3rd May... Another year, another candle.

Four years ago, Madeleine McCann vanished without a trace.

Since following this case, a lot I have learned.  There is a lot that I don't believe and a lot that I just don't understand.

Going back to the basics, I will continue to question why Madeleine's parents failed to help the police with their investigation.

I will continue to question why the parents trust their friends implicitly, when they all failed Madeleine by refusing to attend the reconstruction of events requested by the police.

And I will continue to question why the parents allowed the investigation into their daughter's disappearance to be shelved.

On the first anniversary of Madeleine's disappearance in 2008, we planted a small lavender bush in her memory.  Last winter it succumbed to the elements and withered and died.  I never imagined that I would be lighting yet another candle for Madeleine today.  How many more years, how many more candles?  Has hope for Madeleine also withered and died?  With sadness, I wonder if it was ever there?...


Madeleine is never far from our thoughts, but I'm sure you will all spare a special thought for this little girl today.


My thoughts also go out to the person who can courageously draw this whole mess to a close - it cannot go on indefinitely.  Please speak out, be that glimmer of hope for Madeleine - give her the justice she deserves.

The Wedding Survivor

Well, today has royally been the day of all days - congratulations to William and Kate on their wedding day, I must say the bride looked stunning and I'm sure the mother of the groom was there in spirit.

However, what really made the day for me was spotting the fabulous Bear Grylls mingling with the crowd, as he attempted the gruelling challenge of surviving the wedding!

Here's hoping Bear remembered to pack his lunchbox - I fear for all those stray tourists... well for their sarnies anyway!

The Ghosts of Praia de Luz

Unknown diary entry, PdL
One 4th May, Yesteryear...

      A curious thing last night, which I should like to forget - perhaps if I put it down here, I may see it in its true proportion.

      I worked in the study from 8 o'clock until 10 o'clock. The serenity of the room was interrupted by the constant ticking of the clock, however the street and the pathway outside seemed to be unusually full of what I can only call movement without sound.

      By this, I mean there seemed to be continuous coming and going, and that whenever I ceased writing to listen or look out of the window, the stillness of the street was absolutely unbroken.

     When the clock struck ten, my thoughts were again disturbed by a wretched scream.  This time I could not be mistaken, for a commotion had begun to happen outside on the street, this time movement with sound.

     These imaginary happenings, I am well aware, are a common symptom of incipient decay of the brain - however as this is my first instance, I am not disheartened.  Nor is there anything in my family history to give colour to such an idea.

     My conviction of the ghostly happenings prior to the clock striking could well be construed as imaginary and figments of an excitable imagination.  Since putting it down here, I see their true proportion and have no wish to dwell on the ghosts of Praia de Luz.

~o0o~ 

Four years...

"She was really brave. She started crying but stopped almost immediately.  It was something that usually would have caused 10 minutes of crying rather than 10 seconds."

"If Madeleine had hurt herself inside the apartment – why would that be our fault?"

Irrespective of the language used in front of children and caught on video... if Mr McCann wasn't there to enjoy himself on his family holiday, what was he there to do?


****

In the wide outside

See the swallow as he glides
Like a spiral up to freedom

Time to Forget?... No way, José.

I'm feeling the full effects of Easter today as the latest tripe from Olga Craig has made my eyes bleed.

Interesting that the British media can obtain quotes when they pick and choose, although veiled xenophobia only works when you're clever enough to pull it off.  The ability to write an unbiased article in a less derogatory nature seems a thing of the past - getting Mrs Amaral's name correct would be a good start.  This pink and fluffy tale of woe however actually gave us a couple of pieces of factual information.

Congratulations and good wishes to Mr and Mrs Murat on the birth of their son.  It's no surprise that this family wish to remain private after past happenings and a welcome change that the press have chosen to respect their privacy.

Also condolences to the Fenn family on the death of their mother, Pamela who passed away last month.  Her son, Ian claims that Mr McCann visited her personally to apologise for all the unwanted attention.

Yet another witness contacted by or on behalf of a suspect in this case? Strange that, it really shouldn't be allowed.

1st May 2007 - At approximately 22.30 she heard a child cry, and that due the tone of the crying seemed to be a young child and not a baby of two years of age or younger. Apart from the crying that continued for approximately one hour and fifteen minutes, and which got louder and more expressive, the child shouted “Daddy, Daddy”, the witness had no doubt that the noise came from the floor below. At about 23.45, an hour and fifteen minutes after the crying began, she heard the parents arrive, she did not see them, but she heard the patio doors open, she was quite worried as the crying had gone on for more than an hour and had gradually got worse.

Sad words from Mrs Fenn, now set in stone and another in that series of stones that have been left unturned.

Time to forget?  What a pathetic, ludicrous question.  Apart from the frenzied courting of the media that the McCanns whipped up in early May 2007, along with the strange facts and inconsistencies in this case, the child is still missing.  All these factors have ensured that Madeleine will most likely never be forgotten, even if there is a conclusion. We're not going anywhere, are you?

Happy Easter to you all.

~o0o~

** Thanks to Steel Magnolia for correcting my spelling error... something that has bugged me all day, but couldn't put my finger on it - must've been the bleeding eyes :)