Olivia

This time last week, hardly anybody had heard of a little girl called Olivia Pratt-Korbel. She was just nine years old and lived on Kingsheath Avenue in the Dovecot area of  north Liverpool.

Her relative anonymity evaporated on Monday night of this week when she was killed in a tragic shooting incident.

When the news first filtered through I imagined a scenario rather like this one. An older relative, perhaps a sibling involved in gang crime in the city had been messing about with a handgun. Maybe showing off to Olivia and somehow the gun had gone off - accidentally killing her. It wasn't supposed to happen.

But as it turned out the truth was worse than that - much worse.

Hearing a commotion out in the street, Olivia's mother  Cheryl had gone to the front door and opened it to see what was going on. That was a fatal mistake that will live with her for the rest of her life.

A local criminal on parole from prison was being pursued by a gunman. Seeing Cheryl Korbel's door open and perhaps in a panic, he burst into the house quickly followed by the gunman who was allegedly dressed in black and wearing a balaclava. It all happened so quickly. Cheryl tried to keep them both out but her efforts were futile.

Bullets were fired hitting the pursued man whose name is Joseph Nee and also hitting Cheryl and Olivia. Presumably the hitman fled away and also I guess that Nee used his smartphone to call for support. 

Very soon Nee's mates arrived to pick him up in a black Audi car before  whisking  him away to hospital. It seems they just ignored little Olivia's plight as they helped their mate out of the house.

Later Olivia herself was transported by ambulance to Liverpool Children's Hospital where she tragically died.

One could speculate and pontificate about this terrible incident, perhaps reflecting on the nature of evil and the parlous state of law and order in one of England's greatest cities. One could theorise, rage or condemn but I leave that up to others. 

At the heart of all of this is a sweet and innocent nine year old girl who had her whole life ahead of her. She did not deserve to die and besides, why did her life end on Monday night? It all seems so pathetic, so pointless. Somehow it feels far more tragic than if she had been killed in a road accident.

We are so very sorry. Rest in peace Olivia Pratt-Korbel (9)

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Toilet Training

 Roger has had a good day 

Four pees outside 

And a solid hour watching Eastenders and the start of Repair Shop

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Pompous

 Like some people who have their insecurities I can be pompous at times.

My mother would occasionally sneer and say You love the sound of your own voice, you do.

Something, ironically that would increase my insecurities as a child.

I was in the supermarket this morning and passed one of the staff, in an aisle. 

She was a smiley, attractive middle aged woman.

She caught my eye and chirped “ You’re from Sheffield arnt you?”

I preened a bit and laughed “ Do you remember me ?”I said, thinking she must have a good memory of me or perhaps she was a blog reader who suddenly recognised me 

We stood looking at each other , smiling for a second 

Then she pointed at my T-shirt 

Before walking off

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Pray

 Any prayer requests?

I have a few

Pray for a friend and her recent cancer diagnosis

Pray for healing for a child still hospitalized after an accident

Pray that I may trust God in everything and anything

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