This is Northumberland Calling 20.09.24
The Kier Starmer acquires a new nickname and starts coming apart at the seams edition
Hello America (Particularly Central Ohio) this is Northumberland Calling
First it was two-tier Kier about policing and now it is Kier Starmer, Granny Harmer about the cutting of the winter fuel benefit. They shouted Maggie Thatcher, Milk Snatcher at her for 42 years including at her funeral. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/09/13/starmer-starmer-pensioner-harmer/ or https://archive.ph/ocnvZ
They may drop the winter fuel cut as the Bank of England through smoke and mirrors has suddenly discovered an extra £10 billion. Imagine that! Reeves is apparently undecided – perhaps she is waiting to see which union is going to demand a pay increase next. https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/winter-fuel-cut-hope-rachel-reeves-budget-headroom-569scc88f or https://archive.ph/8S6lR
Clothesgates is not going away for Labour. One could say that Labour is coming apart at the seams. Lord Alli has been bankrolling seven cabinet ministers, including Angela Rayner staying at his New York flat over New Year’s. https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/coming-apart-at-the-seams-already-starmers-sartorial-saga-rumbles-on-z2qjzlpjp or https://archive.ph/1NwEo
Neither are the tensions between Sue Gray (Starmer’s chief advisor) and various people including the Head of the Civil Service, Simon Chase going away. Apparently that feud goes back years. Case does plan to stand to down. I believe he was known as the Fly in Prince Harry’s memoir.
The Prince of Wales has a new equerry who is a fellow pilot. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2024/09/19/prince-william-wales-new-equerry-helicopter-pilot/ or https://archive.ph/QA7Uy
A UK schoolboy was allowed to identify as a wolf at his secondary school. <eyeroll> Species dysphoria? Really? https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/09/19/schoolboy-uk-allowed-identify-as-a-wolf/ or https://archive.ph/77gfj
The Times did a piece on the firm who makes glass mosaic tiles in Venice which are used around the world. Venice does appear to have a number of luxury manufacturers. But because I am interested in Roman history, I was interested to see that there are firms still making the mosaic tiles. https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/luxury/article/inside-venices-magical-mosaic-workshop-times-luxury-8d9tsns9h or https://archive.ph/biGj8
The latest series of All Creatures Great and Small started on Channel 5 last night. It is really duvet drama at its best (I suspect it will be on Masterpiece Theatre in the new year). It is June 1941 and all change with James Herriot doing his bit at RAF Abington and Siegfried holding down the fort in Yorkshire. Channel 5 now does a good line in vet and Yorkshire programmes as well. And I am pleased the BBC decided to pass on the reboot, allowing Channel 5 to snap it up as they have ensured the charm is there.
Here my latest contract is all signed and my proposal (first 3 chapters plus synopsis is due at the end of the month).
I did not take the honey off as we suddenly had several days of an Indian Summer. It has gone grey and drizzly now.
I did work out how to get more apple juice without a scratter – a coarse box grater does the trick. It is labour intensive but the juice is good.
Paddy has had a great time racing around the garden in the sunshine as I try to tidy the dene after not touching it since last autumn due to the tree falling down. Slowly but steadily the pathways are being uncovered again. Sometimes the garden can resemble the Secret Garden before Mary Lennox brings the love back to it a little too much. (And yes, it was one of my fave books growing up)
Hopefully everyone else’s week was a good one. I look forward to seeing you in the comments.
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And because I happened to listen to the World at One and the Al-Fayed case is heating up. Apparently the former owner of Harrods (now deceased) serially abused women, including underaged women and it was covered up. The BBC have done a documentary on the subject and a podcast. They held a press conference. Gloria Allred is involved for some of the victims. Harrods has apologised, saying that they were now a different organization and that there was a compensation scheme available for the victims.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/09/20/harrods-must-take-responsibility-for-monster-mohamed-fayed/ or https://archive.ph/FYIYn
Hello Northumberland! Good to see Ya. Makes Friday's extra special.
Haha! That's a good one. "Coming apart at the seams." You're lucky over there that Your budget deficits are measured in the billions.
I, too, am incredulous at the idea of "species dysphoria." Kids are just plain sick, too many of them.
Congrats on getting the contract signed! And for success with the apple juice. Paddy looks good, as always.
And, as always, thank You Michelle.