Mailwatch(ed) Forum

Malcolm Armsteen wrote: ↑Thu Feb 19, 2026 1:57 pm The 'hungry months' were early summer, before the harvest and after the stored food had run out.
Commonsense history check: how could medieval people celebrate 'Fat Tuesday' if they were short of food?

Early American settlers had a different experience, where their inexperience with the climate and other local conditions led them to run out of food earlier in the year. It seems that this has pushed the concept of the May Famine (which I was familiar with), back to March and April in the Western collective consciousness.

I'm not anti-American as such, but this sort of thing does wind me up somewhat.

Me too!

Disgusting example of humanity doesn't believe he should be subject to scrutiny

Lawyers representing an MP have asked the High Court to block a watchdog from investigating a complaint against him.

Submissions to the court on behalf of Rupert Lowe, the independent MP for Great Yarmouth, claimed a probe into his conduct by the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) was "procedurally unfair" and that it could lead to "unjust harm".

The ICGS is responsible for investigating complaints related to bullying, harassment and/or sexual misconduct within Parliament...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz6ed7w6j86o

I wonder what he's scared of them finding out?

Malcolm Armsteen wrote: ↑Thu Feb 19, 2026 1:57 pm

Youngian wrote: ↑Thu Feb 19, 2026 11:48 am

Malcolm Armsteen wrote: ↑Thu Feb 19, 2026 11:14 am Perhaps someone should point out to the mouth-breathers that something that Ramadan and Lent have in common is that they are a period for reflection and self awareness.

And is Lent meant to be happy? I think not...

They were periods of shortages in the northern hemisphere until fresh crops flourished. Easier to stick to the rules before industrialised agriculture ended food scarcity.

The 'hungry months' were early summer, before the harvest and after the stored food had run out.
Commonsense history check: how could medieval people celebrate 'Fat Tuesday' if they were short of food?

Yes you're right, food was at its lowest point in the early summer when farm workers most need energy to bring in the crops. Wise therefore to preserve stocks from an earlier period in the year when there's a lull in manual work. Even today farmers aren't tending fields in February.

Yug wrote: ↑Thu Feb 19, 2026 4:50 pm Disgusting example of humanity doesn't believe he should be subject to scrutiny

Lawyers representing an MP have asked the High Court to block a watchdog from investigating a complaint against him.

Submissions to the court on behalf of Rupert Lowe, the independent MP for Great Yarmouth, claimed a probe into his conduct by the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) was "procedurally unfair" and that it could lead to "unjust harm".

The ICGS is responsible for investigating complaints related to bullying, harassment and/or sexual misconduct within Parliament...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz6ed7w6j86o

I wonder what he's scared of them finding out?

Hope these aren't "expensive political lawyers" he's engaged here. Only the liberal left uses those to thwart democracy.