Welcome to autumn 2023 Hopezine!
Editor’s letter Welcome to autumn’s Hopezine, an ode tothe animals we take care of.In this special issue, award-winning authorsfrom my publishers Victorina Press, pentheir own vignettes about the pets theylove. I’ve taken to bird twitching. And aProfessor of Psychology tells us all aboutthe benefits of taking care of a pet, forbetter mental health.The cover art […]
Caring for pets is good for us by Professor David Clark-Carter
By Professor David Clark-CarterIt’s a formula that works and there’s robust science to supportthe idea that caring for a pet is good for our mental health.At nearby Staffordshire University, Emeritus Professor ofPsychology, David Clark-Carter, agrees that caring for animalsand pets can both remedy some of the factors that contributeto poor well-being.Speaking to Hopezine, he writes:“Loneliness, […]
My life as a cat servant by Amanda Huggins
Every cat that has ever employed me has been a madcap character.I’ve saved adult ducks and rabbits (and the neighbour’s kid’s soft toys)from the jaws of expert hunters, climbed a rickety fire escape to rescue adeaf, cross-eyed tom who scarred me for life in the process, andcollected another (the Devil’s own spawn) from the Yorkshire […]
Double decker dogs by Wendy Beasley
By Wendy BeasleyFor most people, taking the dog out in the car is not a problem, but the logisticsof travelling with four, five or even more dogs is akin to a military operation.I am one of the relatively few dog owners that take part in the little known,but challenging and exciting competition called working trials. […]
Spring-a-doodle-do! By Gail Aldwin
I’ve never been a pet owner although my husband is proud of the goldfish livingin our pond. When we moved to Dorset in 2007, our children begged us to get adog but we didn’t succumb. This year, my now grown-up daughter announced shewanted a puppy. I was underwhelmed at the prospect but watched her gettingmore […]
Louis Wain, a most illustrious illustrator
By Erica Crompton To purchase your own Outsider Art like the one above, visit leading specialist Henry Boxer Gallery at www.outsiderart.co.uk. Bright, beguiling and saccharine are all words that can be associatedwith this month’s cover kitty, and the illustrations of cats, printed in thismonth’s animal special. Known as the Mona Lisa of Asylum Art, Louis […]
Bird twitching is good for your mental health
By Erica Crompton Since recently moving into an accessible bungalow that backs on towoodlands, I’ve discovered the joys of bird watching. Take a look atmy view from the French windows! All green and woodland.By far the best investment has been a metal bird-feeder to hang ona branch outside. It does need to be metal to […]
Baby snail poem by Erica Crompton
Dressed in glitter,with silken train,here comes baby,in curly frame. Pledge salad leaves,for him to eat,glides across,with wide-foot feet. And then he curls into a ball,into his house, his home, his hall. And if you watch him,you’ll grow fonder;curling, climbing,Pet of yonder By Erica Crompton
Accessible travel at Manchester United
By Paul Nicholls For this issue we visit a very special night of VIP hospitality,The Gallery Restaurant at Manchester United’s stadium,Old Trafford. The accessibility part of our evening was wellplanned by staff ahead of our visit and they arranged afar-reaching corner box for us to watch the game in. We ate allwe could in the […]