This is Northumberland Calling 14.4.23
Coronation Countdown Commences edition
The New Statesman on the sudden collapse of the SNP’s power. Scotland has been a one party state – and I am sure people remember Disraeli’s point that a strong democracy needs a strong but loyal opposition or it will wither and die... https://archive.ph/dVvqJ
Yousaf tries to deflect from the crisis by challenging the UK government veto of the Gender Reform Bill. Pay attention to that, not the £100k camper van stored at Nicola Sturgeon’s mother-in-law’s. And certainly not the fact that the auditors resigned six months ago and nobody bothered to tell the Executive Committee. https://archive.is/UhlVd
Sunak knows what a woman is and is not afraid to say it. He stated at Conservative Home forum that women do not have penises. NB The Conservatives are currently gaining in the polls and the general election will most likely be October 2024, all things considered. https://archive.is/0Ynug
President Biden visited Northern Ireland and revealed himself to be part of the Plastic Paddy brigade. His gaffes (you would not want to mistake the Blacks and Tans for the All Blacks – trust me. One was a paramilitary outfit during the Irish civil war, the other a rugby team) were enough to start games of drink a pint of Guinness every time he reveals his allegiance to the Old Sod. And just as California has altered irrevocably since I left it in 1988, Ireland has changed since his great great grandmother emigrated in 1840. Truly it has. https://archive.is/nWIWr
British Library staff are to get emotional support as they go through the vast catalogue adding trigger warnings to unacceptable works of literature. This is so the public can search its records ‘safely’. – part of an Action Plan developed in the wake of BLM movement. https://archive.is/BdXKP
The Countdown to the Coronation has begun in earnest. Harry will show up but not his wife or children. Certain member of the British public wonder if there will be a reason for Harry to return to the UK after the Coronation as he will have no further part to play (except maybe at his father’s funeral) This is Peter Brookes’ the cartoonist’s take on the situation: Harry putting out the bibles https://archive.is/OhAcY
All the official Coronation tat memorabilia goes on sale today. The background is an ultramarine blue because it is supposed to be more masculine. (Why? Ultramarine blue is a fabulous colour and as a non-living thing does not happen to possess a gender. They just wanted a change from the red Queen Elizabeth II used)) Due to the cost of living crisis, they have put the prices significantly up from last year and the late Queen’s jubilee memorabilia. https://archive.is/DQX52
This is a guide to the 13 ceremonial roles (and the people who will fulfil them) who will be supporting the monarch during the ceremony. https://archive.is/6oong
Following his mother’s example, the King will be anointed away from the cameras. https://archive.is/yds4k
Monty Don, the presenter of Gardener’s World is having to redo his garden as he ran into problems with the British climate. He found that not fully hardy plants do struggle in the British climate and lost citrus trees, dahlias and cannas this year and is thus having to have a rethink. https://archive.is/vzVMd
Finally was Leonardo Da Vinci’s the son of a slave? A chance discovery of a document freeing a woman Caterina (presumed to be Da Vinici’s mother) in the Da Vinci’s household a few months after Leonardo’s birth points to this conclusion. This Caterina was Circassian (therefore white). The previous assumption was that Caterina was a local woman of modest origins. https://historyreclaimed.co.uk/was-leonardo-da-vincis-mother-a-slave/
The last time I was in Target, there was an abundance of SPARE. Yesterday the same amount of books all had a 30% off sticker and were falling from the shelves. It’s being spun by certain media here that Markle’s decision to not attend the coronation is “empowering.” Somehow I think there’s more to the story. These two made multiple millions by ripping on the RF. From now on they should both just stay away, unless they’re looking for more material.
I can’t wait for the coronation! Because it’ll be so early here my friends and I are going to make our scones and snacks the day before and watch together over FaceTime.
My father, who is almost 80, remembers watching the Queen’s coronation on television in 1953. It is really incredible that there is such a vast amount of time between British coronations.
Thank you, Michelle, for another great round up! Have a wonderful weekend, everyone.
Lol! "Truly it has." Ne'er were Truer words spoken! Thank You for the laugh, Ma'am.
Truly the world has gone insane when Sir Keir Starmer can say that some women have penises. Presumably he graduated high school (or Your equivalent over there across the pond). Did he never have a biology course?!?
Truly the world has gotten brighter with Prime Minister Sunak pushing back.
Truly it has gotten brighter with M Piggott's piece. Truer words again:
"Last weekend in Cork we visited the multi-ethnic Marina Market and ate Mexican fajitas while drinking American beer and watching English football on a Japanese TV."
Ireland not so different from U.S. it turns out. Funny that. (As an aside, I have a bit o' the Blarney Stone in my heritage. I remember when the mayor of Dublin was a Briscoe.)
Truly has the world gotten more confusing since reading about the British library. So they decided to become "anti-racist" after the BLM riots which, incidently, probably killed more people than the police killed unarmed blacks. Ah...
Weeeel, that implies they were racists before. I find that a funny concept. But it goes along with Kendi's stupidity that You're either an anti-racist, or You're a racist according to his definition of racism: https://twitter.com/JohnHMcWhorter/status/1399670923221946372
Here is John McWhorter's take on it: "In which academic discipline is this circular, naive, deer-caught-in-the-headlights response to a basic and urgent question considered insightful or excellent?"
I assume "Spare" is the Bible on nincompoops? My $.02 on another Royal issue (har!) is that that's a nice shade-a blue. But hafta admit I'm so ign'rant I don't know what the four nations of the UK even *are.* What can I say?
Other than, per usual, You have outdone Yourself, Michelle. You sent a prelim version of Your newest book to Your editor, right? Was it called a "partial." Ancient memory not as good as it was. (Or maybe my memory of how good it used-ta be if faulty. ;-)
Hope writing biography of JM is going along smoothly. And that Your life, in general, is going on smoothly. (Smoothly is my word of the moment. ;-) TY again for Your excellence, Michelle.