Hello Northumberland! This is Central Ohio calling.
Another fine round-up of articles. Sometimes I'm surprised by what goes on over there. Sometimes not. I'm especially sorry to "hear" about the Horizon scandal. Only 93 convictions overturned? I don't ask how these kinds-a things can happen. But how hard to correct the problem? I don't understand it.
I'm glad to hear of progress on the puzzle and Paddy's efforts. And especially glad to hear about a new Viking book. It's always a true wonder to me how authors have the imagination and skill to produce a novel.
My husband and I were both shocked by the Horizon scandal and the fact that it remains ongoing. The PO behaved terribly. People should be held accountable for hiding the fact that the software was faulty. Vanells lied to Parliament about it. The PO had dragged their heels and dragged them again, counting on the public not to be v interested.
I understand part of the problem in clearing some of the what 700? is that there may be some genuine bad apples in there. However, I believe most are innocent.
The tv programme is v well done and I can now understand why McWhorter was saying that if he had $43 million, he'd make a movie about the rise of the Black Power movement. This one explained something which is v complex and has taken years. They humanized it.
Some people's minds are just wired that way -- it can be agony to write, but worse still is not writing.
Some people have said that the tv series Mr Bates v the Post Office should be winning awards at the BAFTAs next year.
I watched the documentary on it. Apparently Alan Bates was offered an OBE (a honour) but refused it as long as Vannells retains her CBE (another honour).
People speak a lot about Institutional corruption but this is v much a textbook case of it.
She gets him as a person from everything I can tell and I think that is important in a marriage. She seems v sensible and it seems to me that she married him because she wanted to be his wife, not because she wanted to be queen if that makes any sense.
I am hoping the podcasts which start on 8 Jan will be interesting. And it is good to have someone like Queen Camilla who is unafraid to be reading popular books. She apparently loves Harry Potter.
I had to stop and do a rethink, too. As an American (North Carolina), when I read the title “Queen” my mind pictures the only one who ruled during my lifetime. Queen Elizabeth was such an icon. Such a tiny woman to be so much larger than life. Now I’ve had to reset that image to Camilla.
I’m going to have to work on that.
Nice column, Michelle, but where is the Paddy picture?
The whirling noise people may occasionally hear is the sound of my relatives from that period turning because I became a British citizen. LOL.
Actually because I spent a little time in the Carolinas growing up, it made it easier for me to understand the dynamics of Northumberland when I first moved over here. My grandfather was in the US Navy and retired to CA as that was his last posting plus my grandmother grew up in LA.
I have yet to go to Bristol but I understand it is v pleasant around there.
And more importantly, Paddy loves belly rubs. He is such a spaniel. The correctly tuned whistle means he is more likely to have his listening ears in.
Hello Northumberland! This is Central Ohio calling.
Another fine round-up of articles. Sometimes I'm surprised by what goes on over there. Sometimes not. I'm especially sorry to "hear" about the Horizon scandal. Only 93 convictions overturned? I don't ask how these kinds-a things can happen. But how hard to correct the problem? I don't understand it.
I'm glad to hear of progress on the puzzle and Paddy's efforts. And especially glad to hear about a new Viking book. It's always a true wonder to me how authors have the imagination and skill to produce a novel.
TY, as always, Michelle.
My husband and I were both shocked by the Horizon scandal and the fact that it remains ongoing. The PO behaved terribly. People should be held accountable for hiding the fact that the software was faulty. Vanells lied to Parliament about it. The PO had dragged their heels and dragged them again, counting on the public not to be v interested.
I understand part of the problem in clearing some of the what 700? is that there may be some genuine bad apples in there. However, I believe most are innocent.
The tv programme is v well done and I can now understand why McWhorter was saying that if he had $43 million, he'd make a movie about the rise of the Black Power movement. This one explained something which is v complex and has taken years. They humanized it.
Some people's minds are just wired that way -- it can be agony to write, but worse still is not writing.
So glad to hear from you. Always makes my Friday.
TY for Your reply, Michelle. Informative, as always.
Yes, wired that way. Must be so. And, yes, Fridays are special.
And as luck would have it -- yesterday the Met confirmed that it is investigating the Post Office for fraud and at least two Fujitsu employees for perjury relating to the Horizon software scandal. It made front page of the Times. But this is the Guardian's version: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/jan/05/post-office-criminal-investigation-potential-horizon-accounting-fraud
Some people have said that the tv series Mr Bates v the Post Office should be winning awards at the BAFTAs next year.
I watched the documentary on it. Apparently Alan Bates was offered an OBE (a honour) but refused it as long as Vannells retains her CBE (another honour).
People speak a lot about Institutional corruption but this is v much a textbook case of it.
I'm glad to see the police go after them. But there's no recovery for the four that took their own lives. Very sorryful.
TY for Your coverage, Michelle. Perfect timing.
Thanks so much for your weekly synopsis!
Happy New Year, Michelle! And thanks for my little slice of Britain every Friday morning--even when the news is not so great.
Happy New Year to you as well. I thought you might enjoy the Queen's Reading Room, if you haven't already discovered it.
I will check it out--as soon as I get over my shock of reading "the Queen" and having to mentally pair Camilla's face with that.
Yes it does take some getting used to. But in general Queen Camilla seems to be a good egg. She seems to ground King Charles.
Agreed! She seems very down-to-earth.
She gets him as a person from everything I can tell and I think that is important in a marriage. She seems v sensible and it seems to me that she married him because she wanted to be his wife, not because she wanted to be queen if that makes any sense.
I am hoping the podcasts which start on 8 Jan will be interesting. And it is good to have someone like Queen Camilla who is unafraid to be reading popular books. She apparently loves Harry Potter.
I had to stop and do a rethink, too. As an American (North Carolina), when I read the title “Queen” my mind pictures the only one who ruled during my lifetime. Queen Elizabeth was such an icon. Such a tiny woman to be so much larger than life. Now I’ve had to reset that image to Camilla.
I’m going to have to work on that.
Nice column, Michelle, but where is the Paddy picture?
I will make sure there is a new photo for next week.
It does take a moment or so to reset. I always have to do with this with the Prince and Princess of Wales as well. It takes a moment or several.
And hooray for being from NC -- some of my paternal grandfather's family were from there --around Morganton.
I am on the coast. And my family immigrated from the UK early enough to participate in our Revolutionary War. We’re from the Bristol area.
And please give Paddy a nice belly rub from me.
The whirling noise people may occasionally hear is the sound of my relatives from that period turning because I became a British citizen. LOL.
Actually because I spent a little time in the Carolinas growing up, it made it easier for me to understand the dynamics of Northumberland when I first moved over here. My grandfather was in the US Navy and retired to CA as that was his last posting plus my grandmother grew up in LA.
I have yet to go to Bristol but I understand it is v pleasant around there.
And more importantly, Paddy loves belly rubs. He is such a spaniel. The correctly tuned whistle means he is more likely to have his listening ears in.