Good morning Michael and all GN's from a sunny and slightly breezy morning in North Yorkshire. Well are you sitting comfortably? Then I shall begin the saga of yesterday. It will be in several bits ,as I still dont trust the wretched thing not to disappear into the ether, just when I have written lots. I have been awake for ages but oh dear, I was in need of the human version of "WD40 and the nearest to that is the shower, which on days like this have to be much longer than normal, where it is being used as a way of loosening up, rather than just to get clean.
Well much to tell, but I first want to remember 60 years ago and the terrible Aberfan disaster. The memory of that day may fade into the background over the years, but I cannot forget the dreadful day, the feeling of wanting to get straight in the car and go and help, but knowing I could do nothing useful. The pictures of everyone working so hard to try and rescue children. The miners who were doing the job they knew best but with such urgency, and desperate for a chance to save a child. Watching them working nonstop and until they were ready to drop, and their place being taken by the next man. It is as real to me today as it was then. Everyone did what they could, but you felt that there was so little you could do. Later we gave concerts and raised money and did whatever we were able to do, and in every concert at one point we would sing Mfanwy and the tears would pour down as we sang. God bless them all, and especially those children who survived, but have lived with the knowledge of that day, and have told us how they remained affected by this all their lives. That they didnt know why they survived and sisters brothers and friends did not. Those dearly loved who have not grown old , but whose memory is still that promise of playing together at play time, getting the skipping ropes out, which were never used. In all the many tragedies, both large and small that I recall, the Aberfan remains one of the most vivid in my memory. I can feel now that first moment that the news was broadcast, the sick feeling and sorrow. So today we pray for all of those people , those who died, and those who have had the burden of surviving and learning how to live with this knowledge, and that always wondering why they survived and their classmates in the next desks didnt. May they have found some peace and that we remember to kiss our family as they leave home, so that they take our love with them, whatever the day may bring. May we all remember that however annoying or upsetting our family is , that at the bottom is love for each other. May you all have a blessed sunday and treasure every moment.
