Thread 15: 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 14 Observer items currently available on their online 'The real Salt Path' page: The real Salt Path | The Observer

4 more from The Observer:
‘Hope is extinguished’: CBD patients respond to Salt Path...

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

(Live/online event)

The Observer YouTube Channel: The Observer UK - YouTube

Raynor Winn/Sally Walker's statement: Raynor Winn

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?^

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

Thread 12: 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: 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?

Thread 14: www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5388981-thread-14-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 get the background from at least some of the Observer items above before posting. There are currently a number of 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. Remember, even Hollywood rabbits attract the odd flea. 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 fourteen 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.

#Pinchofsaltpath
#Fudge
#Cider
#OurChloe
#OurSimon
#Correspondents
#Salray
#Timmoth
#MistakesWereMade
#EmbellishedBollox
#JustBollox
#DriveByScolding
#Glumwashing
#ThereBeSharks
#Scones
#NakedHikers
#TurquoiseGString
#BudleighSalterton
#SallyForth
#YesItReallyIsThread15
#Rabbits

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

We are still getting ads on here recommending buying the book of the inspiring story. Inspiring in what way? Inspiring readers to embezzle and to exaggerate illness to the point of death being imminent? To abandon medications, ignore doctors' advice and walk and starve ourselves to a miracle cure? Let's all try that, shall we?

Because their legal position is, as per the disclaimer, that ‘the author has stated to the publishers that [except where names or details have been changed to protect people’s privacy] the contents of this book are true.’ They’re not claiming they guarantee its truth. The liability for untruths is, insofar as is legally possible, put on SW.

And from what I remember of reading about the lawsuits involving PRH over James Frey’s A Million Little Pieces being substantially embellished, when the publisher agreed to settle out of court and refund readers who had bought the book in good faith before the allegations broke (provided that the readers proved their purchase by providing evidence they’d bought it before a certain date, and sent in a specific physical page from their copy) very few people claimed their refund.

But on what pages?

It's not possible to date that photo to 2016 as that's simply when it was posted on IG. Another photo of their tent on Chesil Beach was posted the same day, so can't be the date they were taken.

Unless, of course, they camped at one place and drove to the next (I.e. a morning and an evening camp). Nothing is ever straightforward!

Penguin's website is, to this day, advertising the book with representations that it is unflinchingly honest and a true story. I cannot see how Penguin can now regard either of those statements as being true and not misleading.

That analysis is not affected by (1) what the author(s) may have said to Penguin years ago in their contract for publication or (2) whatever small-print may appear inside the cover. (Although if one advertises a book as true, inserting a disclaimer within the book saying that the book is not true would -if anything- reinforce, not undermine, the point that the advertising is misleading).

I can't see anyone suing Penguin for the return of a few pounds which they spent on the book. That's an entirely different issue from whether it's appropriate to publish misleading advertising.

Surely the disclaimer is a seperate legal issue, distinct from PRH now knowingly falsly advertising and selling it as "unflinchingly honest" (which is their marketing blurb, not RW's)? To employ the disclaimer for that now would be like saying "well we know it's not true now, but we were told it was true before we knew that, so here, buy our book." I can't believe the argument still stands that the onus remains fully on RW regarding the marketing and selling of the book now PRH are aware.

@simoarmo's post crossed with mine. He/she put it more eloquently than I did.

https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/mAGBVRk8pvpbqrzLMiht39Jzmmg/appointments
What happened to Emmaus Cornwall Ltd where Raynor Winn was a director. Thats an avenue worth exploring.

Yes I strongly suspect collaboration too. I've uncovered something but will do when I've got more information.

Any thoughts as to the significance (if any) of SW's IG feed beginning on 25/26 Oct 2016 with 3 shots of the Fleet Lagoon and West Bexington in Dorset (p237/240 of TSP) and Queen Adelaide's Chapel at Penlee Point (p258 of TSP.

Seems a strange sort of choice of photos with which to start your IG feed with. Why start your IG feed in late Oct 2016?

Has anyone else wondered about their decision to so suddenly move to Wales because their child escaped out into the road? If I were panicking about my child's safety, I might move elsewhere nearby.
If, however, I had something to hide, for example some 'mistakes were made' at my employment or something else was being found out, then I might prefer to move suddenly to somewhere where no one knew me and start again.
I have nothing to base my wonderings on, apart from the accounts of deception and cheating from RW's school times, through to the embezzlement and the fact that in TSP and all that follows, nothing she says can be taken at face value.
And that suggests a long pattern of behaviour. As someone said a thread or 2 ago, you don't suddenly start to be the kind of person to slip into embezzling £64 000.

Another thing on my mind however, is the possibility of Timmoth being a covert/victim-narc, in which case the cruelty of what he puts his wife through is painful to behold. Not that I am saying she would be innocent, and it would be a very odd codependent relationship.
I say this having recently supported a friend leave her narcissist husband. Some of the things I've found out this past year, about what was happening before have filled my heart with sorrow and anger. These were totally invisible to the outside world and he worked his charms on everyone else. So, although things might have seemed a bit odd at times, no one would have known. Their situation is different in that he was the mouthpiece of them and she was quiet and often in tow.
Controlling behaviour which thrusts your wife into the limelight so she is the one always repeating the story and the one to take the very public blame (whether admitting it or not), is an added layer of cruelty.
I fully admit I am speculating, but having read the fascinating conversation ?last thread about such things, and having watched the BBC interview with both of them talking and the difference in demeanor between them, it's bugging me enough to share.

Thanks for explaining that. It is why I was hoping someone may recognise the particular trig point that was on the montage, on the BBC clip with the earlier part of the walk photos.

The second walk in TSP is very patchy. More like they met up with old friends, Dave and Julie, and did some of it. Stayed in b&b - like when she is ill in the book. Some far-fetched episodes - red bikini girl, etc.

When some of our northern-living friends were discussing where Dave is from - to me it was just about counties and roads - I didn't have a clue. In TSP, I can follow a lot of it, that harbour, that crossing, that village ...

Emmaus is a national homelessness charity which has branches across the country. Between 2020-21 RW was a Trustee of the Cornwall branch of the charity, and as a result appears on the Companies House register for the limited company - which is standard.
The curious thing is that she used her pseudonym for the registration which I don’t think is strictly legal, and that she was a trustee for less than 12 months which is a very short time for a charity - it almost suggests that joining the charity board was for publicity (maybe on both sides), or a lack of time to commit voluntarily to a charity, or they fell out for some reason. Might be worth adding to the timeline

Yes I mentioned the decision to suddenly move to Wales was odd - probably about 3000 posts ago 😅. I wondered if that was also being investigated by Chloe. I still can’t reconcile the public persona of SalRay with an embezzler, she just seems far too nervous and anxious IRL to pull off years of embezzlement

Because you already have a book deal with a top publisher and they are planning to manufacture your book release as being something that just grew naturally into a phenomenon and help you become a brand?

”Salray - it’s important you have a social media presence that fans and media can tap into for more details about you - show how you are always out in nature enjoying walks.

Plus we will get a little article published in advance which the fans can also discover after they have read the book and look into you and Moth more. We need to ramp up those emotional hooks so you should write something for the Big Issue on homelessness. It will also give the journalists an extra angle to write from and stop them wondering about the exact nature of that odd investment with Cooper losing you the house. Now we just need to make a few changes to the book structure - you need to write about the full walk so add in the south coast bit you haven’t done yet. Terminally ill man doing half a long distance walk isn’t as big a triumph….”

Was the Instagram account always known as Raynor Winn? Because an unknown woman not planning to publish a book wouldn’t need a pen name on the Gram.

Yes, you will see that I had understood that it was when the photos were taken. Queen Adelaides's Grotto was a watch, it is a good vantage point to see ships entering Plymouth Sound. It looks as if they put their tent their one quiet day off-season. It is a very popular place to walk to, sit and look-out.

Re: the Dorset photos, it is why I wanted to know where the planking photo was taken yesterday. @SimoArmo says it isn't the Golden Cap one. It doesn't look like Zennor, far west, so .....

I agree there’s a habit, a pattern of running away and making excuses. I’d like to know why Sally lost her job at the previous employment she had, before taking on the bookkeeping job with the Hemmings family.
It is difficult for me to understand your personality analysis’ of Tim because I haven’t seen any evidence of cruelty towards Sally, but that doesn’t mean I think you’re wrong. It’s very interesting. I haven’t watched any video footage of them tbf because I can’t bring myself to, so I’m not seeing the clues that might give. The masks always slip after a while. It’s absolutely true what you say about Sally’s nature which has enabled her to deceive others for personal gain since school days. I do see their relationship as being equal though.

@Choux you need to write about the full walk so add in the south coast bit you haven’t done yet

Yes, thanks, it does read like that. I would market it as "500 Mile Porkies"

The annoying thing is that 6 weeks after CH's Observer revelations, nobody has come forward and said, Raymoth definitely weren't where they were supposed to have been in TSP. The Parsons met Raymoth in Aug 2015, but SW has claimed they were re-walking this section so it doesn't entirely invalidate the account in TSP. Tadge, the campsite supervisor at Treen can't remember the exact year when he remembers encountering Raymoth.

None of the other people who figure in TSP (Jan, Polly, the younger brother, Grant, Anna, Dave & Julie) have been willing to come forward and either corroborate or disagree with Raymoth's account of their walk in TSP.

Re leaving Burton, I wrote something about that on Thread 11, 1 Aug, 9pm 😁
The main details from that post were that TimMoth's father had a plastering business in Burton. in 1994 the Inland Revenue petitioned to wind up the company. Moth's dad would have been almost 60. The company continued to trade at least until 1997, as there was a further winding up order in that year. That might explain why Moth found himself jobless in 1994/5, as the company could no longer afford to employ him (assuming he did indeed work for his dad.) so perhaps they decided to start a new life in North Wales.

Perhaps we could market stickers - I'm thinking of a slogan, maybe "I Can't Believe It's Unflinchingly Honest", in the same colours as I Can't Believe It's Not Butter, that we could conduct a guerilla action and stick on all the copies in bookshops? Just to alert readers who are still buying the book and believing that it's a homely tale of innocent parties walking away their blues...

What I find worrying is the number of people who just don't care. They've vaguely heard something about the Observer and some kind of scandal, but they lack sufficient motivation to investigate further and are just shrugging and muttering something about publicity and no book being entirely true. And that I find concerning.

@Catwith69lives but SW has claimed they were re-walking this section so it doesn't entirely invalidate the account in TSP

In many interviews, SalRay re-affirms that they did all 630 miles.

According to her this is not correct. In TSP, and in earlier interviews, she states that they do not do the Isle of Portland.

In TSP. they do not do either bank of the Taw/Torridge estuary - they take two buses.

I don't think you will get any better than the Parsons account. And when people sent her messages challenging her accounts - Bill Coles, cafe worker from Mullion, the Parsons they are ignored/fobbed off.

@Vroomfondleswaistcoat we could conduct a guerilla action and stick on all the copies in bookshops?

This made me laugh and reminded me of my ineffectual direct action.

I was appalled when Waterstones window was filled with Boris Johnson's memoirs. Fortunately, it soon was stocked in The Works. I used to nip in and put The Little Book of Lies just in front of it - so you could see both at the same time.

@HatStickBootsI am not sure what he is really like, what is really going on. But about him, and with reference to what I said, I think the expression is, you can't judge a book by its cover.

Very good points. Could signal a rough time the pen name came into existence.