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Chana Goanna's avatar

Thanks for the shout-out! And you’re right; I am most intrigued by the portrait collection. I wish I could see it in person, as I am fascinated by portraits, whether painted or photographic. But the ones included in the article gave a nice taste of the collection.

And I will look for Clarkson’s Farm on Prime. My fantasy is to have a small farm or homestead—but I know in reality I’m much too lazy.

Paddy is such a handsome boy! Is he good with his toys? I can trust my malinois with them but my Doberman (not quite a year old yet) guts them and will start eating the stuffing if I don’t get it away from him in time.

Have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for keeping us up to date!

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Michelle Styles's avatar

You will like Clarkson's Farm. Start at series 1. It is v heart warming and really does show the problems in British farming in an easily accessible way. Clarkson is v much Toad of Toadhall. Next best thing to having your own farmstead.

I thought you might find the royal warrants interesting. It is just the sheer range. When my youngest was at St Andrews, the local bakery had one of the Queen's because she used to send Prince William cakes from there. It was a v good bakery --Donaldson & Fisher's.

He is normally v good and doesn't gut. One of our border collies Tess used to gut anything and everything. I think it was nerves and anxiety. My youngest found the sheep at a vet's -- it is from the kong range.

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Chana Goanna's avatar

The warrants are indeed interesting—and how cool that your local bakery had one. It was neat to learn that they were started by Henry II. I will take a better look at the list when I have more time to enjoy it.

Kong toys are so durable, even for my monsters! Great brand.

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jt's avatar

Good morning Northumberland! Good to "hear" from Ya. For a minute, I forgot this was a Friday. Fridays are good.

Another wonderful roundup of articles. You're so lucky, over there, to have the guidance on RSHE. I don't foresee anything like that over here. But I was sorry to hear about the whistleblowers in the NHS. It seems so typical, tho, for people to do so much harm in order to protect their turf. The PO scandal revisited, only worse. And I was amazed how hypersensitive the Japanese professor was about the innocent sushi comment. Glad the judge got that right.

I'm overjoyed You've got the manuscript done. Good luck on the editing. And hafta comment that Paddy is looking well, per usual.

TY, as always, Michelle. Appreciate it.

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Michelle Styles's avatar

Always good to hear from you JT.

The sushi thing made me laugh.

I am hopeful on the RSHE guidance. Ideally I'd like it in place before the GE as I don't trust Labour on this issue and most pundits say -- Labour by a country mile.

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None's avatar

Paddy looks very pleased with himself. Of course, he can hold an entire sheep in his mouth, so who wouldn’t be pleased with that?

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Michelle Styles's avatar

It is his new favourite toy.

At the moment, all the lambs are around are doing his head in -- he would really like to play with them or is just curious about these noisy creatures who leap about and run. Lambing season is nearly over which should make things easier.

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cocteau twin's avatar

as always, thanks for the update! our family has been watching "clarkson's farm" since it first aired and binged season 3 as soon as each of the episodes were dropped. love it! i think it really does show the difficult and challenging realities of farming and how ridiculous a lot of the regulations are imposed upon the farmers by the government and the council.

we quote jeremy all the time, "look! i did a thing!"

does he have branded t-shirts with that on it? he should. :D

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Michelle Styles's avatar

He should (probably does) but could he sell them in the shop as they probably would not be local...

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cocteau twin's avatar

i know, i think he sells everything not made within the required limits for the farm shop on the DS website.

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Alison Bull's avatar

What do you think of the King’s portrait? Am I insane because I kind of like it??

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Michelle Styles's avatar

It reminds me of a folktale that I read as child about a little boy who emerged from the wallpaper. I think the detail on his face and hands is very good. I suspect there will be worse portraits. It is simply unusual and takes some getting used to.

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May 17, 2024
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None's avatar

Someone said it represents a monarch butterfly. I have no idea if that’s true.

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Michelle Styles's avatar

You and me both on that one. No idea.

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May 17, 2024
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Michelle Styles's avatar

Yes the later portraits of Brenda were decidedly lacking. His reign is currently just there.

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Alison Bull's avatar

I think the red makes him look a little badass, and he's not exactly badass.

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Michelle Styles's avatar

I think he is very velvet bulldozer. He wants things done in a specific way and is v stubborn. He tends to work behind the scenes. His letters to various government ministers when he was Prince of Wales were notorious. He is also v loyal to his causes -- now called the 5 Cs -- cancer, climate, community, culture, and Commonwealth. Cancer was just added as focus for obvious reasons.

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Alison Bull's avatar

Is there any intel on Kate and her cancer? I feel terrible for her.

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Michelle Styles's avatar

The latest news is that she still is receiving cancer treatment and not expected to attend the Duke of Westminster's wedding where Prince William will serve as usher. I really hope the treatment is working. I do however suspect that when we do see her again, she will have shorter hair/be wearing a hat/headscarf.

My fingers are crossed for the Trooping of the Colours but it really depends on how she is doing.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/prince-william-usher-wedding-duke-westminster-royal-news-9c37ljsjq or https://archive.ph/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/prince-william-usher-wedding-duke-westminster-royal-news-9c37ljsjq

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May 17, 2024
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Michelle Styles's avatar

It shows the whole dangers of the concepts of 'microaggression' though. It is something else which was rolled out way too soon and not properly tested.

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Running Burning Man's avatar

your gonna get canceled writing "Jap".

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Michelle Styles's avatar

I presume that 'Jap' meant a Japanese follower of the old militaristic Shinto religion who still believes the emperor is a god.

One of the books I am currently reading is Burma 44 by James Holland. The Japanese military high command (all followers of the above religion) behaved terribly.

Have you read Shogun or watched the latest Shogun which apparently the Japanese consider well done? Clavell wrote it in part to try and get his head around why the prisoners of war had been treated so dreadfully in Japanese camps.

The Han I assume referred to Han Chinese to distinguish from the ethnic groups in China. Again Clavell is useful with Noble House and Tai Pan.

Isn't cancelling people ghoulish?

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