Baronesses, Murders and World War One

Baroness Warsi - SK Piasau

   An interesting title this week and I'm not sure how I will do the links but it is not often that Borneo is in the headlines for a crime and sadly this week it has been because of the sad tragic murders of two British medical students. I think everyone is truly shocked as there is very little violent crime in Kuching and all the people seem very peaceful. The victims and the murderers were all drunk apparently and unfortunately for the two students, one of the men was a fishmonger and was carrying a knife and was obviously bolstered up with the alcohol and perhaps other substances. What a tragedy for everyone involved and as I will be in Kuching next week, somewhere I have always felt very safe, I know that it will be the uppermost in everyone's mind. Gen left Sabah on Thursday on her way for the last leg of her trip to Bali and I trust she will be safe. No one can know what lies ahead but I suppose travelling or not, wandering around the streets at 4 am, drunk, is not a sensible thing to do.
  I am finding looking at the news this week is more and more depressing and I can't bear to hear of more and more people, especially children being slaughtered. I was though, impressed by  Baroness Warsi, who you may remember I met in Kampong Piasau (April), who resigned from the cabinet and has openly criticised the British Conservative government about their lack of stance against Israel. She felt she could no longer keep quiet and I admire her for standing up for her  principals which is rare in a politician! Her attack and remarks about the cabinet have continued to make the news today and it looks like she is just warming up - At a girl Sayeeda!

My Grandmother - MA. 1913
a feminist and suffragette

   There were of course many memorials this week about the start of the First World War - a hundred years ago- and despite the horrendous loss of life during that war, mankind has failed to learn it's lesson and appears to be continuing to kill as much as ever. A hundred years ago my grandparents met on a boat whilst both fleeing "the Continent" when war was declared. My grandfather was a trainee architect and my grandmother was a MA graduate from Edinburgh University. The story goes that my grandfather saw her name on the cabin door - Margaret Broatch - and made a silly pun about wearing the brooch on his heart. They did somehow meet and obviously fell in love much to the horror of both families as my grandmother was already engaged to a Scotsman and to welcome an Englishman was not what the family wanted. I remember Gran telling me the story so well but I'm afraid the details and questions I would like to ask now will have to go unanswered.
  However they did get married and my grandfather went off to war and fought in the Battle of the Somme. Somehow my mother and uncle Graham were born in 1917 at the barracks in Stafford where I believe my grandmother must have been visiting my grandfather on leave - the arrival of twins was a complete surprise.  My grandfather did not return until 1919, staying on in the army and fighting in India and Afghanistan. When he returned , continuing with his architect studies seemed impossible and somehow he had to find a job to support his family...... and so the story continues.
  The chance meeting on the boat when the First World War was declared made me who I am. The war  killed over sixteen million people not taking into account the casualties and the terrible mental injuries that affected so many soldiers. I feel very ashamed that I never once asked my grandfather about the war but amazingly he did survive and for that I am very grateful.