This is Northumberland Calling 8.9.23

The Welcome to the Heat Dome edition

My Spring proudly wearing his new bow tie.

Hello America! This is Northumberland calling.

After the rain-soaked August, England swelters as a heat dome rises from the Saraha. It will supposedly break on Sunday – in the mean time, it is an Indian summer over here. The German word for it is: Altweibersommer or Old woman’s summer – heat like a sudden hot flush.

Gillian Keegan had a flush when she had a hot mic moment, going on about how wonderfully she was doing. She retains her position (just) and the schools’ crumbling concrete (along with courts, hospitals and other public buildings) remain a topic of urgent conversation. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/headteachers-told-to-get-off-their-backsides-to-fill-in-raac-survey-nrfxmzq7s or  https://archive.is/0UDM4

Hints of heated discussion in the cabinet with Badenoch statingthat she doesn’t think there needs to be a change in the law to ban social transitioning in school because all children should be treated equally. Social transitioning requires some children to be treated differently as it compels others to participate.  https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/09/07/kemi-badenoch-cabinet-split-trans-policy/ or

Miriam Cates has confirmed that no decision has been taken btw:

https://twitter.com/miriam_cates/status/1699802275294675206

Birmingham City Council declared bankruptcy this week. They had 50 years to get their house in order and pay women equal wages, (see the Made in Dagenham film for the legal fight) but declined to do so. They suddenly faced a large sum of money owed. This op-ed explains some of the difficulties and why local councils are facing various ticking time bombs: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/birmingham-council-crisis-is-only-the-start-xvq7ktqn9 or https://archive.is/wvBxK

Trying to take the heat out of the situation, the author John Boyne decided to formally apologise to Graham Lineham, regretting that he had played any part in Lineham’s cancellation. He stated that Lineham was right to air his concerns about gender ideology and that he now shared those concerns. Lineham accepted the apology which Boyne did simply because he felt it was the right thing to do. An op-ed on the subject: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/09/06/graham-linehan-deserves-his-redemption/   Or https://archive.is/uRC5s

 And the actual apology:

https://twitter.com/JohnBoyneBooks/status/1698830513077694477

Hannah Barnes’s Time to Think has been included on the longlist of one of the UK’s most prestigious nonfiction awards – the Ballie Gifford prize . To recap, over 20 publishers did not think it worth publishing  https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/baillie-gifford-prize-2023-longlist-non-fiction-books-d39hfk0dh  or https://archive.is/qRp6j

A new Neolithic monument has been discovered on the Isle of Arran and archologists are investigating the cursus this summer.  A cursus is a structure  used for religious purposes during the Neolithic period and resembles a network of trenches or ditches (an explanation of why it was overlooked until now). Cursus is a new word for me this week btw. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/vast-neolithic-monument-found-on-isle-of-arran-6vktnxw53 or https://archive.is/Cl8c1

The Rugby World Cup starts tonight France v New Zealand. It runs until 28 October. I doubt England have much of a chance once the knock out stages start,  but stranger things have happened. You can  see the full list of fixtures here: https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2023/matches

It is a year since Queen Elizabeth II died and the papers are full of retrospection about the King’s year. General agreement is that he has done well. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/king-charles-year-throne-anniversary-reign-royal-monarchy-uk-20-6kbblncg3  or https://archive.is/EWRot

The details of the King and Queen’s state visit to France (20 -22 September 2023)  have been announced and include a state dinner, launching a new literary prize and meeting sports stars. Currently I have the film Roman Holiday running through my head (although I suspect the King and Queen are a bit old for that sort of thing)   https://www.royal.uk/news-and-activity/2023-09-06/the-king-and-queen-will-undertake-a-state-visit-to-france

A suspected terrorist managed to escape from prison through hiding under a lorry after obtaining a job in the kitchens. He remains on the run and may have left the country.  He may have had inside help. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/09/07/daniel-khalife-escape-hmp-wandsworth-terror-suspect/ or https://archive.is/aBJ20

80 years ago, one of the greatest escapes happened with Allied prisoners in Italy. The tale of the friendships forged under great difficulty is truly inspiring. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/09/06/second-world-war-real-greatest-escape/  or https://archive.is/m37vj

Finally because I went to the Nort East dog fest at the weekend (like county show but with a dog focus), my Springer now has a bow tie. I saw the Kipperidge Gundog display – they are often at Crufts and it was really interesting see how the Stop whistle and recall whistle work.  Also seeing one of their dogs (a black lab called Mickey Flinn) jump over a 6 foot barrier to retrieve a dummy was impressive.  We did not take our dogs as they would have been overwhelmed but plenty people did take theirs as there were lots of ‘have-a-go’ attractions including a gun dog scurry complete with pond.