that anyone would be so evil as to attack London’s Underground and the wonderful double decker buses.
I was in London for work just a month ago, and I went through all those stations while exploring. I am lucky, all my British co-workers are safe and sound, too.
I was working out this morning when I started watching the news unfold. My mind jumped to you and wondered if you and your family were ok. My heart and prayers are with you. I am so glad you are safe.
Be well.