Page 24 | 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 · 2025-08-09T22:11:39+00:00

The Observer's original exposé: [[https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/the-real-salt-path-how-the-couple-behind-a-bestseller-left-a-trail-of-debt-and-deceit 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: [[https://observer.co.uk/collections/the-real-salt-path The real Salt Path | The Observer]] 3 more from The Observer: [[https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/hope-is-extinguished-cbs-patients-respond-to-salt-path-allegations ‘Hope is extinguished’: CBD patients respond to Salt Path...]] [[https://observer.co.uk/listen/the-slow-newscast/the-real-salt-path-1 The real Salt Path | The Observer]] (The Slow Newscast) [[https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/we-thought-it-cant-be-the-salt-path-couple-theyd-have-told-us-they-were-homeless ‘We thought: it can’t be the Salt Path couple – they’d ha...]] Raynor Winn/Sally Walker's statement: [[https://www.raynorwinn.co.uk/ Raynor Winn]] Thread One ^[[https://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?* 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 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 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.

Catwith69lives · 12/08/2025 18:40

What I find infinitely depressing in this sorry saga of deception and lies, is that there is a significant body of opinion which believes that the current debate here on MN is nothing more than a witch hunt and that such things as ' the truth' iwhat has been marketed at the heart of an 'unflinchingly honest' memoir, is something that is sacrificable on the altar of commercial reality/a post modern universe where truth is subjective and a book that people enjoy and has produced collateral benefits (tourism) for the SW of England.

Basically, 'truth', as we might know it, is not so important in the greater scheme of things.

indignantfrother · 12/08/2025 18:41

Pebbles might be better than sand, which has a nasty habit of Getting Everywhere, especially if a brisk wind picks up.

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 12/08/2025 18:41

AldoGordo · 12/08/2025 18:34

Agree with all of that. To add, I can't imagine anyone wants to become the subject, or be drawn into, a social media storm, or indeed a swashbuckling mumsnet discussion, which our illustrious @DisappointedReader never anticipated would snowball from one thread into many - should soon be enough to crochet a life sized Simon Armitage, possibly of hemp.

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As long as no one attempts to don the crocheted Simon Armitage during an especially warm walking session.

HeroicFailure · 12/08/2025 18:49

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 12/08/2025 18:33

I know it well. The pebbles can be most uncomfortable on a bare behind! Er. So I am told.

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Well, we didn't have a Nudist Correspondent, did we? Maybe you could moon(light) from your Writing Correspondent duties at times?

(Budleigh Salterton has only ever figured in my imagination as the home, at one point, of the late, lamented Hilary Mantel. I will need to clear some mental space for it as a space of naturism.)

Stoufer · 12/08/2025 19:00

indignantfrother · 12/08/2025 17:15

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.

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Ooh, can I just add that there is research to show that greenery can actually have health benefits?! Apparently, recovery times are much quicker and use of prescription meds goes down if your hospital room has a window that looks onto greenery! So going for a walk in nature probably does the same (only more!!). Also, very strenuous exercise (where muscles burn / ache) prompts the release (in the body / muscles) of a very high level of pro-inflammatory cytokines (proteins)(especially interleukin 6 (il6)), which then triggers the release of some really good anti-inflammatory proteins, which bring the general inflammatory load in the body down - so strenuous exercise can also be a good way of generally bringing inflammation down. I also have a suspicion that cortisol (stress hormone) probably triggers the release of il6 (pro-inflammatory), so maybe a reduction of cortisol (through reduction in stress, and exercise, and greenery etc) can also improve inflammation that way?
ps - am in no way medically qualified (am a lay-person with a vested interest)… and I am not suggesting these things will be a ‘cure’ for anything. Oh, and mistakes were probably made! (I’m now going to hide behind the sofa from any unofficial drive-by scolders….)

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 12/08/2025 19:08

HeroicFailure · 12/08/2025 18:49

Well, we didn't have a Nudist Correspondent, did we? Maybe you could moon(light) from your Writing Correspondent duties at times?

(Budleigh Salterton has only ever figured in my imagination as the home, at one point, of the late, lamented Hilary Mantel. I will need to clear some mental space for it as a space of naturism.)

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Or I could combine the two posts? Nudist Writing Correspondent? I mean, it's warm here and I've taken my vest off.

Catwith69lives · 12/08/2025 19:13

Stoufer · 12/08/2025 19:00

Ooh, can I just add that there is research to show that greenery can actually have health benefits?! Apparently, recovery times are much quicker and use of prescription meds goes down if your hospital room has a window that looks onto greenery! So going for a walk in nature probably does the same (only more!!). Also, very strenuous exercise (where muscles burn / ache) prompts the release (in the body / muscles) of a very high level of pro-inflammatory cytokines (proteins)(especially interleukin 6 (il6)), which then triggers the release of some really good anti-inflammatory proteins, which bring the general inflammatory load in the body down - so strenuous exercise can also be a good way of generally bringing inflammation down. I also have a suspicion that cortisol (stress hormone) probably triggers the release of il6 (pro-inflammatory), so maybe a reduction of cortisol (through reduction in stress, and exercise, and greenery etc) can also improve inflammation that way?
ps - am in no way medically qualified (am a lay-person with a vested interest)… and I am not suggesting these things will be a ‘cure’ for anything. Oh, and mistakes were probably made! (I’m now going to hide behind the sofa from any unofficial drive-by scolders….)

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Indeed.

Home - Horatio's Garden

https://www.horatiosgarden.org.uk/

Stoufer · 12/08/2025 19:18

@Catwith69lives oh that looks amazing! Our local hospital has a really deep plan and some very grim courtyards, and lots of spaces that have no windows at all… been watching ‘Severance’ recently…. It sort of has that vibe….

Tealeaf3 · 12/08/2025 19:22

Frenchsocks · 12/08/2025 17:00

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.

If you sell a negative story to the press about family or a friend, you can basically kiss goodbye to ever having any sort of relationship with that person again, create a lot of friction within the wider family, and possibly end up inadvertently subjecting yourself to all sorts of negative scrutiny/ internet trolling. It’s also just a bit
undignified. I think most people would think it’s just not worth it, unless they wanted to settle a particularly nasty grudge.

However I’ve absolutely no doubt my family and friends would risk unwanted press intrusion / trolling etc to speak up publicly in support of me if they felt I’d been unfairly treated, or the accusations against me were false. Could be wrong, but haven’t seen any public show of support, or rebuttal of the accusations, coming from anyone who actually personally knows the couple ( such as Dave and Julie, who possibly feel they’ve been gaslit as well).

Re the medical letters, I’m also the carer of a young adult with serious medical issues stretching back many years and, like you, have hundreds of medical letters. Theres been occasional times when I couldn’t find the letter I needed ( filing not my strong point ha ha), but I’ve always been able to get a copy from the GP surgery, even letters regarding consultations more than 15 years previously - It’s all on file.

Uricon2 · 12/08/2025 19:22

Apparently, recovery times are much quicker and use of prescription meds goes down if your hospital room has a window that looks onto greenery!

Right. I'm complaining to PALS. My side room (only bestowed as Particularly Diseased) looked out on to a flat roof and a rather sinister chimney. I did have a visiting seagull, but don't think he/she counted as mainly stared aggressively. A nice tree and I'd probably be skipping about again by now and managed with half an aspirin.

@Stoufer only kidding, I'm sure there are huge benefits to being in nature. I'm just not sure they can reverse irreversible damage.

Stoufer · 12/08/2025 19:27

Uricon2 · 12/08/2025 19:22

Apparently, recovery times are much quicker and use of prescription meds goes down if your hospital room has a window that looks onto greenery!

Right. I'm complaining to PALS. My side room (only bestowed as Particularly Diseased) looked out on to a flat roof and a rather sinister chimney. I did have a visiting seagull, but don't think he/she counted as mainly stared aggressively. A nice tree and I'd probably be skipping about again by now and managed with half an aspirin.

@Stoufer only kidding, I'm sure there are huge benefits to being in nature. I'm just not sure they can reverse irreversible damage.

I agree - benefits, but not reversing irreversible damage… but I certainly think nature / exercise / less stress can reduce inflammation.

Uricon2 · 12/08/2025 19:34

Stoufer · 12/08/2025 19:27

I agree - benefits, but not reversing irreversible damage… but I certainly think nature / exercise / less stress can reduce inflammation.

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I'm bemused by how they, especially Mothtim, managed on a diet that seemed so very low on protein. At the moment I'm struggling to eat at all but really trying to keep that up because it's essential for wound healing. It seems contraintuitive that such a diet would have been good for a fit healthy person, let alone someone who was apparently in poor health.

Catwith69lives · 12/08/2025 19:35

Stoufer · 12/08/2025 19:18

@Catwith69lives oh that looks amazing! Our local hospital has a really deep plan and some very grim courtyards, and lots of spaces that have no windows at all… been watching ‘Severance’ recently…. It sort of has that vibe….

It was set up for hospitals with spinal injury units by the Chapple family following the tragic death of their son Horatio in a polar bear attack.

Horatio Chapple death: Polar bear 'dragged boy from tent' - BBC News

Horatio Chapple garden opens at Salisbury hospital - BBC News**

Our impact - Horatio's Garden

Catwith69lives · 12/08/2025 19:59

Iolanthe at the Minack 2013 seem sceptical of Raymoth's description of an encounter with them in TSP

Iolanthe at the Minack 2013 | Facebook

HatStickBoots · 12/08/2025 20:03

HeroicFailure · 12/08/2025 15:06

I don't think she's really a nature writer any more than she's really a travel writer, but it's that rather clichéd, Romantic 'I am a child of nature, not at ease between walls' thing in conjunction with a deeply ordinary 'Could be in an unedited travel blog' humdrumness of prose, that seems to hit a sweet spot for many people. Who can't imagine cycling to India by themselves or walking from the Netherlands to Istanbul, but can seemingly place themselves in SW's slightly scatty, professional underdog hiking boots.

So in a way it's the fact that her writing isn't very good that has contributed to the book's success. She's a kind of Everywoman, pitched out into the world in difficult circumstances.

I also have a vague theory that another part of the appeal for some readers is that so many people the Walkers meet in TSP are presented as unpleasant, dismissive, hostile to the homeless, unappreciative of the natural world, taking the wrong kind of holiday etc etc, that it becomes a kind of fantasy to insert yourself into the book as the one person who looks them straight in the eye and gets them, and stands up for them ('You can't charge homeless people for camping on your campsite, you pseudo-hippy jobsworth!' or 'No, these fine people are not tramps grovelling drunk on the street, but brave souls fallen on hard times!'

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Who can't imagine cycling to India by themselves or walking from the Netherlands to Istanbul, but can seemingly place themselves in SW's slightly scatty, professional underdog hiking boots.

😂That’s gold because it’s so very true, although I didn’t identify with the “professional underdog” part of Sally.

Stoufer · 12/08/2025 20:07

Uricon2 · 12/08/2025 19:34

I'm bemused by how they, especially Mothtim, managed on a diet that seemed so very low on protein. At the moment I'm struggling to eat at all but really trying to keep that up because it's essential for wound healing. It seems contraintuitive that such a diet would have been good for a fit healthy person, let alone someone who was apparently in poor health.

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I’ve just done a quick google… and it seems low protein diets can also decrease pro-inflammatory cytokines (like il6).. so maybe if TW actually has something with an inflammatory-type component, then maybe he could have improved through the exercise / low protein diet / nature / reduced stress…?

Catwith69lives · 12/08/2025 20:09

Stoufer · 12/08/2025 20:07

I’ve just done a quick google… and it seems low protein diets can also decrease pro-inflammatory cytokines (like il6).. so maybe if TW actually has something with an inflammatory-type component, then maybe he could have improved through the exercise / low protein diet / nature / reduced stress…?

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So not CBD?

CarrySlipStitchOver · 12/08/2025 20:16

NC again. Off at a complete tangent. For anyone interested in knitting - there must be a crochet equivalent somewhere - together with nudist hikers on long distance footpaths, Nudinits publish all kinds of relevant patterns including this collection https://nudinits.com/products/going-wild-in-woolly-bush It seems to be out of print here but it looks like copies are still available second-hand,

indignantfrother · 12/08/2025 20:18

The knitted "Barbara" would do for SW but I don't think "Bernard" is a good match for TW; not sartorially elegant, for a start.

Stoufer · 12/08/2025 20:24

Catwith69lives · 12/08/2025 20:09

So not CBD?

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I thought the narrative had shifted away from CBD anyway (given the nature of CBD)? Another quick google pubmed article shows high il6 levels can contribute to neuroinflammation… which presumably can be a facet of many different disorders / diseases (and even things like adhd and dementia), and presumably can cause a number of other symptoms (elsewhere in the body), and that could wax and wane over time. To be honest, il6 levels seem to be implicated in anything and everything..
again - I am just a humble layperson, and am just speculatively speculating to distract myself from a difficult day / week / month / year…

Lostinnewyork · 12/08/2025 20:33

Wish CH had some insider info on what's going to happen with book 4. We shall all have to reconvene here in a year's time in anticipation ( I remain convinced book 4 will go ahead in some form revised or not)

Original poster

DisappointedReader · 12/08/2025 20:34

indignantfrother · 12/08/2025 20:18

The knitted "Barbara" would do for SW but I don't think "Bernard" is a good match for TW; not sartorially elegant, for a start.

Can one be sartorially elegant without any sartorials?

OP posts:

CarrySlipStitchOver · 12/08/2025 20:42

Lostinnewyork · 12/08/2025 20:33

Wish CH had some insider info on what's going to happen with book 4. We shall all have to reconvene here in a year's time in anticipation ( I remain convinced book 4 will go ahead in some form revised or not)

It could be subtitled Sally Forth.

Fandango52 · 12/08/2025 20:43

CarrySlipStitchOver · 12/08/2025 20:42

It could be subtitled Sally Forth.

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This is absolute gold 😂😂

TheBookShelf · 12/08/2025 20:53

A note about SW's education. It appears she attended the John Taylor High School in Barton Under Needwood until at least summer 1979. Info from the British Newspaper Archive: The Burton Daily Mail of 31st August 1979 reports exam results - S Winn achieved GCSEs in English, Art and History, and CSE in Maths. The Burton Daily Mail of 20th December 1979 then mentions a school awards evening in which Sally Winn was awarded a prize for Art.

I wonder what she studied at sixth form - this number of GCSEs wouldn't necessarily have been enough to enable A level studies, but other options may have been available.