Madeleine McCann: Inside The Flat, New Clues And Bad Parents
MADDIE WATCH - Anorak’s at-a-glance guide to press coverage of Madeleine McCann
NEWS OF THE WORLD (front page): “MADDIE”
More?
“WORLD EXCLUSIVE: FIRST PICTURES INSIDE FLAT”
“Maddie’s bedroom”; “front door” – the flat from Madeleine McCann supposedly went missing is for hire, and the NOTW has been to look it over.
Has the NOTW turned into a holiday brochure, got into the timeshare game?
Now the rest of the flat has been redecorated and is ready to welcome more holidaying families to Portugal.
Can the flat be rented by the minute, and because of its history does it come with a surcharge? For now, the paper wants to show readers “How fiend could have kept out of sight”.
Our detailed survey of the flat reveals a host of places Maddie’s abductor could have hidden when it’s most likely he was almost caught in the act by dad Gerry as he checked on her and twins, Sean and Amelie, at 9.05pm on May 3 last year…
Details. You have noted the door and the bedroom. Now look at the inside of a “WARDROBE”.
But our on-site reconstruction proves that if the kidnapper was already in the flat, as the McCanns fear, he had a full TEN SECONDS to conceal himself after hearing Gerry open the patio doors and enter the apartment.
Although if Gerry McCann moved slower than the NOTW’s estimated speed of 2.34 mph, the kidnapper might have had ELEVEN seconds, or perhaps even TWELVE seconds to hide.
But where to hide?
And he had no fewer than FOUR boltholes to choose from—behind Madeleine’s BEDROOM DOOR, inside her roomy WARDROBE, in her parents’ nearby BEDROOM or in the family BATHROOM.
What about under the BEDS, behind the CURTAINS, on the CEILING or in the SHOWER? Or in the BED?
If one year on, the News of the World found clues, surely the detectives could have established more AT THE TIME?
Clues. the NOTW has found doors and rooms. In one year of tabloid tales, much has been established.
The stillness and silence of the apartment now is just as it would have been after the McCanns left the children asleep in bed that fateful night.
All that can heard is the gentle click, click click of cameras, the sound of a reporter scrambling for a story and the trace of last night’s prawns in garlic butter…
IRISH INDEPENDENT: “Summer sun brings out first Bad Parent story”
“It’s hard to resist a little pain-free moral gloating sometimes, writes Eilis O’Hanlon.”
Like the first cuckoo of spring, the sighting of the first Bad Parent story of the summer is always a heartwarming, life-affirming event; and by a happy coincidence, the latest incarnation of this media phenomenon arrived bang on time, just as the weather started to hot up and our thoughts turned sunwards. At last we can say the holiday season has truly begun.
Normally, of course, it’s some foul-mouthed painted doxy from a sink estate in the north of England who hits the headlines after flying off to be with her Spanish waiter in the sun, leaving behind her gaggle of variously-fathered children in their council flat with only a tin of beans, the keys to the drinks cabinet, and Grand Theft Auto IV on the Playstation to occupy themselves until she gets home — if and when she can be bothered.
The Irish now see the English as the English once saw the Irish, albeit without the beer, bombs and potatoes.
The McCanns. The McGuckins.
The media phenomenon of the Bad Parent story, ritually trotted out to appease the secret guilt of other parents everywhere, is a curious one, no doubt about that. It can’t be much fun to be caught in the middle of the latest outbreak of media moralising, but it’s best just to put it down to experience and move on as quickly as you can.
THE SCOTSMAN: “McCanns ‘won’t mark’ Madeleine’s fifth birthday”
Family spokesman Clarence Mitchell said of the birthday: “Gerry will be at work and Kate will be at or around home. Sadly, for them it is just another day without Madeleine.”
Madeleine McCann: When will the anniversaries stop?
Posted: 11th, May 2008 | In: Madeleine McCann Comments (471) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
Comments
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May 11th, 2008 at 11:32 pm
Ciara
Thank-you.
Val
Quite agree. Suggestions? We need Smuddy here to crack some good lines…….
May 11th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
evening all
Been reading the posts and just wanted to send my best wishes to duncan and to ciara, very brave people. Away on hols tomorrow, so happy sleuthing everyone xx
May 11th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
344 Carmen
Does Duncan have grown up children who can help out? It must be dreadful knowing
there is little hope, but in a way Anorak will take his mind off it , and the fact that he
can talk about it openly is maybe his way of preparing himself.
I think we should change the subject now, all we can do is sympathise.
May 11th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
343
Carmen
Yes, I understand and agree.
May 11th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
Val
The NOTW has made a big thing of poor Oldfield not doing a ”proper” check, on the 3rd.
The reason seemingly being that he couldn’t see the bed because of the way the door opening blocked his view? My point is that that’s rubbish, as is plain to see. The door opens inwards, hinges on the right, with ”the” bed on the left.
Yes, Rachael O was in all evening the night before, the 2nd, as Clarrie himself stated when rubbishing the rumours about Madeleine saying ”where were you mummy when me & sean were crying”.
May 11th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
Maria, popular name innit, but why?
May 11th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
258 DuncanR Says:
May 11th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
255 - Garth
—-
I also have doors that open outwards.
May 11th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
Ciara
I am not trying to have a nasty dig at you specifically, but perhaps you now understand why when, shall we say, ’some people’, tried to use Anorak as a dating board and a social chat site, that others of us, aware of the great pressures going on behind the scenes, have been a little short tempered at times.
I understand that you too are under pressure. It is those who think it is a game to engage the mods and take up our time, who perhaps don’t realise the enormous sacrifice some people are making, both in time and money, to ensure that Anorak remains as a place where you can freely debate the news of the day.
May 11th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
339
spot on
May 11th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
337
Didn’t you say that you went to university with Gerry Mccann?
May 11th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
336
Carmen
I agree. Duncan has carried on regardless despite the pressure he is under and sadness he has had to endure. I couldn’t have done that..
May 11th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
327 Fair
Let”s recap…….1st May was the night Mrs Fenn heard Madeleine crying Daddy Daddy
for well over an hour. I seem to remember reading that the Tapas 9 went to Chaplins?
and the OC phoned the McCanns to say their child/ children? were crying and Gerry
went to sort them out. If that was the 2nd, wasnt that the night Rachel said she stayed in
and said she heard nothing. On the 3rd Gerry checked at 9.05, then apparently Oldfield
and they were asleep all that time, the twins not even waking through all the uproar.
May 11th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
DuncanR
I can only repeat my good wishes to you and your wife. Words are so inadequate; at least, mine are.
I very much appreciate your comments to Ciara re “new Maria” which make it clear “she” is not me. Not an accident that “she” chose my name but I feel better for your comments.
Fair
Hi. No, I haven’t seen Totje for a few days but have not been here much of the time or read all the posts.
Ciara
I don’t want to sound self-centred but, if it’s any consolation, I suppose the “insult” from the new Maria could be taken to be at least as much to me as to you!! Apart from someone called “mariab”, I think I’m the only “Maria” that’s posted here up to now.
If she calls herself “Original Maria” now, hope you’ll still know the difference! Could adopt anyone else’s name, of course.
Good night everyone.
May 11th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
328
DuncanR
My 17 year old son has a tumour in the corpus callosum area of the brain. He was diagnosed 4 years ago and because of the location it is inoperable. He experiences headaches and seizures and memory loss but is still here. It is so hard and difficult to watch. I had him at 16 and thought things would get easier but I was wrong. He is 6ft tall but depends on me so much. I know what you are experiencing and words can’t describe it. Like I said the other night life can be cruel at times.
May 11th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
It is to Duncan’s eternal credit and a lasting testament to the strong marriage he has, and has earned, that he has continued to give his time freely to ensure the smooth running of Anorak despite the sad reality of life chez duncan.
We are all in awe of his ability to care for his wife, run his home, do a full time job, and retain sufficient sense of humour to deal calmly and kindly with the many queries and the sometimes childish antics that are seen on this board.
If any man ever deserved a medal for multi-tasking, it is Duncan.
Go and have a glass of wine with the good lady Duncan, I’ll do your shift.
May 11th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
not long now Gandy
May 11th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
Duncan
That’s very sad, I’m so sorry. Empty words I know but I do understand. Same thing with a friend in February. Except she didn’t get anywhere near a year, in fact only 6 weeks.
Make the most of every day, they are precious & you will remember them as being very special. My friends husband does. x
May 11th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
328
DuncanR
So sorry, it is a horrible illness. Take care xx
May 11th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
330 Duncan
Sorry to hear the Cancer is so advanced. A Friend of mine died from Cancer a few
years ago and ended up in a Hospice run by Marie Curie. Like your wife, no sooner
was one area cleared, than another area became infected. I was so impressed at
the Treatment my Friend received at the Hospice that I volunteered to sell Daffodils
and have been doing it twice a year ever since. Usually Rugby International Days.
I”m cheekier than the others and ask nicely if I can go in the Pubs to sell. Because
we wear a Yellow Tabard with Marie Curie written on, the Bouncers let me in. I
then clean up because I have a captive public, and after a few beers they are very generous!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the info, will try it.
May 11th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
325
DuncanR
It did cross my mind but I thought I was being paranoid.I have been accused of that too.
May 11th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
329
DuncanR Says:
May 11th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
———————————
I’m really sorry to hear that; I’ll be thinking of you both.
May 11th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
325 Gandolf
Ah, your”e back, I was just asking Duncan about the Virtual Reality thing, I”d asked
you earlier.
Read the Cadaver Article, very clever these canines. You won”t believe this but I watched a Documentary about China earlier on and Fishermen actually TRAINED
Cormorants to dive for Fish and bring them back to the boat. they have been trained
for total obedience, but if they don”t get a reward at the end of the day, they withdraw their labour. Absolutely stunning scenery and very interesting.
It”s Chinese night for me, half watching Hero, a Martial Arts film, bit like Crouching
Dragon if you saw that, brilliant special effects.
May 11th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
322 - val
My wife has Stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer. She has had 1/2 her left lung removed. and courses of chemo- and radiotherapy to her right lung. There is no ‘cure’. It is just a matter of time before she dies. Statistically, only 15-35% of folk with her type of lung cancer are still alive 12 months after diagnosis. She passed the 12 month mark a couple of weeks ago. Our celebrations that she had beaten the survival odds were short-lived, however. The cancer has now spread to her brain and she will be starting another course of radiotherapy tomorrow. Thank you though for your kind wishes. They are much appreciated.
Re your virtual memory problem - this generally arises when you have too many applications running simultaneously. Or two many ‘windows’ open when browsing the internet. Try switching your PC off and on again. In many cases that will solve your virtual memory problem. If not, have a look at any programs that may be loaded at startup. If you don’t need then to be running - close them down. That stops them using valuable resources.
May 11th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
324
Gandolf Says:
May 11th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
Don’t mention the dogs…..
—————————
Ok, I won’t complain…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVRtQUTd7Gk
May 11th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
320
val Says:
May 11th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
307 Fair
When and if Garth posts again tonight YOU tell him, I think he thinks I”m the village idiot, which I am at times!!!!!!
As I said, if true that Rachel Oldfield stayed in that night, why would Oldfield be going
to check on his child?
this case will have us all pulling our hair out trying to think of the right scenario, hope we find out what REALLY happened.
—————————————————————————-
The story of Rachael Oldfield staying in all night was the night before. The night of the supposed crying? (the 2nd)
Dr Matthew Oldfield was the person to do the check (for K Mc?) on the 3rd….the night when he alledgedly couldn’t see Madeleine? The night she went missing.
Hi Maria
Yes, where is Totje?? I’ve been away, has she been around?
May 11th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
321 - Ciara
I have little additional information about the identity of the new poster ‘Maria’ than you do. However, I suggest you read the comments from the new ‘Maria’ again. Wonder why you have been singled out for attack. Anything strike you as familiar? Remind you of anyone?
Only conjecture on my part, of course.
May 11th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
Don’t mention the dogs….. http://www.pawsoflife.org/pdf/Library%20articles/carpet%20squares.pdf
May 11th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
317
Maria
Take care. No need to apologise for someone using your name. The spelling and grammar were wrong so I knew it wasn’t you. xx
May 11th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
319 Duncan
Before you disappear, first of all I am sorry your wife is so ill, is it terminal? It makes you wonder after all these years of Research the actual cause or preventative
treatment has not been found. Wish her well from me.
Second of all, I did ask Gandolf, but he”s disappeared and I don”t want my Laptop to
crash on me. Every so often today, a message appears saying “Virtual Reality low,microsoft increasing “. Would this refer to Bookmarks/ Notebooks/Favourites?
Many of these I don”t need but don”t know how to delete………..any ideas?
May 11th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
318
DuncanR
I know I had my suspicions but felt silly referring to a poster called Maria as he. You are right though the poster name didn’t guarantee they were female.