9 Years On!

[LeTiss]

I'm always fascinated by how people remember exactly where they were when a massive, shocking news story breaks

It's 9 years ago today since 9/11

Where were you?

I was driving from Reading to Cardiff, as I had an evening sales appointment to demonstrate a defibrillator machine to an interested company.

I remember pulling over at Leigh Delamere service station, absolutely stunned as news of the second plane was being described on the radio

Doesn't seem like 9 years ago at all

[Bet Angel]

I was in a meeting in Swindon when my wife phoned me to tell me a plane had gone into one of the WTC towers. I just assumed it was an accident and not much more, but when the phone rang again I told all the others in the meeting and we quickly dropped everything and went to warehouse, where they had a TV, to watch the horror unfold. I remember everybody with their head in the hands in horror at the magnitute of what was happening was unfolding. The sense of shock turned to anger when it became apparant it was an all out attack and then there was that horrible fear that this could be the start of something bigger.

I have quite a few friends in New York so I was on the phone and email to try and find out if they were OK but it was improving impossible to get any contact through. All web sites and other related media where stuffed as well. It was a day I will never forget.

I didn't realise that a few years later I'd actually get caught up in the london bombings and all my friends in New York would be phoning me! I was very lucky as I got of the tube at Liverpool street before it exploded on the way to Aldgate.

Never understood why there is so much hate in the world.

[Merry Terry]

Why dont we all go down the park and celebrate by burning some books?

[Dabbla]

Your right it does not fill like 9 years ago.
For me it was quite weird. As a postman I would come home from work and have a few hours kip during the day.
But In the week leading up to the event I had this feeling that something bad was going to break on the news. Something like Dunblane.
So during this week I had been staying awake.( That’s how strong my feelings were). Anyway on 9/11 I said to myself that nothing is going to happen so I decided to crash out. The next thing I remember was Tony Blair canceling a speech live on the news because of a plane crash. In my sleep like state I thought to myself trust the Pm to be making excuses to get out of doing something. Then I came round a bit more and thought he would not just cancel a speech because of a plane crash. That’s when I realized it must be something a bit more serious. So I sat up in bed to discover the true horror.By this time both planes had hit the towers but both were still standing.
And the rest,they say,is history.

[Iron]

I didn't realise that a few years later I'd actually get caught up in the london bombings and all my friends in New York would be phoning me! I was very lucky as I got of the tube at Liverpool street before it exploded on the way to Aldgate.

Did it make you wonder whether someone up there was looking after you?

When I think of how lucky I am (in some respects at least), I do have to wonder whether there is a higher power at play...

Never understood why there is so much hate in the world.

There's too much politics and not enough religion...

[andyfuller]

Was out de-horning some calfs and got a text telling me a plane had flown into a sky scrapper in America. Said to the other two guys and we tried phoning back to see what was going on. Couldn't get hold of anyone as the signal was rubbish so we just carried on for the rest of the day obvious to what was going on. Then late in the day we got back to the farm and heard a bit more about what had happened, we headed home and popped on the radio - listening on the way home we just couldn't believe what we were hearing. I spent the rest of the evening watching the news.

I still don't believe the passengers got control of United 93 - for me it was shot down and the Plane going into the Pentagon seems very unexplained still.

[lilgreenback]

You are right how significant events give the further details as to where you where and what you were doing.

My experience was slightly different as I had just spent a week in hospital waking up after four days with no recollection or memory as to how I got there. (no it was not drugs or alcohol at least one could have enjoyed getting there then ). Undiagnosed high blood pressure resulting in a brain haemorrhage I felt unwell a few nights before hand went to sleep and that was that.

Anyway on the day 9/11 the sun was shining and blue skies where I live a nice hot Sept day; the Missus was cutting the grass as I was not to do anything strenuous. It was about 12:30ish and I switched the News on and it talked about and accident in New York involving a passenger plane hitting the WTC. So naturally I saw the rerun on BBC and thought “bloody hell”. I tried shouting the Missus to come and see as usual she did not pay any attention; then they cut the broadcast to show the second Plane striking. At that moment I realised that this was no accident and as we know the world has changed forever.

It must rank in importance since 1945 as the first A bomb, Sputnik, the Moon Landing and Chernobyl as well as the Berlin Wall and the fall of Communism as not a good idea.

The haunting thought is what happens when the same flag and book burning psycho’s from any religious persuasions have the opportunity to detonate a nuclear device. As there seem to be more and more people hell bent on committing atrocities in the name of their God or cause with scant regard for the majority of the poor sods who live under the thumb and who just want to live in peace have decent roads, education, jobs, food and clean water.

Least we forget that 70 years ago when people where burning books the zelous fervour led to a a Camp being built which stated that "work makes you free"

[Exacta]

Undiagnosed high blood pressure resulting in a brain haemorrhage I felt unwell a few nights before hand went to sleep and that was that.

That puts things in perspective doesn't it!

[lilgreenback]

It does in the way that you never know what is round the corner. Especially when I was lucky enough to be able walk out of hospital OK. As there where a number of people in there at the time who are probably still strugglin now.