Saturday 18th June

Watching the long anticipated football match between England and Wales on Thursday afternoon we had the usual frustrating experience of England under-performing.  We had almost all the possession and peppered the Welsh goal relentlessly but still couldn’t score.  Then they did – another wonder free-kick from Gareth Bale.  But second half we equalized and then in the very last minute we scored the winner –and all England could breathe a sigh of relief.  And happiness; the dream was still alive.  And Wales are still in with a chance too, so a good result all round.

And then the news came on, and we were shocked and saddened to hear of the murder of Jo Cox, a new Labour M.P for Batley and Spen.  She was shot and then stabbed by a man attending her weekly surgery.

There has been an awful lot of cynicism about our M.P.s of late; the expenses scandal, awarding themselves large pay-rises and pensions.  It has been all too easy to see then as skivers, benefit scroungers even, as much of their housing costs are paid for out of the public purse.  But I have always contended that many, if not the vast majority of M.P.s put themselves forward from the best of motives and sincerely want to help make other people’s live better.  And none more so than Jo, who was an aid worker and a fantastic local M.P.  And a mother and wife too, we must never forget that.  Whatever the motives or mental state of her assailant, and there are rumours that he shouted “Britain First” as he attacked her, it was a terrible thing to happen.

So, a day for happiness and also a day for sadness.