Badger Cull

The culling of badgers has led to widespread opposition across the country including Horsham. Many of my friends and local residents are involved in the badger cull debate on Facebook by posting images and comments.

The culling of badgers is a method of reducing bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in a certain area. This disease can be passed to humans, but it is not very likely because of modern living conditions, good sanitation and the pasteurisation of milk. However, bTB can be transmitted between some wildlife, including badgers, and cattle.

Since the first pilot badger control operation began in two sites in west Gloucestershire and west Somerset it has generated the protests of activists, who have launched a campaign aimed to stop the badger cull. It has become a highly contentious issue because both supporters and critics have valid arguments.

The National Farmers’ Union and the Government insist the culling of badgers is needed to reduce the spread of the infectious disease in cattle herds, which has led to the death of many cows in the past 15 years.

Most of my friends support animal rights groups and share their point of view as well as anti-cull images on Facebook. They say that culling is a random slaughter of badgers and it will have an insignificant effect in tackling the infection. They see the better way of bringing bTB under control is for the authorities to vaccinate cattle and badgers instead of killing them.

In the meantime, while badgers are not an endangered species they are among the most legally-protected in the UK. There are a variety of options on how to control the population of animals and diseases, and this leads to a conflict between the pro and anti badger cull campaigns.

12 Hour Lawn Mower Race

Lawn mowers are supposed to be for cutting grass, but they are great for racing around a grassy track as well.

Britain held its world famous 12 Hour Lawn Mower Race in Five Oaks, West Sussex at the weekend. It ran through the night from 8pm on Saturday 10th August until 8am the following morning. This year the first diesel-powered contender has competed against its petrol-powered rivals. It was the first diesel mower engine raced at any British Lawn Mower Racing Association events, although as an experimental vehicle it was ineligible for any racing honours. All of the movers keep their original engines, but blades are removed for safety.

Lots of people of all ages came to see the race. A spirit of fun, rather than extreme competitiveness was the order of the day. There were a few racing lawn mowers on display, which attracted many children and adults. Next to the display was a bouncy castle that was very popular with the youngsters.

The British Lawn Mower Racing Association was invented in 1973 in The Cricketers Arms pub in Wisborough Green by a group of local enthusiasts who decided that a cheap form of motorsport was needed. The BLMRA is a non-profit organization which has 15 different events each season, between May and October.

The popularity of lawn mower racing is increasing each year, with ever more fun-loving enthusiasts getting involved.

Horsham Humanists

Members of The Horsham Humanist Group were delighted to welcome a couple of new attendees to their regular meeting at the Rising Sun last Monday August 5.

The group was formed in 2010 by a few local humanists who were looking to connect and socialize with other like-minded individuals in the area. Since that time Horsham Humanists have expanded its current members and is open to anyone who is interested or curious about Humanism.

Those who represent themselves as Horsham Humanists “…seek to make the best of the one life we have by creating meaning and purpose for ourselves. We choose to take responsibility for our actions and work with others for the common good.”
The Horsham Humanist Group also shares the same notion as The American Humanist Association “Humanism is optimistic regarding human nature and confident in human reason and science as the best means of reaching the goal of human fulfillment in this world. Humanists affirm that humans are a product of the same evolutionary process that produced all other living organisms and that all ideas, knowledge, values, and social systems are based upon human experience. Humanists conclude that creative ability and personal responsibility are strongest when the mind is free from supernatural belief and operates in an atmosphere of freedom and democracy.”

In the last meeting of The Horsham Humanists Group, people came together to discuss the controversial topic “Categorising Atheists” which was based on the article “The six types of atheist”. Originally the article appeared in The Guardian and brought up many thoughtful, neutral and controversial comments.

Sitting around a table in the cosy pub, the attenders shared knowledge and life experiences in a friendly and companionable atmosphere. Most of the members agreed that individual personalities are far greater than any form of classification allows, though some similarities between people exist. The different types of points of view on the subject, delivered interesting arguments and made everybody get involved in the discussion.

The meeting was well received and appreciated by those who participated. The next gathering is going to bring Humanists to the beautiful Rising Sun in September.

Horsham Ride-in Motorbike Show

A cacophony of roaring engines brought the start of the show to the quiet Ingfield Manor School. A group of bikers solemnly entered the narrow forest road which led to the centre of the event. Car drivers were given access to park next to the camping area which made unloading easy. By noon a few tents were already set up on the recently cut grass.

The show included a competition for various classifications: Best Chopper, Classic, Combination, Paint, Plastic Fantastic, Rat, Street fighter, Stock and Best Trike. In addition to the display of bikes there were: a tent with a tattoo artist, a massage table, raffle tickets with the chance of winning different prizes, trade stalls, a tent with real ale from a local brewery and a hog roast. Two bands were playing during the show and a girl was performing on a pole.

The crowd was wandering from bike to bike, taking photos and listening to exciting stories which bring people driven by a pure love of motorcycles together. The vibe was friendly and entirely laid-back, making conversation easy and a pleasure for all attendees. By the time Willie Austen was performing popular tunes on stage, the sky was darkening with grey clouds and the first drops touched the shiny surfaces of the bikes. A sudden change in the weather washed out a part of the crowd and made others look for shelter. Rain brought its influence to the show and shifted the trophy presentations in the schedule. Nevertheless the prize winners were presented on stage with applause and cheering from the audience.

What made this show special is that the event was organized to raise money for charity. Lots of fundraising raffle tickets were sold and there was good chance to get a prize. A guy next to me won a pair of leather motorbike trousers. “Now I have to buy a bike!” he said with a smile.

At the end of the show Furious Badgers were gearing up on stage inside the school. They attracted the remains of the crowd and made happy people dance, prance and party like never before.

Horsham Ride-in Motorbike Show was a memorable event with a great motorbike display, good music and friendly atmosphere. A year seems like a long time to wait to do it again but if you have chance to catch next year’s show, do it. You’ll be glad you did.

Horsham Garden Music Festival

Horsham Garden Music Festival is now in its second year, and showing no signs of stopping. The music event took place in the flourishing Human Nature Garden, Horsham Park, which was created in 2011 with an admirable decoration and an excellent collection of plants and trees.

The weather conditions, with a tropical heat this year, were a marked contrast to one year ago. Unlike last year, when we had a lot of puddles and everyone was lurking under umbrellas, this year the brollies were used as a shelter from the sun.

There were three local bands on stage: Paper Jam, Vacant Paradise and Torch. The first to emerge were the very popular Paper Jam with charismatic singer Brad Harper. The band is a tribute to Pearl Jam and mainly plays rock. With the first energetic song the band created a rocking atmosphere and were appreciated by their fans.

The following band was Vacant Paradise with their singer Holly Moore. She had a beautiful voice and was backed by a very good band. Everyone noticed her great vocals and enjoyed the music which was good – as expected.

Torch appeared on stage last. This Southwater band was a new discovery and surprise for many attendees. Torch is completely different to other bands because it is a choir singing only rock. It is open to everyone who likes and wants to sing rock. There are no auditions, no one needs to read music, songs are taught by ear. All members are welcome even those who think that they are tone deaf.

The organisers of Horsham Music Festival did a great job to make the show enjoyable for everyone. There was plenty of food and drink on sale in the tents and staff worked hard in the hot weather. It was a family friendly venue and children were entertained between sets. The great thing about this music event which makes the show extra special is that it was set in the beautiful garden with many things to look at.

Hopefully The Garden Music Festival will be just as good next year in such a perfect location.

TEA ROOMS IN HORSHAM

The variety of tea rooms in Horsham can please many customers with different tastes.
If you prefer a traditionally designed interior you might find the tea room on Park Place is a very compelling place in which to have a cup of tea. Almost everyone is attracted by the bright decoration and plants in bloom outside and hand crafted flowers, with lots of other things harking back to a previous time, inside the tea room. The windows are adorned with two large vintage ornate chandeliers which illuminate the room with refracted light.

If you like a modern interior style with a big screen TV where metal, glass and marble prevail then you have a good choice right in the centre of Horsham. These tea rooms are surrounded by all sorts of shops and are always popular with both local people and visitors at any time of the year.

One of the favourite places for many of us remains the tea room in Horsham Park. The perfect combination of great nature and a brightly lit conservatory brings a constant stream of customers from early morning to late evening.

Whether you would like to stop at one of these tea rooms for a wonderful selection of tea and a slice of homemade cake or take a bite out of a delicious sandwich, dedicated staff will be on hand to serve you.

Although interior design, menu and location are very important, tea rooms often serve as a centre of social interaction. People gather at tea rooms as much to chat, read the paper, exchange news and jokes and socialize as to enjoy tea.

From 1706 when Thomas Twining opened the first known tea room, and when tea was an expensive luxury for the rich, to the present day, it comes as an accessible beverage with many different ways of serving. It is always tea time with a tea room and it is a popular social event for the local community.

Enjoy your cuppa.

Skeptics In The Pub

Skeptics In The Pub brought an appealing subject for discussion to the Tanners Arms on Monday night.
All rows of seats and a few stools beside the bar were taken by the audience.

Michael Brooks introduced the topic: The Secret Anarchy of Science. It covered lots of concealed facts about famous scientists which are not so widely published and not so well known. For instance Galileo’s theory of the tides was wrong. He thought the tides happened because of the Earth’s daily rotation around its axis and annual one around the sun. It was Johannes Kepler who realized that gravity was the key to understanding the tides. He explained how the tides were influenced by the Moon. Today most schoolchildren know that the Moon’s gravitation gives rise to the tides.

Another interesting and obscure fact was about Albert Einstein. He often allowed his intuition to overrule mathematics. It led to misconceptions in physics as well as errors in mathematics. Despite the mistakes he made along the way his intuition about physics let him reach his goal.

The meeting in the pub had a break after the first part of the talk. During this time everyone discussed the topic, shared opinions and refreshed drinks. New members were equally and actively involved in the talk.

The second part of meeting was filled with lots of questions. One of the questions was: Why don’t more scientists get involved in politics? Scientists are highly opinionated and competent, and would make wiser decisions. However, it seems that scientists and politicians are two different types of jobs. In politics quite often hasty thoughtless decisions happen, which can’t seriously be justified. Additionally, scientists and their opinions appear not to be very popular with electors.

The most intensive debate brought the question about the hydraulic fracturing (fracking) of shale gas in Sussex. The main aspect that concerned the audience was whether the development and exploitation of natural gas by fracking is going to be undertaken with insufficient independent scientific information. Do we clearly understand the effects on human activities of gas exploitation in the Sussex area and what it might do to the environment?

However, this question will be discussed at the next meeting at the Tanners Arms.

Horsham roundabout: a brawl between a van driver and bus driver

It was obvious for the other drivers that the bus didn’t have enough speed and time to enter the roundabout but it wasn’t so obvious for the bus driver. He felt comfortable pulling out in front of vehicles coming from his right.

He was a little impatient, a little early and a little arrogant. All these features mixed in a dangerous cocktail of his attitudes and his driving will lead to an accident one day. The ‘one day’ happens to be today. A combination of circumstances bring a van driver with the same attitude to the same place at the same time.

His way of driving gives a message to others ‘ I’m busier, more powerful and more important on the road and I won’t tolerate any inferior driving from others.’ This is written all over his van in scratches and dents.

Now the two drivers meet each other. To avoid ramming into the middle of the bus the fast van driver has to brake sharply, skidding to the side. The sharp braking switched on the ignition of his anger and swearing. With his foot on the brake, he forces his hand down on the horn.

In this particular moment, a clear negative description of the bus driver’s personality and sexual identity appears in his mind. It comes as an irresistible pleasure to shout in rage from the open window and show different combinations of his free fingers.

It looks like it gives him satisfaction, or maybe it is his way of releasing negative emotions?
No blood or twisted car bodies this time but what will happen on the next roundabout or road?

Thursday Market in Horsham

 

Walking through the market today I found a few new ideas to vary my daily menu.

The first were attractive large duck eggs. I didn’t realise how many colours they could be. Some of them were light pistachio and others were a rich cream colour. They were sitting in an egg box in two rows and looked like toys. My thoughts were shared by a child who inquisitively tried to test the eggs with her fingers.    

My other thought was to try duck eggs with asparagus and ham covered with a mustard dressing.   

There were different eggs on a nearby stall. They looked like they were from a local Horsham farm but big blue letters on the note beside them saying “Scottish eggs” made me curious to find out the difference.

 My next find was smoked garlic.  A basket was filled with large golden brown  cloves and they already had a tasty appearance.  It might be a good supplement for buttered mushrooms to have a hint of smoked garlic.  

There also were stalls with interesting handcrafted cards, colourful handcrafted cushions and tempting handcrafted chocolate. 

A skilful musician was playing on his guitar. The sound in the air of popular tunes attracted some people to rest on benches and made this summer Thursday market particular pleasant and relaxing.

AN ENJOYABLE WALK

On a warm sunny day along a path edged by rich grass and old trees, a man with a poodle was walking towards me. A certain similarity united them. Both had brown curly hair, hazel eyes, small noses and happy faces.

The dog, full of joy and excitement, carried a trophy; a piece of wood. Now its eyes spotted me. It speeded up with a fixed look at me, then barred my way, dropped the trophy almost on my feet and inquisitively stared at me.
“Come on Chad, move on,” said the man with a smile.

I wasn’t on my own for long on the path when a cheerful spaniel appeared. It was scurrying along the edge, sweeping the ground with its ears and sniffing under its paws. Then it suddenly stopped, made a circle, and went to the loo. Its owner, instantly blind, passed the dog and walked away with no intention of cleaning up after his pet.

The spaniel drew its ashamed eyes from me. Maybe it was an awkward moment or maybe it was sorrow. “Yes I know that my owner is an idiot. He rarely cleans up the mess after me.”

It looks like some people’s responsibility for having a pet is stumbling over their own dog poop.
Some of them go further. They have a lack of talent for anything but hanging dog waste bags on shrubs and trees. They would never imagine doing this in their own garden.

What makes these people act in this particular way? Is it just because they can, and get away with it? Does it make them more significant in exercising their skills by playing games with dog’s poop?

Luckily there are not so many dog owners like that. Most of them care as much for self-comfort as for improvement of the community they live in. This is what makes us civilized people, life easy and a walk enjoyable.