Ten years

I moved to Los Angeles on August 2nd 2001.

On September 11th, I was awoken by a frantic phone call from my roommate who had already left for college - turn on the TV and don't go Downtown.

I don't like to talk about it; it was a trauma that you could never predict. I was 6000 miles from home and very alone. My roommate went to stay with friends. That was supportive of her. I considered moving back to the UK and finishing my degree in Swansea.

I didn't leave the apartment for 4 days.

Then I thought... I grew up in a major British city under the ever-present threat of the IRA. I would never be intimidated by something so close to home so I was certainly not going to be intimidated by a threat from half way around the world.

I started embracing life in America and met a lot of very accepting people (some hated me for being "foreign" but most did not). I, of course, got my tattoo in tribute to my new country and all those that were lost. I spoke out for the victims back in Europe when the political tide turned...

Ten years on, I have refused to watch any of the extensive TV coverage as it is still too much for me. I even had to switch Facebook off today because of the puerile comments some idiots were making.

I will continue to remember in my own way. Forever.