Blue on Blue

'Blue on Blue' is a new anodyne term used for conflict situations when ally fires on ally.
This is an obvious improvement to the previous phrase 'Friendly Fire', which had the unfortunate connotation of possible harm resulting from shooting up your own side.

I came across 'blue on blue' in a news report on the stalled inquest into the death of Lance Corporal of Horse Matty Hull, aged 25, who died in March 2003. He was travelling in a column of light armoured vehicles near Basra, in southern Iraq, when it was reportedly attacked by a US A-10 "tankbuster" aircraft.

American video evidence of the incident hasn't been released to the court.
My personal opinion is that this footage might well show that american forces were not at fault, but the delays so far make it more likely that the evidence doesn't support that view.It certainly seems suspicious.

The worst aspect of this case in my view is the awful slowness. It's almost FOUR years since this man died and his widow still has no peace. What reasonable excuse can there be for such delay?

I'm also intrigued to ask how many american service widows have to wait so long for closure when their husbands are killed by fellow americans ?

The inquest resumes on February 16th

Hard work

Writing is proving very hard work.and I have little luck with it either.
Awake at five this morning I started a descriptive piece about dead ships becalmed on a deathly sea; a metaphor for the way I feel these days; you never guessed that I’ll bet. I’d almost finished it when I hit the wrong button and all the text disappeared. This caused some expletives , but undoubtedly saved the world from some very disturbed prose.

Maybe my psychotic ramblings should stay put, but then that leaves me nothing to write about because in the world of the Bewidowed nothing ever happens.

I’ve been tidying my cell because space is precious and there’s no room for oxygen in here. Calmly I threw out several binbags filled with recent comfort shopping until I came across the few things I still have of Tony. I tried and I cried but I couldn’t discard his old T shirts, his slippers or his battered sun-hat. They can be packed away but must stay within reach.
I’m a sad case I know, but I’m like a witch with her dried herbs and her mummy dust. She can’t conjure her demons without them and I can’t reach the comfort of Tony’s love without the feel and smell of his possessions.
Love may not last forever but you can blow on the ashes and get a little heat.

It's ALL in the mind, sometimes

I've been reading Michael Allen on Sarno's mind/body studies. I agree completely about back pain and strong emotions . I had 'fibrositis' as a child , adolescent and young woman, during which period I was not a happy or well-adjusted person. Later my emotions stabilised and so curiously did my back trouble.
I have had back pain since, but I can always attribute it now to picking things up badly or twisting my leg on a stone etc.

Anyway my mind is currently limiting my capacity to live to the max. I'm far from sorted, but I am trying to get both bits to work together so more Tai Chi today!

Must get a routine

Get a routine...........Right......................... A routine means something I do every day or every few days right?

Like wishing I didn't have to wake up? No.... too negative.
Like weeding the garden? No.........too wet.
Like getting a job?.........at my age?

OK

Like going back to Art class?............ Yes, class starts again this week, still time to make my mark.
Like getting some exercise?.......... Yes,Tai Chi this time, slow and gentle, not too painful afterwards.
Like emailing my friends?.......... Yes,well I've sent them this url.
Like writing.........Yes, mostly positive, psychologically therapeutic, creative sortta. All that good stuff.

Okay I am writing.
Unfortunately I haven't come up with any new story ideas yet and I can't face the old ones.
But I am writing sortta, reminiscing over on 'Whatever Comes.......' It gets the arthritis a little movement anyway.

Caution: Don't look if you're feeling low, it won't lift you up.

Resolutions

'resolutions' sound like a special kind of promise.
I s'pose that's because they get broken faster than any ordinary promise. So none here.

I shall endeavour to be healthier, wiser and kinder this year, but the superhuman effort required to formulate these desires may test the limits of my strength.

Already I have prevaricated until tonight before writing anything .

I love the word 'prevarication' don't you? It sounds long-winded and overblown, just like me when I say I'm too busy to write. You saying you didn't notice?

I count rain drops and huff on the window to make one drop go faster than it's neighbour, now that's busy.

long time no post

I think I'm about ready to start writing again.
It's been a long time since I felt up to this, but I won't bother you with the details.

I'm back and that's that.