While we’ve been shivering and slip sliding away over the last number of days, the unimaginable tragedy of Los Angeles has been unfolding. Looking at the live pictures is rather like turning to the Old Testament and a description of hell fires. It’s mesmerising, the colours of the flames in the smoke, the clouds and the red sun. And then to see what is on the ground, especially the drone shots showing aerial views of the devastation. Unprecedented, historic, apocalyptic, wooden houses in this beautiful part of California burnt like tinder, a ‘grab and go’ bag at the front door, now smoke pollution brings a terrible health hazard. And it still goes on and apparently could do so for some time. Can you imagine watching the flames come closer and closer, the whine of the wind whipping them along, the embers flying into gardens and onto roofs. I was surprised that yesterdays Daily Mail didn’t mention ‘Apocalypse L.A’ until page 12 and featured the well known ‘stars’ who have been left without homes but are able to move into local up market hotels sipping their fancy drinks and taking their weight loss drugs. One said: ‘It feels like Titanic. We have the music, the cocktails, the lovely food, the fine linens, the piano player. But this awful tragedy is unfolding and people have lost everything and no one knows what they are going home to. It’s very sad.’ And Harry and Megan have visited and hugged which might be a comfort for some.
It’s all very well having money and status to make life manageable at least for these initial days, it only started last Tuesday after all. But what about the families who don’t have resources, friends to turn to, no transport, no shelter until they can find a refuge centre. There must be women in the last stages of pregnancy, elderly people with chest complaints being suffocated with the smoke, animals panicking, young people at home waiting for parents who can’t get to them, it’s remarkable that the death toll at the moment remains at 16 but with more poor people missing.. There are still several fires to be controlled, in the meantime they advance on other areas. And what next for people, no schools, no churches, no supermarkets, no doctors surgeries etc etc …… and this isn’t just for a few weeks, even months, rebuilding and settling insurance claims all takes time.
SENDING PRAYERS TO FRIENDS
All who know them are hoping that Anne and Gerry Egan and their family are safe. This couple were so well known and much loved when they ran Michele International hairdressing salon in Fountain Lane in Belfast, we had such fun and they were a generous couple. When I mentioned that my parents were about to celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary they insisted on opening the salon to them for whatever they needed, female family who travelled for the party were treated to a hairdo, my Dad was invited in to join the hilarity and it was a wonderful, a memorable morning that got us off to a brilliant start for a terrific weekend of celebrations. It was sad for clients when they decided to move to California to open a salon in Pacific Palisades however they left it in the capable hands of Denese McCluskey and they continue to be constantly in touch to hear how we we are all getting on. We know that the Los Angeles Micheles has been burned to the ground and we wait to hear what has happened to their home. They are in shock and once allowed they will be going back to see if their house is still standing, another friend’s family now know they have lost their home. Six days of destruction and heartbreak, despair and confusion. What will have happened by this time next week. I dread to think.
And a word of support to reporter Emma Vardy who until recently was based in BBC Belfast. She has painted a vivid description on the ground complimenting the camera coverage.
VOX POPS FROM SHIRLEY
“No wonder the traders in Belfast are complaining.” So writes Shirley Gault, a well know voice on local radio. “Went up today for the first time in years for a look around the shops, I have a blue badge as I can’t walk far and not very mobile, despite this not a space to be had anywhere and all because of bus lanes. Why so many, in fact why any?
“Past the City Hall and into Chichester Street only one lane to drive in? In such a wide street. Laughable, no wonder people avoid the city centre. After doing a complete circle and still no joy, headed for the motorway and home.” Shirley lives in Carrickfergus. “City Father’s, take another look around what used to be a prosperous city centre and please realise where you have gone wrong. Traffic used to move smoothly even before the stupid one way systems were commonplace and way before bus lanes and don’t say use public transport, firstly not always convenient and as for the rail network, well, don’t know who thought Central station was central. Central to what? Rant over, will just reminisce on how great it used to be.” Shirley adds: “John Stewart MLA could this please be mentioned when you reconvene?”
I too have asked our representatives to address this terrible situation but I don’t see any improvement. Perhaps we need to take a lead from the farmer’s and have a mass slow drive through Belfast.
Another experience from Charles: “I stopped shopping in Belfast after a traffic warden ticketed me for parking near a junction but refused to ticket the unbadged car just ahead in a disable bay. Warden admitted his bosses only wanted tickets on double yellow near junctions. My appeal was rejected.” And so money was made. Keep your phone charged and photograph such situations and get the wardens number.
Question.
On the subject of money, how come £23 million has been spent on the Maze site when nothing has been done during the last 25 years? How did ‘the body’ set up to develop a happy space we could share, spend the money? Most of us work to a budget and once the shopping is done check the till receipt. The public would like to see the till receipt and where that colossal amount of money went – in detail please. Some hope.
Heart Break
Although unsigned I want to acknowledge this plea from a single woman, one of many, who has fallen in love with a married man. “We’ve been working together for over a year and our friendship tipped over into a physical relationship. I know he’s married but not happily and he told me I made his life worthwhile and I believed him. We were due to meet the day before Christmas Eve but he didn’t turn up and I heard nothing from him. I texted him on Boxing Day saying I understood he was with his family but what about me? I was devastated when he said it was over, he’s decided to concentrate on his wife and family but he’ll aways have a soft spot for me. I’m shattered.”
I will call her Rose. Anyone in your situation Rose knew from the start of your attraction that he was married and you would have been foolish to think you were going to have any future together. I’ve no doubt he cared for you but you were providing a comfort he obviously wasn’t getting from his wife, the thrill of a secret love appealed to him, made him feel like the big man he obviously isn’t. To ignore you in this way is unforgivable. I often think a man who says he loves his wife and that his affaire meant nothing is the lowest of the low. It often happens with men in the public eye, it’s demeaning to the woman involved who often is lulled into a sense of security with gifts and sweet talk.
Some men need to feel the power of having a mistress but more often than not the mistress is expendable.
It’s a cruel world for you at the moment and it will be more so when you go back to work and have to face him. Telling you to be strong is pointless, telling you to fill your life with other interests is obvious, both are true. If you have a trusted friend confide in her or him, ask for help to fill the void that is left, keep busy with friends you probably have neglected over the last year, get out and about. Write your experience down as a short story, just get him out of your life Rose and your heart. If he comes asking forgiveness, laugh in his face and tell him where to go. I hope you will meet someone who is free to love you as you deserve.
BREAK A LEG
My friend James who is in his late 60s, slipped, broke his ankle and ended up in hospital. When he had a sneaky peek at his notes beside the bed he was horrified to see the instruction – Do Not Resuscitate. He let it be known in no uncertain terms that this was not appropriate and to take it off immediately!
Better days to come. Molly and Rosie make the most of the blue sky on a Donegal beach.
