This is Northumberland Calling 27.12.24

The Between and Twixtmas edition

Hello America (Particularly Central Ohio) this is Northumberland Calling

It is that time of year in the UK when the day of week has ceased to have formal meaning. A time of year for doing jigsaw puzzles, watching sport, visiting with friends and doing tetras with the leftovers in the fridge.

That said, some news always happens.

Baroness Falkner who remains in charge of the EHRC has asked to see the government’s workings on their conclusion that there is no ‘real’ problem on single sex spaces. It is an important intervention. Falkner wants to make sure that the organisations are following the guidance correctly. Labour had brushed aside concerns, basically telling people to move on and that there was nothing to see. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14226447/Britains-equalities-chief-intervene-Labour-single-sex-spaces.html

The women’s rights charity Sex Matters is suing British Transport Police over their policy of allowing mixed sex strip searches (contrary to the law) based on a self-declared gender of the police officer involved. Sex Matters believes the policy is illegal and must be altered. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/12/26/police-sued-transgender-officers-strip-search-women/ or https://archive.ph/uas6f

A study has discovered that people who eat ultra processed vegan food are more depressed than people who don’t. If people are following a whole food diet, particularly if it is plant based, they tend to have better moods and lower blood pressure than people who are eating the substitutes. I am looking forward to Milli Hill’s Ultra Process Female where she examines the effects of ultra processed food on the female body as most of the research has not differentiated and has been male focused. NB Next week is the time of weight loss and health articles in general as this week is all about sitting around in your pants working up the energy to eat another Quality Street out of the tin. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/12/26/meat-substitutes-linked-to-higher-risk-of-depression/ or https://archive.ph/46vyt

Ghost ships full of badly decomposing bodies have been increasing discovered on the Senegal to Canary Island migrant route to Europe. Basically the Atlantic Ocean is a very unforgiving place for small wooden boats crammed full of people. And Senegal is suffering from extreme poverty. The answer should be to find a way to alleviate the poverty, but that would require leadership which cared more about its people’s actual welfare instead of power and the trappings of wealth. It is the same sort of story which can be told a thousand times over. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/12/26/ghost-boats-decomposing-bodies-atlantic-senegal-canary-isle/ or https://archive.ph/wtzky

And because people often talk Britain down, but it is an amazing country. Britian is particularly good at integration (this does not mean perfect btw). This op-ed looks at what Britain is doing right to juxtapose Labour’s gloom and doom. Hint it is not down to government Nanny-stateism but to ordinary people and indeed the concept of what Britishness is. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/12/26/britain-integration-crime-immigration-birth-rate-hope/ or https://archive.ph/ryMuH

The Royals have been out and about. Prince George joined his father in the annual Sandringham estate works v others football match. He is now the Up and Coming generation. It always happens. Sort of why the Spare becomes irrelevant. However spares like Princess Margaret, Prince Andrew and now Harry linger… https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2024/12/26/prince-george-william-sandringham-football-match/ or https://archive.ph/vRQRs

Persephone getting into the season and sharing the cheese box with one of Paddy’s toys

We had a lovely and quiet Christmas. I hope everyone is having a peaceful time.

Paddy went on a few walks and enjoyed his new toys. He has not been too naughty, simply objects to sirens or foxes yipping at 5 am…

If you want to find me during the week, I have started putting things on Celia M’s Jottings in Purple

which is where a number of refuge FP commentators are hanging out as they dislike the current FP policy on comments. The discussion is usually lively as you might expect from former FP commentators. Depending on how firmly my Procrastination Princess tiara is attached (aka how well my actual writing is going), I may end up getting distracted.

Hopefully everyone else’s week was a good one. I look forward to seeing you in the comments.

If you like what you read on here, why not subscribe? It’s free and I don’t have any plans to put in a paywall. If you want to ‘reward me’, why not buy one of my books? Currently a number of them are on special at $1.99. https://www.amazon.com/stores/Michelle-Styles/author/B00288QUJM?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1729240286&sr=8-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true