The Mystery of Ben Needham

Andrew wrote:Didn't realise it was that hot.

110F is a ridiculously high temperature for a 21 month old to be in.

Sorry to go back on this post, but (like others I am sure) I've lived in the Middle East and noone walks around in 110 degree heat.  That sort of heat is unbearable (everything in the Med apart from the Mid East shuts down during the day because of this).
I can't believe it would be possible for a child to survive a walk at these temperature (nor an adult).  Who relayed this ?  Was it taken into account ?

People, - residents, builders etc - just would not contemplate such a thing.   Where did this info come from?   First I've heard of it.  Just asking for my own peace of mind, apologies for my ignorance.

seahorse wrote:I'm finding it suspicious that Christine decided to take Ben to the farmhouse on the spur of the moment.

According to the book it took 50 minutes for her to walk there (not 30 minutes as reported), all the way uphill, whilst it was 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius) with her younger son and Ben in the pushchair.

Has anyone seen an aerial view of the farmhouse? None that I can find.

This is where it was first mentioned. Seahorse, you've definitely seen this yourself in the book, have you?

My post quoted above..

Should of said 'was that' and not 'that was'.

The heat mentally got to me when wrote it.

I must say, been to the Greek Isles approx 15 times over the years and never seen it get as hot as that. A 100 at a push, but mainly 90's, mid 90's.

Even that would be unbearable for a youngster of Ben's age at the time.

Personally, I think this owner chap needs more scrutiny.


Typo in previous post corrected.

Freedom wrote:

seahorse wrote:I'm finding it suspicious that Christine decided to take Ben to the farmhouse on the spur of the moment.

According to the book it took 50 minutes for her to walk there (not 30 minutes as reported), all the way uphill, whilst it was 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius) with her younger son and Ben in the pushchair.

Has anyone seen an aerial view of the farmhouse? None that I can find.

This is where it was first mentioned. Seahorse, you've definitely seen this yourself in the book, have you?

Let me quote parts from the book. Easily checkable if you don't believe me:

CHAPTER SIX - HE'S STILL OUT THERE
Page 81-82

"These are the events of 24 July 1991.
Apart from it being about 110 degrees, it had begun as just another normal day in paradise for my family. Dad had driven the Land Rover up to work on the farm as usual, and Stephen had gone on his motorbike. Then I had arrived at the caravan and set off for work, and Ben and Mum had had the whole day in front of them.
After I'd left, Mum got Ben washed and changed in the clothes I had brought with him. I'd pulled out little shorts, brown sandals and a white shirt with a hint of a green pattern. Mum was very close to catching a bus into Kos Town but at the last minute decided it would be nice to push Ben up to see his granddad and uncle working at the farmhouse. Iraklis was about a forty-minute walk and most of it was uphill. Mum was fit enough. Danny wasn't at school and he'd be okay with the distance. In fact, Mum was more worried about Ben the corgi's little legs managing the walk with them in the midday sun.
It was a picturesque route and Mum was in no rush so they actually took closer to fifty minutes. Ben alternated between spotting the animals in the fields with Danny and bashing two toy Dinky cars together. They were all covered in sun cream and Ben had the shade from his buggy roof, so it was just a lovely idyllic day."

It might even have been hotter, as the day had begun at 110 degrees and the walk was midday.

I didn't mean to suggest you hadn't actually read it. Thank you Seahorse for copying that bit.

I must admit that this reminds me of Kate's novel where everything was absolutely blissful and perfect until Madeleine was "abducted". 

Kerry might have been exaggerating about the actual temperature but there can be no doubt that it was a blazing hot day.

Looking at previous years the temperature seems to range from 27 to 32 degrees Celsius on July 24th. So it must be a typo or mistake in the book.

Still very hot, and aren't we all warned to stay in the shade at midday when the sun is at its hottest?

No, wasn't saying you made it up either, Seahorse.

I think this is another book I need to get as well as the other one, mentioned on the other thread, which still not got round to ordering.

https://weatherspark.com/history/32189/1991/Kos-South-Aegean-Greece

A thermometer in a sheltered area may well have shown 110 degrees F

Oh yes, a little Cointreau goes down very well, Candy, but I wouldn't want to push my luck if it's the first time I've been invited to one of Chatelaine's parties
If I'm in solitary confinement in the cellars I would be happy with a glass of orange squash
Now, regarding Ben: Seahorse is still looking for the location of the farmhouse, so this photo may help. The solar panels on the roof will be facing south, and you can see the coastline. I'll look too

bluebell wrote:

Andrew wrote:Didn't realise it was that hot.

110F is a ridiculously high temperature for a 21 month old to be in.

Sorry to go back on this post, but (like others I am sure) I've lived in the Middle East and noone walks around in 110 degree heat.  That sort of heat is unbearable (everything in the Med apart from the Mid East shuts down during the day because of this).
I can't believe it would be possible for a child to survive a walk at these temperature (nor an adult).  Who relayed this ?  Was it taken into account ?

People, - residents, builders etc - just would not contemplate such a thing.   Where did this info come from?   First I've heard of it.  Just asking for my own peace of mind, apologies for my ignorance.

I agree. During the hottest part of the day, people knock off work for a good few hours, have lunch and siesta. No way do they do building work in the early afternoon. Nor do they walk around with babies and toddlers. Nor would Ben have been playing outside - not in that heat.

So what was really happening? Did Ben have an accident earlier in the day?

On a day that hot you would want to be near water. No way would you decide to go for a long walk uphill. With two such young children?

Far more likely that Ben's Grandma would take Ben and Danny somewhere where there was a pool to cool off in, given the extreme heat.

Here I go again with a theory - a theory that is far more likely than Ben having been abducted, imo.

Given it seems likely that the family would seek out somewhere with a pool that day, it is perfectly possible there could have been an accident involving a pool rather than a moped (although the latter is also possible).

Suppose Ben's Uncle took Ben somewhere with a pool?  Took his eye off him for a few seconds even? And that might have happened earlier in the day, well before noon?

A theory as always.

Given how implausible Kerry's account of the afternoon is, that would mean that she too could know what really happened. Surely she wouldn't really believe that Grandma took the boys for a walk in the heat of the day?

Maybe they all tried to protect Danny from the truth? ETA: But Danny was old enough to remember what he did that day?

Again, an entirely hypothetical scenario.

ETA: On a day that was 110 degrees it would be nice to go on a 50 minute walk up hill with a child in a buggy and an older child plus dog on the hottest part of the day? It was idyllic?

I can't think of anything worse...



ETA: This has clinched it for me....

Finally found the farmhouse on Google Earth. Much easier to imagine the scenario when you can actually see the layout of the house and the surrounding roads and countryside. Not quite how I had visualised it in my mind  

Is it possible to post a link?

Yes, Suma. Sling a link this way, so can have a good look..

Cheers.

Hi Poster.. Personally, I think it's a lot more simple than that.

See post about the 'missing'.

The more I think about it, the more sadly I go with that theory.

Just my thoughts.

If I post a link will you all stop assuming that I'm trying to disrupt the forum? (because I'm not)

Most of us would just post the link anyway. Why do you have to make things difficult?

ok then, I won't
but I've emailed it to the members I trust
Sweet dreams

Suma, just checked and recieved squat. Is it coming....

Actually think your ok. Regardless of what is said/claimed.

Your like a little sweet McPlant that needs watering now and again...

A lost hamster or something... spinning.

Are you ok...

How's the McCanns getting on anyway.. cheers.

I hope that you all can forgive me for upsetting our little ray of sunshine, Satsuma, and sending him scuttling back to his orchard. 

I hope that the people he can trust (in the unlikely event that there are any) will post the link on here.

Satsuma wrote:ok then, I won't
but I've emailed it to the members I trust
Sweet dreams

When he was Chop Suey On Toast, Satsuma liked to pm Seahorse and of course Chirpyinsect, by their own admission.

Satsuma's behaviour reminds me of the photojournalist Mike Gunnill who likes to haunt forums to get peoples details.

dandaar wrote:

Satsuma wrote:ok then, I won't
but I've emailed it to the members I trust
Sweet dreams

When he was Chop Suey On Toast, Satsuma liked to pm Seahorse and of course Chirpyinsect, by their own admission.

Like I keep saying to you Dandaar. So what? But just for you I have received no communication either by pm, email, carrier pigeon or smoke signal from our orange friend, so I'm afraid you won't be getting the link from me.
You have been told about the pms before when you were previously on here. I certainly don't have to explain myself to you about them and in your own words, I have a mind of my own and don't need a Mickey Monitor watching over me.
Now either add something to the debate or flounce off again.

Hear,hear Chirpy.

Don't know why dandaar is so obzest with Satsuma. Satsuma is an acquired taste, so maybe it's just sour grapefruits? Yeah I know, that was pretty pithatic.

A couple of recent pics of the Gaff in Kos: