Here in Sydney people are mourning the deaths three people in an upmarket coffee and chocolate shop in the centre of the city. After a seventeen hour siege the hostage taker appears to have been over-powered by the hostages and in the police raid that followed three people, including the hostage taker were killed. In Sydney's Martin Place this evening there was a carpet of floral tributes and people queuing to read the messages attached to them. All around was calm and composed.
At a similar time 132 children and teachers were being killed in Pakistan.
Both attacks appear to be motivated by one person or set of people wishing to make their point heard. Surely there is a better way than taking hostages or killing students to try to get your message across? I have disagreed with many people during either my school or political experiences and have, on the occasions when I have not been able to come to an agreement with them had simply to agree to disagree. Could that be a step in the right direction?
In other news today The Lawrence Clan took a ferry from Sydney Cove to Manly Beach for some beach time. Having expected blisteringly hot temperatures we have been a little taken above by days of 23 degrees and gusty winds. In short: it is cold. The sea at Manly was freezing and took a long time to get used to, feeling little different from temperatures in mid-Summer at Cromer. The waves were good fun though. Children and I enjoyed the sea while Lexi did sterling work guarding the bags, well that was her excuse and she was sticking to it.
Lots of flags still flying at half mast in the city.