@kitdewaal@bsky.social @KitdeWaal Twitter profile

Pinned Tweet

@[email protected]

1 year

Without Warning and Only Sometimes: Scenes from an Unpredictable Childhood by Kit de Waal – review

Without Warning and Only Sometimes: Scenes from an Unpredictable Childhood by Kit de Waal – review

The My Name Is Leon author’s evocative memoir of growing up in 1960s Moseley perfectly captures the dreams and reality of migration to postwar Birmingham

www.theguardian.com

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Last Seen Profiles

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@PearlandHighSch

@[email protected]

@KitdeWaal

1 year

I did the bins

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@KitdeWaal

4 years

I’m desperate to be out of lockdown but when we went in mid March we had 350 deaths per day. Today we have 377. Serious question. What am I missing? It can’t be safe, can it?

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@KitdeWaal

2 years

This is me on a very important occasion signing the book at the RSL. Check out what my brother has photoshopped on to the page. He is 57.

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@KitdeWaal

2 years

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@KitdeWaal

4 years

Just to also say that for many years Timpsons have provided free holidays for foster carers, prisoner training and employment, education and lots of other charitable stuff. Quietly doing great work not just in this crisis.

James Timpson

@JamesTCobbler

4 years

The furlough top up for our colleagues to 100% of pay costs us £500,000 a week, not £500,000 a month as it says in today’s Sunday Times. It’s worth every penny to help our colleagues and their families through some tough weeks.

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@KitdeWaal

4 years

I really, really, really, really, really need to see the sea

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@KitdeWaal

2 years

Brief thread about Travellers/Roma. About 20 years ago I worked in a south Warwickshire white, affluent town that depended heavily on national and international tourism. They got me in because there had been a spate of racist incidents and the town (1)

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@KitdeWaal

2 years

You know what's great about this? She costs in the curry powder, the onion, the plain flour. It all adds up and often not factored in to cheap eating recipes. But then she is just great all round, so why am I surprised?

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3 years

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3 years

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@KitdeWaal

2 years

It’s not funny. It’s not okay.

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@KitdeWaal

2 years

But a complete blind spot when it came to Travellers. I’ve since found this attitude quite common in rural/small town England. Even as a black woman this level of racism was strange as no one made any attempt to hide it or feel shame. (5)

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@KitdeWaal

4 years

13th June 2013 - wrote this to my friend ‘So depressed about my writing having just had a resounding no - again. Having to actually digest the fact that I'm not good enough.’ Just saying. Do not give up, people.

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@KitdeWaal

6 years

Did an MA in Creative Writing at 52, first competition win at 54, novel out at 55, second out at 57 next year and sooooooooo not finished!

Vanessa Gebbie

@VanessaGebbie

6 years

I started emerging aged 52. Had my first comp win at 54. First book out at 56 with @saltpublishing . Novel out at age 59 with the lovely @BloomsburyBooks , and it became a novel of the year for the FT. In 2018, tenth book's due out. Not finished yet - :)

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@KitdeWaal

4 years

Penguin is looking for writers from communities under-represented on the nation’s bookshelves, including working class writers. It starts with just 1,000 words. Apply by Sunday 31 May - It's a great opportunity!

WriteNow

Every great book starts with an idea… WriteNow is Penguin’s award-winning programme to seek out, nurture and publish new writers from communities under-represented on the nation’s bookshelves. The...

www.penguin.co.uk

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@KitdeWaal

4 years

Shouts to hungover son in bedroom 'Morning, love.' Son replies, 'Happy International Women's Day, Mum.' I may have done one thing right.

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@KitdeWaal

3 years

Teenagers are running a community food shop on a Hackney estate

Around 20 teenagers are helping their community access food

www.mylondon.news

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@KitdeWaal

2 years

They've been locking black men up for years on half of the evidence available.

Paul Brand

@PaulBrandITV

2 years

Met Police says it will not investigate allegations of a Christmas Party in No 10 at this time due to a lack of evidence

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@KitdeWaal

10 months

A creative writing course in 2 minutes. The best.

Benjamin Carlson

@bfcarlson

10 months

Your two minutes of inspiration of the day

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@KitdeWaal

4 years

Not my experience. School uniform saved me from much shame at school. It was strictly enforced, rich or poor, same skirt, shirt, cardigan. I see the argument for not having one but for many poor kids it works.

Prof Elaine Chalus

@EHChalus

4 years

One of the ongoing arguments I have with many of my English friends. I don't like seeing kids in school uniforms and feel that they stifle individuality.> Britain's obsession with school uniform reinforces social divisions | Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett

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@KitdeWaal

4 years

So 14 days of isolation start today. My brother has it, tail end & feeling well but visited me before he knew. Me and 19 year old, loads of food, lovely little terrace, 24 hr tv, books aplenty, friends on speed-dial, sun is out. All is well.

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@KitdeWaal

6 years

No idea who to credit for this diagram but look.

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@KitdeWaal

1 year

There are at least five novels here. Minimum.

Daniel🎗🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 ॐ

@DannyDutch

1 year

Questions, I have a few.

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@KitdeWaal

11 months

What a load of shite

Prof. Pragya Agarwal

@DrPragyaAgarwal

11 months

‘Unrecognizable’ after 42 years. Exhausting.

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4 years

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@KitdeWaal

2 years

Morning face, bed hair, no filter (obvs) and happy delivery of my book! Yay!

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3 years

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@KitdeWaal

2 years

Everyone looked at me. No, they said, that’s different. They are never the victims. They are different, we don’t count them. We don’t support them. We aren’t hear to talk about them. I have never been so shocked. Each person trying so hard for every other ethic group (4)

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5 years

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@KitdeWaal

1 year

Amazing ‘fuck you’ from these two

SBS News

@SBSNews

1 year

Watch NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern pick apart this reporter's question during a joint press conference with Finnish PM Sanna Marin. He asked the pair 'are you two meeting because you're similar in age and got a lot of common stuff there?' Read more:

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@KitdeWaal

4 years

Was retweeting all the companies that had responded to @MarcusRashford with offers of free meals for children but I've had to stop. There are hundreds now. It's damning, beautiful and warms the heart. Thanks from all of us.

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@KitdeWaal

2 years

Love, respect and thanks to my brothers and sisters for letting me tell our story. Without Warning & Only Sometimes is for all of us. Happy Publication Day ❤️

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@KitdeWaal

2 years

Me and the boss ⁦ @LennyHenry ⁩ at the My Name is LEON screening last night. That canapé was delicious by the way …

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@KitdeWaal

11 months

When I had recovered from my divorce, I commissioned a calligrapher to write this out. Framed it and put it up by the front door and now I do. I greet myself with elation and feast on my life.

Raven Books

@ravenbooks

11 months

Derek Walcott

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@KitdeWaal

3 years

If everyone on the left could please put your differences aside (valid though they may be) and join forces long enough to get into power, some of us would be really grateful. Thank you.

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@KitdeWaal

3 years

Woman who threw petrol on burning house can’t believe the fire is out of control

Priti Patel MP

@pritipatel

3 years

I am disgusted that @England players who have given so much for our country this summer have been subject to vile racist abuse on social media. It has no place in our country and I back the police to hold those responsible accountable.

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@KitdeWaal

4 years

What strikes me most about all these pictures of us at 20 is the beauty, the skin, the eyes, the figures, the hair, never mind the beauty inside. And yet if you'd asked us then, what would have said? How hard we are on ourselves. On day, this will be our 20.

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@KitdeWaal

1 year

Said goodbye to Mary Teresa Flaherty today. Raised in St. Vincent’s Orphanage, Dublin with all attendant terrors and cruelty but made it to Birmingham where she had a long and happy life. RIP Auntie Teresa.

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2 years

#NewProfilePic

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4 years

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4 years

Just sayin. Just FUCKIN sayin!!!!

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@KitdeWaal

3 years

*rubs hands with glee*

BBC Birmingham

@BBCBhamPR

3 years

Filming has begun in Brum on @BBCOne 's adaptation of acclaimed Brummie author @KitdeWaal ’s debut novel #MyNameisLeon 🎥 Set in 80s Bham, against the backdrop of the race riots, the film tells the uplifting & moving story of 9 year old Leon & features Dudley legend @LennyHenry 🙌

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5 years

Murakami - ‘Once the storm is over you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure the storm is really over. But when you come out of the storm you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about.”

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@KitdeWaal

3 years

Photo of the day, possibly year

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@KitdeWaal

3 years

About to start on BBC a series about the Boleyn family. Again. Haven’t we done this story to death. Again with the Tudors, again with a very narrow slice of history, again this fascination with the upper classes. Fucking hell.

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@KitdeWaal

6 years

Kit de Waal: ‘I read my first novel aged 22’

The novelist on her Irish heritage, the passing of time and why she’s glad she didn’t start young

www.theguardian.com

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@KitdeWaal

6 years

Get on No. 16 bus to Dublin Airport, the driver announces I can't pay for my ticket with 20 euro note. I have no change. Young man, 23 at most, steps on, taps his debit card on the machine. 'Paid' he said. Can you beat that? Lovely man, wherever you are, thank you x

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@KitdeWaal

3 years

Ahem .....

Royal Television Society

@RTS_media

3 years

. @bbc releases releases first-look images for My Name Is Leon, starring @LennyHenry , Malachi Kirby, @MonicaDolan and Olivia Williams

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@KitdeWaal

4 years

This is all I’ve been thinking about.

adil

@taywh0restan

4 years

Everyone congratulating joe but no one talking about how kamala harris is the first woman to be a vice president

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@KitdeWaal

3 years

80s gear on the final day shooting My Name is Leon - spot me if you can

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@KitdeWaal

3 years

BBC's uplifting 1980s drama ‘My Name is Leon’ begins filming in Birmingham

The cast has been announced for the BBC's adaptation of My Name is Leon. Set in Birmingham, England in the eighties, the upcoming TV movie is based on Kit de Waal’s novel. The "tender and

britishperioddramas.com

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@KitdeWaal

4 years

Cunt

Channel 4 News

@Channel4News

4 years

"I think it's time we stopped our cringing embarrassment about our history." Boris Johnson says we need to "stop this general bout of self-recrimination and wetness" amid suggestions that songs like 'Rule, Britannia!' may be replaced with orchestral versions by the BBC.

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@KitdeWaal

10 months

My sister designed and knitted this jumper, no pattern, scraps of wool from her stash. Amazing @DesignKarn

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@KitdeWaal

4 years

What the fuck is it with telling poor people on a tight budget a) how they did things b) in the war c) by using common sense d) with shit, unrealistic recipes that ignore any add on costs of gas/elec/salt/veg/oil/bread and generally being shat on for many years. Stop it now.

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@KitdeWaal

4 years

Fuck off

ITV News

@itvnews

4 years

Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds nominate NHS staff for Pride of Britain awards

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5 years

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@KitdeWaal

5 years

He is rich who owns the day. Lovely. (Via salvagesisterandmister on Facebook)

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@KitdeWaal

2 years

Wanted! New writers, untried writers, yes, you there! Write an essay of 2-3 thousand words on any aspect of living in poverty now. It's for an anthology with @RoadsideMum and it's important. If you think you can't do it, you are exactly the person to try. (1/2)

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@KitdeWaal

2 years

We were about 3 weeks in to our strategy looking at d we’d hat support we could put in place for different groups (interpreters, religious groups, links to neighbouring minority communities, victim support, legal advice) when I mentioned Travellers. (3)

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@KitdeWaal

5 years

So. Yeah. This. Possibly to be retweeted daily until 2021. But, yeah.

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@KitdeWaal

4 years

If we want writers tomorrow from all classes and communities, we need readers today yet Britain has closed almost 800 libraries since 2010,

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@KitdeWaal

3 years

Fuck off

BBC News (UK)

@BBCNews

3 years

“It is up to us all together, as a newly and truly independent nation, to realise the immensity of this moment and to make the most of it” UK PM Boris Johnson says “we’ve also today resolved a question that has bedevilled our politics for decades”

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@KitdeWaal

7 years

This what I dreamed about when I started writing. Stranger on the tube reading my book. Bliss.

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@KitdeWaal

2 years

This is me at 6 and this is the cover for ‘Without Warning & Only Sometimes’, my memoir out next year. Obviously and ridiculously excited and chuffed. Thanks to @TinderPress for great artwork. Pre-order if you like!

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@KitdeWaal

2 years

Wanted to make sure they were approaching it right. Task force convened, Police, Chamber of Commerce, council, business leaders, social services, charities. All good people, really committed to getting to the heart of ut and making change. (2)

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@KitdeWaal

4 years

Ram it, Bunty. Not a fuck given. Superb.

Janey Godley

@JaneyGodley

4 years

The Glasgow Meghan is raging #janeygodleyvoiceover

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@KitdeWaal

6 years

Back to School

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@KitdeWaal

2 years

Best thing on the Worldwide Web number 508

AskAubry 🦝

@ask_aubry

2 years

Makes me want to dance!

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@KitdeWaal

5 years

"We need to stop accepting the middle-class life trajectory as the 'right' way for young people, especially women, to live their lives. The school to university to career to house to marriage to children isn't possible or desirable for all young women.’

We Are Middlesbrough: Pregnant teenagers tell their story

Robyn used to drink and smoke marijuana, but says her impending little girl changed her life.

www.bbc.co.uk

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@KitdeWaal

2 years

Leon is delighted to be featured on the new GCSE curriculum for English Literature from September 2023. I'm pretty chuffed too.

AQA English

@AQAEnglish

2 years

As part of our commitment to improving equality, diversity and inclusion in our qualifications, we’re offering a more diverse selection of modern prose/drama texts and introducing a third (optional) poetry cluster to our GCSE English Literature (8702) specification.

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@KitdeWaal

5 years

For anyone else that came to writing late in life :)

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@KitdeWaal

4 years

I am missing you. Ireland. Manchester. The sea. Far friends. The England I knew. Random affection. New surroundings. Ireland. The sea. All of you.

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@KitdeWaal

6 years

COMMON PEOPLE Working Class unpublished writers all chosen. And they’re all so bloody good. To the knob who told me that if they were any good they’d be published, I say read this and weep.

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@KitdeWaal

2 years

Eek! I’m on the shortlist for Non Fiction Category!

National Book Tokens

@book_tokens

2 years

Congratulations to everyone on the non-fiction shortlist: @stuhennigan , @TJDHalliday , @kitdewaal , and Shon Faye! Vote and win one of five £100/€120 National Book Tokens: #BAMBReadersAwards

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@KitdeWaal

6 years

So. I’m learning the 31 names of the areas mentioned in the Shipping Forecast as listed on Wikipedia. Reason. None. Challengers. None. I will recite them on New Years Eve, possibly alone with champagne at midnight. I’m very happy about it.

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@KitdeWaal

1 year

Brilliant

Malcolm Wood @woodmally1979.bsky.social

@woodmally1979

1 year

One of the best intros I have read.

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@KitdeWaal

1 year

I gave a reading in the huge foyer of Waterstones Piccadilly once. My sister took me there. An aunt came. A cousin came. No-one else. But we turn up for ourselves and our art and we are all turning up for you now in spirit with the best biscuits money can buy.

david wheatley

@nemoloris

1 year

Well literally no one turned up for my poetry reading! Someone from the toddler group in the next room did come in and give me a biscuit though, so perhaps all is not lost.

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4 years

I love this

mia

@miabongo

4 years

i just got back from italy & was required to self quarantine in my room for 14 days so my parents ate every meal with me from the hallway. i don’t deserve them :’)

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@KitdeWaal

4 years

So excited to reveal the cover of my short story collection, Supporting Cast, out in July. Meet the characters from My Name is Leon and Trick to Time. They're waiting for you.

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@KitdeWaal

1 year

Sixty two

Jay

@ArthBychan

1 year

30 and up Twitter, drop a pic with your age. Forty eight.

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@KitdeWaal

2 years

Tonight! My Name Is Leon: Sir Lenny Henry brings moving adoption story to screen

My Name Is Leon: Sir Lenny Henry brings moving adoption story to screen

The actor and comedian on why he wanted to make a TV version of Kit de Waal's novel My Name Is Leon.

www.bbc.co.uk

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@KitdeWaal

2 years

Thank you, from me and from Leon, for all the lovely messages about the film. Sorry I can't answer you all but know that we are both chuffed to bits and will let you know all about Jake in the next book ......

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@KitdeWaal

5 years

Yes, Anne it’s exactly the same as slavery. Right down to the beatings, whippings, rape, theft, kidnapping, humiliation, child abduction, relentless manual labour, no pay, no education, ritual humiliation, lynching and early death. Exactly the same.

Channel 4 News

@Channel4News

5 years

“There is a pattern consistent throughout history of oppressed people turning on the oppressors. Slaves against their owners. The peasantry against the feudal barons.” Brexit Party MEP Ann Widdecombe makes her maiden speech in the European Parliament.

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@KitdeWaal

1 year

This is what Twitter is for.

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@KitdeWaal

3 years

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@KitdeWaal

5 years

What new shite is this? Maybe this woman is starting a fitness regime, maybe she’s a weight lifter. Maybe she gives less than two fucks. She may be overweight and happy. The new mannequin is for her.

The Telegraph

@Telegraph

5 years

Tanya Gold: 'The new mannequin is obese, and she is not readying herself for a run in her shiny Nike gear. She cannot run. She is, more likely, pre-diabetic and on her way to a hip replacement. What terrible cynicism is this on the part of #Nike ?'

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@KitdeWaal

6 years

Me? Me on this list? With those women? (Swoons, dances in pyjamas, swoons again, looks for chocolate, decides on gin). Can’t sleep, won’t sleep. 😎

Women's Prize

@WomensPrize

6 years

On #InternationalWomensDay we're thrilled to reveal the 2018 #WomensPrize longlist! Congratulations to all of our longlisted authors:

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@KitdeWaal

3 years

Yup!

Sayle Screen

@SayleScreen

3 years

#MyNameIsLeon , written by @KitdeWaal has started shooting! The book has been adapted by Shola Amoo and is to be directed by @LynetteLinton . Produced by @DouglasRoadTV , headed by @LennyHenry for @BBCOne

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@KitdeWaal

1 year

Happy New Year everyone. First time in my life I’ve been in my own for NYE and it’s surprisingly fucking great. Cheers ❤️

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@KitdeWaal

4 years

I’m longing to have people to dinner, to cook too much, drink too much and not leave the table for five hours. I’m longing for meandering conversation and laughs and secrets told. ‘No don’t wash up. I’ll do it later’. I won’t.

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@KitdeWaal

2 years

Very, very, very bloody great

John Lewis & Partners

@JohnLewisRetail

2 years

It’s the things we do that mean the most. 🛹 #TheBeginner

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@KitdeWaal

3 years

Gulp! Memoir incoming! ‘Without Warning & Only Sometimes’ the story of my uncertain childhood, out next year. But you’re in luck! You can pre-order here - temporary cover by the way …although I was cute at 4!

LinkTitle

Go to LinkTitle.

smarturl.it

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@KitdeWaal

2 years

Best thing on the Worldwide Web number 512

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@KitdeWaal

1 year

Arthur Miller on the death of his wife. ‘I am very old now. Like a dog I always laid my catch at her feet. Now I carry it around aimlessly, the happy game disrupted. Forever.

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@KitdeWaal

2 years

Unfortunately one of his own. We've all been there.

Threatening Music Notation

@ThreatNotation

2 years

what song is he playing?

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@KitdeWaal

4 years

New TV/Film/Digital production company launched today! Portopia Productions, with me, @phoneydee and @sophthebull will focus on new and diverse stories, book adaptations and entertainment for broad appeal. Wish us luck, everyone! And get in touch. Find us @PortopiaTV

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@KitdeWaal

5 years

Following a massive deterioration in my language when commenting on politics, I will now only tweet about kindness, writing and optimism. The cunts have worn me down.

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@KitdeWaal

5 years

This was me. I remember being grateful, even then as a child, that at least clothes-wise I looked exactly the same as the other girls at school. The uniform is a leveller for poor children in an age of designer gear. It saved me from shame.