Golders Green

 Near to the hospice there is a holiday complex used by the Jewish Community. I’m presuming the clientele are from communities within urban areas of the Uk and its a common site to see visitors walking around in traditional dress. The men in their tzitzit vests and black fedora type hats , the women , in long skirts , their hair covered in scarfs, the children with buckets and spades and bags of beach toys. 

I was driving into the hospice entrance when a family group stopped to let me enter, I waved them on with a big smile, making sure I looked welcoming and friendly given the recent news in Golders Green and the family moved on with the father eying me suspiciously. 

How awful must it to feel threatened in your own country? To be mistrustful of a friendly smile which could be a mask of some sort of a preemptive attack. A stabbing, a car road rage incident, a bombing? 
As the father looked at me, unsmiling and hostile, I tried to acknowledge his feelings by another smile and a nod

If I hear antisemitism I will call it out. If I see it, I will call it out
We all need to .

Hey ho……it’s going to be a restful day and a nice week
No more hospice shifts until next Saturday. 
Lots of catch ups with friends on video this weekend.
Touching base with old chums😀
I’m drinking coffee at the kitchen table now , the sparrows that bicker like schoolboys in the honeysuckle have moved to the back garden because Weaver is sat watching them from the open lounge window. 
Bun is asleep with Mary on the kitchen reading chair and the coffee is good. 
I don’t know where Roger is, sometimes he sits by the gate with his nose poked through the bars, waiting to catch the eye of passing walkers. 
I’ve only yelled at the yappy dogs next door twice this morning ! A record

I’m meeting both sisters for. The Prada sequel later


44 comments:

  1. Anonymous10:50 am

    Enjoy your time off and the Devil wears Prada with your sisters, sounds like a fun weekend. Gigi

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  2. All this hate in all directions. Only one brief mention of the mental health problems of the perpetrator before all this

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    Replies
    1. Yes, how sad….it wasn’t a terrorist attack just a mentally ill one

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    2. Anonymous7:44 am

      always are mate, every time, forgive me if i don't believe that excuse any more

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    3. People who are seriously mentally illl have no capacity . They may reflect a trend , but are not responsible or leading in a movement

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  3. You are a kind and tolerant man and the world needs so much more of that right now. Have fun at the movies later with your sisters!

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    1. We all need to take a deep breath, the reform canvasser returned up today ., I wasn’t rude but I was assertive

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  4. Sometimes I just can't believe all the hate but I know it's true. Even in my own family. It is so difficult.

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  5. There is so much hatred in the world. There always has been and I guess there always will be. Why? To live your life in fear of violence and hatred, I can't begin to imagine. When British Jews are saying they'd prefer to live in war-torn Israel than the UK, it tells you how fearful they are.
    Sounds like you have a nice week planned. Enjoy! xx

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    Replies
    1. Yes, I feel recharged today it’s been an odd weekend all told ( nothing that needs sharing here)

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  6. So much hatred and fear in the world, sadly not new. Why can't we just accept that we are all different and all the same deep down?

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    Replies
    1. Perhaps ne day when women are ruling the world

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  7. Barbara Anne1:56 pm

    Isn't it sad that too many people cannot or will not live and let live? I remember my dear AMIL (angel MIL) who ran a daycare center, had an embroidered picture on her office wall that said "Children learn what they live." It's up to the adults to make those childhood years happy and safe.
    Enjoy these days off and have fun with your sisters today!

    Hugs!

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  8. Too much hate and it never makes anything better for anyone.

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    Replies
    1. Oh I’m so saddened by the recent news

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  9. Traveller2:37 pm

    My mother had an expression “nasty plague of humans” and I fear she was right. As you say too much hatred. It must be awful feeling afraid and facing prejudice. I acknowledge my white privilege. I was also lucky enough that my parents prioritized my education and, at great cost, sent me to private school. Both those things gave me a privileged start in life.

    I highly recommend The Colour of Home by Sajid Javid to get a good understanding of the racism of the 1970s that seems, unfortunately, to becoming normalized again.

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    Replies
    1. Yael stated on another blog “ There is a saying in Hebrew, "Silence roars." “
      She is so right when people look the other way

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    2. That is a great saying.

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  10. Terrible times, but then I wonder ‘when were they good?’

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  11. Anonymous3:23 pm

    Thank you, we Jews appreciate your solidarity. And, poor Roger, must be a bit heart breaking.

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  12. Yeah, it's got to be an awful feeling to have to mistrust everyone and their intentions.

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    Replies
    1. Do u see much Jewish hate in London ?

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  13. Anonymous4:46 pm

    So sad this anti Semitic attack . Glad your having a “ pottering , catch up with friends week . So important when you work in Palliative care and give so much of yourself . Devil wears Prada 2 should be fun ! X Bernie

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    1. It was lovely to be out with my sisters together

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  14. A wonderful gesture and a wonderful day ahead. Kindness is our best hope and a gift free to give.

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    1. Not a wonderful gesture but an appropriate one

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  15. Anonymous10:04 pm

    It’s 6 pm and I was in the crowd when Streep and Hathaway did street scenes on 5 th avenue

    Lee

    Ps I’m soused

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  16. I am distrustful and suspicious of all religions - including Judaism - but my heart goes out to our Jewish citizens in these fretful times and I will also speak out against antisemitism.

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  17. Thank you, John, for not being among those who remain silent and refuse to see.

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  18. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  19. Yes. We HAVE to speak out and speak up when we hear ignorant and hateful remarks. It probably won't change the minds and hearts of those who make them but at least it will make them aware that such words will not be tolerated, much less supported.

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  20. I do my upmost to challenge hate in all its forms. It's unnecessary and is the lowest form of human behaviour.

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  21. Even if there is a mental health issue, the way it is acted out reflects what society as a whole deems worthy of attack. Just that the saner don’t actually do it.

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I love all comments Except abusive ones from arseholes