I first came across the Weekly when I was working in the town of Qamishli, north-east Syria, about 30 years ago. A team from the oilfield services firm Schlumberger was in the same house below us, and it was very refreshing to get real news.
I have subscribed from time to time since then, mainly when living in New Zealand, and now from Malaysia, where the concept of a free press is still a way off.
I have enjoyed the evolution, from the integration of articles from Le Monde and the Washington Post, to the new features that have come and gone. At the moment, I especially enjoy the back page, What I’m really thinking and this column. Even though I don’t watch TV, I miss Nancy Banks-Smith – perhaps my all-time favourite.
Delivery here is a bit slow and haphazard. After reading the World roundup I now skim to items that have not caught my eye on the Guardian website, Comment & Debate, the book reviews and anything by Gary Younge.
Having gone through the paper, I settle down to the thing I look forward to most – the crossword – with the different styles of the compilers adding to the variety and challenge each week. This should be finished before the next edition arrives.
I was delighted recently when my daughter said she wanted her gift subscription renewed. Keep up the good work.
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