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ENGLISH VILLAGE - WEEK 22 - A VERY BRITISH COUP |
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INTRODUCTION We are now living in one of several sealed-off heavily defended "safe zones" controlled by the British Army. We have food, water and a future ... whilst 80% of the British population faces famine or violent death. |
MONDAY My brother came over to see me this morning. He is a radio amateur and had spent the weekend using his radio trying to locate other "safe zones" which might be nearer his home district. He is very confused - he hasn't been able to identify any other zones under Army protection. Whilst the main industrial cities across the centre and north of England such as Manchester, Liverpool & Birmingham had certainly fallen into mayhem & chaos, he found many other areas which seem to be holding on. Even parts of London are reported as being free of violence. It seems that our "safe zone" is the only one which exists in the entire UK - although we have been informed that there are several others around the country. What is going on? |
TUESDAY We called a family meeting today. My brother explained the situation, as reported by his radio contacts in the outside world. We soon came to the conclusion that we might be living in an area controlled by a renegade Army unit. Or perhaps the Army and Police truly believe that they are doing a good job, having been given false information. Whatever the truth, it is clear that the Commissioner, Colonel Jarmain, who is running the district, is probably not authorised to do so. It looks like we have been caught up in a military coup .... |
WEDNESDAY We have spent most of the night trying to talk to people outside our "safe zone". It is clear that total chaos has indeed swept across part of England. As our village is in the heart of the affected areas, we would almost certainly have died in the troubles, had we not been under Army protection. I suppose we owe Colonel Jarmain some gratitude for that at least. However Scotland to the far north and Bristol not far to the south are apparently peaceful, despite food and fuel shortages. Manchester to the immediate north and Birmingham to the east are definitely "no go" areas ... the high population density has led to rioting, looting and murder on an industrial scale. It also does seem true that most Police, politicians and other key people in these blighted cities have scurried off to safer areas. I have asked everyone in the family to consider the situation overnight - we need to decide what to do next. Do we stay here under authoritarian - and probably illegal - Army jurisdiction? Or do we move on to a more civilised - but less "comfortable" - area? |
THURSDAY We have come to a decision - the members of the family who don't come from this area will to try to leave the village. They plan to travel to Bristol - a small city to the south. My wife & I will stay here - this is our home after all. I had a quiet chat to one of the Army officers who is staying at a house nearby. He said that people can leave the area without hindrance ... but they won't be allowed to take much in the way of useful goods with them. They also won't be allowed to return. The family plan to leave early tomorrow morning, so we spent the afternoon preparing four mobile homes for the journey. We managed to fill the fuel tanks - but my wife & I won't be left with much. We also loaded as much food and water as we could. We all had a big family meal this evening ... who knows when the travellers will be able to eat well again? We all tried to have a festive evening .. but underneath the fun & laughter we all knew that tomorrow's trip would be into the unknown. |
FRIDAY The small convoy set of at about 8AM. I advised the local Army control post that my family would be leaving the area permanently. They were fairly happy with that, and prepared some travel permits for the vehicles. My brother left his main ham radio transceiver with us - but he took a small hand held model with him. We should be able to stay in radio contact until he leaves our "safe zone". Everyone was very weepy when the convoy set off. My wife & I are very worried about how they will fare ... but they couldn't be persuaded to stay in what they called "This Nazi hell-hole". They had a 20 or so mile drive to the southern edge of the "safe zone", a few miles south of Cheltenham. At about midday my brother reported via radio that they had been escorted across the "free fire zone" by an Army vehicle, and that they were now in open countryside. They were supposed to be in what the Army call "The Badlands" ... but they reported that they could see no sign of trouble. Clearly the southern edge of our "safe zone" is much more peaceful that the eastern and northern edges adjacent to the collapsing cities of Birmingham & Manchester. The radio signal from my brother's handheld unit faded away shortly afterwards. I just hope that they manage to get news back to us if (let's be positive .. when) they reach Bristol. |
SATURDAY It has been a sad day. The place seems so quiet now that our extended family has left. I just hope that we have done the right thing deciding to stay in the "secure zone" ... |
SUNDAY Still no news from Bristol ... I pray that they all made it there safely .... |