The Eric Wroolie Blog

Originally Posted 27-July-05

On Friday, an electrician from Brazil was shot in the head five times by police who suspected he was a bomber in London. When they tried to stop him, he ran (apparently his Visa has run out). This is surprising for England. There is a general abhorrence of guns that I never saw in the States.

So I walk through London at lunchtime and wonder whether it is likely I would ever be mistaken for a bomber and killed on site. Then I realized that it was unlikely– because I’m white. London is full of Muslims like no US city I’ve ever lived in has been. It must be terrible to have this weighing on Muslim parents minds when their kids go out– will they too be mistaken? This electrician wasn’t even Muslim–he was just brown. What a terrible blunder.

It makes you think– would you rather live in a world with terrorist activity (and risk of death every day) but knowing the authorities are on your side?

Today we traveled to the new Roald Dahl museum in Great Missiden (I think I spelled that right). As well as dedicating his own imagination to the world, looking at his life captures the imagination of everyone who visits the museum.

He was an RAF pilot in the second world war and wrote occasionally after that. Then he launched a series of kids books like the BFG, Charlie and Chocolate Factory, James and Giant peach, etc.

We know the films, they’re all pretty good–but the pace of the books will hold the imagination of my small children.

Anyway. A great day out.

Originally Posted 23-July-05

Just a day after my last post, there were more bombings in London. But his time they were thwarted, thank God.

It’s been a hectic few days. Difficult to keep up with what’s going on. It’s also very difficult to concentrate at work when you are constantly wondering what’s going on outside the office walls and whether you will be able to make it home.

Well. Saturday is here now and it couldn’t have come too soon.