Worlds are colliding as Chunky Stan has developed mouth/breath/forehead smells that, close up, are kind of revolting but which I find oddly comforting. A strange mix of delicious and foul. I wonder if you’re tossed into a space of grief, preventable death, no accountability and regular demonstrations of beyond shite actions by public bodies you grew up relying on/taking for granted, your sense of smell is compromised. Making Stan’s smell strangely fragrant.

Years ago, on a random, overland truck trip organised through a Time Out ad, detailed in early, carefree [sob] pages of this blog, I went to a tannery in Morocco. The smell was seriously rank. A group of US tourists there at the same time had their faces permanently stuffed into handfuls of greenery. Creating a mint balaclava type effect.

It seems like many people/organisations involved/implicated in what happened to LB (Nico Reed, Stephanie Bincliffe, Lisa, Thomas Rawnsley and countless others…) continue to stuff bunches of greenery in their faces. Trying to erase/avoid/ignore/dilute the stench that rises from everything we’re shining a spotlight on.

At the same time, many people/organisations are smelling the smells with us. With collective joyousness and celebration. This is bloody brilliant.

I don’t know how we’ll negotiate the stench of what’s happened and what lies ahead. During #107days (Year 2) we’re anticipating the outcome of various investigations. I’m not optimistic to be honest. Optimistic for what? LB died a preventable death. We all know that.  A report clearly stating this was published over a year ago. Nothing has happened in response.

I suppose I’ll keep hugging Stan, embrace his smelly smells and hope that those involved/implicated chuck their (pointless) mint bouquets in the nearest bin and do the right thing.