This is Northumberland Calling 3.7.26

The Happy 250th America edition

Hello America (especially Central Ohio), this is Northumberland calling.

Plaque outside The White Hart Inn Lewes E Sussex

Today 250 years ago, the members of the Continental Congress were preparing to put their signatures to one of the most radical and consequential documents in history – the Declaration of Independence.

Some of my ancestors were busy in the Continental Army. One is said to have been at Valley Forge. Later when George Washington did his tour of the South, he stayed with one of my ancestors who was supposed to have been one of his favourite officers (how many ‘favourites’ did Washington have?) https://thelibertytrail.org/history/stories/world-phifers-fifers-and-pheiffers

Because one of my ancestors was an Avery who originally hailed from Groton CT before moving to NC as a young man to take up law, I discovered the massacre of Ft Griswold, a small battle during the war where the British under Benedict Arnold’s command behaved very badly. Many Averys were killed in that battle. Because I know I have some select UK readers and the American Revolution is not very well taught. But the battle is an interesting one as is its aftermath. https://revolutionarywarjournal.com/battle-of-groton-heights-and-massacre-of-fort-griswolds-garrison/

There are reasons why I identify as an American rather than anything hyphenated American. And in the conflict which was the American Civil War – ancestors fought on both sides. Several branches were rabid abolitionists while others believed in the Confederacy. And so on. I suspect there were whirling noises from several spinning their graves when I became a British citizen as well but such is life. Despite having lived in the UK for the majority of my life, I remain at my core proudly American.

In Britain, the creaking which is Starmer’s last days continues. It should Burnham as the next PM. He has made promises about increasing defence spending (one of Starmer’s legacy’s will surely be the near destruction of the Royal Navy). https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/07/02/burnham-rules-out-crude-welfare-cuts/ or https://news.sky.com/story/politics-latest-burnham-starmer-labour-tories-badenoch-farage-12593360

The opposition to the Puberty Blocker trial does continue to grow. The Times published a lead editorial about why it needed to be halted. Children should not be guinea pigs. Despite the longing from a certain sector, the era of no debate is well and truly over. https://www.thetimes.com/comment/the-times-view/article/children-should-guinea-pigs-puberty-blocker-trial-j8cmzfqsc or https://archive.ph/YLX7Z

The Tempest v DEFRA tribunal continues. It is amazing to see the zealotry which has been employed. Forget Stonewall, the staff network a:gender (whose chair, previously fulltime but now reduced to only 10% of working time but paid by the British taxpayer) had enormous influence, including the formulation of unlawful trans inclusion policies which departments adopted wholesale. The chair who has been giving evidence in the tribunal claim they had no influence. A;gender want to see SEEN shut down and a return to the era of no debate because they believe any expression of a GC belief in the workplace is harassment. It is worth reading the transcripts. A satisfying part for me was when the complainant had to admit on Wednesday morning that Rachel Rooney’s picture book was not offensive but the complainant objected to gender non-conforming children being depicted as being happy in their bodies as the complainant was dissatisfied with their own body.

Tempest vs DEFRA & Rural Payments Agency

England (like the US) has made it through to the last 16 of the World Cup. England play Mexico in Mexico City. I shall not stay up to watch but will be shocked if England make it through to the quarter finals. Starmer is allowing pubs to stay open for the entirety of the match. I suspect some will be WFH on Monday with little done. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2026/07/02/pubs-close-half-time-england-vs-mexico-world-cup-last-16/ or https://archive.ph/9tkZr

As you may remember the riots in Dublin three years ago, the man who stabbed the three children (the incident which sparked the rioting) has now been sentenced after being found guilty. The children suffered terribly in that attack. He attacked them because he was upset that his request for asylum had been rejected. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/01/migrant-dublin-riots-guilty-of-attempting-murder/ or https://archive.ph/D28uh

Lady Louise Winsor has graduated from St Andrews. She started just after the Queen died. I wonder if she liked Donaldson’s (the bakery which is an institution in St Andrews) . She has expressed an interest in the military so I suspect she spend some time at Sandhurst after her gap year. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2026/07/02/king-niece-graduates-from-st-andrews/ or https://archive.ph/kuw2s

The Queen met with JK Rowling this week. The king and queen are great fans of the Harry Potter books. The Queen and JKR have a shared passion for children’s books. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2026/06/30/king-holyroodhouse-keys-edinburgh-royals-balaklava/ or https://archive.ph/dTE1u

I was pleased to see Through the Looking Glass get a mention in the FSU weekly newsletter.

Here

I will be getting out my American flags and proudly flying them. My sons will be here for the celebration.

Paddy wearing his new bow tie wishes all in his fan group a Happy 4th of July

Paddy has been trying to catch that American invader – they grey squirrel (we no longer have red squirrels in this area).

The bees are doing well. The queenless colony now has a queen after I added a frame of sealed and unsealed brood in late May. They did their thing (thankfully). I have put a 2nd super on the other colony.

My writing continues.

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