MK forum

Bemused, you empathy is a great gift.

Though you are not a parent yourself, you are still able to feel and enter into our pain. Thank you for that.

Everything you said in your post is true. Tragically, heart-crushingly true.

You are too kind.

I've been away for a week, having a whale of a time in the Alps. In summer and early fall the tracks are widely used and the sandflies are rampant, so we decided to go for a 5 day tramp in our Spring. There is a good reason why very few people do this on an alpine track, the weather.
Day one: Mrs Bemused's Dad drops us off at the car park and we tramp for hours to the first hut. The rivers are running well from the snow melt and recent rain, Mrs Bemused gets her brand new tramping boots soaked, Bemused manages to get his op shop pair only damp. We arrive at the hut, light the fire and settle in for a nice night of solitude. Just before dark 5 Americans arrive, complete with bibles and very vague as to what they were doing in the country (Mrs Bemused assures me that this is not normal).
Day two: We get up early, but Mrs Bemused has abdo pain and has to sleep for an hour at the hut just down the trail. Decision is made to carry on, but to ease matters for Mrs Bemused, as much gear as possible goes in Bemuseds already considerably larger and heavier pack. We eventually get to the second nights hut, the tracks are wet but weather is fine. Mrs Bemused cannot eat, but wishes to carry on. We light the fire and our 5 American friends turn up, just before it gets dark. We find out they are on an exchange programme and we talk about the predicted deterioration in weather the next day. Interestingly none of our friends checked the forecast before they left.
Day three: We again leave early, Mrs Bemused is clearly not well, so I now end up carrying 2 packs, but we go beyond the point of safe return and have to carry on (cell phones don't work, there are no roads, we are alone). We meet 2 Canadians coming the other way, who haven't checked the forcast either, but look very seasoned trampers. We get to the hut and restart the fire the Canadians have kindly left going. The weather closes in with gale force winds and some rain. Our new friends turn up mid afternoon, cold wet and grateful for warm hut and water. Mrs Bemused is able to eat a meal, but now we have more food than we need and the next day is the big tramp with a poor forcast, so we off load our surplus food to our new friends, which pleases both parties. We wonder if they are mormons, despite two of them having beards.
Day four: Mrs Bemused is able to carry her pack with a sleeping bag and the day food. My Opshop boots have started to loose their sole and are now held together with strong cord. The rivers are in flood, we hit snow, sleet (I'm still wearing shorts, but its ok as long as I don't stop). We have to go over the pass and it's hard wet work. We make it to the final hut, where it is freezing cold and we light the fire. The forecast is accurate so far (by now it is four days old) and it rains persistently. Our friends arrive a few hours latter, wet and pleased to have a warm hut. We get to know them a bit better and find out they are on some sort of Christian university exchange programme, something to do with environmental studies. Mrs Bemused's dad is scheduled to pick us up the next morning and we find out our new friends have left there car at the beginning of the track (very unwise to leave a car for days in an isolated spot, we alas have vandals and a native parrot that will do a lot of damage to aerials and anything rubber), so we suggest if one of them wants to get up early with us we will drive them up to their car.
Day five: The forecast is wrong for the first time. We get heavy snow and finding the track markers is interesting. We leave early with one of the other party and get through pretty quickly. My right boot parts company with it's sole about 3 miles from the end and the left one is going the same way. Our ride has arrived and luckily the road has just been opened because of the snow and we are able to give our tramping friend a ride back to pick up his car, only to find someone had smashed a window and removed anything of value, interestingly someone had put plastic over the window to stop snow getting in.

So here we are, back home safe. Mrs Bemused is feeling a little better, my boots are in the rubbish and we have made some new friends.

And where was Jason Borneo during all this?
He could have been of some help.
Great trek, Befused.
But too early in spring.

Mary had a little lamb
Her friends came round for tea
They gave dear Mary and the lamb
A dose of personal ministry

They pointed out Mary's faults
The things she did not well
Opened up the Holy Book
Warned her of the Gates of Hell

The lamb was rather puzzled
For it knew these friends of old
And of their own misdemeanours
Not a word was ever told

The friends went on and on
About the company Mary did keep
Mentioned something agricultural
About what you sow you reap

Mary listened politely
Then saw them to the door
Wished them all the best, bon voyage
And not come round no more

The lamb wondered at us humans
That we see specks in each others eyes
But cover up our own faults
With generous doses of big lies

Wow. Yes. This sounds so familiar ....

Memories that make me sigh ....

And some people have even WORSE memories
because of these people and their neglect.
Make Herman Law happy.
Contact them today.

How's that for subtle?

We have to keep fighting for exposure of abuse else we are part of the problem.

Yes it gets heavy at times, not a lot of fun. But the thrill of seeing someone realize it was not their fault they are innocent is well worth it. Then it is fun to see them freely enjoy life.