“It’s Smita Lemn do you have a minute” Each time I was in a meeting but the third time I finally spoke to the BBC Producer Smita Patel. “I know you’ve done a lot of work for radio four” said Smita, I noted to myself that by now she had done a little research. Patel then followed a lengthy ramble to which I had to say, “what’s the upshot Smita”. In my world it is very rare that I have to say so clearly more than once “smita, what’s the upshot” meaning what’s the outcome. I sensed very strongly that there was something an outcome about this call but I couldn’t have expected what was to come.   more »

I sent the reply today to Smita at the BBC. Mrs Catherine Greenwood is the foster mother whom with her husband for the first eleven years of my life, abused me (there is no other one word for it) and whom has for the first time - having been approached on various occassions over the years - informed the BBC that I have been lieing for twenty years. No change there then.   more »

Patel spoke in the way a news or current affairs worker, with clipped assertiveness. The question arose, as it had to. My foster father died some years ago, but my foster mother was alive. “Shall we find her” I paused. I replied each time “If you would like to”. I was aware that the narrative path Patel was following was nudging towards my my foster mother, the surviving member of the couple who abused me.   more »