Opinion
Men and women, and the transgender debate
AS I SEE IT MARIANNE HERON Was Adam a Madam and Eve a Steve? These days you might begin to wonder about the Garden of Eden story where God created man and woman, given some of the issues raised by gender fluidity. Gender is a social construct. We are conditioned to behave in ways that …
Now is the time to tune into a Summer of Love
THE FACT OF THE MATTER PAUL HOPKINS If proof were needed that the pandemic is behind us, or that at least we are learning to live with the rogue microbe, it’s that that institution among institutions, the revered Music Festival, is back with a bang and a guitar riff or two. Thirteen of them on …
Beating bullies needs smart action
BY ANDREW MCDONALD HYPNOTHERAPIST ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.’ So states the children’s nursery rhyme, familiar to most of us from our schooldays. First appearing in a text known as ‘Eothen’ written in 1830, it has been around a long time. What most people don’t know is …
‘The Courting of Katie Earls’
BY NED EGAN PART 2 The question of a dowry for Katie was hardly thought about, and not discussed at all between the courting pair. In case you wonder, reader, a dowry was practically mandatory within the middle-class fraternity in a lot of the country, and was generally settled by the fathers down the pub, …
Your tax affairs after two years of the pandemic
BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR Back in 2020 businesses impacted by the Covid lockdowns were throw a number of lifelines by the Government. They suspended debt collection and charging of interest on late payment of VAT and PAYE (payroll tax) liabilities due from March of that year. They allowed the “Warehousing” of tax debt. They …
Rosalique 3 in 1 anti-redness miracle Formula
BY CLAIR WHITTY Rosalique is a “3 in 1 Anti-Redness Miracle Formula” with SPF 50, providing UVA and UVB protection. It’s a formula that conceals redness instantly, providing light coverage which leaves your skin looking radiant. It gently treats and protects your skin long term. It’s especially good for redness of the skin, inflamed skin, …
Why The Firm is better than all the others tried
AS I SEE IT MARIANNE HERON What’s this? Are we really monarchists at heart wishing that Michael D could wear a crown on ceremonial occasions? Maybe not. But in a recent survey her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II turned out to be more popular than all our political leaders, even Mary Lou. It’s easy to be …
Modern dads show their true emotions
THE FACT OF THE MATTER PAUL HOPKINS It’s been long a given that there’s a whole generation of the New Man out there. They use moisturiser, they stroke the cat, they have women friends, they make brown bread, and they clip their toenails on a regular basis. But they also workout regularly and are conscious …
Making sure you get all your tax allowances
BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR Have you claimed your Flat Rate Expense (FRE) for last year yet? No? Unfortunately, you’re not alone as every year thousands of people leave unclaimed FREs and other tax reliefs and refunds with the taxman. More than 50% of employees surveyed by Taxback.com do not know their tax entitlements or …
