Thread 14: 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's original exposé: The real Salt Path: how a blockbuster book and film were ...

The 13 Observer items currently available on their online 'The real Salt Path' page: The real Salt Path | The Observer

3 more from The Observer:

‘Hope is extinguished’: CBD patients respond to Salt Path...

The real Salt Path | The Observer (The Slow Newscast)

‘We thought: it can’t be the Salt Path couple – they’d ha...

Raynor Winn/Sally Walker's statement: Raynor Winn

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

Threads 2-11: Links all in the OP of Thread 12

Thread 12: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5384574-thread-12-to-feel-disappointed-after-reading-this-in-the-observer-about-the-author-and-her-husband-from-the-salt-path-book-and-film?

Thread 13: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5386458-thread-13-to-feel-disappointed-after-reading-this-in-the-observer-about-the-author-and-her-husband-from-the-salt-path-book-and-film?

New posters joining us in the genuine spirit of our civil discourse welcome. It would be helpful to read at least some of the Observer items above before posting. There are currently 16 interesting items on The Observer website and linked to above.

To all - Please be extremely cautious when it comes to naming or implicating people and addresses not in the public eye or with no direct connection to the story, and around the understandable health speculations, especially where details are unclear or still emerging. Please do not engage with visitors who seem to have their own agenda and seek to derail. Avoid @'ing and quoting them as - from experience - this will only encourage them back to the threads. We have done amazingly well together for thirteen very interesting, very serious and very silly threads so far. I can't be here as much as I'd like so all help with keeping our discussion walking along in our usual reasonable and respectful fashion is very welcome.

Are we all becoming Hyperglycaemic from all the fudge?
Have shares in Cadbury's gone up?
Can we remain cheerful in the face of such shameless glumwashing?
Will I need to fill up with much petrol this thread for the drive-by scoldings?
Will our Chloe H get exclusive interviews with the disgruntled peregrine, tortoise and Hollywood rabbits?
What has our Simon A got to say about this, preferably in verse?

Keep to the path. No saltiness. May the fudge be with you.

In my reading of it, I think it’s “we didn’t explain any of that in the book as it’s too complicated”, suggesting that it was jointly authored, maybe? As not explaining a previous trip to the couple in the café would be a bit odd, and given that it probably wasn’t clear that they were writing a book when they met the couple in the café, would also make it an odd thing to say to the couple. I think collaboration on TSP is quite possible!

Actually reading the article again, I think you're right. I should have put more thought into it.

Mistakes were made.

I agree. I got confused but was too late to edit.

Though they clearly didn't explain they'd already walked the path before, which is a seperate issue. Strange not to mention that when they met.

What does the fallout from the ‘Salt Path’ saga tell us about our society’s ideas about chronic illness and exercise?

https://bjgplife.com/what-does-the-fallout-from-the-salt-path-saga-tell-us-about-our-societys-ideas-about-chronic-illness-and-exercise/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR7cYU9VbS_LIy_DXevfXPNLYFnnkaBk2uqp0kvrcypqMN4OIjr-OABX4j69tw_aem_KpIYhnkzPkgertpWhWkwjw

It's absolutely something you would mention, isn't it?!

"We walked the entire path 2 years ago when we were homeless" would 100% have been mentioned.

But it wasn't, because it hadn't happened.

This was in Weymouth/2014 (according to TSP) when they walked from Poole to Polruan. I think they potentially had a little extra money left over from the sheep shearing job and the £48/week that was being paid into their bank account (assuming this continued end 2013 and into 2014).

@AldoGordo have you shared what you were on the trail of last week?

This is the second part of their walk after staying at Pollys. Ray was able to put by money from sheep shearing that was meant for a flat deposit.

Interesting piece. Just to chime in, I read this 2024 BBC piece (linked below) yesterday where RW ends saying.

"We are honoured The Salt Path has helped inspire many people get outside and take up walking, including people, who like Moth, are currently living with CBD," Ms Winn said.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-68725597

Rather contradictory to her statement in which she wrote:

"I have never sought to offer medical advice in my books or suggest that walking might be some sort of miracle cure for CBS, I am simply charting Moth’s own personal journey and battle with his illness, and what has helped him."

CH was on it ... Parsons.

And to @OpenThatWindow too: I reckon they could have been information-gathering. Hanging out in spots along the way and collecting stories. That couple - made homeless, him with physical difficulties - was gravy

Ah, ok, that makes sense

Admirable stuff. Did you just come across their blog by accident, or were you actively looking for other people writing about being on the SWCP and sleuthing?

Indeed, like chalk and cheese @AldoGordo

Some interesting points are made by the bjgp.com writer @Hyenana links to, but Raymoth get off very lightly, especially when it comes to their 2 years/3 months terminal prognosis claims.

Could it be the fast/v low calorie diet is what helped Moth? Nothing more, reducing any inflammatory condition?

I think I'm responding to @Tealeaf3, I agree that in a lot of families people would rally round, maybe hush money and non disclosures are unlikely (although there is a history of non disclosures) I would not be surprised if, as has been speculated, the Winn's now have around two million pounds, a few holidays or vehicles could be purchased.

I have been trying to figure out why Julie and Dave haven't made themselves known, I don't know who was wondering if Dave might be related to Moth, maybe he is. I'm not sure what kind of friends they would have, or what kind of gravy train could be running :)

If I had done a similar thing, there are people in my family who would definitely want money or something to keep quiet, at least more than they would benefit from by selling a story or going public. That might sound like a terrible thing say but some families are not nice.

I should also point out that I some lovely relatives who help me, I care for my YA DD (not sure if that's correct mum's net abbreviation) who has health problems including neurological. As far a medical letters go, I agree with what others have said, I have multiple boxes and would have expected the Winn's to have been able to produce a letter dated earlier than 2015.

Tbf maybe she had an editor by then, hence the 'we'.

Yes I was a bit disappointed about that and wondered if that is her true opinion or she is just being careful (she is a GP not a neurologist so not on familiar terrain).

But I was glad that the aspect of social attitudes towards chronical illness and 'self-help' miracles gets discussed in that article - so far everyone except the Observer who has published on this has concentrated on other things.

Surely if TW had a hand in the writing, then a besotted and love-addled wife like SW isn't going to take all the credit, is she? Surely she'd allow him his wonderful and no doubt totally original creative ideas and acknowledge them in public? She could get around being the 'Face' of Walker-Winn because poor TW is too poorly to do all the publicity work...

I very much doubt it.

I am no expert, but my understanding of VLCDs is that when they have been shown to be useful, they have been carefully calibrated to offer maximal vitamin/nutrient input whilst keeping fats and especially carbs down to a minimum.

Not all calories are equal and a VLCD which consists of noodles and fudge is not going to offer the same benefits as a diet with equal calories which consists of high quality protein sources with extra vitamins.

Someone has mentioned this in previous threads, but I suspect that improvement of mental health has more to do with improvement in TW's wellbeing than does his diet. Many of the comments he makes in TSP sound like a cloud of depression lifting; and (despite what I got flamed for by a drive-by scolder a few threads ago!) anyone sensible will know about the mind/body interface; that if you feel crap mentally, you don't feel great physically; and vice versa.

Regardless of fault, there they were - empty nesters, lost their jobs, lost their home, TW had chronic pain issues (he was under the pain clinic and on pregabalin) and all the above will bring financial problems. As well as that, I suspect that after the 2015 clinic consultation, they had googled CBD and gone into a panic. And rereading TSP makes it clear to me that there WAS a rift in their relationship, even if only a physical one - although SW is a bit coy about it, it sounds as though their sex life had gone out of the window too. There's a lot there to feel depressed about, perhaps even more so if you know that you brought it on yourself (or your adoring wife did!)

So they get away, they get fresh air, lots of vitamin D, new surroundings, other things to occupy their minds (and maybe start to formulate a hopeful plan that they can write bout this and make some money?) - and lo and behold, TW starts to feel better.

@Frenchsocks

"I have been trying to figure out why Julie and Dave haven't made themselves known"

They will have a lot to take in as friends, assuming they didn't know any of this before. Maybe they are wondering whether to keep quiet or approach the media. I've been thinking about the holidaymakers who stayed in the barn conversion at the Welsh farm and why they haven't had their say yet. The Mail would surely pay anyone to put their tuppence ha'penny worth in.

Yes, this is what is so strange, no one is coming out of the woodwork.

@indignantfrother: "despite what I got flamed for by a drive-by scolder a few threads ago!"

Please note everyone that this wasn't me with an Official Drive-By Scolding, this was an Unofficial and Unauthorised angry rabbit.

It is odd ..you'd have thought some friend or family member would have come out in their defence by now....
In this age, I get why a casual acquaintance wouldn't want to stick their head above the parapet to help them but I don't think any of their friends have even commented on condition of anonymity.

indeed!