FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH Edition 125 – May 2025

Hello, everybody. I hope you are in good health. This edition has been awkward to do as I fell out of bed at the end of March and broke my right collar bone!

The magazine is progressing well, though we always need new talent to put in it. If you would like to get involved with us, then please express yourself in a non-homophobic, non-racist and non-sexist way and send contributions to: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

This month an American woman will come into your life and prove that not every American who passes wind is as full of arrogance as Donald Trump. Someone with a black belt in karate will clearly illustrate to you that fighting should be an absolute last resort. Maybe let a close friend share your home as you will get on like a house on fire and radiate much love together.

Sagittarius 23 Nov – 21 Dec

A barista will offer you a free drink, but will it really be free or will they expect you to be a puppet whose strings they can pull at will? Give a gift to a loved one who has had a rough time recently as it doesn’t take much to make a friend feel appreciated. Bad news is on the horizon, but this will only make you stronger. Start building model aeroplanes in your garage.

Capricorn 22 Dec – 20 Jan

Love will come and go this month as you do your usual thing of going at everything like a bull in a China shop – it is not good to act like a dog in heat, is it? It could be a good time to do something random like buy a horse as long as you are aware of the possible consequences. A half-wit who is full of his self-importance will be rude to you in a café but do walk away.

Aquarius 21 Jan – 19 Feb

The death of a friend will upset you deeply this month, but once again, you will be reminded how strong the human spirit actually is. A woman you fancy may give you the green light, but proceed with care as she’s a reputation for giving many people “encouragement”. You may consider yourself to be a bit of a heartthrob, but really you just have an over-sized ego.

Pisces 20 Feb – 20 Mar

A loud-mouthed woman with a laugh like a pneumatic drill will do something for you this week that makes you feel very good. Times have been extremely hard for you in the last few months, but sunshine is ahead and you will soon be glad to be alive once more. However, an email will cause you serious financial embarrassment, but you will cope and get by. Be gay.

Aries 21 Mar – 20 Apr

Someone will reappear in your life with news about people in your past, but will you revisit the past or just keep on moving forward? A beautiful young woman will express an interest in you. Is this not a bit suspicious as you are old and very ugly but you do have money? A foreigner will do you a huge favour and help to diminish the xenophobia that you may have.

Taurus 21 Apr – 21 May

A girl with curly hair may reject you this week, but it’s okay as there are many other curly-haired fish in life’s sea. At the moment, you may be discovering an activity that gives you an enormous amount of pleasure and makes your life seem more enjoyable. Maybe invest in a good second-hand car. Chip away at a current problem and reduce a mountain to a mole hill.

Gemini 22 May – 21 Jun

You are an extremely kind person as long as it doesn’t involve you parting with any actual money. Now is the time to take giving seriously and help out a desperate friend. Your libido has clearly diminished in recent years, so why not take up something like gardening and blossom again. A woman with a pony tail has the hots for you, but play it cool.

Cancer 22 Jun – 23 Jul

A small win on the lottery will occur this week. Will you use it wisely or spend it like a fool as you usually do? However, you do deserve a special holiday with a loved one. You may have a problem obtaining some medication you need, but politely persevere and things will come right. A relative will bring some upsetting news that will benefit you in the long run.

Leo 24 Jul – 23 Aug

The cost of living is depressing, so look for a better-paid job or contact a deceased financial advisor through a medium you know. Life has been hard for you, but you have the strength to cope with anything if you believe it; there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Now is not a good time to change your gender as Mercury is a problem.

Virgo 24 Aug – 23 Sep

A man who craves popularity will astound you with the lengths he will go to be in the in-crowd. Maybe take on a lodger if times are tough, but be careful who you let into your home. You could pawn some of your precious possessions, but do you really want to prostitute yourself? Someone with a red bra will start to make you promises that they can’t keep.

Libra 24 Sep – 23 Oct

A loved one will shock you this week with their generosity, but bear in mind that they are very vulnerable at the moment. A precocious girl may offer you things that will lead you to the big house if you go there. You will now enter a phase of happiness and, more importantly, peace of mind, but remember to keep up your guard at all times. Treat everyone very well.

A SHORT INTERVIEW WITH HARI SINGH ABOUT VEGANISM

Hari, I understand you’re a vegan, can you tell us what veganism is all about? Essentially, veganism is part dietary-based and part philosophically-based. Some people are what are called dietary vegans, where you eat what is now referred to as a plant-based diet. There are no animal products such as meats or derivatives such as dairy or even wool when it comes to clothing. Ethically, it comes down to refusing to treat animals as commodities. Some people are ethical vegans, too. It’s not just a plant-based diet that they follow, but they also reject the exploitation of animals.

What was it that inspired you to become a vegan? Mainly dietary reasons to begin with.

What dietary reasons? Once, I was eating some chicken breast. Whilst I was eating it, I tasted decaying meat, like it was off. At that point, in my mind, I made the association that meats products are essentially rotting flesh from a once living being. I didn’t want to eat it anymore after that. It just made me feel ill eating meat after that.

Was it psychological or did you physically feel ill? I felt physically ill. I’d actually stopped eating meat for a while, but when I re-introduced it into my diet a few months later, my stomach didn’t feel good. I didn’t ever go back to eating meat after that.

How long ago was that? Probably about 23 years ago now.

How did you think people around you would react to your decision? Did they think you were a bit odd? Yes, especially when I told them the reason was that chicken tasted like dead flesh. That is what it is, but people like to euphemistically ignore that fact. Generally, though, people were accepting of my decision. My parents didn’t see it as being controversial because my sister was a vegetarian anyway. Others had the same objection of “you need meat for protein”, but I don’t agree with that. There are many plant-based sources of vegan proteins available, from pulses and beans to hemp protein powder.

Is it expensive to follow a vegan diet? It can be, especially if you’re buying what I call direct replacement products.

What like? For example, you might get a vegan egg custard, as ironic as it may sound, but you’re paying for something that tastes like an egg custard that costs significantly more to try and replicate animal products.

You wouldn’t eat vegan sausages, then? I do eat vegan sausages on occasion. Products like that are convenient transitionary sources of things. For people who are first coming into veganism, you might say you can have a vegan sausage as a replacement for a meat-based sausage. They have their benefits, but for the full source of nutrition, you’d have to make things from scratch as much as possible and include as much of a diverse range of food products as you can get in there. There’s nothing wrong with the modern stuff. A lot of the newer vegan sausages are a good source of protein. There are a lot of vegan yoghurts out there that are good for your gut health.

What would you say to someone who claims we are top of the food chain and, therefore, we should eat meat? If you want to eat meat, that’s your prerogative I suppose, but when you get to the top of the food chain, as humans are now, the sustainable approach is not to exploit animals. This is because we’ve got the technology to make high quality plant-based products, which are both cheaper and more environmentally friendly than the cost of rearing an animal, including the cost of feeding the animal an the agricultural chemicals used in bringing meat to the food chain.

Do you think there is anything wrong in using products like wool where the animal does not suffer in any way? No. This is where we start look at veganism from an ethical point of view. Generally, I would say if the sheep are well looked after, I don’t personally see a problem with it. However, from an exploitation point of view, if that is all they are there for and they are being abused, that is where the line is crossed for me.

How do you feel about variations such as halal meat? I think any slaughter method is essentially the same. It is murder, but I don’t think it is any more inhumane than any other slaughter method.

How do you feel when you go out for a meal and there is a table full of meat eaters? Do you feel a bit intimidated? No, not really. I’ve grown up around meat eaters. You can’t really go anywhere without meat being served unless you go to a specific plant-based restaurant.

Do you think people don’t recognise the link between the killing of an animal and its production. such as when you see it in the supermarket in plastic containers? For sure, yes. A big cognitive dissonance in society is where people go to buy meat and they look at the product in a tray and they don’t see that this piece of meat used to be part of a living breathing animal that was killed, then skinned and butchered and placed in pretty packaging so they don’t have to make that mental connection between the two things.

Do you think that part of you is against how meat is produced? Do you recognise that in wildlife animals do eat each other? We are animals ourselves, aren’t we? Yes, and I think you touched upon it earlier when you mentioned about us humans being at the top of the food chain. As we are at the top of the chain and we have plant-based alternatives available to us, we don’t need to eat meat to guarantee our longevity. Some of the meats like red meats are actually toxic.

Someone once told me that when animals are about to be killed, they are scared to death and release lots of adrenalin into the meat and that is why some young men are so aggressive because they eat lots of red meat! I’m sure that will have an effect. There are a lot of stress hormones that are released in to the meat. To a degree, that’s why some of the methods used, like the ritual slaughtering methods of cutting the throat and the Sikh tradition of “jhatka”, try to ensure the animal is calm and relaxed and aim to decapitate it in one go so none of those stress hormones are released and the animals are not suffering as much.

Do Sikhs eat meat or are they vegetarian? Most Sikhs are vegetarian. There are some sects of Sikhs that do eat meat, but it can only be eaten by prescribed methods where they are observing the religion. Some others just eat meat in general. The only stipulation in Sikhism really is to avoid any meat that has been ritually slaughtered, so that would exclude halal and kosher meat.

Do you encourage your own children to be vegan? Yes. For us, it’s a normal lifestyle.

Do the kids accept it? Yes, they love it. There are many alternatives that they have. There are a lot more choices nowadays that are readily accessible.

Does it not conflict with school diets? A lot of schools have a vegan choice now, mainly in response to the changes in society. There are a lot more children now who might be vegan or vegetarian or have allergies or intolerances.

Can you quickly explain the differences between veganism and vegetarianism? The main difference is that vegans will not consume any animal products. Vegetarians may eat things such as cheese, other dairy products or eggs.

How does Britain compare with other countries in terms of following a vegan diet? I think Britain is catching up to other countries. Some countries are largely vegetarian by default but not specifically vegan.

Is veganism a bit of an extreme for some people? I think it is in some countries where they are very reliant on the use of dairy products or eggs, for example. On some small-scale holdings, if that’s the difference between living or not or getting some good nutrition, then that is understandable. It’s not the large-scale agriculture and exploitation we see here. Some people will find it absolutely necessary as they don’t necessarily have the privilege of access to vegan foods.

What would you do if you knew you were dying and there was a piece of meat in front of you, would you consume it or would you just die? I don’t think a small morsel of meat would make that much of a difference in terms of living or dying, so I’m not going to break my principles at the end of my life.

That’s great, Hari. Thanks for your time today! Thanks Dean.

JUNE’S WORLD

My first job ever was at Bellamy’s down Wheldon Road in Castleford. On my first day there, I was given a job in the gum room where jelly babies were made. I loved the work, but working with a lot of sugar, which was put in all the products, made me come out in rashes on my arms and legs. The foreman called it a sugar rash, and I got it so bad that I could not stop scratching. Consequently, the foreman said that although he would be sad to lose me, it would be better for me to go and work in despatch. In despatch, I put together orders for sweets which were delivered to other factories and shops.

After being made redundant a few times, I went to work at a toy factory in Wetherby. How I came to work there was purely by luck as I was waiting for a bus in Kippax, where I live, when someone approached and informed me there was a new factory opening up the following day. My husband thought it would be a good way to earn some much needed money, so I arranged to work the school hours shift from 9:30am until 3:30pm. Fortunately, a friend said that they would pick up my sons when she picked up her daughters from school. We both did each favours.

The journey to Thorp Arch, Wetherby took over an hour each way. One woman from Wetherby was a show-off; it was evident, even on the first day, that she was loud-mouthed and obviously craved the limelight. On the second and third day, she laid down in the road leading to the factory when the traffic was very busy – everyone despaired of her and her antics.

The bus stopped at different locations to pick people up until we finally reached the toy factory. There, we were set to work on long tables to assemble the toys. I remember thinking that I was going to like it here and I enjoyed listening to music like Abba on the radio. Unfortunately, the two women I was working with, who were from Garforth, only talked to each other, and I was left feeling like a spare part. Anyway, I thought, I’m here to assemble toys and not to socialise. Happily, 2-3 hours later, the supervisor approached me and said she wanted me to work in another department where dolls were made. Then, after two or three weeks, the same supervisor asked if anyone had office experience. Two of us had the relevant experience and I ended up in the despatch office doing paperwork and helping out with orders.

I really liked the job in despatch but, because orders dried up, people had to be laid off until things picked up again. After a couple of months, I started to work there again, and because it was freezing, I wore a fur hat for work. When I got on the bus and walked down the aisle, I heard someone loudly say, “Do you think it’s something to do with royalty?” Even I had to laugh.

Well, I think I’ll close for now, so, until next time. Bye. June X

GRAHAM TOWNSEND’S MONTHLY QUIZ

Questions:

(1) Which athlete ran barefoot whilst representing Team GB at the 1984 summer Olympics?

(2) Nichola McAuliffe and Duncan Preston starred in which British TV sitcom of the 1980s?

(3) Which family does the pea belong to?

(4) According to the saying, what will the devil find for idle hands to do?

(5) Which animal is known for eating the leaves from the tops of trees?

(6) Which British band had hits in the 1990s with “I Can’t Dance” and “No Son of Mine”?

(7) Where will you find the world’s oldest surviving beer recipe?

(8) What year was the British Labour party founded?

(9) Which country has the most castles in the world?

(10) What name is given to a word or phrase that reads the same backwards as forwards?

(11) What is the hottest planet in the Milky Way?

(12) What is the capital of Namibia?

(13) Which EFL team play at Fratton Park?

(14) Which leader described Russia as “a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma”?

(15) Who played Jim Morrison in the 1991 film “The Doors”?

(16) Which health condition is known as the “disease of kings”?

(17) Which bird has a reputation for collecting shiny objects?

(18) Which Blue Peter presenter was also Miss Northern Ireland in 1999?

(19) Which South African flowering plant is also the nickname of the national cricket team?

(20) Which band leader and entertainer was born in London in May 1899?

Answers

  1. Zola Budd (2) Surgical Spirit (3) Fabaceae/Legume (4) Work (5) Giraffe (6) Genesis (7) In a Sumerian poem (8) 1900 (9) Germany (10) Palindrome (11) Venus (12) Windhoek (13) Portsmouth (14) Winston Churchill (15) Val Kilmer (16) Gout (17) Magpie (18) Zoe Salmon (19) Protea (20) Billy Cotton

ALICE’S THING OF THE MONTH!

Written by Alice Kaur

Hello and welcome back to Alice’s Thing of The Month! This month, we are going to be talking about the TV show Twin Peaks.

Twin Peaks was released on April 8th 1990. It is a TV show created by David Lynch and Mark Frost and contains a mix of science fiction, mystery, horror and dream-like surrealism. All the music is composed by Angelo Badalement and it is beautiful. His work inspired the Final Fantasy 7 soundtrack.

I had heard of David Lynch a long time ago but never watched anything by him. This year, I discovered Twin Peaks. Unfortunately, this was after David Lynch had passed away. He is well-known and loved in the film industry and has a dedicated fanbase. Other films directed by David Lynch are Mullholland Drive, Eraserhead, Blue Velvet and The Elephant Man. A lot of TV and films have been inspired by Twin Peaks such as Stranger Things, X Files, Gravity Falls and I Saw the TV Glow.

Set in the small idyllic town of Twin Peaks, a teenage girl named Laura Palmer, played by Sheryl Lee, is killed and no one knows who the killer is. An FBI agent, named Dale Cooper, played by Kyle Machlachlan, comes to town to solve the murder and a lot happens during his time there. The more he looks into things, the darker it gets.

The show is much more than just a murder mystery, and it would be a disservice just to focus on the death of Laura Palmer as it is only one part of a much larger, more complex narrative. The mystery itself is compelling, but what truly makes the show stand out is the way Lynch and Frost elevate it with a mix of supernatural elements, dream sequences, and cryptic symbolism.

In a way, the show is very hard to describe because of its complexity. All I can say is it is very David Lynch. He is unique in his story telling. It hasn’t officially been confirmed, but David Lynch seemed to be neurodivergent. A lot of things in the show lead to this conclusion; there are a lot of autistic behaviours regarding nonverbal communication, mannerisms and social queues.

A lot of the characters come across as neurodiverse, and you get very invested in them. Some are very likeable and some not so much. Everyone in town is very unique and quirky with their own storylines. These are explored in depth and add layers to the town’s mystery. I would write a list of standout characters but it would be very long as there isn’t anybody that doesn’t fit well into this story.

Eventually, you get to find out who the killer of Laura is and it’s a shock. The show leads you on like you know who the killer will be, then it turns in a completely different direction. Alongside the murder mystery drama, the show also explores spiritual themes, alternate worlds, and mysterious places like the Black Lodge, which becomes central to the story.

The Black Lodge, with its iconic red curtains and trippy black and white floor, is one of the most memorable and haunting elements of the show, along with some of the frightening characters such as the small dancing man and the giant. They all speak like they are talking in reverse too. A fun fact about this is the actors had to learn their lines in reverse, then it would be recorded and played forward making it sound like everything was backwards in the show. This was incredibly clever. I’ve never seen or heard anything like it. Kyle, who plays special Agent Dale Cooper, is amazing and is the best part of the show for me. He loves coffee and cherry pie, and he has visions in his dreams. He is one of my favourite characters of all time.

Unfortunately, when the show hit season 2, it got cancelled, but it later got revived in 2017 for a new series called Twin Peaks: The Return. There was also a film called Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me. This is a prequel, so it makes more sense if you watch the original Twin Peaks seasons first. Even though the show got cancelled, I feel it had a good ending and things were explained as best they could for the show’s return in 25 years.

I watched Fire Walk with Me and then The Return back-to-back. I’m really glad I didn’t have to wait 25 years for the last season, and I don’t know what it was like for the original fans having to wait so long. The Return starts off quite slow and a lot happens in the show that just doesn’t make sense, but that’s a running joke with Lynch fans – that’s just how he is and things don’t need to make sense to anyone but him. He also doesn’t explain himself either.

One of the best characters from The Return is Dougie Jones. I don’t want to spoil too much but he definitely makes this season better. He is adorable and childlike. Lynch also stars in the series as Gordon Cole, a director in the FBI. He is deaf, so he wears hearing aids and always shouts. It is quite amusing. When I finished season 3, I felt kind of empty inside. The ending really makes you think a lot. Are we dreaming or is this real life? If this is a dream, whose dream is this?

To sum it up, the show brings a sense of nostalgia, and when it ended, I couldn’t help but feel sad it was over. It was truly one of the best experiences I’ve ever had with television. Everyone should watch Twin Peaks at least once in their lifetime. It’s an unforgettable journey. Rest in peace, David Lynch.

Thanks for reading.

ADVENTURES OF A MAN SITTING DOWN 29

Written by Krishna Francis

Well, that’s the whole thing of it really, you’ve got things to do that other people don’t have to and yet sometimes you experience the inequities of life in the same ways as they do. That is the joy of life in a wheelchair. Case-in-point, yesterday, I went to the Spinal Injuries Unit in Wakefield for an appointment. It is a two-hour journey that goes bus, train, train, bus, bus and involves a lot of energy, mental and physical. It is especially taxing when you arrive to discover that the appointment has been cancelled. Then you are told that there is a letter floating in the administrative space between hospital and home that you are pretty sure never actually arrived in your hands.

I definitely remember a cancellation letter, but I thought that was for a vascular appointment in Huddersfield. Forgive me if I’m boring you. Perhaps what I’m aiming for here is a version of cinema verité. I want you to feel the same experience as I endured yesterday. It was a pretty arduous haul to get to Wakefield from Hebden Bridge, and then to discover that it was a wasted journey; it was shocking. However, as ever, it was the encounters I experienced along the way that made it all worthwhile.

There was Mark in the ticket office at Hebden Bridge. He cheerfully booked me onto the train and organised help for me at Mirfield where I needed to change. The very old man at Mirfield who talked over the voice at the pushbutton customer service point. The inexperienced person, looking at a computer somewhere, in an office miles away from where I actually was, droned on. Meanwhile, the decrepit, old person stood next to me causing me to grow irritated by interrupting me. More fool me. He was completely aware of my needs and explained simply what train I needed to get on and both its starting point and terminus. I felt humbled by his firm insistence that he comprehended more than the disembodied voice. The driver of the Wakefield free bus was almost willing to jump lights to get me to the bus station in time for me to make my connection. He didn’t need to as it happened. There were two reasons for this. The first was that the lights were miraculously green for us. The second reason was the bus I was aiming for was cancelled due to a lack of drivers. Zoinks!

Right at the end of this article, I’m reminded that at the beginning of the month I applied for a scholarship to learn how to fly. The event took place at RAF Cranwell. It was a really amazing thing to experience. I had to put forward my case for deserving a scholarship alongside other people with disabilities. I didn’t get one. But you know what, I feel like I’m going to learn to fly in spite of that. So, watch this space.

A FINANCIAL FARCE

Written by S Bee

I’ve just read in the media about yet another banking app going down. They call it ‘outage’, apparently. This one had serious consequences. It affected salaries being paid at the end of the month, and people who were moving house, and expected money transfers to be completed, found themselves in a pickle. Paying bills also had to be halted. The entire banking process had to be put on hold until the problem was sorted and nobody seemed to know when that would be. Hmm… If AI is so clever and amazing, why can’t it fix the outage? It was extremely frustrating for app banking customers. These outages seem to happen an awful lot and yes, I know it’s 2025, but I’m just wondering if our IT banking systems are actually ready for app banking?

Until recently, I was a customer of a high street bank. I had been one for a long time. Several years ago, I was advised by staff at my local branch to ‘bank online’ with an app. This was the way forward, I was told, and if I didn’t do this, I would be left behind. I was reluctant. As I suffer from panic attacks and anxiety, I find complex IT processes daunting and difficult. I don’t have a smart phone because I wouldn’t have a clue how to use it. Despite me explaining this, it was something that the bank staff failed to understand, even though there was a notice displayed declaring that not all disabilities are visible.

Even though this small local branch was always busy, and lots of people used it on a regular, daily basis, it was cruelly shut down – and that included the ATM. Another branch and their ATM in a nearby town was also shut. There was a branch 5 miles away that remained open. Sadly, the service counters closed and it became a digital branch only. That meant you could go in and use the ATM’s and speak to the reduced staff about banking problems, but if you needed to use a counter service as I did, you were out of luck.

I went in and explained my mental health problems, but it cut no ice. The staff firmly told me that I was unable to use that branch. They were actually quite nasty and dismissive. They could not understand why I was unable to bank online with an app. So much for their statement about invisible disabilities!

Eventually, I closed this account down, but I needed to open another account elsewhere. I went into another local high street bank, and I was amazed at the change. There used to be a lovely, traditional banking hall with a polished wood floor and operational service counters with at least 6 staff. They’d put huge boards up to hide the service counters, so the space was a lot smaller. Tatty, thin carpet had replaced the wood floor. There were low seated sofas and chairs with customers sitting about waiting to be seen – these trendy, low-seated sofas and chairs are not suitable for the elderly and disabled. I guess this was supposed to better than a queue.

Yet, sitting about must be better than a trying to deal with social media chatbots. Although banks feel that they are a brilliant idea, the chatbots are not highly developed enough to respond well to specific questions. They are not very effective or helpful, which is why people don’t like them and prefer to speak to a real person. Yet, I was under the impression that sophisticated software was a wonderful problem solver!

Now, there was just 3 staff in this bank, and they were rushed off their feet. When I asked about a new account, I was told that I needed a smart phone in order to open one. I decided to politely decline and leave. I couldn’t help thinking that if they still had the 6 counter service staff, customers wouldn’t object to a queue, as they’d be seen sooner. It just seemed crazy!

Maybe I am a tech dinosaur, but I honestly feel that closing mass bank branches was one of the worst things to happen in modern society. Staff have lost their jobs and loyal customers have lost their ability to carry out their local banking with ease. Everything worked well for us until the banking top dogs decided to ruin it. Some places have opened new bank hubs, but the majority of bank branches now stand empty and derelict in our town centres when they could be put to good use. It’s such a waste – and such a shame.

This takes me back to the banking apps going down. It happens on a regular basis and it causes a huge inconvenience, yet I was told that this was the way forward and that I would be left behind. Tell that to the millions of banking app customers who are sick and tired of trying to cope with all these outages. I’m sure there will be lots more in the future. To me, banks have walked before they can run. It’s a financial farce.

CD REVIEW – CRITICAL THINKING BY MANIC STREET PREACHERS

Written by Graham Townsend

Critical Thinking is the Manics’ fifteenth studio album. It is their first album since 2022. The album was released in the UK on Valentine’s Day 2025. The album runs for just short of 42 minutes and contains 12 tracks. Four of these tracks, namely “Decline and Fall”, “Hiding in Plain Sight”, “People Ruin Paintings” and “Brushstrokes of Reunion”, were released as singles prior to the album release.

The album is opened by the title track, which is sung by Nicky Wire as opposed to regular vocalist and frontman James Dean Bradfield (JDB). In fact, Nicky is on lead vocals for three tracks in total, including the aforementioned “Hiding in Plain Sight”. Another point of particular note is that “Decline and Fall” was written by Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford, known mostly for their involvement with the band Squeeze.

Having listened to the album on several occasions now, I would say that my favourite tracks are “Decline and Fall” and “People Ruin Paintings”. The title track has grown on me a little; however, Nicky’s vocals are not the best, and he seems to be shouting and swearing without really improving the song. To some degree, he is probably trying to use energy to convey the lyrics which are borderline nasty, and make some very strong points about current day society and, seemingly in particular, social media. It is not terrible by any means, but as a long-term fan, I hold them to their previous very high standards.

“Decline and Fall” and “Brushstrokes of Reunion” remind me of the Manics back in their pomp but, perhaps, not at the same level. People who have followed them from the very start will recognise the style of music they are accustomed to in these two songs. The former track is one I expect to be very popular at live gigs.

“Hiding in Plain Sight” is pleasant enough and you can see why they released it as a single. “People Ruin Paintings” has a mellow opening but the vocals of JDB carry it to a more than an acceptable level. It has a lovely melody and you can imagine sitting on a beach on a sunny day listening to this.

“Dear Stephen”, and there is a clue in the name here, is inspired by Morrissey. Apparently, he sent Nicky a postcard after he was unable to attend a Smiths gig due to illness. “Being Baptised” and “My Brave Friend” are just OK. The latter has some nice guitar work. “Out of Town Revival” has a bit more oomph to it and romps along quite nicely. “Deleted Scenes” again has some throwbacks to more traditional Manics’ music. I quite like “Late Day Peaks” and “Onemanmilitia” is passable.

In summary, there are elements of classic Manic Street Preachers in here; it is just that the quality of previous efforts is not here consistently. For that reason, I would give the album a rating of 3.25 stars out of 5.

BIBLE TALK

Sent by Peter Smith

‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.

And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.

(Mark 12:29,30)

How do these verses relate to sexuality?

Religious people who condemn homosexuality and early abortion are not speaking for Jesus. Jesus never spoke against homosexuality or abortion. Also, a loving homosexual relationship is consistent with these verses about love. St Paul condemned homosexuality. However, St Paul was wrong.

In the Last Supper Jesus said (of the wine): ‘This is my blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for many’ (Mark 14:24). When Jesus died on the cross with the final words ‘It is finished’ (Luke 19:30), the veil in the temple which separated the Holy Place from the people was ‘torn in two from top to bottom’ (Mark 15:38) and the era of the New Covenant began.

The era of the Old Covenant, in which ‘Scripture cannot be broken’ (John 10:35), ended. The New Covenant was foretold in Jeremiah 31:31-34 and is explained in detail in Hebrews chapters 8–10. In the New Covenant, believers no longer follow a written set of rules (laws). Instead, God promises ‘I will put my laws in their minds, and write them on their hearts’. This means that now we should live by thinking and following our hearts.

Unfortunately, many religious people do not understand the New Covenant and instead live as if we were still in the time of the Old Covenant. They regard a sacred text as God’s final word that must be obeyed completely, and instead of considering how what Jesus says about love relates to homosexuality, they cause untold human misery by condemning homosexuality simply because St Paul did so, mistakenly.

WONDERFUL RECIPES FROM JUNE CHARLTON

Cheese Straws

Ingredients:

2 oz of plain flour

3 oz of grated cheese

2 oz of butter or margarine

1 tablespoon of baking powder

1 egg

Method:

Put flour and cheese and baking powder into a bowl. Cut butter into cubes and rub into the mixture. Then, separate the egg yolk and add to the mixture. Mix with spoon to dough mixture. Shape the dough and cut into sticks. Bake at 425°F for about 12 minutes.

Girdle Cakes

Ingredients:

8 oz of self-raising flour

½ teaspoon of salt

1 oz of currants

2 oz of margarine

2 oz of lard

Milk or water

Method:

Mix the flour and salt in a basin. Rub in the lard and margarine, and then add currants. Mix to a moderately stiff dough with milk or water, roll it out thinly and cut into rounds. Bake on a hot girdle or hot ring (electric or gas). Turn when brown on one side. Serve hot and buttered.

Cherry Cake

Ingredients:

8 oz of self-raising flour

6 oz of cherries (cut into quarters)

4 oz of sugar

4 oz of margarine

2 beaten eggs

4 tablespoons of milk

12 drops of vanilla essence

Method:

Mix flour and cherries together. Beat sugar and margarine to a cream. Stir in the beaten eggs and flour and mix thoroughly. Use a well-greased 6” cake tin (3” deep). Bake in a moderate oven (350 – 375°F/ gas mark 3-4) for about an hour and a quarter.

Vegetable Curry

Ingredients:

1 small cauliflower in florets

200 g of French beans

200 g of carrots

200 g of potato, diced

85 g of butter

1 large onion, sliced thinly

1 teaspoon of chilli powder

1 tablespoon of ground cumin

1 stick of cinnamon

1 tablespoon of ground coriander

1 tablespoon of turmeric

6 cloves

2 teaspoons of cardamon seeds

4 tomatoes, skimmed and quartered

400 ml tin of coconut milk

Fresh coriander to garnish

Method:

Heat the butter and fry the onion until soft but not coloured. Add the chilli, cumin, cinnamon, coriander and turmeric. Cook for 2–3 minutes, then add the cloves and cardamon seeds. Cook for a further 2 minutes. Add the vegetables, followed by the skinned tomatoes and the coconut milk. Season to taste. Place in a covered dish in the oven a 180°C for 1 hour or until the vegetables are tender. Sprinkle with chopped coriander and serve with rice/naam breads.

BRENDA’S WILDLIFE CORNER

Snails

Snails are much more interesting animals than you may think. For instance, they demonstrate different systems of sexuality being male, female, hermaphrodite or parthenogenetic. They exist on land, deep in the sea, and in freshwater, therefore some snails use a lung to breathe, while others use a gill.

Snails vary in size with the African Land snail weighing 1 kg and being 38 cm from snout to tail; the sea snail Syrinx Aruanas measures up to 90 cm in length and weighs up to 18 kg. The smallest land snail, Angustopila Psammion, which was only discovered in 2022, measures only 0.6 mm in diameter.

Land snails are most active at night due to the presence of damp weather. They depend on mucus for movement, and this is mostly composed of water. Mucus is also important to snails as it transports food to its mouth, cleans the mantle cavity, and aids in the ingestion of food.

Many species of snail are herbivorous and consume plants, but some are predatory carnivores and eat smaller snails. The diet really depends on the species of snail, most land snails are herbivores or omnivores, for example. Age also influences their diet with older snails often preferring to consume dead plant material.

Most snails have a radula (tongue) with thousands of microscopic tooth-like structures which are used for ripping food into small pieces. Snails also have a muscular foot, used for locomotion, a mantle and a shell which is composed of conchin and calcium carbonate. If they lack a shell or possess only an internal shell, they are known as slugs, which are more manoeuvrable and compressible.

Snails are considered to be agricultural and garden pests, and some snails do carry parasitic diseases like Schistosomiasis and Clonorchiasis which can be transmitted to humans. Despite this, some snails are also considered a delicacy by some people and snail shells are sometimes used for decoration as part of jewellery.

To conclude, snails may not be the fastest or cutest animals around, but they are to be respected like any other part of nature.

DIVERSITY IN SPORT

Written by Graham Townsend

This can be a very controversial subject. Here, I am going to try and give some objective views on the issues surrounding diversity in sport.

In recent times much of the focus has been on gender issues. However, race, sexuality and religious beliefs are also strong areas of discussion when it comes to diversity in sport.

We’ll start with the gender issues. The big talking point from the last summer’s Olympic Games in Paris centred around the women’s boxing tournament. There were two competitors who were embroiled in a row as to whether they should have been allowed to compete. The problem was intensified by inconsistencies between the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Boxing Association (IBA), specifically the ways in which they reached decisions regarding the eligibility criteria for taking part in women’s events. The latter body is responsible for administering the boxing world championships; however, the IOC run the tournaments at their events. I’m not going to argue whether or not the two athletes in question should have been allowed to compete. What I will say is that the rules should be consistent throughout the sport and, at the same time, no competitor should be at a significant physical disadvantage against any opponent. Furthermore, we do need to ensure that opportunity is there for as many sportspeople as possible to be able to participate as this is a key component of diversity in sport. It’s not just boxing that has had issues in terms of gender. Athletics, weightlifting and cycling have also seen situations where controversy has arisen.

Now, moving on to race issues in sport. Football seems to be the sport where problems seem to be most prominent. Situations have arisen on a regular basis where non-white players have either been discriminated against within the game or have been verbally abused during a match by fans. There have been occasions where players have chosen to walk off the field as a result of the abuse they have received. However, because it has been perceived as alleged abuse, the player has sometimes been punished for appearing to act in an unprofessional manner. Surely, this cannot be right?

Looking at race issues from another angle, it has often been stated that there is under-representation of people from an ethnic background in administration roles within sport. Personally, I feel the best way of dealing with this is to ensure that everyone is given an equal chance to progress in this area.

Homophobia and disability are other areas that need to be looked at when discussing diversity in sport. Homophobia does not appear to be an issue in some sports, most notably in women’s football where there are many openly gay players. However, contrast this with the men’s game where there have been no more than a handful, to my knowledge, of players who have come out as gay. The reasons for this imbalance need to be looked at as it could be unwittingly stopping potentially talented players from participating at the highest level.

In respect of disabled athletes, there have been great steps forward in recent decades to encourage their involvement in sport. At the forefront of this is the Paralympic Games. Athletes who would otherwise have been denied the opportunity to compete at the highest level on the world stage now have the chance to show the world what they are capable of.

I’d like to think I have covered this subject in enough detail to show the respect and credibility that impacted athletes and sportspeople deserve. At the same time, I’d hope that it has done enough to provoke healthy and positive discussions amongst all those of you who read this article.

MICHELLE’S LUCKY DAY

Written by S Bee

The day began badly for Michelle. From the kitchen window, she spotted a single magpie perched on the garden fence. “Oh no!” She groaned. “The last thing I need today is a dose of bad luck!” She had an important presentation to give to VIP clients this morning, so she instantly saluted the black and white bird. Her Aunt Betty was a superstitious soul, and as she grew up, forty-something Michelle had picked up on her ways.

“Don’t place new shoes on a table,” she’d advise. “Don’t plan anything special for the 13th.”

Thank goodness it wasn’t the 13th today, she thought. The clients were an up-and-coming fashion brand. Their name was beginning to be mentioned on social media and word had spread. They’d asked the digital marketing company Michelle worked for, Red Sky, to design a new website and accompanying app. She’d been allocated debut senior status for the project. It felt intimidating at first, but her supportive and helpful colleagues had helped ease her worries with their ‘You can do it!’ attitude.

Well, the top dogs must have faith in me, she thought as she got ready. That faith had given her a confidence boost. Michelle trotted out to the hall and noticed that the snail mail had been delivered. She scooped up the damp pile of post from the doormat. When she opened the envelopes, she discovered that friends and family had sent a batch of good luck cards.

“Ah, that’s so kind!” She smiled and popped them on the side table. Then, she glanced in the mirror on the wall and noticed a slight crack in the corner. She sighed. How the heck had that happened? There was no time now to dwell upon the seven year’s curse – she’d be late for the bus. She deduced that it was raining outside, hence the damp mail. So, grabbing a big umbrella, Michelle set out through the crashing cascade. She raced along, touching wood from a nearby tree, only to see the bus pull away.

Just my luck! she mused glumly. To make matters worse, the rain was whipping against her smart clothes and briefcase. There was no bus shelter and naturally, she’d forgotten to don a raincoat. ‘With mud splattered tights and shoes, plus lanky hair, I’ll look like a drowned rat in front of those clients!’ she muttered to herself.

“’Michelle!” She spun round to see her colleague, Thea, pull up in her car. “Want a lift to work?”

“That’d be great.”

Thank goodness! Thea’s offer of a lift only occurred because I touched wood and saluted the magpie, she reasoned. At work, Michelle took her time searching the office floor for a drawing pin.

“See a pin and pick it up, and all the day you’ll have good luck.” Aunt Betty used to chant.

In fact, Aunt Betty had sent her a text: ‘Wishing you lots of luck today, love!’ Michelle’s heart warmed. That was thoughtful of her.

“I see the clients have arrived,” Thea announced.

“Have they?” Michelle was too absorbed in her task to notice.

“What are you doing?” She asked.

“Looking for a pin,” Michelle muttered.

“I’ve got a box of drawing pins in my drawer.” She began rooting around.

“Thanks, but it doesn’t work like that.” Michelle’s tone was desperate.

Thea frowned. “What do you mean? Look, never mind about the pin. It’s 10:30. You need to get in that meeting room now!”

Michelle nodded. She hadn’t managed to find a stray pin, so she crossed her fingers tight instead.

“Good luck!” Thea called.

Michelle’s spirit sank when she discovered that the meeting room was numbered thirteen. Oh, why did it have to be number thirteen? She despaired. At this moment in time, she thought, I just need to focus on the presentation. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door and nervously began.

“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for coming along today and choosing Red Sky…”

The meeting was over, and to her surprise, the clients had loved her website and app. They had given the green light for both of Michelle’s projects! The top dogs were thrilled. The news lifted everyone’s mood, and the team took a break for coffee, biscuits and chat. Everyone congratulated Michelle, of course.

“Did you find that pin, Michelle?” Thea asked casually.

“Er…” Michelle was embarrassed.

“This is about attracting good luck, isn’t it?”

“Is that such a bad thing?” Michelle challenged.

“No, but understand that you make your own luck in life. Look at today. That had nothing to do with luck. That was down to one thing and one thing only – your skills and creative talent in software design,” she concluded.

“Well…”

“Of course it was! You need to drop all this silly luck stuff,” she advised.

“Well, you wished me good luck earlier,” Michelle pointed out.

Thea shrugged. “It’s just a saying. You need to believe in yourself and your abilities more.”

Michelle nodded. They were right. The good luck rituals and symbols had provided a sense of comfort and security. She admitted that a shared interest in this had brought her closer to her dear Aunt Betty. She’d still remain close to her aunt, but this obsession had ruled her life for long enough. It was time to let go of the past and look forward to the future!

ANOTHER FUN QUIZ FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH

Questions:

(1) Who played Rodney in the British sitcom Only Fools and Horses?

(2) What is a girdle?

(3) Which country produces the most barley?

(4) What is a “noeud papillon” in English?

(5) Which free newspaper has the largest circulation in the UK?

(6) What is chicory?

(7) What is the French word for sunglasses?

(8) What nationality is ex-F1 champion Michael Schumacher?

(9) Who was the original lead guitarist for the band Rainbow?

(10) Who played Paulie in the Rocky films?

(11) What makes up a banana split?

(12) Who made the first tailor-made, commercial cigarettes?

(13) How old was President Gerald Ford when he died?

(14) What is the Spanish word for crowd?

(15) Who invented the World Wide Web in 1989?

(16) Where do Aberdeen FC play their home games?

(17) What is a concubine?

(18) What is a Haad?

(19) How old do you have to be to join the US army?

(20) How many players make up an ice hockey team?

Answers:

(1) Nicholas Lyndhurst (2) A form-fitting undergarment (3) Russia (4) Bow tie (5) Metro (6) A woody, perennial herbaceous plant (7) Lunettes de soleil (8) German (9) Ritchie Blackmore (10) Burt Young (11) Fresh banana, 3 scoops of ice cream, pineapple, chocolate syrup and strawberries (12) George Washington Duke in 1865 (13) 93 (14) Multitud (15) Sir Tim Berners-Lee (16) Pittodrie Stadium (17) A woman who lives with a man but has lower status than his wife or wives (18) A licence for healthcare professionals in Abu Dhabi (19) At least 17 and no older than 35 (20) 6

Editor’s Final Word: Thank you so much for reading this publication, and I hope you got something out of doing so. If you think you would like to get involved with us, please contact us at dean@fthm.org.uk

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