Oslo

I just cannot continue my blog without writing about the most significant and appalling news story in years. I hope I chose the right words to do it.


Everyone knows where they were and what they were doing when certain historic and appalling things happened. 9/11, 7/7, The ousting of Margaret Thatcher, The deaths of Elvis and Princess Diana maybe. It happened again this weekend.


The question was "Why is the flag over the royal palace flying at half mast?" We had our bikes loaded onto a little ferry between islands in the Stockholm archipelego. The sun was shining. It was a lovely morning. The Swedish guy riding the Spyder had just returned from Oslo. He looked aghast as he gave us the news we had not heard, in Swedish. I learned some new words that break my heart to know at this stage. He then kindly spoke English and appalled me with what had happened.


What does an ordinary guy write in his blog about the underlying problems within Northern Europe that lead to an act of terrorism like this? For that is what this is. More terrorism. The answer is absolutely nothing. I cannot, and that is the problem. Ordinary people stay quiet and leave it to the crazies to have their debate with bombs and bullets.