Lord Patel has been off-line for a couple of weeks now and hasn't replied to my last couple of emails
Lord P's blog was, is something special and during the unfortunately limited number of times when I've met or conversed with the Lord P in person the sheer decency of the man shone through. His blog is one of the handful of regularly updated sites that I have been able to recommended to people without any reservations whatsoever
And the fact that his blog is never included on any dross-filled list of 'Top 100 UK blogs' pushed by the corporate mainstream; even though I know full well that plenty of the bloggers on those lists read his blog, speaks volumes.
Airing the possibility of false flag terror attacks can really limit the social acceptability of your blog.
If mainstream recognition as a True Citizen Journalist is what you crave it's always best to stick to endless, pointless, ding-dong political tribalism and pronouncements about economic matters which are subsequently proven to be flat wrong.
Just like proper journalists in fact
A selection of the Guardian-annointed 'New Commentariat' - aka not one but seven spare pricks at a weddingFortunately for his readership, any cravings for mainstream recognition on Lord Patel's part have been more than outweighed by his intellect and conscience
Unfortunately, Lord Patel hasn't been at all well recently
I fear Bad Things
and I'm currently not best-placed/ set up to do the legwork necessary to allay my fears
If any passers-by know otherwise please, please drop me a line or leave a comment here, thanks
.
69 comments:
You think he's gone missing, physically missing that is? If he's in the London area or its surroundings I could keep an eye out for him ;-)
Lord P is based up in the North West and I'm not suggesting that anyone's bundled him into a van
He's not been well at all for some time now and when I say 'not been well' that's an understatement
@aNWO
please forgive me for pulling that last comment but yes he has and yes I do
Sorry, I didn't realise it was a sensitive issue. I'll refrain from commenting further.
What can I do?
I sincerely wish him the best.
As do I, a true gent.
Hmmmm. hope it is a case of a crying wolf Stef, but it's not like Lord P to go awol without stating it. He has in the past. You're obviously more familiar with him than us, so if you're concerned, I am too.
Theres a ken in his comments that says he is in hospital.
Given the state of the May 10th post I can see that hes not well.
cheers Paul
I missed that Ken comment
I'm on yet another plane for the next day or so but I'll do some ringing at the other end
@aNWO
you weren't to know, no worries
@shahid
I let you know if anything comes to mind
@edo
I know a little bit more than I've written down and I'm gutted
Stef, I presume if you've spent time with Lord Patel in person, you have his contact details. Which your recent comment suggests.
PS: By the way, if you're flying into Heathrow let me know, I'd be honoured to meet you :p
not after 28 hours on a plane traveling scum class you wouldn't ;P
...and you presume correctly
unfortunately, I was booked up to move out of the UK by the time I heard about Lord P's illness and didn't get a chance to get on a train with a bag of grapes
the intention of this post was to just check to see if any mutual friends out there were more up to speed than me before I went blundering around like a bull in a china shop
as it happens, I'm heading back to the UK for a couple of weeks but only on account of someone else being in hospital, so not much chance for socialising
maybe next time, maybe we could have a few people round and while away a pleasant few hours playing 'try to spot the MI5 goon'
@Stef
Lol. Sure, sounds good. If we could put together a larger meeting involving J7T and any other decent organisations then I'm also interested in that.
Just for the record, I think we shouldn't be negative about Lord Patel's current status - he seems like a fighting chap from just his blog alone. Whoever (along with yourself) does go to visit him in person can pass on my regards to this intelligent and thoughtful gentleman.
Oh, and I'd like to suggest this website if I may:
http://www.freedom-force.org/
Any meet-up with you bunch of loons would be something I'd love to be a part of! Keep me posted.
Thanks to the folks who've emailed me snippets of news about Lord Patel's current state of health
Not good, not good at all
I'll post up what I understand to be the situation as and when I've figured out when and what is appropriate
I saw Lord Patel several times over the weekend, in hospital near Manchester. I'm sorry to say that he's very ill, and that the doctors say they can do nothing to help him. He's been one of my closest friends for 35 years, and I will miss him greatly.
For those of you who don't know him personally, LP originally trained as a botanist, before going into his father's textile business. In his late 20s he left that, and opened a bookshop in the northwest, and after that was a copywriter and arts administrator, before starting a software company for the garment industry.
I'm sure everyone who knows him through his blog will know that he is independent-minded, intelligent, and able to see through cant and hypocrisy.
He'll be a tough act to follow.
virtually impossible
virtually impossibleWell, there are a host of us us who must carry whatever flag is dropped.
In whatever way we can.
Regards to Ginger.
well quite
but not in Lord Patel's inimitable style
however, Lord P. has indicated that he'd be well chuffed if his blog didn't stop at the same time as he does
a possibility to which I plan to devote some thought but not right now as I'm spread way too thin
and apologies to the select band of folk who have been a wonderful source of high quality commenting and linkage in the past and who still click through my own blog wondering if and when that will ever stutter back into life again
I hope so, but not just yet, down to the previously mentioned thinness
Dear Ginger,
Please tell LP he's a fucking legend round my way. Respect is due.
Stef,
Postman Patel, aka, Lord Patel, aka, Edward Teague, is critically ill in North Manchester General Hospital. He is attended on by his wife Lesley and Daughter Sara, who has flown home from Indianapolis to be with him.
A mutual friend from very distant school days writes:
"I have been speaking to him every other day. He is remarkably lucid, funny and very courageous."
It is probably inappropriate for me to state much more than this time.
I will pass the link to your post with comments of your readers to Sara, who I am sure will relay your concern and good wishes.
Alfred Burdett
we love you, our Postman, Lord Patel of the internets
i don't know if this is soppy or lame, but i mean every word, and i'm sure you all agree with me, so there:
indefatigable is apt
though says it far too succinctly
steadfast you are we would all agree
the term prolific a just honour for thee
though it doesn't quite say it completely
more of a flippin' human writing machine, one always heartfelt and ever deep of meaning
the one, the only, our Postie
I am the postman's daughter. Thank you all for your kind words. I will make sure he sees them.
He has derived untold pleasure from writing the blog, and from coming into contact with all of you - so thank you for your friendship.
Today he is moving to a hospice and it appears the end is pretty near - but then again he is a stubborn old bastard...
Sara
Speaking of blogs, perhaps I should try to establish one of my own. Not that I could possibly reach Stef's level of analysis :p
Lord Patel. Your blog made me smile. I'll miss your insight, your wealth of knowledge, but most of all, I'll miss your typos. I hope that whatever awaits you realises what a decent chap you are.
Best Wishes to you and your family.
X Edo
@aNWO
if you write it They will Come
both of Them
maybe even more if you include porn-related tags
@edo
Lord P. has elevated typos to the level of an art form
At one point I considered investing in a 7" EEE netbook as an artifical aid in emulating Lord P's breathtaking keyboard wizardry
but it wouldn't be the same
The Grauniad?, Lord P s***s on the The Grauniad
"The Grauniad?, Lord P s***s on the The Grauniad"
Funny that, when I'm outta loo roll, I wipe my arse with it. :p
Sara
Thank you for taking the time to leave a note
I lost my own father, another stubborn old bastard, in very similar circumstances a couple of years ago, so I have some idea of what you are going through
As with so many others, my best wishes are with you and the rest of your family
Stef
@aNWO
if you write it They will Come
both of Them
maybe even more if you include porn-related tags
Well I'd be grateful if you could cross-link it when I do get around to securing a decent dwelling, internet connection, host etc.
no problem
trojan tags would work better though
Lord Patel was, of course, not above including the occasional, readership-enhancing swimsuit shot in his own blog
think how many more men would have at least skimmed through 'Das Kapital' or 'The Wealth of Nations' if they had some boobs in them
Ed was my campaign manager against Jack Syraw in 2005. He arrived on day 1 full of energy and got me through a pretty bruising experience. We had the odd disagreement about how graphic to make attacks on Jack Straw - I suspect I was still too civil service minded then.
Postman Patel is of course a reference to Lord Patel and his electoral fraud organisation in Blackburn.
I've refrained from commenting here until now as, in all honesty, this news of Lord Patel, without doubt one of the most prolific and insightful UK bloggers, bar none, is too sad for words.
Lord Patel has the dubious privilege of being the first person to email me directly on the basis of some of the scribblings on my own blog, back in November 2005. In those days Lord Patel was one of the few UK-based bloggers challenging and questioning the unfolding story of the events of 7th July 2005. Since then, Lord P's blog (apart from FF15MP) was one of the few blogs that I would make a special effort to keep up with.
Over time Lord Patel has been an ardent and welcome supporter of the efforts of J7: The July 7th Truth Campaign, and his support was such that, as well as writing many times about the various events in July 2005, he was the tenth person to sign the J7 petition demanding the release of all 7/7 related evidence.
Lord Patel and I would converse occasionally via email and I have known for some time that he was unwell, although I had no idea how rapidly his recently discovered illness would progress.
His extended absence and, ultimately, his passing will make the blogging world, and the world in general, a considerably poorer place.
My thoughts are with Lord P, his family, friends and acquaintances.
Lord Patel of the Internets, Edward Teague, you are much loved and you will be sorely missed.
Journey well, Lord Patel.
Hard to add anything, erudite, humane and as funny as fuck.
Very much second merkin's thoughts.
Sad to think that Lord P will be passing on. I've read his blog for a long while, posted on it a couple of times (usually anonymously) and corresponded with him once.
During said correspondence, as an aside, we started to discuss poetry. I told him that I liked John Cooper Clarke: he replied that, as it happened, he was listening to 'Snap, Crackle and Pop' on his ipod.
After that I thought he was quite cool.
Here's a link to Beasley Street ...
No collection of Postman Patel testimonials would be complete without some reference to his legendary stock-picking prowess
I'd like to be able to say that, thanks to Lord P's shrewd share tips, I am now financially independent and free from a lifetime of debt serfdom
Unfortunately, I am way too much of a conspiraloon to ever trust the stock market and sank my capital into gold coins, tinned food and shotgun ammunition long ago
and I really, really hope Lord P. is still in a position to appreciate Hazel Blears' delightful implosion
He'd like that
@stef
No need to buy a 7" notebook. I believe I have discovered the secret of the typos.
I believe you are in Blighty right now - run to the nearest Tesco and purchase a 'Value' keyboard for 'only' £3.50.
It has unique features and inconsistencies which I am only now dicovering - the most frustrating of which is a period key which works only on the 5th attempt. Other keys keep you guessing a little more...
I suppose I am dishonoring Dad's spirit in editing this as I go..
Sorry to spoil any mystique...
Sara
don't ever throw that keyboard away
Heh, personally I use Logitech or Cherry keyboards...
This is so sad and I will miss reading his blog. It is obvious that he is much loved and well regarded.
Lady Patel wishes to thank everybody for their kind comments about her husband. It helps to know that people care.
Very sad to hear about Lord Patel, one of the best.
I am totally gutted to hear this awful news about the postman.What can you say...
Just in case everybody assumes somebody else will preserve his work,have a free website copying programme.
http://www.httrack.com/
Thanks for caring enough to speak out,Lord P.
This is sad news indeed. Have read Lord Patel's blog for a good few years and it is always second to none. Thanks and peace be with him.
Just adding my voice to the very many here in tribute to a brave, funny and heroic fighter for truth and sanity in an insane world.
Postman P, we love you. You'll always be remembered.
Thank you to Sara and Mrs Teague for keeping us updated here. We wish you strength and patience in these difficult times.
With love,
Brenda
Stef, sorry to tell you that Edward died today. He passed away very peacefully, and his family were with him.
RIP Edward.
As has already been said, some of us should carry on his blog where he left off. I don't have any hosting or anything, but I can contribute some analysis and news.
To all of you lucky enough to know the man himself, I am very sorry for your loss. I will miss his writing very much; his blog was one of the first I ever came across - he leaves a gaping hole in the nets :(
Bye, Lord P x
Sad, sad news.
Journey well, Lord Patel
Tom,
Thank you for passing on the terrible news
Please pass on my deepest sympathies to Edward’s family
Ed sent me the access codes to his blog a while ago. I’ve just tested them and they work fine. I only spoke briefly with him in the last few weeks of his illness but he did indicate that he would like a brief note appended to the blog after he passed away
If you could help by sending me, when you can, a few brief biographical lines, along the lines of your earlier comment to my blog, that would be a help
What I didn’t get a chance discuss with Lord P was his desire that his blog would carry on in some way.
At the moment, I’m of the opinion that Lord P. was a one off and his blog should stand as he left it. That doesn’t preclude picking up where he left off, possibility with some form of collaborative effort that pays homage to his online persona, but I’d be inclined to start from scratch somewhere else
I’ll work on that and poll others for their thoughts a little later on
Once again, please pass on my best wishes to Ed’s wife and daughter. The stubborn old sod managed to work his way into the affections of greater number of people than they might have suspected
All the best
Stef
Craig Murray has written a tribute today and recounts the help he received from Mr.Teague to whose family I offer my condolences.
Sadly an important voice is stilled.
@Stef
In that case I'll gladly contribute to whatever alternative you decide to set up.
@aNWO
That's for another time
And if some of us do set something up we'll have to think very carefull about it and set limits and what is/ isn't in its scope
Lord Patel's blogging harked back to earlier days when subjects which are now dismissed as 'conspiracy theories' were part of mainstream political dialogue
But there are limits which separate legitimate para-political analysis and utter bollocks
The problem is, of course, that the precise location of those limits varies from person to person.
I suspect that any colloborative effort would founder on individuals' varying perception of those limits, quite quickly
but, like I said, another time
If you've got something to say I suggest you get your own blog going and see how it goes
This blogging thing is trickier than it looks and certainly a lot more time-consuming than you might think. How Lord P. managed to generate 5,100+ posts is one of Life's mysteries that I suspect that will remain at least a partial mystery.
@Stef
Well, I'd probably end up reporting on many of the same stories that are picked up by the alternative media.
The other thing is I don't really have anything new to add in terms of analysis that hasn't already been said by them. Sure I disagree somewhat on solutions to how to run our countries better, but thats a secondary concern.
As for time, what gave you the impression I had a busy "RL" anyway? :p
Sad news.
Stef, a fitting final post to Lord P's blog along the lines you were thinking sounds, to me at least, like the most honourable option.
You're the perfect articulator to write that post, difficult as I know you will find it.
Celebrate life.
Edo
@ anwo
The reason why a lot of people have dabbled with blogging, YT included, is that the act of writing about something helps you organise and clarify your thoughts on the subject you are writing about
The possibility that someone else, even if it's only a couple of other people, might read what you are writing, and pull you up for being an idiot, adds an element of discipline to the process which you wouldn't get if you were simply writing in a journal
TBH it is a process that shows diminishing returns after a while and the risk of repeating yourself is high. That's sort of where I am at the moment. I've got a lot less time available and many more people are thinking along what I believe to be the right lines than even a few years ago. So I've got less I want to write
As for alternative news sites, the fact that they are peppered with shills and, er, special people means that you have to be constantly assessing the quality of the information and analysis presented in a critical way (in a way that passive consumers of mainstream media are not accustomed to), which is great
Mainstream Media - We filter the News so you don't have to :)
and, returning to Lord Patel, his blog really was the first site I visited whenever I cranked up the net
I really am going to miss the old so and so
@edo
cheers for the compliment but this one, I think, is going to beat me
and the sad news about Lord Patel just compounds the feelings I have after spending the last week or so sitting with a close relative in hospital
fuck me, Life is a fragile thing
now you could get all depressed about that but, personally, I just find myself frustrated that I and people around me aren't making the most of it while we can
atb
S.
TBH it is a process that shows diminishing returns after a while and the risk of repeating yourself is high. That's sort of where I am at the moment. I've got a lot less time available and many more people are thinking along what I believe to be the right lines than even a few years ago. So I've got less I want to write
Indeed. There's only so many times you can point out the same bullshit before it gets tiresome or repetitive, and only so many times you can restate basic principles of freedom or rail against collectivism\neo-feudalism.
I found your blog through a personal recommendation, by the way. Around the same time I had been researching "conspiracy theories" back in the earlier part of this decade.
As for alternative news sites, the fact that they are peppered with shills and, er, special people means that you have to be constantly assessing the quality of the information and analysis presented in a critical way (in a way that passive consumers of mainstream media are not accustomed to), which is great
Of course, they are not perfect. There's a regular newsletter I read called "Unfiltered News" which simply adds a small paragraph as comment and links to\caches the news article or source used. The writer, G Edward Griffin, takes his news from a large variety of sources (readers are invited to provide submissions). Incidentally it is interesting that his Wikipedia entry was erased and replaced with a far less balanced version...
and, returning to Lord Patel, his blog really was the first site I visited whenever I cranked up the net
I really am going to miss the old so and so
Sorry if I'm hogging the comments here, no disrespect intended to Lord P - he obviously did an excellent job with just what I can gather from the blog alone, nevermind other things.
Dear Friends
Edward would be thrilled with the compliments although completely unfazed. He did not run a blog for fame but for fun and to expose stupidity and in-justice
I was with him yesterday at the Hospice in Oldham and it was clear he was near the end of a very brave fight with cancer. This morning, with his wife and daughter, by his side, he died peacefully.
Ken
There's a very good obituary of Edward in today's 'Independent'. It was entirely characteristic that as mourners left his humanist funeral, the music was Jimi Hendrix playing 'All Along The Watchtower' with the opening line "There's got to be some kind of way out of here"...
Edward Teague: Blogger known as 'Postman Patel
I've played All Along the Watchtower a few times since Ed's funeral and it makes me smile every time I hear those opening lines.
A hero to the End, and a little bit further than that
The following poem was also read at the service...
I AM NOT DEAD
Do not stand at my grave and weep;
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow;
I am diamond glints of snow;
I am the sunlight on ripened grain;
I am the gentle autumn's rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush;
I am the swift uplifting rush
of quiet birds encircled flight.
I am the soft star that shines at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there, I did not die.
Post a Comment