It’s been a difficult week. People have in the main have been dealing with mixed emotions following the horrendous events of Monday night.

I’m not going to preach to about how others should deal with things. Each of us will have our own take on things. I for my part, like many others across Walsall’s diverse communities attended the vigil at “The Crossing” for those caught up in the events in Manchester on Monday night.

I used the time there for some quiet reflection because for once in my life I was lost for words. I didn’t know what to say to help people make some sense out of what had happened. So I sat there with my thoughts.

I can just about remember the Birmingham pub bombings back on the 21 November 1974. I’d put them at the back of my mind during the passage of time. The events of Monday night had brought them flooding back.

I remembered 9/11. My wife and I had gone over to The States to visit my brother and his family in Cleveland, Ohio. We had flown into Newark at the beginning of September. The pilot had banked the plane over so everyone could get a good look at the Twin Towers. They weren’t there when we flew home after our visit.

We went again in 2006 and visited “Ground Zero”. I’ve never experienced such feelings. We stood looking at this gaping hole in the ground and the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end I get a similar feeling when I visit the National Arboretum.

What’s wrong with us? Why can’t people be allowed just to get on with life after all it’s short enough as it is? So many questions, so few answers. Just think how those who have lost loved ones must feel? I can’t even start to wonder.

Certainly puts my problems into perspective.