The day our world changed forever.....

Friday 15th March 2019

will be forever etched in the minds of all New Zealanders

as the day our country lost it's innocence.

Until this horrific day we all felt safe and secure....

probably because of our geographical isolation

compared to Europe and the Americas.

We were that safe haven

in the Antipodes

downunder

at the bottom of the world

untouched by the horrors of a pre-meditated massacre

...until terrorism visited 

Christchurch

a small city in the South Island

that reminds many of England
with the beautiful
Hagley Park.

A place where we thought we were

out of harm's way amid such scenes as
punting on the Avon River.

Looking back at other terrorist attacks

who could ever forget

the 9/11/2001

in 

New York City and Washington, D.C.

~

7 July 2005

The horrific underground bombings

in

London.

~

And the one that especially touched our family

the Charlie Hebdoe attack
January 2015

in

Paris.

At the time our daughter and her little family 
were still living in France. 
Thank goodness they were no longer living in Paris
but had settled in a sleepy little village
in the french countryside.
You can read my post here
~
Please pray for the Christchurch families who  have
lost their Father or Mother
son, daughter, brother or sister
Grandfather or Grandmother
Uncle, Aunt, cousin, friend or neighbour.
~
Keep close to your families dear readers and
every day tell them how much you love them.

Take care and

be kind to one another

Merci à bientôt


Shane

Oh Paris......

Translated the words on the candle read

"You Will Not Kill Our Freedom"

It was left on the pavement

near the scene of the senseless terrorist attack 

 at the Bataclan Theatre in Paris. 

The newspaper's chilling headline translates

"This time it's War"



Words simply cannot describe our feelings
about these horrific happenings.

As my regular readers know
our daughter and her family live in France.

We spoke to her when we heard the news
and she told us everyone is on edge.
The feeling in France is that their border security
has been far too lax in the past.

From what I've heard and read in the news
it seems that Monsieur Hollande
has now taken the necessary steps to address this.
Sadly this is the second such attack on Paris
in 10 months.
I posted about the Charlie Hebdo massacre here

New Zealanders held prayer vigils in towns and cities
across our country
lighting candles and
praying for the 129 people killed
and the 400 plus people injured.

The Auckland Sky Tower
and War Memorial Museum are lit up
in Red, White and Blue in solidarity and respect
for the people of
France

I created this prayer image for my post

following the January terrorist attack in Paris.

Again I ask you to pray for the safety

of my family and every family in France.

Be kind to one another

Merci à bientôt

Shane