Marmoulak [The Lizard] 2004 - Part 2

I had just seen the film two hours ago. It is really a finely crafted satire, that threads delicately, between 'taking the mickey' out of the mullahs, and a soulful and engaging drama of redemption. It did a lot of things without being overdone, and it tells a very plausible story, where I recalled an acquaintance of mine once did.

I remembered in Pekan, in 1981, when we did measured drawings as a group of architecture students. One of the guys although a bit older than us, looks much older, and he had a spot of beard as well. He decided to wear one of those red and white long head scarfs into a semi turban and a white flowing robe for Friday prayers. He told us that, after the prayers, people at the congregation went to him to shake his hands, literally, went out of their way towards him. A few even kissed his hands.

Back to the film. Even a con artist cum thief or anyone for that matter, with the right garb, the confidence, and some oratory skills could convince people that they are the real deal. A religious leader. But I always think the garb and shall we say, outer form is the first impressionable 'pull' that convince people.

I leave you with some more interesting websites on the film:

Tiscali Film Review

Persian Journal

Marmoulak [The Lizard] 2004 - Part 1

I am in the middle of doing my 2nd chapter and it is not easy. People probably wondering why PhD is so hard, and I tell you why, as now I know why. The writing part of PhD is hard because you need to get the point and elaborate in your own words. You are actually trying to summarize what you read and what you find and summaries of sentences make up paragraphs of summaries (got me?) and from one paragraph to another they have to flow to make a coherent (note) story.

It's like this. Try writing a story from your own words (that may be easy) but try writing a story about a topic (say, pedestrian crossings) based on 3 or 4 different people saying about that topic. Okay, that's one paragraph, try doing 50,000 words! (One paragraph could be 50 words). How many words can you make to write about pedestrian crossings anyway? And, you have to find new things to say about it based on one or more research method/s. Come to think of it, you might just get a Masters in Philosophy only. So, how to get a PhD? I got to figure that out... that's why it's difficult.

Actually, what I want to share today is not about PhD but about the film which I am going to see tonight. It's an Iranian film called Marmoulak, meaning 'The Lizard' It was banned in Iran after being shown for awhile because it was a satire on the ulamak (religious leaders), who did not take kindly to the story. It's a comedy (hence, satire), where a petty thief decided to pose as a mullah to escape jail and it became too much when the people wanted him to be their leader. Well, I am looking forward to see the film.

With all these issues on Muslim Leadership in the UK recently, I am interested to see this film, from the Iranian perspective. So, I hope to give my view on it later. But for the time being, I am sharing something from a film review website.

Here is a review by Michael Hayden,

"...Released in Iran to a whirlwind of protest that made Christian America's reaction to Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ look like a Sunday school scuffle, The Lizard had been hugely popular with the public and broken box office records before the government decided to pull the film under intense pressure from the influential Islamic clergy. The appealing comic set up may give a hint as to why it caused such outcry. Reza (Parvis Parastouie) is a petty thief who escapes jail by posing as a mullah. When he has to stay in disguise for longer than he expected, he accidentally becomes the revered leader of a smalltown mosque, bringing people flooding in with his on the hoof sermons featuring sexual innuendo and references to 'brother' Tarantino's Pulp Fiction. While clearly satirical, The Lizard is never overly cynical, and, with Parastoui's turn, contains a comic performance curiously reminiscent of, and indeed worthy of comparisons to, Eric Morecombe or Les Dawson. It's a million miles, then, from the serious artistic statements of a Kiarostami or a Makhmalbaf for which Iranian cinema is renowned, but that just makes it all the more refreshing..."

Andrew King

Check this out. Quirky humour and art. Using acrylic on canvas and boards, Andrew King creates snippets of humour out of clear, geometrical, tectonic, and defined caricatures. Really inspiring stuff here.

The information provided below were taken from Andrew King's website.

Andrew King Studio
Born and raised in Kingston, Ontario, Andrew moved to Ottawa in 1991 to study Industrial Design at Carleton University. During this time, he contributed to the Ottawa Citizen's comics page with a weekly strip entitled "Off The Wall" which was published from 1993 to 1997. A number of his comics were printed in newspapers across North America through King Features Syndicate. Andrew followed his love of cartooning and was accepted into the Television Animation program at Algonquin College where he graduated with Honours in 1997.

After graduating, Andrew began working in television with a number of local animation studios and continued his freelance design and animation work with studios in Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto. Currently Andrew resides near Westboro in Ottawa, where he continues to work as a freelance designer for animated television shows as well as doing conceptual design work for both live action and video game productions.

During the summer of 2003 while on hiatus between projects, Andrew began to paint. Utilizing his design skills, animation background and uniquely wacky brand of humour, his latest works vary from contemporary landsacpes to almost graphic cartoon style images.

His work has been featured in a number of local art shows, store displays and galleries. Andrew has completed many pieces since 2003, selling works to clients from around the world. His paintings now grace the walls of homes in places as far away as Belgium, Australia, New York City and even an embassy in Bangladesh! His work appeals to a wide range of audiences and continues to evolve as he progresses his artform.


This is called country cottage, and I really love the composition and texture of the painting.

This one is really funny. Something to do with the host trying to humour his guest with his after dinner antics.



This one is about 'nothing to do' and look at the satire and content of this painting. Lovely.

Salford Penitentiary

From October 2002 until the week before last, I studied at the Bridgewater Building, at the Meadow Road Site of the University of Salford.

The university is infamous for its barbed-wire looping around the building facade, parapet walls and fences all over the campus. A Scottish professor in Malaysia used to tell me how terrible the place was, but really, I had no choice as a PhD student. You would be choosing a university for the supervisor more than the university. But after staying here in my 34th month, I now know why.

The Bridgewater Building is located at the other side of the campus across the Peel Park, which unfortunately is lovely with lots of trees, provide hiding places for muggers and rapists. Two women were sexually assaulted last summer at the park, and women must cross the park with an assistant. My friend Stephie said that she had to ask a security guard to cross the park with her most of the times. It is terrible when you are a pedestrian around this area.

But now Stephie and I are at the other side of the campus, with spanking new facilities including cafes, banks, shop, galleries, library, leisure centre etc.

So, the picture below is a reminder of our life at the Salford Penitentiary.... doesn't it look like a prison? No, the broken furniture in the foreground was not the result of inmates throwing them out in a riot. This building will be torn down and I believe the site will be sold.


[Picture taken courtesy of Vanja Garaj. View taken from the pedestrian walkway to the Bridgewater Building.]

Local filmmaking: Breaking the mould

AllMalaysia.info: Local filmmaking: Breaking the mould

What's this then? (Refer to link).
Technical versus Conceptual.
I don't know what's the fuss about.
Okay, I am no film director or film-maker. But I figure that film-making has to do with the creative process, and I know a bit about that.

I find that the best films are not only well conceived, but well executed technically. Films like Wong Kar Wai's '2046', and the Thai movie, 'Last Life in the Universe' are those in the fore-front of cinematic gems.

I think Malaysian movie-makers (if it's true) should stop debating with each other and start pushing ahead film frontiers, and start competing with the others. For example, start competing with the Thais for example.

Well yes, there is the issue of censorship in Malaysia, but to me there is no excuse if you compete individually out there with other foreign films.

I keep on seeing more Thai films being screened in Manchester, and only once in a year, Malaysian films will be screened during the Commonwealth Film Festival and even that only once. If they are lucky, twice.

Thai filmes get screened for a week during regular screen sessions not in a once a year festival.

Perhaps, it is just like Thai football versus Malaysian Football then? Malaysia just have to many internal jealousies and bickering and the Thais just decide to buy Liverpool Football Club and compete with top class teams!

It's all in the attitude, and if we start spending more time on this we will realise that this Malaise (pronounced Malay) have invaded other aspects of the Malaysian life. We need to turn it around. Now.

Discovery Museum

Discovery Museum - Welcome

I am sharing this information on the Discovery Museum in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in North East England.

One of my interviewees said that during the Newcastle Seminar on Historic Environment, organised by the English Heritage, National Trust and the Disability Rights Commission, the CEO of the Discovery Museum himself gave a talk on the accessibility of the museum. It is unusual for the CEO to be interested in such matters.

But he illustrated this example to press the point that when it comes to accessibility, it is not just physical access, ie your ramps and lifts, but it is about cultural and management change in an organisation. And it is best to start from the leadership.

It would be interesting to find out more about the Discovery Museum.

Development of Barrier-free Penang

Tan Kuan Aw sent me a link on the upgrading of pedestrian route in George Town, Penang, and it is good news indeed.

However, I shall include the STAR online article in it's entirety below as the link may cease to exist later on.

The first thing I felt was a sense of immense happiness that the work that I had done with the MPPP and my colleagues in Penang, such as Kuan Aw, has begun to bear some fruits.

I truly hope that this will continue with other barrier-free projects in Penang.

The Star Online > North

Wednesday July 27, 2005

‘User-friendly’ stretch

By TAN SIN CHOW

The 482m-long stretch in Upper Penang Road (UPR) is now user-friendly to the disabled.

Penang Municipal Council pre-sident Datuk Ahmad Phesal Talib said the RM4.8mil project, from The Garage in Farquhar Street to the Penang Road-Chulia Street junction, took 10 months to complete.

“The attractive and user-friendly pedestrian walkway is based on a safe city concept.

“It is barrier free and convenient for a wheelchair-bound person to travel from Chulia Street to the E&O Hotel,” he said at the handing-over ceremony of the UPR project in Penang on Monday.

“At the same time, the historical and cultural features in the area have also been preserved for commercial re-stimulation and sustained urban growth.


Two wheelchair-bound people trying out the newly completed pedestrian walkway at the Chulia Street/Penang Road junction.

“For example, we have conserved the tram tracks at Chulia Street and installed several information plaques at strategic locations to highlight the historical buildings there,” he said.

UPR Promotion Society chairman Datuk Eric Lim said the road would be a centre of attraction for both locals and foreign tourists.

“We will stage a series of activities during festive seasons to promote the place,” he said.

Also present was state Tourism Development and Environment Committee chairman Teng Chang Yeow.

On another matter, Ahmad Phesal said RM4 mil more would be spent to beautify the Gold Bazaar area.

“We will decide on the contractor after an open tender next month.

“Besides, the remaining RM2.6mil from the earlier allocation for a redevelopment project in Little India would also be fully utilised.

“The funds will be used to purchase two premises, which will be turned into information centres, as well as to repaint several old buildings in the area,” he said.

Ahmad Phesal said the council also planned to install 23 close- circuit television cameras at 13 strategic locations recommended by the police in the city.

“The council will bear the cost for the cameras and install them this year,” he said.


© 1995-2005 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)

London

I am in London now. Tomorrow I will travel back to Salford via Manchester. I arrived at London on the 4th of August and nipped over to Cambridge over the weekend.

It has been a hectic 6 days when I had just completed the last and 4th interview just now. I spoke with a person from English Heritage, who was my 'gatekeeper', who helped me immensely by giving the names of people whom I could interview for my research. They come from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the National Trust and the Historic Houses Association.

Traveling in and around London was at first a very daunting affair, as you can see from reading my previous posts. There was the odd security scare amd I experienced some delays, but generally the traveling was okay. On the 4th of August, security was heightened by added police presence as it was exactly two weeks after the last attempt of bombing and four weeks after the first bombings. Police were everywhere, on the platforms, at the concourse, scrutinising everyone. I also get the feel of people eyeing my rucksack when I enter a carriage.

I will be glad to get back and get on with my work. Summer will be over soon.

Grey Foxes & Red Squirrels

They are so amazing. Look at their bushy tails.

I am no expert on animals, so I am not going to say much. Just would like to share the images I have found.

So, have you heard the story about the Grey Fox who fell in love with the Red Squirrel? Hmmm...inter-species love story. How about that one, huh?











I had uploaded these various images of grey foxes and red squirrels from a few websites.

From Bentong to Manchestee (Part 1)

I live in Salford, about 7 minutes drive away from my school at the University of Salford. I live near Sedgely Park in Higher Broughton. The area is full of kosher food eateries and synagogues.

It is part of a bigger area called Prestwich, which straddles on both Bury City Council and Salford City Council. It is complicated but if you come here, the character is easily discernible by a strong community identity of the predominantly Jewish neighbourhood, leafy with handsome houses on relatively clean streets. Well dressed children, men with hats and suits and women with dresses are a common sight walking along the pavements and streets. Most women wear long skirts (no pants), so people would look at me with a question, although there are non-Jewish people around. Perhaps they were thinking 'from where do I come from'. I have not met any Malaysians living in Prestwich.

I used to live in Withington, in South Manchester, before moving to Prestwich, which is 20 minutes drive away from school. I needed to pass Rusholme, a local tourist area, which is famous for the mile-long street full of curry houses where you could find 52 halal restaurants, for your once a week different curry experience!


Here is part of Rusholme, and at the corner is Jaffa and further down is Sinbad, that caters for Arabic food. The former is owned by Palestinians and the latter by Iraqians.

I often buy halal meat in this area rather than around Cheetham Hill where many Malaysians live, although Cheetham Hill is nearer to me. I don't frequent Cheetham Hill that much, except to visit Suraya. I use to visit Khairuddin and Zaleha, his wife, before they left for good. Once and awhile I buy some halal meat there.



In central Manchester, at the very beginning of my stay, I use to hang out around St Peter's Square, where the Central Library is as shown above, but my usual venue is the Manchester City Art Gallery. I was first attracted to it because the additional design in 2002 was done by Sir Michael Hopkins, and the original was done by Sir Charles Barry.

He was the architect for the Houses of Parliament in the early to mid- Victorian Era, but I really like the Neo-Classical design of the art gallery in Manchester. It is interesting to note that he designed the Houses of Parliament with Pugin in Neo-Gothic and is equally competent at designing a Neo-Classical masterpiece like the art gallery. He finished the building of the Manchester City Art Gallery in 1824-35, and right after that, subsequently did the House of Parliament in London, which completed in 1868. He had died earlier in 1860.


The front elevation of Sir Charles Barry's building which is a Grade 1 listed building. A two way tram rail-line runs along Moseley Street. Accessible carparks exist at the side roads.


The front elevation's detail of the pediment on top of the portico, which is the main entrance of the building.

I shall write more about the Manchester City Art Gallery later on as it is the pilot study for my thesis.

Tactile Maps

Tactile means 'capable of perception by the sense of touch'.

I was exposed to this idea a few years ago on access features for blind and partially-sighted people.* I heard of tourist venues such as zoos and parks where maps could be read from a tablet hung from one's neck while walking around the place and touching signs and posts.

Someone I know who is blind had used an audio aid or device when visiting an art gallery, and had the exhibits confused as the description from the aid did not match the exhibits. It would not have mattered if his companion is also blind, as they could not touch the objects to verify the fact, obviously! I am sure a technical solution is at hand, if we complain about that, but it is annoying when something does not work.

Marcus mentioned about a tablet that can be connected to a computer and be used by touch which have 12 different layers. He said a better tactile map is available at the Tower of London, compared to the one below. The Cambridge ones that were taken and shown below are found near King's Parade, in front of the Great St. Mary's church. There are similar ones in York. However, these are not portable and not updatable.






Some websites that have more information about tactile maps;

Best practice guidelines for the design, production and presentation of vacuum formed tactile maps
Tactile maps with braille labels
Mapping for the Vision Impaired

* The term 'visually-impaired' is commonly used. However, it is not really correct, as it would mean 'ugly'. So, 'vision-impaired' is correct. But when consulted, blind people do not mind being referred to as 'blind people' rather than just 'the blind'.

Disabled-friendly Upper Penang Road Comment

Today's post is referring to Peter Tan's latest post on Disabled-friendly Upper Penang Road.

I know how unfriendly some of the street environment in George Town, Penang. I was happy to read what Peter Tan posted, and that he was venturing forth with Tan Kuan Aw on one of these 'auditing and reviewing' mission that many disabled people tend to be consulted with. I wish very much that many more people are like Tan Kuan Aw, and hope that Peter Tan would be interested to educate himself and others on how to specify to the architects and local authorities on exactly what should be done. This posting has made me realised the importance of myself in assisting with this knowledge, and I should be back there in Malaysia to help out. But I also need to do what Kuan Aw suggested that is to write articles on Accessibility, which I had made some trial runs here in my blog.

Here is my comment on Peter Tan's post:

This is an interesting development.

I think it is high time disabled people should start educating themselves on what are good and bad accessible designs. See SDPP website for accessibility guidance.
http://www.disabledpersonspenang.org/access.htm

And we not only say what we think is wrong but actually could recommend to MPPP or other council officers or architects what is the best design to be used.

We need to have an accessibility checklist / access survey / access audit based on these guidance which are already available at SDPP website, when consulted by service providers and authorities.

With more and more disabled people educating and promoting Non-Handicapping Environment or Barrier-Free Environment, by specifying exactly what they need and be satisfied with, others will also be educated. That is the first step.

The second step is to highlight via media and promote to the public why there should not be abuse to these facilities. Then the enforcement of the authorities should be made, as disabled people should be able to take to court authorities that do not enforce what they can do under their jurisdiction, which is fining people who abuse the facilities. Refer The Streets, Drainage and Building Act, Uniform Building By-Law 34A.

But first, disabled people would need to take the first step!

Heaton Park Study [Part 2]

This is a continuation on the previous post on the External Access Features of Heaton Park near Heaton Hall.

We left the main gate and we now approach the vehicular cum pedestrian access to Heaton Park. If I had known the security code of the main gate, I could drive straight to Heaton Hall.


Pedestrian in large groups in particular like to walk along this wide road cum walkway meant for both pedestrian and vehicles and is graveled. The route goes direct to Heaton Hall from the main carpark area.









At the bottom of the wide road cum walkway, is another gate, which I believe is designed that way to provide different access for the vehicle and the pedestrian, but I think is irrelevant.









After the gate, one sees the back elevation of Heaton Park which provides for entry into the building. There are carpark spaces adjacent to the building and a ramp to take one into the building which I believe is temporary.









The Farm Buildings are used for demonstration, talks and workshops on horticulture and farming.











There are signposts at the intersections of the walkways to aid the pedestrian, but there are not many of them.











This approaches the front elevation of Heaton Hall.












This is the front elevation of Heaton Hall where it overlooks a field where it said that cattle roam and a landscape feature was built, like a dyke, to provide barrier to deter the cattle from encroaching.









Heaton Park is a listed building and have interesting displays inside.

Heaton Park - A Study on the External Access Features [Part1]

I went to visit Heaton Park early spring. People were excited as the weather was getting warmer, birds were chirping every where, and the first green sprouts were making their way.

Heaton Park is located near my house, but it is part of Manchester City Council rather than Salford. It is a municipal park, in fact, one of the largest in the city.

It took awhile for me to eventually find out at which of the many entrances, I can get closest to the main buildings in the park. I also had the help of a website. I parked at where everyone else did, but it was still some walk away from the main buildings and Heaton Hall, which is a listed historic building and gallery.

This is a study on the accessibility features of Heaton Park leading to Heaton Hall. It concentrates on the northern side of the park, where most people would congregate.



For the first time disabled visitor, there is no information on where the nearest carpark is to Heaton Hall. People would need to call in first to find that out. I parked nearest to Heaton Hall but it is a 500 metres walk away. The accessible carpark is not easily identifiable. And car drivers may have been confused when parking in the larger car plot, aligning the vehicle oddly, as shown in the picture.




On further scrutiny, the embossed logo is embedded on the road to denote that it is an accessible carpark. It is about 150-200 mm in diameter and is hardly obvious from afar. I believe that the service provider do not want to spoil the view of the park by putting up signboards for the accessible carpark.







From the carpark, we find access via gravelled walkways that may prove to be difficult for some wheelchair user to manouvre on their own. However, the position of the walkway is optimum for most people.









Further along the walkway, you will see a tower in a distance and other walkways to choose to explore the park.











Looking at the other side of the walkway, near the carpark, you will find a 'Welcome to Heaton Park' notice board. Many people come to this area of the park to use the play area facilities. I noticed that it tends to be overcrowded with parents and children, and there is an access to the main buildings from the play area.









I found out later when I made an inquiry at Heaton Hall, that I could have entered this main gate if I had known the security code. It would lead to a vehicular access road that leads up to Heaton Hall.









From the main gate, one could access on this road with a car if one have mobility problems.











During peak season, the service providers provide a land-train that could pick up people enroute throughout the whole of the park. This is a stop for the land-train.

You've got to find what you love

Someone posted an email message about Steve Job's Commencement Address at a university in the US. I usually don't read forwarded messages, but this is about Steve Jobs, whom I kind of admired as you know, I am an Apple iBook user.

I have been a user since the early 90s, and have had an old notebook laptop before this iBook.

Anyway, it is an interesting read what Steve Jobs said in the address. It is some sort of a reminder to me. Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.

Train journeys

[View outside as we left London Euston. The red and blue train is an underground train.]

I like traveling by train.

When I was a kid, my parents would travel by train and I recalled sleeping on the top bunk in second class and peering out the tiny window all so excited. I would imagine being in my own world...

The top bunk is just nice for someone less than 5 feet tall, so I actually continued to sleep up there even in my 30s when I commute from Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur and vice versa. This was during my UTM lecturing days. Of course, now I have problems climbing up there, but I do sleep at the lower bunk, as it's easier to 'dress up' in them and put my calipers besides me, as the lower bunks are slightly bigger in size. It's all very cramp with your bags and shoes, but I like the rocking motion and the sound of the train, as they lull me to sleep. It costs about 40 Malaysian Ringgit plus, and although that is more costly than an express bus coach trip and also slower, it is more restful and better for the body to relax.


[Coach E was where I sat from London to Manchester on the Virgin Pendolino train with the plug-in piped-in music selection of 14 different channels.]

In the UK, I slept on a sleeper once, to Glasgow from London. This other office colleague and I got a 'present' from our employer and we were treated to visit a well-known architectural conference in 1988. That was nice, in the morning we had coffee and some biscuits while the train comes into Glasgow.


[Cambridge commuters going to London King's Cross on a Tuesday, train left station at 10:15 am.]


[Cambridge rural scene in the Summer]

Now I travel to London by train a lot as I have to finish off my interviews, and subsequently, wrap up my data collection stage. I often find myself able to do much work on the train, but with these new Pendolino trains that Virgin has, equipped with plug-in piped-in music channels selection, I cannot seem to concentrate that much. It is so nice listening to music while on the train. You should try it!

Just would like to share some more glimpses from the train rides that I had recently.

Euston Station

Euston Station is about 500 yards walking distance away from King's Cross Station. Rail passengers from Manchester and the North West of England, including Scotland, would be arriving at this station, whereby those coming from North East of England, like Cambridge and West Anglia and also parts of Scotland would come to King's Cross. And there is a station in between these two, which is St. Pancras, that caters for trains coming from the Midlands.

Tavistock Square where the bus no. 30 was caught in the bomb attack is about 80 yards away from Euston Station.

When I go back to Manchester, I have to use Euston Station, and last week, I had to board a no. 30 bus from King's Cross to come to Euston. Everyone in the bus strained their head to look at Tavistock Square as we passed by the road. Of course there is a huge white plastic sheet that span the whole of the road and a barrier near the junction of the road to stop people from coming in, with only news crews lining the barrier in anticipation. Not much to see.

It was one of the hottest day in July last Tuesday, and I decided to eat my lunch at the area outside the station concourse. They added some wooden benches and introduced four kiosk eateries there to cater for the need for people to eat outside.



I noted that there was no rubbish bins anywhere in sight and when the cleaner came round, he checked whatever rubbish left, including paper bags! People were clearly vigilant and even when I took some shots with my camcorder, you get people looking at you. A news camera crew was told off in the station, by one of the security guards, to not be so noticeable.

I would like to share some pics taken on July 12, six days after the bomb attacks. Clearly, people try to be calm and normal again.

Reflections : King's Cross

I have been reading the online news quite a lot in the last one week and a bit. I read the websites of BBC News, the Independent Online Newspaper and the Guardian Unlimited.

People in Europe observed the 2 minutes silence at noon on Thursday, a week after the bombing tragedies. The television showed how people observed the silence in the UK especially in London, at King's Cross, Liverpool Street Station, Tavistock Place, Trafalgar Square, in a Muslim school, and a regular primary school. Apart from the children who sat wide-eyed and looking at each other, the rest all observed the mark of respect very well. Cars, buses, vans and taxis stopped where they are as well.

I would like to share the following photos, taken in front the King's Cross Station, of people using the streets and pavements and the hoarding boards that were lined with messages and photos of the missing people.















Construction workers standing near the hoardings. It was reported that the workers helped the victims out of the tunnel that day.
















People stopped to read the messages on the hoardings.

















One of the messages being read by a passerby. The paper kept on flapping by the wind.
















King's Cross looks normal except for the many police officers and the messages and post on the hoardings.

A mother's speech

Marie's speech

"This is Anthony, Anthony Fatayi -Williams, 26 years old, he's missing and we fear that he was in the bus explosion ... on Thursday. We don't know. We do know from the witnesses that he left the Northern line in Euston. We know he made a call to his office at Amec at 9.41 from the NW1 area to say he could not make [it] by the tube but he would find alternative means to work.

Since then he has not made any contact with any single person. Now New York, now Madrid, now London. There has been widespread slaughter of innocent people. There have been streams of tears, innocent tears. There have been rivers of blood, innocent blood. Death in the morning, people going to find their livelihood, death in the noontime on the highways and streets.

They are not warriors. Which cause has been served? Certainly not the cause of God, not the cause of Allah because God Almighty only gives life and is full of mercy. Anyone who has been misled, or is being misled to believe that by killing innocent people he or she is serving God should think again because it's not true.Terrorism is not the way, terrorism is not the way. It doesn't beget peace. We can't deliver peace by terrorism, never can we deliver peace by killing people. Throughout history, those people who have changed the world have done so without violence, they have [won] people to their cause through peaceful protest. Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi, their discipline, their self-sacrifice, their conviction made people turn towards them, to follow them. What inspiration can senseless slaughter provide? Death and destruction of young people in their prime as well as old and helpless can never be the foundations for building society.

My son Anthony is my first son, my only son, the head of my family. In African society, we hold on to sons. He has dreams and hopes and I, his mother, must fight to protect them. This is now the fifth day, five days on, and we are waiting to know what happened to him and I, his mother, I need to know what happened to Anthony. His young sisters need to know what happened, his uncles and aunties need to know what happened to Anthony, his father needs to know what happened to Anthony. Millions of my friends back home in Nigeria need to know what happened to Anthony. His friends surrounding me here, who have put this together, need to know what has happened to Anthony. I need to know, I want to protect him. I'm his mother, I will fight till I die to protect him. To protect his values and to protect his memory.

Innocent blood will always cry to God Almighty for reparation. How much blood must be spilled? How many tears shall we cry? How many mothers' hearts must be maimed? My heart is maimed. I pray I will see my son, Anthony. Why? I need to know, Anthony needs to know, Anthony needs to know, so do many others unaccounted for innocent victims, they need to know.

It's time to stop and think. We cannot live in fear because we are surrounded by hatred. Look around us today. Anthony is a Nigerian, born in London, worked in London, he is a world citizen. Here today we have Christians, Muslims, Jews, Sikhs, Hindus, all of us united in love for Anthony. Hatred begets only hatred. It is time to stop this vicious cycle of killing. We must all stand together, for our common humanity. I need to know what happened to my Anthony. He's the love of my life. My first son, my first son, 26. He tells me one day, "Mummy, I don't want to die, I don't want to die. I want to live, I want to take care of you, I will do great things for you, I will look after you, you will see what I will achieve for you. I will make you happy.' And he was making me happy. I am proud of him, I am still very proud of him but I need to now where he is, I need to know what happened to him. I grieve, I am sad, I am distraught, I am destroyed.

He didn't do anything to anybody, he loved everybody so much. If what I hear is true, even when he came out of the underground he was directing people to take buses, to be sure that they were OK. Then he called his office at the same time to tell them he was running late. He was a multi-purpose person, trying to save people, trying to call his office, trying to meet his appointments. What did he then do to deserve this. Where is he, someone tell me, where is he?"

(excerpt from the Guardian, 13 July 2005)

Braving the trains

You see, I had already purchased the train tickets and had to use my saver return by the 15th of July. I also got a fixed single ticket for a train back on the 12th,which will just be obsolete if I don't use it. So, I decided to brave the journey to London.

Not without all the delays and disruptions and I had to take the bus twice as the King Cross
underground could not be used, but managed to take the train to Cambridge as the train station is not affected. As it is at ground level.

Let me take you through my journey that was affected by what happened 7.7.05 in London. (See previous posts.)

I took the taxi from my house at Prestwich, Salford to Manchester Picadilly Railway Station. As I was walking in the station, I would notice the usual platforms devoid of the London bound trains. Sure enough to my irritation, the notice boards did not display anything on London. So I inquired the Information counter personnel, who said, " Take the bus outside for Stockport, as the train will depart from there". "Oh, okay", I knew that this is an indication of a difficult journey to come. A bloke with a huge tummy, who looks like he is a Manchester United fan, said something to me, gesturing at my Champion's League Winner red t-shirt. I smiled back, hoping he is not a hooligan about to clobber me.

As I waited for the bus, a lady chatted to me about this extra-ordinary situation of having to take a bus to get to London, and where to board one. And I reflected that on this journey I chatted to a total of 6 strangers all in all. Tragedies like what happened in London I would learn brings people together, as people need some comfort that the journey will be safe.

It was quite a wait at the Stockport station, waiting for the train to move, and the air-conditioning was a bit dodgy. Well, I thought I have the best seat with the table and facing forward, and was not particular at first about the air-conditioning.

Before Stafford, I found out that the other carriages had better air-conditioning and told the lady in front of me that she had better get to the other carriages, as I noticed she and the other lady were becoming really red on the neck and very uncomfortable. Being a Malaysian, I quipped machoily, "Go ahead. will sit here and brave the heat. I need a bit of sauna...", thinking about similar conditions back home with the 3rd Class KTM carriages!

Earlier, I had chatted with the ladies where I usually did not chat with people. I noticed people seems to care about people around them more, and a sense of 'communal grief' and solidarity has emerged from our beings. People going all out to help others. Anyway, we are all travelling to London, and we feel that there are still dangers that cannot be discounted.

At Euston, the London station where I arrived, I noticed many policemen, but not as many as at King's Cross. I could not stop at King's Cross underground so I had to get back on the escalators and travel by bus. At King's Cross, I noticed a newscaster from the US busy rehearsing fom his notes while a camera was poised nearby. I noticed so many policemen watching warily and scrutinising people toing and froing around the station.

I managed to get on the Cambridge bound train some less than 2 hours later than expected before I set my journey out from Manchester.