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Pádraig Belton @padraigbelton.bsky.social · 9h

The anniversary of the death of my mother, Carlotta, sees my daughter Carlotta a long-limbed, fashionable young woman whose Italian grows
more confident each summer.
Liam and I are locked in combat at the chessboard while sharing torta della nonna, grandmother’s cake.
Ti amerò per sempre, mamma.

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Pádraig Belton @padraigbelton.bsky.social · 15h

So here is a moment of beauty, amongst all the suffering. We find them where we can, as we struggle on. #justicefortimur @jannadrakon.bsky.social

(Ends)

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Pádraig Belton @padraigbelton.bsky.social · 15h

Kazakhstan is now having its first heavy snows – amazingly, since it's October. It being Sunday, I've encouraged Zhanna to go out for a run, because I am an arse. (She's flown to Kazakhstan with only her suitcase of clothes suited to Texas.) (4/)

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Pádraig Belton @padraigbelton.bsky.social · 15h

And all of us hoping a judge in a remote part of Kazakhstan will resist government pressure and do the right thing, and release a man one jury already found innocent, and about whom another prosecutor said there was no case to answer. (3/)

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Pádraig Belton @padraigbelton.bsky.social · 15h

The Central Asian republics are still finding their way to democracy: slowly, with many good people fighting very hard to urge them on. So now we find ourselves with her brother-in-law, my friend Timur, in jail, with his wife, a public defender, assiduously working in the courts to get him out. (2/)

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Pádraig Belton @padraigbelton.bsky.social · 15h

Lifetimes ago as a student at Yale, I made lucky friends with Zhanna, a breathtakingly intelligent girl from Kazakhstan – a country to which I could barely point on the map. We stayed in close touch - so much that I befriended her lovely family when I found myself, later, reporting in Astana. 1/

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Pádraig Belton @padraigbelton.bsky.social · 2d

It is a dark story, involving whether a government can arbitrarily jail its own people. But at least he is very ably represented by my dear friend Kamila, who is an astute and skilled public defender. And she is also, as it happens, his wife.

(part two of my video message of support)

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Pádraig Belton @padraigbelton.bsky.social · 2d

I was so grateful, from 6,000 km away, to make a message of support outside a Kazakhstan courtroom. An illegally detained friend from my time reporting there, Timur Sadvakassov, still fights for his freedom after a court said should go free.

I look forward to us celebrating the day he is released.

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Pádraig Belton @padraigbelton.bsky.social · 2d

As well as leaves of fire, October calls to mind Octoberfest, sauerkraut, German Unity Day, and all the friends from Germany who’ve blest my life - like my son’s beautiful godmother Paula. And here is one tiny encomium, for October, to all those lovely Germans who have so gorgeously touched my life.

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Pádraig Belton @padraigbelton.bsky.social · 6d

It’s hard being a big yellow bird in the US at the moment you just get ostrich sized

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Pádraig Belton @padraigbelton.bsky.social · 7d

October’s start marks the dozen days before the anniversary of mum dying; other years I’ve cycled the length of Britain, or run that of Ireland.

What stays with me was how strangers put me up each night. The memory of that kindness is what lingers. And somehow all insisted on me having a hot shower

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Pádraig Belton @padraigbelton.bsky.social · 11d

Skipped runs and weights last night to get my BBC story filed over breakfast. Now I’m off to two inner city schools to talk to kids about sport because I am basically a hypocrite.

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Pádraig Belton @padraigbelton.bsky.social · 13d

I'm so very glad the first debate for the highest office in our republic, perfectly timed for the schoolchildren who will be our future voters and representatives, is at the prime time hour of *checks notes* 10 pm. #Áras2025

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Pádraig Belton @padraigbelton.bsky.social · 14d

Just been coaching all the six year olds of Dublin in fencing because I am fully in support of arming small children with knives

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Reposted by Pádraig Belton

Marc de Faoite @marcdefaoite.bsky.social · 14d

It seems like a former president heading for prison should be attracting more attention, but the general reaction I'm seeing here in France is just a shrug and that accompanying gallic puff of air.

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Pádraig Belton @padraigbelton.bsky.social · 14d

Funny seeing Sarkozy sentenced to prison this week. One of my first pieces ever to see print was a @thetls.bsky.social scene setter for his rise to power, which I felt far too clever for spotting in the offing. I’m still glad, all these years later, I insisted on the question mark.

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Pádraig Belton @padraigbelton.bsky.social · 16d

My mistake was agreeing to go for lunch (Friday, presumably boozy?) with someone called ‘Jim’

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Pádraig Belton @padraigbelton.bsky.social · 19d

I'm writing The Times's obit this week for Conor Gearty – an Irish barrister who was a founding member of Matrix Chambers, and as a professor at the LSE, one of the world's leading scholars of human rights. If by chance you knew him, and you've a moment, I'd be very grateful for a quick chat.

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Pádraig Belton @padraigbelton.bsky.social · 20d

Heck of a woman!

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Pádraig Belton @padraigbelton.bsky.social · 20d

I take a look this morning for the BBC at one quiet group of people who, between Ukraine and the Middle East, have never been busier: the war insurance underwriters at Lloyd’s of London, which provides 70 per cent of the world’s war insurance.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Global conflicts drive demand for war risk insurance

Wars in Ukraine and the Middle East are fuelling take-up of cover against impact and damage.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Pádraig Belton @padraigbelton.bsky.social · 21d

I am out out running up a mountain in Ireland to rain and 80s dance mixes.

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Pádraig Belton @padraigbelton.bsky.social · 21d

Stolen: my fencing kit bag, water bottle, and expression. Please return if seen.

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Pádraig Belton @padraigbelton.bsky.social · 22d

Disasters are great for talking to strangers in London. Once I had the best dishwasher explosion - neighbours downstairs and next door both affected. Met both. Ended up having both round for Christmas. Still in touch.

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Pádraig Belton @padraigbelton.bsky.social · 23d

Wednesday, after a charity dinner in London, I led survivors onto a Soho dance floor, to Chinatown, and a casino until 8 am.

Thursday, I took eGates and aircoach, and walked home through Dún Laoghaire.

Weds I had 0 chats with strangers. Thurs I had 5.

This whole Ireland lark is on to something.

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Pádraig Belton @padraigbelton.bsky.social · 26d

Am writing in the front row of my DUB-LHR flight. In a turbulent moment over the Isle of Man, salads take flight, mingle in a heap of broken china in the aisle. Without batting an eye, in-flight lead quips ‘lunch is served’.

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is why I fly @british-airways.bsky.social

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