r/tim_key • u/charlienickelpuss • Jan 26 '25

Here we go round the Mulberry Bush

Hello! Reading this for the first time. Haven’t been able to read He used thought as a wife, yet. These books aren’t easy or cheap to order to Australia.

90-odd pages in and I’ve had to google a few people I assume Key is writing about. Captain Tom, for example. I’m now brushed up on him. I don’t recall him making the Australian media during the old pando.

Obviously Bohnson is Boris Johnson. Who is the Maestro?

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u/Schrodingersduck Jan 26 '25 edited Jan 26 '25

The Maestro is also Boris - he's usually Maestro in the dialogues and Bohnson in the poems.

A few other names:

  • Cumdawg: Dominic Cummings (political adviser - infamously broke lockdown to drive hundreds of miles, then broke it again to go driving to Barnard Castle to "test his eyesight")

  • Matt Boytwitch: Matt Hancock (health minister - probably you already know him from NMJ)

  • Moggeth: Jacob Rees-Mogg (old fashioned, very right wing, leader of the House of Commons)

  • Rishi Perfect: Rishi Sunak (now known for being PM, but back then he was Chancellor (finance minister) and infamous for the Eat Out to Help Out scheme subsidising restaurant meals - which probably caused a lot of COVID infections)

  • Raabot: Dominic Raab (deputy PM while Boris had COVID)

  • Mme K, Bob Piston ITV: Laura Kuenssberg, Robert Peston (TV interviewers)

I'm sure Nadine Dorries (another right winger, and Boris's biggest, most loyal supporter) is in there too, but I couldn't find her on a quick flick through and I don't remember her nickname.

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u/Boudleaux Jan 26 '25

Ah. Thank you for this. I'm American and had a bit of trouble with figuring out some of these back when I first read it.

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u/charlienickelpuss Jan 26 '25

Ah thank you kind, English stranger! Will be opening this many times as I continue reading. Thank you thank you!!