FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH – July 2025. Edition No. 127.

Hello, everyone! I hope you are in good health and enjoying some facets of your life at least. Personally, I am very well at the moment and getting plenty done.

You are very welcome to get involved with this project as long as it is in a way that doesn’t offend others i.e. no homophobic, racist or sexist rhetoric. You can contact us at: dean@fthm.org.uk

Please note that our website address is: www.fromthehorsesmouth.org.uk

Best wishes, Dean Charlton.

MY NOT VERY SERIOUS STARS

Scorpio (24 Oct – 22 Nov)

You have spent your entire life safe in the crowd, but now is the time to develop your individualism and do something worthwhile with your life; you have so much potential. A lovely woman will suddenly become aware of your existence, but proceed slowly. This month, a health scare will put everything into perspective and leave you feeling grateful.

Sagittarius (23 Nov – 21 Dec)

Old age is fast approaching, but you will soon show that you can perform when you have to. Things are difficult at the moment, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Happily, depression is a thing of the past for you, and the confusion you have recently experienced will disappear. All-in-all, your immediate future looks good if you don’t stop trying.

Capricorn (22 Dec – 20 Jan)

You have been spending far too much money in the last month, so now cut your cloth accordingly and live in a more modest way. You will kiss a frog this week, and he may stay a frog but, importantly, he will become a prince in your eyes. Someone with money but no love will inadvertently teach what is important in life. It’s a good time to start a new project.

Aquarius 21 Jan – 19 Feb

A man who usually brings little to the table will shock you with a random act of kindness. A lap dancer, called Summer, will reappear in your life and cause you some problems. You may be quite ugly, but don’t worry as you have some redeeming features. Life is very short, so now is the time to let your hair down, if you have any, and enjoy a moment in the sunshine.

Pisces 20 Feb – 20 Mar

A very religious woman will come into your life and will impress you with her kindness and intelligence. You have friends who, like cataracts, impair your vision of life, so consider cutting them out altogether. A culture parasite may criticise your work, but remember that they just take and give very little. Live how you want to, and things will work out.

Aries 21 Mar – 20 Apr

Do stop trying to be “down with the kids” and act your age. Heaven and hell may be concepts you don’t really understand, so just keep on being good and you’ll be alright. An attractive person may give you the green light, but approach carefully as there may be fog ahead. It is a good time to enjoy yourself as you deserve a bit of happiness and peace. Share.

Taurus 21 Apr – 21 May

A celibate life has been hard, but now you can spread your wings and enjoy flying for a while. Life is a matter of giving and taking, but do you think you give enough? Success has often eluded you, even though you have really worked hard, but don’t worry as you will soon experience a bountiful harvest. It is a good time to consider buying a new microwave.

Gemini 22 May – 21 Jun

You have been rejected by members of the opposite sex on multiple occasions, but you will soon be the flavour of the month as the news that you have money circulates. We have all screwed up in the past; now you are in a better place why not make some good memories for tomorrow? Things may often seem absurd, so make your own meaningful meanings.

Cancer 22 Jun – 23 Jul

Stop using precious energy trying to impress fools. Continue on your own unique path until you can go no more. Someone who has long been the apple of your eye will reveal their true nature, and you will realise that they are really rotten. Often you have been selfish, but you will do something today that will positively change someone else’s life. Eat a cream biscuit.

Leo 24 Jul – 23 Aug

Today is an accumulation of yesterdays, but now you can use what you have learnt to create something magnificent and lasting. Love is nearby for you, so just wait a while. A friend may be in dire financial need, so give them more than your time. Ironically, in your hour of need, a close friend will show their true colours and avoid you because you feel blue.

Virgo 24 Aug – 23 Sep

A boring person will demand your attention today, but do remember they may be socially isolated. You will soon receive a windfall which will blow your mind. It is a good time to start collecting white teapots from the past. It has been said that you think too much, so why not embrace the sensual side of life and enjoy the breeze in your face? Cherish other people.

Libra 24 Sep – 23 Oct

Someone who crossed you a long time may convince you that they have changed but leave room for disappointment. You may sometimes wonder why we are on this planet we call Earth, but who really knows? Does it really matter? A woman with a black eye may try to get money out of you with an obviously made-up story. Remember we are all important.

JUNE’S WORLD

Hello, everybody. As usual, I hope you are all well and enjoying the current, beautiful weather.

Today, we went to see my sister-in-law who has been in a care home for over a year. We had just been informed by the home that she is in hospital, so we went to see her. To be honest, she looked unkempt as her hair is usually very neat and tidy; they have a hairdresser in the care home who looks after their hair. Also, she has her feet and her nails done. Recently, she has been having some difficulty breathing, and that is why she is in the hospital. She wants to go back to the care home; she tells us that’s her home now. I must say that I agree with her as the care home is much nicer than the hospital and it’s much easier for us to get there to visit her.

At the care home, they put on good shows with singers who come to entertain them twice a week. Interestingly, alpacas and goats have also been brought in for the residents; even a big snake has been brought in there which they had put around their necks! All safe and good fun. It must be said that the staff at the care home do their best to take care of the residents and their needs. Even toddlers and babies are brought in to see them in an effort to make them all feel involved in life. The journey to the care home is very pleasant, especially when the trees are in full blossom.

We still go to Selby every week and enjoy the experience. We see something different each time we go. We still go in the park, which is very lovely during the summer months in England. However, the park is often empty when we go, which is understandable as many people will be at work, although some mothers play with their toddlers on the swings.

I often say to my husband that we are lucky to have a great grandchild in our lives. He is very entertaining climbing and doing things he shouldn’t do, like trying to remove the artificial coals from the gas fire. He turned 1-year-old recently and is almost walking. My son Dean walked when he was nine months old. I had him potty trained early so that he could go to nursery and I could work. I had to work because I was a single parent and needed to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table. At this time, my friend Freda, who I worked with, was like a mother to me; she even gave me £2 which in those days was a considerable amount of money. Kindly, another friend also gave me £2, and I was then able to scrape together the deposit for a run-down terrace house in Castleford. With the help of friends, I managed to make it look decent with the furniture from my first house in Cutsyke. Happily, those days are well and truly behind me. Now, I live in Kippax with an excellent husband who works hard in the garden to keep it pristine; he also does a lot to maintain our house.

On Saturday, we are going to Halifax to see Dean and his best friend Brenda. They sometimes come to Kippax to visit us. I like to go to Halifax as it has some good attractions like the Piece Hall. Dean lives near the Halifax train station, so this makes our visits to his home and the centre of Halifax very easy. We like to have a drink and then go to the fish and chip shop. We then have a look around the shops before getting the train to Garforth train station where we leave the car. What a lovely day!

Until next month. Love, June. X.

GRAHAM TOWNSEND’S MONTHLY QUIZ

Questions:

(1) How many Olympic gold medals does Usain Bolt have?

(2) What did Facebook change its name to in October 2021?

(3) Which US state is known as the Keystone State?

(4) Which WWE star is known as the American Nightmare?

(5) What is the name of the 1976 film about the Watergate scandal starring Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman?

(6) Which river does the UK city of Hereford stand on?

(7) Which store and brand was founded by Terence Conran in 1964?

(8) Which French artist, a student of Louis Boullongne, lived from 1667 to 1736?

(9) A single dot in Morse code represents which letter?

(10) Band leader Glenn Miller was an accomplished player of which instrument?

(11) What is the SI unit of force?

(12) Who wrote the Witches of Eastwick novel?

(13) Which motor company manufactures the Duster model?

(14) The DAX, the equivalent to the UK’s FTSE index, is in which country?

(15) In the human body, erythrocytes and leucocytes are types of what?

(16) Who had UK Top Ten hits with “New Song” and “What is Love” in the 1980s?

(17) In which year did Tony Blair become the British Prime Minister?

(18) If you were high up on “rocky top” which US city would be in?

(19) What colour are emeralds?

(20) Which team won the UEFA Conference League for the 2024/25 season?

Answers:

(1) Eight (2) Meta (3) Pennsylvania (4) Cody Rhodes (5) All the President’s Men (6) River Wye (7) Habitat (8) Nicolas Bertin (9) E (10) Trombone (11) Newton (12) John Updike (13) Dacia (14) Germany (15) Blood cells (16) Howard Jones (17) 1997 (18) Knoxville, Tennessee (19) Green (20) Chelsea

ROLE SWAP

Written by S. Bee

At the weekly grocery shop, Kitty watched her hubby Ted toss several packets of biscuits into their supermarket trolley. She raised her eyebrows.

“Not more biscuits?”

He grinned. “Well, I get through a lot of these now!” He’d always maintained a healthy weight, but since he’d retired six months ago, he’d put on a few pounds.

She steered the trolley around. “Let’s get some fresh fruit and veg.”

He nodded.

Kitty had retired from her teaching career, so she’d slowed down, yet she still kept active. Besides the housework, she’d joined a book club, a line dancing group and a knitting circle. Ted liked carrying out DIY tasks and decorating, but nothing needed doing at the moment.

Ted slept in most mornings, too. Then, he whiled away the day watching TV. This sedentary approach sparked Kitty’s anxiety, but Ted didn’t want to join her line dancing group.

“All that yeehawing doesn’t appeal. Can you picture me in a pair of cowboy boots?”

Kitty had admitted to herself that she couldn’t.

“I’ve no interest in learning to knit, and I don’t have the patience to read novels,” he’d added. 

“Why not research some voluntary work?” she’d suggested. “It’ll get you out of the house, you’ll meet new people and it’ll help you get back into a routine.”

Ted sighed. “I don’t want to get back into a routine, love. I’m retired. It’s nice not getting up at 7 am.”

“I understand, but–­­­­” 

“My quiz programme starts soon.” He’d picked up his mug of coffee and settled back in his armchair.

“I can give him all the nudges in the world, but if he won’t welcome change, then there’s nothing I can do”, Kitty thought glumly.“He seems happy enough, so there’s no point nagging him.”

Later, Kitty decided to nip out to post a letter. She discovered it was raining, so she took her umbrella. However, she stumbled in a puddle, twisting her ankle. Her umbrella went flying, as she fell on the pavement.

Kind people gathered around.

“Are you okay?”

“I’ll call an ambulance.”

“Thank you,” she whispered.

Although she tried not to make a fuss, the pain in her ankle was quite bad. When the ambulance arrived, she rang Ted on her mobile and he met her at the hospital casualty department.

“I got here as soon as I could. How are you?”

“Not so good,” she groaned as she grasped his hand. “I slipped in a puddle.”

He nodded. “Accidents happen. Have you seen a doctor yet?”

“No. The nurse said I might need an X- ray.”

After a visit from the doctor and an X-ray, Kitty was told that her ankle was badly strained. Her ankle was then strapped up in a bandage, and she was discharged. When they arrived home, Kitty realised she needed to make the evening meal.

“Don’t worry about that,” Ted said as he carefully helped her to the sofa. “You need to rest and recover. I’ll make the meals now, and I’ll do the grocery shopping too.”

She raised her eyebrows. “What about the housework?”

“I’ll do that as well. Your painkillers and a glass of water are on the coffee table here. I’ll switch the TV on for you.” 

He flicked it on with the remote control. “Oh look – you’re just in time for the quiz.”

So, while Kitty took it easy, Ted got cracking in the kitchen. She smiled. Despite the circumstances, it was a very refreshing change to swap roles!

As Kitty couldn’t get out to see people, they came to her. Friends from the knitting circle, the book club and the line dancing group all descended. Ted made endless cups of tea, and all the biscuits were offered to guests. He kept his promise about the housework, too. As he followed Kitty’s routine, he increased his activity level. Cleaning, dusting, hoovering, emptying bins… He’ll soon lose those extra pounds! She chuckled.

“To be honest, I was getting fed up watching TV all day. I’ve really enjoyed looking after you. It’s nice to feel needed again,” he confessed.

“In that case, how about giving that voluntary work idea some more thought?”

He looked pensive. “I could do.”

A week later, Ted burst through the door, waving a flyer. “Kitty, look what I’ve found!”  He showed it to Kitty. “This caught my eye in the library.”

”Come and join the ‘Men in Sheds’ project.’” She read out. “DIY, electrics, carpentry and more. Twice weekly. All welcome. Oh, this sounds right up your street, Ted! You enjoy a spot of DIY,” Kitty said eagerly.

He nodded. “I was actually thinking about volunteering to run a session. Pass my skills on.”

Kitty glowed. She had a funny sort of feeling that her husband’s ‘coach-potato’ phase had just turned a corner.

ALICE’S THING OF THE MONTH

Written by Alice Kaur

Hello and welcome back to Alice’s Thing of The Month! This month, we’re going to be talking about the band DJO.

Last night, I went to see the band DJO in Manchester at the O2 Academy Warehouse. They were supported by the band Post Animal.

DJO, pronounced “Joe”, is a band from Boston, America. Their genre of music is described as alternative/indie. The lead singer is Joe Keery, the actor you may know as Steve Harrington from the Netflix show Stranger Things. I first heard their music in 2019 after watching Stranger Things for the first time. I looked into the actor and found out he was a musician. Originally, he was in the band Post Animal before he left to pursue his own band.

DJO haven’t been able to do a world tour until this year because of Joe being an actor; it is hard to fit music into his schedule, especially a tour. With Stranger Things ending this year, he is now able to concentrate on his music. I was overjoyed when he announced a world tour and that he was going to be playing in the UK. I have been waiting six years to see them live. I signed up for pre-sale because I thought this would be the easiest way to get tickets.

In 2024, a song named “End of Beginning” went viral on the social media app TikTok and DJO blew up. Before this, Joe Keery was mainly known for acting. He had a small, dedicated fan base, but since the song went viral, it felt like a whole new fan base was evolving. This made me anxious I would not get tickets due to their new popularity, and being a long-term fan, I hoped I would get tickets. The day came and I was ready to buy my tickets, but they sold out instantly. I was gutted and kept checking back to see if new tickets would appear. Luckily, a day later I managed to get two tickets.

Finally, the day of the gig came round; I was really excited. The supporting band Post Animal played first. They have three different singers, and their genre of music is psychedelic rock. The singers all have beautiful voices; their harmonies work so well together and sound angelic. When I found out about DJO I listened to some Post Animal, but I’ve mostly started listening to them these past few months to get to know their songs before the gig. They’ve really grown on me. My favourite singer is Dalton. They played my favourite song “When I Get Home”. Towards the end of their set, they brought Joe on stage for their last 3 songs, but he was towards the back of the stage most of the time to not take the spotlight from Post Animal.

Thirty minutes later the main act, DJO, comes on stage. There are seven members of the band, two drummers, one person on keyboard, one on synth, one bass and two guitarists, including Joe. The gig started really upbeat, leading into slower songs and ended with a banger. DJO were promoting their new album The Crux, their third studio album that was released in May. The other two are called Twenty Twenty (my favourite album) and Decide. He played a mix of songs from all three albums, and we also got to hear a live debut of the song “Mortal Projections” from their first album. It was incredible. Overall, I had a wonderful night, and the crowd were really nice too. I’d heard some nightmare stories from the US tour with the crowd, so I was happy to see the UK crowd has been nice.

I hope to see them play live again someday and hear more songs from the older albums. I love The Crux, but I would have also loved a Twenty Twenty tour in the past. If you’ve never heard of either band before, I really recommend them both. They are both super talented and deserve the recognition.

Thanks for reading.

PREMIER LEAGUE SEASON 2024/25 REVIEW

Written by Graham Townsend

In this article, I’m going to take a look back at the season which has just concluded and then have a quick look at what we might be able to expect from season 2025/26.

Firstly, I need to say well done to Liverpool on capturing the Premier League for a second time after their previous success in the 2019/20 season. This time probably feels like a more inclusive achievement, from a fan’s perspective, as the last time they won it was in the COVID era which curtailed the celebrations somewhat.

It has to be said that Liverpool were comfortable victors this time around, as they were in 2019/20. Some people have already criticised them for only amassing 84 points throughout the season. However, when you consider that they finished 10 points clear of runners-up Arsenal, it seems churlish to suggest that they were not worthy champions. Additionally, their form dropped off significantly after they wrapped up the title with four matches remaining.

It has to be considered a major feather in the cap of manager Arne Slot. He managed to take his predecessor Jurgen Klopp’s squad and, with very minimal changes, turn them into a championship winning side from one which had been challenging but, in my honest opinion, were never going to be winners.

Whilst Manchester City had a somewhat disappointing season by their standards, culminating in an FA Cup Final defeat to Crystal Palace, the biggest surprise was the performance of Nottingham Forest. Challenging for a Champions League place for much of the season, they ultimately had to settle for a place in the UEFA Conference League after a slight drop off in form towards the end of the season. Nevertheless, this will be seen as a major success for the club in the grand scheme of things.

Going back to Crystal Palace, they had a relatively good Premier League campaign. They certainly have some talented players. If manager Oliver Glasner can retain the likes of Eze, Mateta and Wharton, they may be able to improve still further although they need to factor in the impact taking part in the Europa League may have.

Teams like Brighton and Brentford had decent seasons, but they probably feel they should have achieved more. I don’t expect to see them move away from their data-driven recruitment policies, although it seems Bryan Mbeumo may be leaving Brentford for Manchester United, and that will be a big hole to fill.

At the other end of table, as it seems to have become customary in recent seasons, the newly promoted clubs struggled massively and, in the end, all three teams that came up from the EFL Championship were relegated. Southampton finished bottom and just avoided the ignominy of recording the lowest ever Premier League points total.

Two of the biggest underachievers this past season were Manchester United and Tottenham. The latter will point to their success in Europe as salvaging their season, however United have little to be cheerful about. Surely, they cannot have any season as bad as the one they have just endured.

Looking ahead to next season, it will be interesting to see whether Leeds United, Burnley and Sunderland can fare any better. If I was asked about their prospects, at this stage I would suggest Leeds will have the best chance of surviving due to their financial backing.

Perennial strugglers Everton will be hoping their move to their new stadium at Bramley Dock will revitalise them, whilst Wolves, who have fallen into a similar boat in recent times, will need to recruit well to replace another Old-Trafford-bound player in Matheus Cunha.

I’m expecting another strong season from Liverpool in the defence of their title. Jeremie Frimpong coming in from Bayer Leverkusen is an early signal of their intent to fight tooth and nail to make it back-to-back titles. If they can add his teammate Florian Wirtz up front and Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth, they will feel pretty confident of further significant success.

I feel it is a make-or-break season for Arsenal and, in particular, Mikel Arteta, after a season where they plateaued somewhat. 

Manchester City had already started planning for the future towards the back end of the 2024/25 season. I’ll be surprised if they don’t bounce back next season. Whatever happens, I’m sure we’ll have plenty to talk about once more when we reach this time again next year.

SOME INTERESTING DESSERT RECIPES FROM JUNE CHARLTON

Warm Chocolate Fudge Cake

Ingredients:
5oz of unsalted butter.
5oz of plain chocolate
5oz of caster sugar
4 fl.oz of hot water (not boiling)
5oz of self-raising flour
1oz of cocoa powder
2 eggs
Icing sugar to dust

Method:
Pre-heat oven to 160°C. Grease and line a 9” cake tin, ideally with loose bottom. Place butter and chocolate in a large bowl over a pan of simmering water and stir until both are melted.

Remove from the heat and stir in sugar and hot water. Sift the flour and cocoa into the mixture and then stir. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Pour into the preprepared tin and level the top. Bake in the centre of the oven for 35 minutes. Leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with icing sugar and serve with cream or ice cream.

Delicious Pudding

Ingredients:
4oz of self-raising flour
2oz of sugar
1oz of currants
1oz of raisins
2oz of margarine
1 egg
1 tablespoon of milk
1 tablespoon of jam

Method:
Rub the margarine into the flour. Add the sugar and fruit, then the beaten egg and milk, and mix thoroughly. Use a well-greased basin. Put the jam in first, then the mixture. Steam for 1 ½ hours. Serve with sauce or custard.

Countess Pudding

Ingredients:
4oz of self-raising flour
2oz of sugar
1 egg and a little milk
2oz of margarine
2 tablespoons of currants
12 drops of lemon essence

Method:
Rub the margarine into the flour. Add the sugar, currants and lemon essence, and then the beaten egg and a little milk, and mix thoroughly. Put into a greased pie dish and bake in a moderate oven (350–375°F or gas mark 3–4) for about ½ an hour. Custard sauce may be used if desired.

Ginger Pudding

Ingredients:
8oz self-raising flour
¼ teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of ground ginger
3 tablespoons of milk/1 egg
3oz of shredded suet or 2oz of margarine
2 tablespoons of treacle

Method:
Mix the flour, salt and ginger, and rub in the margarine or suet. Add the other ingredients and mix well. Put into a well-greased basin and steam for 2–2½ hours.

Puff Balls

Ingredients:
4oz self-raising flour
Pinch of salt
2oz of margarine or shredded suet
1 egg
Milk
1 teaspoon of sugar

Method:
Mix the flour, salt, margarine and sugar. Add the beaten egg and sufficient milk to make a stiff dough. Form into golf-ball sized balls. Put on a greased plate and into a steamer and steam for 1 hour. Serve with golden syrup, jam or marmalade.

BRENDA’S WILDLIFE CORNER

Ferret

The ferret is relatively small, weighing between 0.7 and 2.0 kg and is 50 cm in length, including the tail. Its coloration is usually brown, black, white or a mixture of those colours. The male is significantly larger than the female, who are sexually mature at 6 months of age and has 2-3 litters a year.

These mammals have successfully been used as research animals in the fields of biology, for studies on influenza, and neuroscience. Ferrets have also been bred to hunt rabbits, and they are sometimes raced and betted on. Interestingly, ferrets were used to prevent rodents attacking grain stores in the 19th century across the American West. They can give a nasty nip as they have four types of teeth: canines, molars, pre-molars and incisors.

The ferret is also an animal that has been domesticated over the years and is kept as a pet by many people, especially by those in the United States. It is probable that its domesticated form has evolved from the wild European polecat.

A healthy ferret can live for between 7 and 10 years. Their natural diet is meat-based, with some owners choosing to feed them live prey. A typical ferret will spend 14-18 hours asleep, around dawn and dust, though its nature is to be sociable, and it lives in groups in the wild. They mark territory using both urine and anal scent glands, and to aid individual recognition. Unfortunately, the ferret is prone to certain cancers, especially those affecting the adrenal glands.

OUT AND ABOUT

Written by S. Bee

“Are you sure about this, Mum?” her daughter, Debbie, had asked when Helen was considering moving to the Yorkshire-based, rural village of Ryecroft.

She’d smiled. “I’m sure.”

“Well, I’m not. I think you should mull it over. It’s a big decision, moving there. Ryecroft is in the middle of nowhere and its miles from a supermarket,” she’d added.

Helen smiled. She’d always been close to her thirty-five-year-old, estate-agent daughter.

Debbie was her only child and, with her dad recently moving abroad after their divorce, they’d been drawn together more.

“Don’t worry, love. I won’t starve. There’s a grocery store that sells fresh produce and dairy from the local farm. The owners even bake their own bread.” Helen had wisely carried out research beforehand.

“That sounds lovely, but I will worry about you,” she fretted. “How will you cope with bad weather in winter?  What if you get snowed in?”

“When I hear that bad weather is on the way, I’ll stock up the freezer beforehand. If it snows, I’ll get myself a spade and dig a path out.”

“Hmm. Look, why don’t you look at those swish apartments near me? They have all the mod cons.”

Helen didn’t say anything to Debbie, but she’d already looked at them. She’d been showed around by an enthusiastic young saleswoman who’d outlined all the benefits there, such as an in-built washing machine, tumble dryer, a secure alarm system and a fast broadband connection. It was ideal, really, for a lone woman of her age, but the city apartment wasn’t for her.

“Listen, Debbie, your dad’s started a new life. I need to do that, too.” Helen kept her tone gentle. Helen’s ex-husband now lived abroad with his partner, so he was content to leave her with the marital home. However, the semi-detached house was too big for a singleton, and the garden was getting difficult to manage. They both agreed to sell it and split the income.

Helen had always liked Ryecroft, and they’d often visited as a family, when Debbie was younger, and had lunch in a pretty riverside cafe. So, when Helen viewed a bungalow in a quiet cul-de-sac, she didn’t hesitate to put in an offer. She was pleased when this was quickly accepted.

A week after moving in, Helen pondered whether she had made a huge mistake. She looked out of window which held a pretty view of the fields and woodland beyond. “I won’t make friends hiding myself away”, she thought. “I need to get out and about! It’s warm and sunny today; I know – I’ll go for a walk.”

So, she got ready and set off.

“Excuse me! Could I borrow you for a moment?” At a bus stop near a field full of sheep, a well-dressed lady of mature years called over to Helen.

Helen crossed over and smiled. “How can I help?”

“It’s this new timetable. They’ve changed the bus times, and I’ve forgotten my reading glasses. Could you tell me what time the 502 is due please?”

“No problem. Let’s see…” Helen read the printed text carefully. “According to this, the 502 is due now – oh, here it is!”

Helen and the lady looked up as an empty minibus approached. Helen smiled wryly – it was a far cry from the crammed, city-bound double-deckers she was used to.

“Thank you!’ The lady cried “You’re new here. I expect I’ll see you at the church hall. My name’s Babs.”

“Pleased to meet you. I’m Helen.” Her mind whirled. “What went on at the church hall?“

Babs clambered aboard and, when the little bus set off, gave Helen a cheery wave. Helen’s mood lifted as she waved back. She studied the map and carried on. Horse riders and hikers alike said hello. Helen echoed the bright greeting. As she crossed the river, she even said hello to a herd of grazing cows. Then, she stumbled across a red telephone box, but instead of a phone inside, it was jam-packed with books. She mused. “Oh, this must be a tiny community library!.”

She was delighted to discover this little gem. Helen loved reading, but she knew that Ryecroft didn’t have a library. A middle-aged couple approached with a heap of books.

“Hello. We’re adding to the stock,” the man explained.

“I’ve just moved here. I didn’t know about this!” Helen beamed.

“Feel free to borrow. The village organisation owns it. We meet at the church hall every second Thursday of the month at 7 pm if you’d like to come along.”

Helen realised that this Thursday was the second in the month. “That’d be great. I’m Helen.”

“I’m Meg and this is my husband, Roy.”

“Good to meet you.”

“You, too.”

Helen found two new novels by her favourite author and happily tucked these into her bag.

Back home, Helen reflected on her afternoon. First, there was meeting Babs, then marvelling at the wildlife and admiring the gorgeous scenery, saying hello to villagers, and meeting Roy and Meg at the telephone box library, which had led to an invite to become part of the community. It had been worth making the effort to go out.

“I went to a meeting at the church hall. There’s a knitting group and a dog walking circle,” Helen outlined when she chatted to Debbie over the phone.

“You can’t join a dog walking circle without a dog,” Debbie chuckled.

“Meg is giving me a lift to the animal rescue shelter next week,” she said.

“A dog would keep you company mum, but from the sound of it, you won’t be lonely. You have the farm shop on your doorstep, too. Hey, I don’t suppose I could stay with you this weekend?”

Helen’s heart warmed. “Of course you can, love. I’ll look forward to showing you around!”

GIG REVIEW – BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN

Written by Graham Townsend

So, on 20th May 2025, my 57th birthday, I travelled to Manchester to tick off one of the items on my bucket list. I had seen “The Boss” previously as a headliner at an Amnesty International gig way back in 1988 at Wembley Stadium. As he was part of a bigger event, he did not perform a full set on that occasion; it was always my ambition to see him do a full show. Another important factor, for me, was that Bruce had the backing of the full E Street Band. They have been his primary backing band for more than fifty years. Several members are notable musicians in their own right, drummer Max Weinberg and guitarist “Little Stevie” Van Zandt being good examples.

The atmosphere was fantastic. To get us all in the mood, there was a tribute act on the entrance area of the arena playing many of his best-known songs. The arena, the largest indoor venue of its type in the UK, was packed for what was the third date there in a matter of seven days.

The tour is going by the name of “Land of Hope and Dreams”, and this was the second song he played on the night. I don’t own the Wrecking Ball album, so it was the first time I had heard “Death to My Hometown”. It had a very Celtic/Irish feel to it, and I really enjoyed listening to it due to the use of the drums, tin whistle and horns. He also played the title track further into the set, and that is a good song to hear live as well.

I was pleased that we got to hear some of the best-known tracks from his Born in the USA album, including the title track and, one of my favourites, “Glory Days”. The set opener, “No Surrender”, is another I like from the aforementioned album. I considered myself lucky to hear the latter song as it was the first time he had played it on this tour. Throw in “Dancing in the Dark” and you have Bruce at his commercial peak.

Other highlights included “The River”, “House of a Thousand Guitars”, which was also new to me, “The Rising”, “Badlands”, “Thunder Road” and the classic “Born to Run”. These all added to the occasion, and he even ventured into the audience during the penultimate track “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out”. My personal favourite song on the night was “Because the Night”. It has been well documented that Bruce wrote the song in the 1970s, but the lyrics were rewritten by Patti Smith who went on to make it a big hit. I love both versions, but the Springsteen version still holds the edge for me.

The chemistry between Springsteen and his band was palpable. In particular, his bond with saxophonist Jake Clemons, who is the nephew of his predecessor, the legendary Clarence Clemons, was clear for all to see.

The only aspect of the concert I didn’t really enjoy was his political commentary. It wasn’t so much the fact that I don’t particularly agree with his point of view, it was more that there was too much of it. I did know what to expect in advance. Overall, it didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the occasion.

There was something for fans of all ages to enjoy. He has such a large back catalogue that it would be difficult for there not to be. Due to this, along with the quality of the music and the atmosphere, I would give the gig a rating of four out of five stars.

ADVENTURES OF A MAN SITTING DOWN 31

Written by Krishna Francis

I went to sleep last night listening to a program about George Harrison’s album This Too Shall Pass. I know of it, though I’ve never heard it. It has the song “My Sweet Lord” on it. Last night was the 11th of June. A week to the day will be the 18th of June. That’s my birthday. It is also Paul McCartney’s birthday. Paul McCartney brought George Harrison into the Beatles. That’s how he became famous and was able to make that album. My mum took my name from “My Sweet Lord” in celebration of its message of hope. Then, there I was last night, listening to a program about that album. All-in-all, I had the feeling of being held by a giant, caring entity.

Joseph Campbell was the writer and philosopher whose work on myth and stories is the inspiration for how George Lucas came up with the ideas for Star Wars. He said this great thing. “People say that what we’re all seeking is a meaning for life. I don’t think that’s what we’re really seeking. I think that what we’re seeking is an experience of being alive.”

I was feeling just like that this morning, alive and whole, when I got a text message from Dean saying he wanted me to write an article. Putting the phone down, I noticed my experience of being alive lay shattered at my feet. Not really! It was funny to think about how I favour a dreamy, non-driven state of being, and it’s good to have people who have an idea about what’s going on and what the world needs to coax you out of complacency. After all, what would you be doing if you weren’t reading this article? You’d be out mugging old ladies, wouldn’t you? Unless you are an old lady, in which case, you’d be out getting mugged.

None of this even touches on the book that’s been preoccupying my mind over the last four months. The printed copies are due to arrive today! Hoorah. It’s been a slower process than I was expecting. However, the printers have been being really supportive. I even got some photos of what it looks like to share with any interested parties. I shall finish with the blurb that is on the back cover. If you like what you read and want a copy, get in touch with Dean. They’re £8 each or £9 if you want it posted.

“5 carriages, 4 WI members, £3,000,000, 2 bombs, 1 engine! Mamma & Mia! Haworth, we’ve had a problem…

When Mia’s mum Mary Rose, agrees to organise the catering at a local steam train fete, she doesn’t expect to end up on a hijacked train, heading for certain doom. Alongside this, she has to deal with a group of women whose main interest is cookery, not bomb disposal. Luckily, resourceful Mia and her troublesome friend Max have plenty of cunning ways to avoid the impending disaster.”

ANOTHER FUN QUIZ FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH

Questions:

(1) Who was the youngest mother ever?

(2) What is the French word for war?

(3) Who invented the spin dryer?

(4) What are the currencies of the Faroe Islands?

(5) Who is the most-capped Argentina male footballer?

(6) Who played Norm Peterson in Cheers?

(7) Who was the first woman in space?

(8) Where do Leicester Tigers play their home games?

(9) Who recorded the first million-selling single?

(10) What is the Spanish word for gay?

(11) What is a larynx?

(12) Who was Queen Victoria’s first child?

(13) How old was Queen Victoria when she died?

(14) What is a quarter to six in the afternoon on the 24-hour clock?

(15) Whose company invented Lego?

(16) What year did World War I end?

(17) What is the capital of Venezuela?

(18) Who played the original bearded lady in The Greatest Showman?

(19) What was Adolf Hitler’s wife called?

(20) What is the symbol for 30 years of marriage?

Answers:

(1) Lina Marcela Medina de Jurado – 5 years, 7 months and 21 days (2) Guerre (3) No individual but General Electric released their first spin dryer in 1952 (4) Danish Krone, Faroese krona (5) Lionel Messi (6) George Wendt (7) Valentina Tereshkova (8) Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium (9) Enrico Caruso (10) Homosexuales (11) Also known as the voice box, is a cartilaginous structure in the neck that houses the vocal chords (12) Victoria, Princess Royal (13) 81 (14) 17:45 (15) Ole Kirk Christiansen (16) 1918 (17) Caracas (18) Keala Settle (19) Eva Braun (20) Pearl

Editor’s Final Word

Thank you for taking the time and the trouble to read this e-magazine. I hope you will feel inspired to contribute something to this project. You can send your articles/photos/artwork etc. to: dean@fthm.org.uk.

Best wishes, Dean, Brenda, Graham, Willow and Hari.