Sorted Magazine

Author: Val Fraser

  • Opinion: “I went through cold turkey by not eating cold turkey.”

    Opinion: “I went through cold turkey by not eating cold turkey.”

    Next time you’re tempted to pig out on bacon sandwiches, have a think about the potential benefits if we all cut our meat consumption. In 2016 I ceased being an omnivore. I’d originally given up meat for Lent and planned on getting back to chomping dead animals from Easter Sunday. I even had the idea of my Easter egg being a Scotch egg.

    Yet something changed. As I contemplated the death and resurrection of Christ, I found myself contemplating the well being and suffering of all God’s creatures. I went from Love Divine to love bovine. Did you know, there are over a billion animals killed each year in UK slaughterhouses, including 2.6 million cows? They also dispatch over 945 million chickens; hardly a poultry sum.

    The craving to eat meat subsided. I went through cold turkey by not eating cold turkey, experiencing the same pangs of withdrawal and liberation as when I gave up smoking. Instead of Nicorette patches I stuck slices of salami to my shoulder.

    The NHS should set up a meat addiction line: “To speak to an advisor press the corned beef hash key.” The main reason for becoming veggie isn’t animal welfare, it’s love of the environment. I love the environment so much that I’ve decided to eat more of it.

    With world population estimated to reach 11 billion by the year 2100, the rising per capita meat consumption is unsustainable for the planet. It’s like we’re sitting on the Titanic eating roast beef. Raising livestock is the leading cause of global deforestation, 60% of direct global greenhouse gas emissions, uses 30% of the earth’s landmass and 80% of all antibiotics.

    The world’s cattle alone consume more calories than the entire human population, and don’t get me started on how much they break wind. Never get stuck in a lift with a cow. Methane has a global warming potential 86 times that of CO² and cows produce 150 billion gallons of it every day – nobody light a match!

    Remember too, the health benefits of a plant based diet. Red meat can stay in your system for up to a week (green meat leaves it immediately). I hope I don’t come across too preachy, or sound like I’m jabbing an invisible carrot stick of accusation. But if you are feeling moo-ved, all we are saying is, give peas a chance.

    Main photo credit: Ryan Song via Unsplash

  • Comment: Is sensitivity a super power?

    Comment: Is sensitivity a super power?

    There’s a hilarious scene in the film Bedazzled where Brendan Fraser’s character is magically transformed into a highly sensitive version of himself. He writes poetry, feels everything deeply, blubbers at the sunset, loses the girl and is generally a bit pathetic. But founders of the Highly Sensitive Refuge, Andre Solo and Jenn Granneman, argue that being highly sensitive isn’t a weakness, it’s actually a super power.

    Full disclosure: I’ve admired Andre and Jenn’s work for years and devour their weekly newsletters. (I also think Andre’s name sounds a bit like Hans Sólo, so that makes him extra cool too.) Jenn founded Introvert, Dear and together they unpack some of the astonishing science behind the nature of sensitivity and introversion. They have a great team of writers and in (what seems to me) a remarkable act of generosity they make most of their work free online. Their efforts have helped me enormously and I’m grateful for their boldness in speaking up on this topic. It’s changed how I view my own sensitivity and the sensitivity of others. Here are some key points:

    Worried that you might be too touchy? Do you feel things too deeply? Do you struggle to hide your emotions sometimes?

    Sólo and Granneman point to the fact that 30% of the population are highly sensitive and this is actually a unique strength which can serve you well. But what is a highly sensitive person and how do you know if you are one? If you’re new to this concept and want to understand more here are 21 Signs That You’re a Highly Sensitive Person

    What might a highly sensitive man look like?

    Several men in my world are incredibly intuitive. They can read the room, quickly gather and process all the data and gauge the mood in a heartbeat. They also seem to have highly tuned predator detection circuits and instinctively scan the horizon for risks. Equipped with permanent 360 degree radar, powerful protective drives and lightning fast reactions I love being around these guys because they make me feel so safe. This article explains How Highly Sensitive Men Are Different From Highly Sensitive Women

    On needing time alone

    As a highly sensitive person myself I enjoy having some time to process all that data my brain has absorbed. Ticking jobs off a list, finishing tasks and closing some of my mental “tabs” also helps me to avoid becoming overwhelmed. Friends have mistaken me for an extrovert because I’m always so excited to see them, but those who are around me the most know that after about four hours of human contact I burn out and become quite boring! Granneman explains why we sometimes need time alone.

  • Beyond the Banter: Last Christmas

    Beyond the Banter: Last Christmas

    During the run up to Christmas 2020 many folks were not able to meet up in person. Communities didn’t gather face to face. Travel was limited. Celebrations and family gatherings went online or on the doorstep. As Santa zoomed around the world with his sleigh full of presents, many people zoomed on their computers to keep connected to family and friends. I wonder whether this was a cause for folks to reflect on the real meaning of Christmas or whether many just drowned their sorrows of in a bottle of *Glenlivet? *Other whiskeys are available.

    It troubles me that the poor are still hungry, the homeless are still without shelter and more people than I feel comfortable thinking about are lonely or homeless, and feel excluded from either secular or religious expressions of Christmas. This year in particular, the situation in Ukraine has led to the biggest mass migration of people since World War Two. For many the run up to Christmas will be a very poignant time.

    So, as Wham’s 1984 hit Last Christmas plays incessantly on the radio, I’m thinking about how I will be spending this Christmas. I’ll be hoping to see family and friends of course. I’ll be looking for authenticity and relevance in expressions of Christmas. And I’ll be thankful that I have life and health and strength, a roof over my head and a choice over how I celebrate. And I’ll be mindful of those who have very little to celebrate. Those who had a really tough year. But most of all, I hope that I will maintain a connection with messages of light in the darkness and hope for the future.

    Main photo credit: Tessa Rampersad via Unsplash

  • Faith: Happy Hanukkah!

    Faith: Happy Hanukkah!

    Hanukka 2022 lasts from December 18th until December 26th. According to the Religion Media Centre Hanukkah is an eight day Jewish religious festival which commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem more than 2,000 years ago.The name comes from the verb meaning “to dedicate” and the festival commemorates the rededication of the second Temple in Jerusalem in 164 BCE, after an uprising by Judas Maccabeus against the rulers of Israel, the Seleucids (Syrian-Greeks) and their king Antiochus IV.

    How is Hanukkah celebrated?

    Hanukkah begins on the 25th day of the month of Kislev in the Jewish calendar, which occurs between late November and late December. The festival is marked by the daily lighting at nightfall of a nine-branch candelabrum, with one flame being used to light the other eight, one day at a time. It stands in households, synagogues and public places.

    Customs include rituals including singing and prayers; eating fried foods such as a potato pancake latke, or doughnuts; playing games with a dreidel, a four-sided spinning top; making gifts of money to children and charity; and greeting all with “Happy Hanukkah”.

    Huge menorahs are to be found in towns and cities throughout the UK where public ceremonies are held each year, including at Trafalgar Square in London, where it stands in front of a Christmas tree.

    What is the significance of Hanukkah?

    Hanukkah is often understood as an event that celebrates freedom of religious oppression and persecution, and of hope over fear, light over darkness. In Jewish tradition Hanukkah is a minor holiday that evolved long after the Hebrew Bible was completed and as such does not have any major religious restrictions on work associated with other festivals such as Yom Kippur or Passover.

    However, over the past century it has risen to greater prominence, largely through the efforts of American Jews who promoted it as their equivalent to Christmas, which is often about the same time. It was especially popular among otherwise secular Jews who wished to have a holiday as Christmas became such an important part of American culture.

    In Ashkenazi Jewish traditions, children are often given money during Hanukkah and in some places this has been replaced with presents, which also mirrors Christmas customs.

    Article credit: Thanks to the Religion Media Centre for providing this information. The Religion Media Centre is an impartial and independent organization aiming to increase further cohesion and understanding in society by helping the media report and understand religion and belief. It does not promote any one religion or belief and has no editorial line other than religion matters.

    Main photo credit: Robert Thiemann via Unsplash

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    OUT NOW, OUR LATEST ISSUE

  • Find a winter woodland walk near you

    Find a winter woodland walk near you

    The Woodland Trust has more than 1,000 woods which are free to visit and open every day. Woodland Trust site manager James Jesson said: “If you’d rather not spend the entire festive season overindulging, head out for a woodland adventure. Our woods are real winter wonderlands, so whether it’s a crisp, frosty morning or a damp soggy afternoon, it’s great to pull on your boots and thermals or waterproofs and head out for an invigorating stroll. Winter woods take on a whole new character. Spectacular, frosty landscapes and bare branches expose elusive wildlife and hidden history.” Locate a woodland by entering a postcode at woodlandtrust.org.uk/findawood

    Here’s a selection of winter walks:

    Archers Wood, Cambridgeshire is an ancient woodland nestling in an agricultural landscape, Archers is a real oasis for nature. Wander among majestic oak and field maple trees and watch carefully for a shy fox or deer in the distance.

    Londonthorpe Wood, Lincolnshire is just a stone’s throw from historic Belton House and neighbouring a wild deer sanctuary. There are new all weather paths and there’s a mix of old and new woodland to explore.

    Tring Park, Hertfordshire is a ten minute stroll from Tring’s famous Natural History Museum. Climb the hill for amazing views of Hertfordshire and the Chilterns.

    Low Burnhall, Durham is an important haven for wildlife on the outskirts of Durham. Look out for signs of otters in the rivers which border the site. Owls, kestrels and sparrowhawks are known to frequent the area. Waymarked trails lead past some interesting features; including a sculpture of a miner in a nod to the wood’s historic coal mine.

    Hackfall, Grewelthorpe, North Yorkshire is set in a 350ft gorge along the River Ure on the edge of the village of Grewelthorpe. This fragile ancient woodland habitat has been restored since the Woodland Trust took over. Footpaths and woodland walks take in glades, waterfalls, kingfisher and grey wagtail.

    Smithhills Estate, Bolton, Lancashire is the Woodland Trust’s largest site. It’s steeped in history and shadowed by the famous Winter Hill TV mast, with panoramic views across to Bolton and Manchester. In its vast expanses of moorland there are patches of woodland, peat bog and elusive brown hare.

    Hainault Forest, London boasts herds of majestic red deer roaming through this ancient hunting forest which once provided venison for the King’s table. Just 15 miles from central London with 158 species of bird recorded, it’s a popular destination for ornithologists.

    Home Farm, Hampshire has eight miles of pathway winding through a mosaic of old and new woodland habitats. Red kite and kestrel can often be spotted wheeling overhead.

    Hucking Estate, Kent has breathtaking views of the Kent Downs, ancient woodland to explore and swathes of open grassland.

    Avon Valley Woods, Devon is set in the rolling hills of South Hams. Small birds tend to flock there in large groups during the winter months. While the riverside walk can be muddy, the extensive path network at the top of the site offers grassy tracks and views across Devon.

    Credenhill Park Wood, Herefordshire is a local landmark on an imposing wooded hill topped by one of the largest Iron Age Hill forts in England. It’s thought to have once been an Iron Age tribal capital. The walk to the top has views across to Wales when the trees are bare.

    Lineover Wood, Gloucestershire is a patchwork of ancient woodland. Recent planting and limestone grassland creates a diverse haven for wildlife where rare plants and fungi flourish. The wood lies within the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and offers views across Cheltenham and the Malvern Hills.

    Carnmoney Hill, Northern Ireland offers views of Belfast and the coast. Steeped in history and folklore with a mix of ancient woodland, grassland and wetland, it’s home to a wealth of wildlife and has a range of walks to suit all abilities.

  • Beyond the Banter: It’s Only a Winter’s Tale

    Beyond the Banter: It’s Only a Winter’s Tale

    Amid the clamour of consumerism, David Essex singing It’s Only a Winter’s Tale stopped me in the middle of the supermarket. I have no idea why. I don’t know the rest of the lyrics, only the title. It’s not one of my all time favourites, but perhaps the music evoked memories of childhood Christmases from the deepest recesses of my mind. Salvation Army bands have a similar effect on me at this time of year. Is it pure nostalgia?

    It seems to me that the origins of Christmas are sometimes obscured by tinsel and trappings. Consumerism promotes a celebration of a different kind. It asks us to impress our family with expensive catering, gaze in wonder at the latest gadgets and have our best Christmas ever.

    Is the Christmas story “only a winter’s tale”? It goes something like this: The King of Heaven broke into our earthly existence in Roman occupied Palestine. He arrived as a baby, to a trusting Mum and Dad. Shepherds out in the fields, familiar with the night sky, were alerted to a bright, moving star. They followed it to a stable in Bethlehem. They knelt before a new born baby. Wise men saw that same star and followed it from a far away country. The gifts they brought held clues to the baby’s royalty (Gold), his priestly calling (Frankincense) and his ultimate sacrifice (Myrrh). I doubt they came to worship in confident faith. It’s more likely they came with unspoken questions.

    So as I hear the sound of David Essex singing his familiar Christmas anthem, I pray that, despite the increasing secularisation of Christmas, we might not lose sight of the reason for the season, and approach the Christmas story with honest questions, because for me it’s so much more than a winter’s tale.

    Main photo credit: Laura Baker Unsplash

  • Interview: “We would find drug dealers and rob them …”

    Interview: “We would find drug dealers and rob them …”

    Last Saturday on The Big Lunch radio show I chatted with my mate, John Lawson, a former violent criminal, bouncer and body guard. John’s worked with some famous household names such as the Rolling Stones and Neil Diamond and in this interview he opened up to me and gave an incredibly honest account of what some of those experiences were really like for him. He’s also been a significant player in the criminal underworld and I was privileged to hear first hand about John’s mindset during that dark season of his life. John went into great detail about some of the staggering exploits and risks he took. Here are a few highlights from the show:

    On emigrating from Scotland to South Africa:

    John Lawson (JL): “I was born in Glasgow, we emigrated (to South Africa) when I was three, that was a huge contrast!”

    On being abandoned by his father as a child:

    JL: “Unfortunately I was a bit of a wild child really … came to the UK … raised on one of the toughest housing estates in Europe, just developed a violent mentality. By the time I left school I got involved with my uncles who were running most of the sex industry in Soho.”

    On leaving prison and working as a bouncer:

    “I enjoyed the violent aspect of it … we were a tight team … for a bit of pocket money we would find drug dealers and rob them the night before they bought their drugs. Believing we were good guys we would flush all their drugs down the toilet, believing we were doing society a favour, but really it was nothing but pure violence.”

    On the police catching up with him:

    “The police caught up with me … they had my voice recording, they had CCTV footage, I got done for four years for attempted extortion … I was a foolish idiot … but that prison was the best place that I could ever be cos that’s where my life completely changed.”

    I asked John how it was for him to walk into prison on the first day and what his experience was like during all those years inside. I was aware that John came to faith in prison and was interested to know exactly how that came about. What followed was one of the most dramatic, inspirational and emotional stories I have ever heard. Listen to the full interview here. Read John’s autobiography in novel form here, his ministry work is here and there’s a song inspired by a poem he wrote for his wife here.

  • Faith: How the former wife of Stephen Hawking emerged from the shadows of her past.

    Faith: How the former wife of Stephen Hawking emerged from the shadows of her past.

    Dr Jane Helyer Jones is an accomplished writer and novelist, she is also Jane Hawking, the former wife of Stephen Hawking. She’s the author of the best selling book Travelling to Infinity, which is the true story behind the famous motion picture film The Theory of Everything.

    The film tells the story of Jane’s early life with her husband, Professor Stephen Hawking, who is possibly the world’s best known scientist and the world’s best known sufferer of motor neurone disease. Stephen is played by Eddie Redmayne and Jane is played by Felicity Jones. Jane told the BBC, “Felicity’s performance was phenomenal. When I saw her on the screen I was flabbergasted because she captured my mannerisms, my movements, my patterns of speech even.” It is a stunning performance and Felicity Jones somehow portrays the complex bitter sweet nature of Jane’s life.

    Just as in real life it’s a beautiful love story and Jane is clearly devoted to Stephen. But as Stephen’s disability worsens she becomes his carer. His fame and career place more and more demands upon her and she struggles with the physical and emotional effort of this work alongside the job of caring for their young family.

    Jane told Christian Connection, “Faith was my rock and my blessing because I believed that there was help and support for me in all the challenges I faced and that things would resolve themselves eventually.”

    In another interview she said: “I felt I needed the rock of my faith to do what might be expected of me, I was very dependent on my faith to help me through. I thought there must be a loving God acting in his (Stephen’s) life otherwise he might not have been gifted with the brain of a genius which enabled him to do the science that he could do. He couldn’t walk, he was having difficulty talking, he couldn’t write. All he could do was think, but he could think in such an extraordinary way, in a way not given to many people, to himself and [Albert] Einstein perhaps, but not many others. And that seemed to me to be the most extraordinary gift.”

    In 2018 Jane told Readers Digest: “One day I asked him (Stephen) ‘How do you decide on a theory?’. He said, ‘Well you have to look at all the possibilities in various areas of research and decide what you’re interested in. Then you decide which area of research is most likely to give you the positive result. So you choose your theory, your area of interest, and then you have to take a leap of faith.’ I said, ‘What? What’s the difference between taking a leap of faith in physics and other people taking a leap of faith in religion?’ He laughed.”

    Jane describes her parents as ‘darlings’ and says her Christian faith has helped her persevere, “I think my parents were rather taken aback, but they were very supportive of me when I married Stephen, and my mum, Beryl, encouraged me to keep faith as the way forward”.

    Her first novel Silent Music was published by Alma Books in 2016. It tells the story of a child growing up in an unhappy family in London after the Second World War. The title of the series is The Immortal Souls. This stems from Jane’s belief that “everybody has a spark of spirituality and the divine inside them, and that circumstances often combine to prevent that spark from blossoming”.

    “I saw Stephen’s spark blossom and my own is blossoming now in so many ways. I have my wonderful children and I’m doing all the things I want to do, especially my writing. I’ve been down a long winding path to reach that ultimate fulfilment but I think I’ve found it now.”

    Jane is a strong, inspirational woman who has emerged from the shadows of her past and found a new life for herself. She’s found meaningful creative work. She’s found a special love with her husband Jonathon Jones Helyer, together they share a strong faith and a deep love of music. Her life has a happy ending. She said: “Life goes on doesn’t it? One year succeeds another and you concentrate on all the really wonderful things.”

    Interview credits: Readers Digest, The National, Christian Connection, BBC Woman’s Hour.

  • Gemma Hunt: “Christmas is about Jesus, the light in the darkness.”

    Gemma Hunt: “Christmas is about Jesus, the light in the darkness.”

    The Cheeky Pandas has released a pack of free resources, including a special Christmas episode, The Best Present Ever. Featuring CBeebies’ star, Gemma Hunt, there’s a special message for kids; Christmas is really about a person called Jesus, who is the best present of all.

    In The Best Present Ever Christmas preparations are falling apart for the Cheeky Pandas. Milo is sad at the lack of snow, Rory and Benji are fighting over which Christmas lights to use, and CJ’s cooking is less than perfect (pies in the kettle and turkey in the toaster!). Lulu just wants everyone to be happy. Every panda has a different idea about how Christmas should be. When the pandas get a special gift from the Pandaroo Delivery Service, will it remind them who Christmas is really about?

    The Christmas episode and song are both available on YouTube and The Cheeky Pandas website. The downloadable activity pack contains questions, prayer points, craft activity and a super-easy recipe (no ovens or mixers required). A free assembly plan will also be available for use in schools and a new Cheeky Pandas book The Best Present Ever accompanies the Christmas episode.

    CBeebies star Gemma Hunt said: “It’s an absolute joy to be a part of The Cheeky Pandas family. The fun, free Christmas resources that they are providing for children this year to remind them of the life-changing message of Jesus, the greatest gift this world has ever seen, is great! In the aftermath of the pandemic, as we face a cost-of-living crisis and a world that often feels in turmoil, children and families are more in need than ever of hope that can’t be taken away from them. Through this year’s Cheeky Pandas Christmas episode, song and bumper pack of crafts, recipes and activities, they have a timely reminder that Christmas is about Jesus, the light in the darkness.” 

    Access The Cheeky Pandas Christmas episode and song here