Thread 5: To feel disappointed after reading this in The Observer about the author and her husband from The Salt Path book and film?

[DisappointedReader]

The Observer The real Salt Path: how a blockbuster book and film were ...

Second article in the Observer
https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/the-salt-path-whats-in-the-book-and-what-the-observer-has-found

Third item in the Observer
https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/the-salt-path-the-truth-behind-the-blockbuster-book-video

Thread One ^www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5368194-to-feel-disappointed-after-reading-this-in-the-observer-about-the-author-and-her-husband-from-the-salt-path-book-and-film?^

Thread 2 Thread 2. To feel disappointed after reading this in The Observer about the author and her husband from The Salt Path book and film? | Mumsnet

Thread 3 https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5369425-thread-3-to-feel-disappointed-after-reading-this-in-the-observer-about-the-author-and-her-husband-from-the-salt-path-book-and-film?

Thread 4 https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5370609-thread-4-to-feel-disappointed-after-reading-this-in-the-observer-about-the-author-and-her-husband-from-the-salt-path-book-and-film?

Raynor Winn/Sally Walker's statement Raynor Winn

@LiteralLunatic I see! Thanks very much for that.

Interesting to note that by 2019 his consultant thought it might be something else considering its very atypical lack of progression.

Perhaps it is time to abandon the binary of truth and falsehood in favour of something more honest: a recognition that narrative, even in memoir, is construction.
Scary. Nobody will be able to trust anything if we go down that path. Writing fiction based on real life is one thing but something written as an "unflinchingly true account" should be based on true facts.

It is How Not To Dal dy Dir by Izzy Wyn-Thomas (aka RW/SW we assume).

No, it didn't find anything

Some housekeeping will be going on as part of crisis management, including on their SM, websites and no doubt the few copies of the book that might be still around.

I think she should come clean at this point.

Some people would forgive her, and she would get new fans for the new story.

She might feel better for it as well.

New, more profound, less bullshit, redemption arc. (Not being completely cynical about this.)

Actually, not quite correct @LiteralLunatic CBS and CBD are NOT the same thing. I refer you to the PSP Association:

Although CBD and CBS are often used interchangeably, they do mean different things, which can get confusing. CBD is a pathology, the thing that is causing the disease in the brain. CBS is a syndrome which is a collection of symptoms. CBD in the brain can show in life as different diseases in life, but most people diagnosed with CBS have CBD causing it, which is why they are used interchangeably.

Therefore, a patient could present with CBS symptoms yet not have CBS. Of course, it's all speculation. I don't think anyone is saying the letters are proof of anything. Just that they raise valid questions from available material supplied by RW. The 2015 letter is the first time a tentative diagnosis is given (as far as evidence allows), and that diagnosis is essentially something that resembles those of mild CBS. Meanwhile, the TSP account two years prior in 2013 is terminal CBD. The 2015 letter also appears to have a very detailed grasp of Tim's clinical history, so one would expect earlier diagnoses of CBD would be mentioned. The letter raises doubts, that's all. One day we might find an answer.

There's a post on Insta by juliebrominicks which says publishers had asked her to make her book "a bit more Salt Path". Followed by a little discussion in the comments about how the success of TSP has shaped that kind of book since.

This is the salient point. The book is sold as an 'unflinchingly true account.' The publisher's emphasis on truth is everything. Yes memoir is a subjective form, but we have to be able to apply basic trust where the story hinges on specific material facts.

If she came clean now with another statement that was different to her first statement, she'd be a laughing stock.

The Salt Path Controversy: Beh… - The News Meeting - Apple Podcasts

She's already a laughing stock. I think honesty would lead to more people taking her seriously.

A lot of people believe her. They may question that if she brings out another statement saying something different.

They seemed to be involved with their parents and TSP industry at least before the story broke. There could be at least a financial incentive to keep it that way given the significant income from the books, film, appearances and so on.

I heard him on the radio recently promoting the new series

Listening to this and Chloe has said that she's had a lot of calls from people wanting to talk.

So, other that the Times, I wonder if there is more to come from the Observer.

I think someone posted on an earlier thread that they had seen evidence of the Walkers leaving Cornwall on 17th September 2013, when they claimed to still be walking. I've also seen a social media post that says they were driven by a family member from Cornwall to Bristol that day. However, the book describes watching a play at the Minack Theatre - Gilbert & Sullivan's Iolanthe, which google says was playing between Mon 16th September and Sat 21st September 2013. It was that night they claimed to have camped at Treen and didn't pay. So if they left the path on 17th, they could only have gone to the opening night and anything that comes after the night is either complete fabrication, happened on another walking trip or never happened!

I think she is fucked at this point and the only way forward is to come clean. It's either that or go sideways and do a runner, which she might choose to do. I hope she chooses to go forward: she seems to be a risk taker, so I think she might go that way.

If they couldn't afford to pay for camping, they certainly couldn't afford to pay for Minack theatre tickets.. Also you usually have to book . It's an incredibly popular venue.

It was me (or at least one person) who said I had found evidence they left Cornwall on 17th Sept. The evidence was that social media post you refer to. There's no reason for that post to be wrong. That's very interesting about the play. It could also be that they simply added going to the play in that part of the book narrative. Though it suggests in reality they at least finished their first leg by going to the theatre and not what was written. It's all very jumbled.

A very interesting bit in the podcaste, Chloe says that when she'd received the tip off from the person who suggested she look into Tim's illness, she contacted them to discuss it. And this was at the very beginning, a few months ago. She says she didn't get very far.

Which is interesting, because if the Walkers had responded, and discussed it, perhaps Chloe H might never then have looked into the financial stuff!

Anyway, my thoughts were that Chloe H getting in touch seems to have potentially been around the same time as they left the farm.

Were they expecting something like this?

There were a lots of posts from the same source that completely contradict the timeline of the book... like Moth/Tim surfing in Newquay in late July when TSP says he was flat on his back in Glastonbury!

It's either that or go sideways and do a runner, which she might choose to do.

It wouldn't exactly be uncharted territory for Sal & Tim. All the notoriety fame might make it a bit more difficult this time though.

Podcast claims that Tim Walker's brother owns the adjoining property (including the Pigeonnier) to their property in The Village du Dropt but that locals reported that the property was inhabitable in 2007 when they bought it but not now - the roof is about to collapse apparently.

Do we know what the note in the abandoned car said ? Im wondering why they'd do that rather than driving to friends? Perhaps no insurance or MOT? But then although illegal - they'd be unlikely to be picked up on just one journey unless they were involved in an accident or police pull over check. ..