I like cat genetics. I have a tuxedo and a tortie, and the gene that causes those colorations is the same. I had no idea orange cats were mostly males.
The Ukrainian firebomber made me chuckle a little because he reminded me of the Bulgarian minions of the previous The Rest is Classified series.
Good luck on your new series and I hope your new editor is a good one! And of course, congratulations on getting a podcast mention for such an old novel for normal writers and a recent novel if you were George R.R. Martin 😆.
I didn't comment last week because I forgot. Paddy's hair cut looks good. He is a handsome dog.
I wish George RR Martin would hurry up! Still there is always Brandon Sanderson in that sphere.
I think fantasy and historical hold up for the long term better. Contemporary can be more fleeting as it is supposed to take place in the eternal present which is unchanging (and of course it does change). I can remember reading a Harlequin about 20 years which referenced several celebrity couples as examples of undying love -- only trouble by the time I read it, the couples had split...
I thought you'd enjoy the Ukrainian firebomber. Seriously if you haven't read Charles Beaumont do. He writes a tight spy thriller.
I hand to check, I'm behind on Sanderson's Storm Light Archive. One writes too fast, the other too slowly lol.
I agree with your observation, people will still adore Tolkien in hundreds of years. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein seems always relevant. I've been reading Scott Bakker's The Prince of Nothing series which came out while I was in high school and university, and it is impressive and finished 😆. Fool me once, George!
I'll read Beaumont a couple of books down the line, I believe you made a recommendation. If so, I put it on my Amazon list. I need to start forcing myself to set aside time to read novels. My goal this year is 25 books and I've finished 5? One for each month. You can blame Bakker for slowing me down, those novels are door stoppers. I'm not sure if the next Outlander comes out this year of not, my books per month is guaranteed to slow down when it does.
The Russian story is wild. We are so unprepared for hybrid tactics. Those are similar to the that cult the FBI is going after (forgive me, I cannot remember the name of the it).
The Iranian nationals story only surprises me in that they've been charged. I follow a few Iranian dissidents on TwiX and one of them in the UK has been assaulted by Iranian agents in London. The same with an Iranian dissident in Toronto. And of course Iranians recruiting Israelis to sabotage Israel. China does the same here in the states with students and researchers in regard to corporate espionage.
I am currently reading Sanderson's latest from the Storm Light Archive. They are good but I loved the Myst Born series more. My youngest got me on to him and left the book for me to read after he power read it at Christmas.
I haven't read Bakker.
I am also currently working my way through the Witcher series which my eldest gave me for my birthday. He thought I'd enjoy it.
The Witcher books are very good! Someone is finally translating The Twelve Kingdoms novels into English. So far they only have release dates for the first three. I read those three when they were translated in the early 2000s by a now defunct publisher who never finished the series. I loved them, every interesting and creative. I am really hoping they translate all 12 or 13 novels. https://sevenseasentertainment.com/series/the-twelve-kingdoms-novel/
You did recommend a Beaumont series A Spy Alone, I just purchased them. Now they really are in the queue!
The Royal College of Nursing did the right thing (finally). It would have helped if they had been more forceful early on. It is Darlington NHS and NHS Fife who are disgusting and breaking the law. SOrry for the confusion.
Yes Paddy is great even if he can be very naughty at times.
Yes they were. It was more a reaction against the Conservatives than a vote for Labour.
You need to remember though -- two sitting MPs have been murdered since 2016. Obviously there was the IRA threat back during the Troubles but the current situation doesn't seem that it is taken all that seriously until something like this happens.
Thx. I am mystified by the lack of "response" to the MP murders. Whodunit?
I was a somewhat partisan on the side of the IRA vis-z-vis the Protestants/English during the Troubles, though not to the extent exporting violence across the waters into England. But the ancient enslavement by the English of the native Irish got my Irish up. I think those battles are not fully resolved, even with the US brokered peace. I do think the muddying of the Republic with migrants using EU-based free travel who are not willing to adopt Irish ways seriously complicates the eventual merger of the Republic with the North. And on that reality, my sentiments shift toward the North. An island which is a microcosm of the conflicts of non-Westerners in Western lands.
And speaking of the Muzzies, I'm curious whether any here have thoughts on this week's Middle East agreements that Trump has orchestrated or is trying to (Iran). Israel (as to which I am a full fledged supporter) is in a peculiar spot, but the MSN seems to ignore the impact on Israel. Maybe Trump's ideas will reduce the tempers, but I don't see how one waves a magic wand and cuts out the deeply held, generations long hatred that at least the Shia Muzzies seem to have internalized against Israel and Jews generally.
With the murdered MPs -- a far right extremist murdered Jo Cox during the Brexit campaign and an Islamist murdered David Amess as he held a scheduled surgery for his constituents. He had travelled there specifically for the purpose.
I try not to take sides over the Troubles except to note that there was a bloody civil war and blowing up civilians is never the answer. The Irish question was completely mishandled. It is also something for all of the Irish to settle (see the above about the civil war). From what I understand Ireland is doing rather better economically than Northern Ireland at the moment and the thinking is that the social problems are too great in Northern Ireland.
re the ME particularly Syria -- it is easier to put sanctions back on if you have taken them off for good behaviour in the first place. Syria has quietly been giving up various ISIS leaders and making other moves which the US requested (I do read the Iran updates) Israel has destroyed much of Assad's military infrastructure. My fingers are crossed for the Abraham Accords being extended. MBS seems to want this. If Syria decides to look inward and stop treating Lebanon as its own private plaything, that will be a big step forward. The Lebanon can look inward and start rebuilding as well. As part of the trouble stems back to the 16th century and dispute over the Divine Creed, I don't know what can be done. The Shi'a also hate the Sunni and multiple other sects of Islam. Once the Israel question is settled (as it should be -- Israel exists as an enfranchised democracy), then the façade of Muslim unity will be torn apart.
Oh they are all over the place. Labour is a broad church and MacSweeney seized the wheel awhile ago, but there are also loads of v far left Momentum types who were put in by Corbyn. There was this huge civil war back when Corbyn became Labour leader... one of the upshots was the outbreak of antisemitism which forced several MPs to leave the Labour party. The failure to accept the report that there was indeed overt antisemitism led to Corbyn losing the whip (aka being kicked out of the party).
they don't have a defence. They have already postponed the trial because they needed more time to prepare.
The 2nd part of the Sandie Peggie case which starts on 16 July is also one where they need to be told -- there is no defence. I can understand why she doesn't want to settle as NHS Fife have acted illegally but NHS Fife keep bleating that they have a case.
She should do. I hope there are punitive financial measures. What they did was illegal. Upton did not have even have a GRC. The law is quite clear on the need to maintain single spaces such as changing rooms for employees. Single sex becomes mixed sex if the opposite sex is allowed in.
The docket is that backed up. Do not get me started on the listing of cases, particularly serious criminal cases. Starting with Cameron, the Government limited the sitting hours for about a decade (they have started doing this again) and allowed the backlog to build and build. For example Teesside which can run 9 court was for several years before COVID running 2. Released Under Investigation was a thing. And of course everything takes longer because defendants are being stuck in prisons all around the country and have to be driven in a police van to court.
Yes well there is that. The real problem is lack of jail space given the growth in population. Labour knows they need to build more jails. The Conservatives ducked the issue.
I love finding your comprehensive but absolutely “easy” to digest posts!
Michelle, as I read your columns I am palatably aware I won’t have to reserve “energy” wondering what needs factoring out.
You are thorough & publish on many fronts & all with panache — you’ve got serious Style‼️
Thank you taking us across the pond in a manner that we were accustomed to once upon a time (ie the true legacy major news outlets, who we *used* to count on to report unbiased reporting).
On here and in real life, there are a couple children who live near by and are like 'Paddy!' every time they see him and rush to say hello. The family have two cockers but the little boy and girl just like Paddy.
It is a very Scottish word. It also gets used in Northumberland. It means a place you sit out in. My husband liked the name and created the space when the chickens went into their new house/run which is sited on what used to be the back lawn. It is where we used to have the chicken house.
Enjoy your musings and recaps Michelle 😘
Thank you for reading June. I appreciate it.
Years ago, Andrea Murkel admitted that multiculturalism doesn't work. As a leftist, she probably gagged as she said it.
Interesting roundup.
I like cat genetics. I have a tuxedo and a tortie, and the gene that causes those colorations is the same. I had no idea orange cats were mostly males.
The Ukrainian firebomber made me chuckle a little because he reminded me of the Bulgarian minions of the previous The Rest is Classified series.
Good luck on your new series and I hope your new editor is a good one! And of course, congratulations on getting a podcast mention for such an old novel for normal writers and a recent novel if you were George R.R. Martin 😆.
I didn't comment last week because I forgot. Paddy's hair cut looks good. He is a handsome dog.
I wish George RR Martin would hurry up! Still there is always Brandon Sanderson in that sphere.
I think fantasy and historical hold up for the long term better. Contemporary can be more fleeting as it is supposed to take place in the eternal present which is unchanging (and of course it does change). I can remember reading a Harlequin about 20 years which referenced several celebrity couples as examples of undying love -- only trouble by the time I read it, the couples had split...
I thought you'd enjoy the Ukrainian firebomber. Seriously if you haven't read Charles Beaumont do. He writes a tight spy thriller.
I hand to check, I'm behind on Sanderson's Storm Light Archive. One writes too fast, the other too slowly lol.
I agree with your observation, people will still adore Tolkien in hundreds of years. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein seems always relevant. I've been reading Scott Bakker's The Prince of Nothing series which came out while I was in high school and university, and it is impressive and finished 😆. Fool me once, George!
I'll read Beaumont a couple of books down the line, I believe you made a recommendation. If so, I put it on my Amazon list. I need to start forcing myself to set aside time to read novels. My goal this year is 25 books and I've finished 5? One for each month. You can blame Bakker for slowing me down, those novels are door stoppers. I'm not sure if the next Outlander comes out this year of not, my books per month is guaranteed to slow down when it does.
And I nearly forgot but you should enjoy this article about Russia recruiting its spies on the gig economy. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/05/17/how-russia-has-used-ukrainians-to-sabotage-the-west/ or https://archive.ph/4e7QS
And of course three Iranian former asylum seekers were in court today charged with spying. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05/17/iranians-charged-counter-terror/ or https://archive.ph/N5QZ3
The Russian story is wild. We are so unprepared for hybrid tactics. Those are similar to the that cult the FBI is going after (forgive me, I cannot remember the name of the it).
The Iranian nationals story only surprises me in that they've been charged. I follow a few Iranian dissidents on TwiX and one of them in the UK has been assaulted by Iranian agents in London. The same with an Iranian dissident in Toronto. And of course Iranians recruiting Israelis to sabotage Israel. China does the same here in the states with students and researchers in regard to corporate espionage.
I am currently reading Sanderson's latest from the Storm Light Archive. They are good but I loved the Myst Born series more. My youngest got me on to him and left the book for me to read after he power read it at Christmas.
I haven't read Bakker.
I am also currently working my way through the Witcher series which my eldest gave me for my birthday. He thought I'd enjoy it.
The Witcher books are very good! Someone is finally translating The Twelve Kingdoms novels into English. So far they only have release dates for the first three. I read those three when they were translated in the early 2000s by a now defunct publisher who never finished the series. I loved them, every interesting and creative. I am really hoping they translate all 12 or 13 novels. https://sevenseasentertainment.com/series/the-twelve-kingdoms-novel/
You did recommend a Beaumont series A Spy Alone, I just purchased them. Now they really are in the queue!
Hello Northumberland! Good to see You again this Friday. Better late than never.
That was an interesting article about Enoch Powell.
Your prison situation is shocking.
Andrew Norfolk was a saint. And it's shocking it still goes on. That's it's worse than in 2004.
The Royal College of Nursing is disgusting. So is the Union of Civil servants.
That's interesting about the Harvard Magna Carta. As was the article about ginger cats. It's a sorry situation with the charities.
That's great to hear about Your book being a bop. Great coverage.
Paddy looks great, even if he didn't behave great. And good to hear the bees are doing so well.
And, as always, wanna say TY Michelle.
Lovely to see you JT. Always brightens my Friday.
The Royal College of Nursing did the right thing (finally). It would have helped if they had been more forceful early on. It is Darlington NHS and NHS Fife who are disgusting and breaking the law. SOrry for the confusion.
Yes Paddy is great even if he can be very naughty at times.
So Starmer has hired the same communications consultants as US Democrat Party? The firebomb attacks are a "threat to Democracy"!!!
What a real dork that guy is. The Tories must have been really bad to then elect Starmer.
Yes they were. It was more a reaction against the Conservatives than a vote for Labour.
You need to remember though -- two sitting MPs have been murdered since 2016. Obviously there was the IRA threat back during the Troubles but the current situation doesn't seem that it is taken all that seriously until something like this happens.
Thx. I am mystified by the lack of "response" to the MP murders. Whodunit?
I was a somewhat partisan on the side of the IRA vis-z-vis the Protestants/English during the Troubles, though not to the extent exporting violence across the waters into England. But the ancient enslavement by the English of the native Irish got my Irish up. I think those battles are not fully resolved, even with the US brokered peace. I do think the muddying of the Republic with migrants using EU-based free travel who are not willing to adopt Irish ways seriously complicates the eventual merger of the Republic with the North. And on that reality, my sentiments shift toward the North. An island which is a microcosm of the conflicts of non-Westerners in Western lands.
And speaking of the Muzzies, I'm curious whether any here have thoughts on this week's Middle East agreements that Trump has orchestrated or is trying to (Iran). Israel (as to which I am a full fledged supporter) is in a peculiar spot, but the MSN seems to ignore the impact on Israel. Maybe Trump's ideas will reduce the tempers, but I don't see how one waves a magic wand and cuts out the deeply held, generations long hatred that at least the Shia Muzzies seem to have internalized against Israel and Jews generally.
With the murdered MPs -- a far right extremist murdered Jo Cox during the Brexit campaign and an Islamist murdered David Amess as he held a scheduled surgery for his constituents. He had travelled there specifically for the purpose.
I try not to take sides over the Troubles except to note that there was a bloody civil war and blowing up civilians is never the answer. The Irish question was completely mishandled. It is also something for all of the Irish to settle (see the above about the civil war). From what I understand Ireland is doing rather better economically than Northern Ireland at the moment and the thinking is that the social problems are too great in Northern Ireland.
re the ME particularly Syria -- it is easier to put sanctions back on if you have taken them off for good behaviour in the first place. Syria has quietly been giving up various ISIS leaders and making other moves which the US requested (I do read the Iran updates) Israel has destroyed much of Assad's military infrastructure. My fingers are crossed for the Abraham Accords being extended. MBS seems to want this. If Syria decides to look inward and stop treating Lebanon as its own private plaything, that will be a big step forward. The Lebanon can look inward and start rebuilding as well. As part of the trouble stems back to the 16th century and dispute over the Divine Creed, I don't know what can be done. The Shi'a also hate the Sunni and multiple other sects of Islam. Once the Israel question is settled (as it should be -- Israel exists as an enfranchised democracy), then the façade of Muslim unity will be torn apart.
Thank you for another update how the Brit leadership is conflicted (f- up). Just read a complimentary post by Jupplandia:
https://open.substack.com/pub/jupplandia/p/keir-starmer-transitions?r=o30r9&utm_medium=ios
Oh they are all over the place. Labour is a broad church and MacSweeney seized the wheel awhile ago, but there are also loads of v far left Momentum types who were put in by Corbyn. There was this huge civil war back when Corbyn became Labour leader... one of the upshots was the outbreak of antisemitism which forced several MPs to leave the Labour party. The failure to accept the report that there was indeed overt antisemitism led to Corbyn losing the whip (aka being kicked out of the party).
"The tribunal is due to take place in October 2025"
Breathtaking.
they don't have a defence. They have already postponed the trial because they needed more time to prepare.
The 2nd part of the Sandie Peggie case which starts on 16 July is also one where they need to be told -- there is no defence. I can understand why she doesn't want to settle as NHS Fife have acted illegally but NHS Fife keep bleating that they have a case.
Will she get big bucks?
She should do. I hope there are punitive financial measures. What they did was illegal. Upton did not have even have a GRC. The law is quite clear on the need to maintain single spaces such as changing rooms for employees. Single sex becomes mixed sex if the opposite sex is allowed in.
I meant October! FIVE MONTHS!! Is the docket that backed up? Or is there anything to be uncovered?
The docket is that backed up. Do not get me started on the listing of cases, particularly serious criminal cases. Starting with Cameron, the Government limited the sitting hours for about a decade (they have started doing this again) and allowed the backlog to build and build. For example Teesside which can run 9 court was for several years before COVID running 2. Released Under Investigation was a thing. And of course everything takes longer because defendants are being stuck in prisons all around the country and have to be driven in a police van to court.
"defendants are being stuck in prisons"
Y'all have raised the Process is the Punishment to an art form! Over Here it still seems to involve crushing cost. Mostly, anyway.
Yes well there is that. The real problem is lack of jail space given the growth in population. Labour knows they need to build more jails. The Conservatives ducked the issue.
I love finding your comprehensive but absolutely “easy” to digest posts!
Michelle, as I read your columns I am palatably aware I won’t have to reserve “energy” wondering what needs factoring out.
You are thorough & publish on many fronts & all with panache — you’ve got serious Style‼️
Thank you taking us across the pond in a manner that we were accustomed to once upon a time (ie the true legacy major news outlets, who we *used* to count on to report unbiased reporting).
&& I always love 💕 that you include your Paddy.
Thank you. I think there are a few who simply read for the Paddy photo and so I know I have to include that!
He has a fan club!
On here and in real life, there are a couple children who live near by and are like 'Paddy!' every time they see him and rush to say hello. The family have two cockers but the little boy and girl just like Paddy.
Nice to see some good news this week!
I have a very good vocabulary but I have never heard of a sitoutery or a sitootery. Interesting
It is a very Scottish word. It also gets used in Northumberland. It means a place you sit out in. My husband liked the name and created the space when the chickens went into their new house/run which is sited on what used to be the back lawn. It is where we used to have the chicken house.