One Love Manchester concert

So sad, Northernlass. No words to express my sorrow.

Northernlass for you and anyone else on here touched by the tragedy. I just can't imagine what families and friends are going through.

I hope you don't mind me asking, but has someone been in touch with your friend to explain how she can get financial support from the fund set up for the families and friends of the victims? We never seem to hear how this kind of thing works for those involved in tragedies like this. I would hate to think people had to be 'proactive ' (for want of a better word) at a time when they need others to step up instead.

Yes it was sad, but it was a beautiful gesture by all the artists who just got themselves there. There were some tearful faces in the crowd and Ariana shed a few tears from time to time, but it was uplifting and healing to see young people just enjoying the music and the special atmosphere of the occasion. Ariana was the perfect person to bring all the stars together to perform to honour those who suffered and died and all who are still suffering of course. It's what she does best and she did it with a good heart. A beautiful girl with a lovely voice and the fans clearly adored her.

Wilmaknickersfit: Many thanks for your kind words. Yes, my friend's au fait with everything she needs to be.

Glad to hear that.

durhamjen my apologies as I didn't thank you for your kind words yesterday.

To have your child pre-decease you is dreadful and not in the usual order of things. But to lose a child to such a violent end must be completely devastating.

All terrorist attacks make me question my ability to detach people from their behaviours. Perhaps these attackers are nothing more than evil?

Howard Jacobson's words keep coming back to me "...At the last, it is not religion that is the root of all evil; it is certainty. And the secular can do certainty every bit as well as the religious". Faith without doubt is dogma. And dogma usually precludes rational discussion.

I have Muslim friends who say that there is nothing in the Qur'an to condone suicide. They feel ashamed that these attacks are carried out by - so called - Muslims. I feel for them too.

Mustn't forget all those still in hospital and many have suffered life-changing injuries too. Lots of young girls, and others, still in hospital, in pain, scarred, crippled.

I applaud the idea behind the concert and admire those who took part though I have to admit I did not enjoy any of the music. (My DS was watching.) Ariana seems to have a good voice but I found her rendition of 'Over the Rainbow' painful. We all have different tastes! I believe she has released it as a single and hope, nevertheless, that it raises lots of money to help the victims, especially the survivors whose lives have been dramatically changed in ways most of us can't imagine.