What a week: Downing Street, Diwali treats and the $44bn tweet

By Jacqueline Wake Young

October 29 2022, 6:00 am

A girl stands on a car as Iranians stage protests following the death in custody of Mahsa Amini. Photo by Social Networks/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock.

The Chief Twit – his words not mine – has upturned the nest and declared “the bird is freed”.

Elon Musk bought Twitter for $44billion, saying it was not to make money but “to try to help humanity, whom I love”.

He then proceeded to give a humanity a laugh by arriving at Twitter HQ carrying a porcelain sink (The P&J, October 26).

Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, has bought Twitter for $44 billion. Photo by David Talukdar/Shutterstock.

It seems the little blue bird logo has brought out the multi-billionaire’s silly side, so goodness knows what the effect of a real feathered friend on him would be.

According to scientists, a moment spent watching birds or listening to birdsong may boost mental wellbeing with effects lasting up to eight hours (The P&J, October 27).

UK politics

Meanwhile the Tories are, according to one commentator, having a “Barack Obama moment”.

They are certainly having something but I’m not sure what.

I’m just glad their leadership contest is not on the shortlist for the “Most Curious Event” competition because I’d really like to see the scarecrow workshop in Mintlaw win that one.

Events officer Justine Tough at the scarecrow-making workshop. Picture: Kami Thomson.

The activity day at Aden Country Park was commended by Eventbrite for letting families get “messy and creative”.

If that’s the criteria, then the Tory Party Panto may have been in with a shot because it is undoubtedly messy and, some would say, creative, although not in a good way.

Boris Johnson tried to contrive his own “Churchill moment” – by jetting into the country like the returning hero to save the day and stage a comeback as his idol did in 1951.

A backpack-wearing Boris Johnson arrives at Gatwick from the Caribbean as he attempts to stage a comeback. Picture: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire

The irony of the ex-PM flying back from the Caribbean to a country that now has warm banks as well as food banks after 12 years of Tory rule was surely not lost on everyone.

While some people talk, others do, and so I am in awe of the likes of Paul Greenall, who runs the charity Y Suffer in Silence Emotional Listening Service, which has set up a warm bank in Fraserburgh to help people stay safe and cosy this winter.

While it would be better to have no need for warm banks or food banks, it’s comforting that this part of the world has a bank of kind-hearted people who go above and beyond to help others (The P&J, October 24).

Paul Greenall in the “warm bank” kitchen area of Fraserburgh charity Y Suffer In Silence Emotional Listening Service, The Old Thomas Walker Hospital, Fraserburgh. Picture by Darrell Benns.

Morrisons is doing its bit by offering a free meal of Heinz Beans and baked potato to anyone who “asks for Henry” in its cafes.

Heinz wanted to pay tribute to its philanthropic founder Henry Heinz by “helping feed people in times of need”.

Friendly staff at Peterhead Morrisons served up a tasty lunch without fuss as promised when our reporter asked for Henry (The P&J, October 27).

The Press and Journal’s social media manager Derry Alldritt “asked for Henry” to put the Morrisons initiative to the test – and it passed with flying colours.

In another friendly gesture, King Charles offered Diwali sweets to Rishi Sunak as he made history by becoming the UK’s first Hindu and first Asian prime minister.

The timing of his appointment was auspicious, falling as it did during the five-day Festival of Lights, a riot of colour that celebrates the triumph of good over evil.

It is the eternal struggle fought daily on the world stage and in tiny battles closer to home.

The good fight

Scouts and Guides do lots of tiny things every week which when added up make them a formidable force for good.

Perhaps that is one reason why they enjoy better health than their peers in later life, according to a study by Edinburgh University (The P&J, October 26).

Let’s hope light prevails in Ukraine, literally plunged into darkness by Russian attacks on the National Grid (The P&J, October 27).

President Zelenskyy reminded his people: “We know that the darkest night comes before dawn.”

King Charles welcomes Rishi Sunak at Buckingham Palace, where Diwali sweets were on offer. Picture: Aaron Chown/PA Wire

Another day has dawned on protests in Iran, where the brightest image of the week was surely that of a girl in a pink poncho, standing defiantly on a car as thousands gathered in Mahsa Amini’s home town.

At Aberdeen University researchers are shedding light on Alzheimer’s by developing a safer and cheaper method of detection which could provide earlier diagnosis (The P&J, October 24).

And in Fort William, the brightest minds are helping to design a hospital fit for the future as doctors and nurses are brought into the planning process (The P&J, October 27).

The idea that such an important facility is being custom-designed by the people who know best what is required is a tonic in itself.