Evocative stuff. You conjure up the dry heat and bougainvillea. Apparently, there was a 17% rise in suicide following Diana’s death (there’s an occult number we don’t seem to be able to escape from) and a rise in self harm of over 40%. As a young community psychiatric nurse working in Bradford at the time, I can’t say I noticed in particular. I do wonder how much impact there would have been without the media fuelling it - yet there was some collective weirdness going on at the time. We didn’t have the term “virtue signalling” back then to label it thus, but I also recall a widespread judgemental scrutiny of how appropriately public figures were or weren’t handling their responses. The whole thing was like a practice run for social media.
I totally agree with the concept of wonderment over how some can mourn over someone they never knew personally. I remember watching with fascination the tributes and the shrines.
Today here in the US we have the flags at half mast. My initial reaction was’why’. We didn’t lose our queen. Yet people are speaking of her as though they knew her well and love her. I just don’t get it.
I always wondered how people can love a monarch. Or how people can deify elected officials. I’m done too. 🫥
OMG! Seriously!?! How is making people go hungry honoring a perceived ‘great woman’ who ‘cares deeply for her people’? The dominators are in rare form these days.
Cyprus was one of the best times of my life, my dancing days😂
Yes, I think Diana knew she would be dying. Despite the fact I didn’t much like her, the stuff surrounding her death was dodgy AF and I wouldn’t have wished any of that upon her of her family.
Evocative stuff. You conjure up the dry heat and bougainvillea. Apparently, there was a 17% rise in suicide following Diana’s death (there’s an occult number we don’t seem to be able to escape from) and a rise in self harm of over 40%. As a young community psychiatric nurse working in Bradford at the time, I can’t say I noticed in particular. I do wonder how much impact there would have been without the media fuelling it - yet there was some collective weirdness going on at the time. We didn’t have the term “virtue signalling” back then to label it thus, but I also recall a widespread judgemental scrutiny of how appropriately public figures were or weren’t handling their responses. The whole thing was like a practice run for social media.
Yes the virtue signalling this time round has has been off the scale - I’ve see photos of babies beside the bouquets, photos of ‘tributes’. Deary me!
Yes re what you say re appropriate responses, of course Blair cashed in on it massively, him being all about image.
I totally agree with the concept of wonderment over how some can mourn over someone they never knew personally. I remember watching with fascination the tributes and the shrines.
Today here in the US we have the flags at half mast. My initial reaction was’why’. We didn’t lose our queen. Yet people are speaking of her as though they knew her well and love her. I just don’t get it.
I always wondered how people can love a monarch. Or how people can deify elected officials. I’m done too. 🫥
It’s so sad. They have closed food banks here in the UK so as not to disrupt the funeral. I mean Wtaf!
OMG! Seriously!?! How is making people go hungry honoring a perceived ‘great woman’ who ‘cares deeply for her people’? The dominators are in rare form these days.
I was taken in by her somewhat back then. It was a quiet day in our little Milnrow family bubble. (Before bubble was a swear word)
You mean you didn’t go and sing “Goodbye English Rose” at the palace gates? Well….I’m disappointed 😉
Aww, ta x
Cyprus was one of the best times of my life, my dancing days😂
Yes, I think Diana knew she would be dying. Despite the fact I didn’t much like her, the stuff surrounding her death was dodgy AF and I wouldn’t have wished any of that upon her of her family.
Thanks Viv.
I am trying to experiment writing different kinds of pieces. Poems come most easily to me but I want to see what else I can do.
For that reason, I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Yes re attachment, it’s sad that this kind of bond for some exists to plug a very real void.
I was going to say that actually Viv that I hope you do a substack. I very much look forward to reading your pieces.
I get that and you will find your way. Perhaps 2022 is your ‘annus horribilis’, Viv…..😉