With no time to play 60+ hour epics anymore, a reader discovers a way to stay in love with gaming and still be a good dad.

Pay attention Sony, I am a sad dad no longer.

I will soon turn 47 and have been gaming since I was in single digits. I was green with envy playing Combat on my friend’s Atari 2600. Seaside and caravan site arcade machines occupied a huge space in my childhood mind. I remember being devastated after spending hours typing in game code from a magazine into my Spectrum 128K, only for the resulting game to be broken and unplayable. Amiga 1200, Nintendo, PlayStation, all have delivered untold hours of enjoyment.

Gaming has been a cornerstone entertainment throughout my life. Something I’d look forward to and would occupy me even when not playing. I’d spend as much time reading about gaming as playing. Particularly through Digitiser on Teletext and then GameCentral’s Metro pages.

But I’m now a husband and father to two boys aged two years four months and 11 months. As a father, I’ve realised my gaming life is unsustainable. Time is simply against me. Nobody made enough of it. The maths doesn’t add up. It might be time to hang up the controllers.

Since my eldest was born I’ve tried to game as usual. By the time we’ve put the kids to bed and eaten it’s usually 8 to 8.30. We’ll watch an episode of a series together for an hour. My wife has no interest in gaming, so I’ve been waiting until she’s gone to bed around 9.30pm to stay up and enjoy a little of my own entertainment most nights.

However, with kids waking up at around 5am or earlier, and some terrible four month long sleep regressions, this strategy has often led to me being absolutely knackered during the day, due to burning the candle at both ends. Something I used to be able to do with ease. Now that’s completely unacceptable, when you find yourself driving during the weekend with two kids in the back of the car and struggling to stay awake during the drive then something has to give and changes need to be made.

In addition, fatherhood has changed me. I no longer have patience for things I used to enjoy. Long novels, long movies, epic games. I no longer have tolerance for anything that doesn’t respect my time. I’m stretched way too thin and my concentration and patience reserves are severely limited. In the tiny amount of time I have to entertain myself I need something that is satisfying and fulfilling in a self-contained hour or two. In that limited time gaming has to compete with other things I enjoy like watching movies, TV, and reading.

My gaming history in the past two years shows attempts to start dozens of games and I’ve crawled to bed way too late on numerous occasions, feeling dissatisfied, unfulfilled, and questioning whether gaming is something I even enjoy anymore. But an examination of those games also shows that I’ve been attempting to play the wrong kinds of games.

Metroid Prime, Rise Of The Tomb Raider, A Plague Tale: Innocence, Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom, Gravity Rush, Spider-Man, Tales From The Borderlands, Mass Effect, Super Mario Bros. Wonder.

All of these games and dozens of others were started and abandoned, and all share in common that they demand a significant chunk of your time. Some enjoyment was had initially but ultimately ended in frustration and I’d often find myself wondering ‘Just how much longer am I going to have to play this for?’

Metroid was great nostalgia, but I quickly grew angry at the amount of ground I had to retread and replay if I died during a boss fight. Tears Of The Kingdom I played for several frustrated evenings and did not even make it out of the first tutorial area. Both abandoned.

Since becoming a father I have managed to complete some games. Firewatch, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Abzû, Luigi’s Mansion 3, and Virginia. I’ve played quite a bit of Mario Kart World.

What these games have in common is being short or you’re able to play them in shorter, self-contained bursts. But even with the shortest of these games, I often didn’t enjoy my time as I was rushing them and didn’t know how long they would take. Opening the map in Spider-Man: Miles Morales filled me with anxiety at the sight of all the symbols, as did traversing the open world filled with things I simply didn’t have the time to explore. Abzû took me a couple of evenings but for all I knew it was eight hours long. So I rushed it.

It is a bizarre feature of gaming that games differ massively in length but don’t advertise how long they will take you to play. So, you embark on these experiences with no concept of the commitment you’re making. Games attempt to deceive you and obscure their contract with you. Games are often judged on the value of the content and bloat they offer, and gamers in general tend to hold short games in contempt.

To do that you have to have the luxury of time. Something I no longer have. As a result long games are glorified and short experiences are hidden, padded and advertised as something that they’re not. I now understand games like Zelda, Grand Theft Auto 6, Mass Effect, Red Dead Redemption 2 are no longer things my life can realistically accommodate.

I’ve used the website How Long to Beat before but only really consulted it when already in the middle of a game. Wondering how long I had left to play and trying to decide whether to give up or plough on. Usually at that point it was because I was already frustrated and struggling to find enjoyment.

But I recently had a revelation. A YouTube search for short games recommended a game called A Short Hike that piqued my interest. I quickly purchased and played the game and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I went into the game knowing it could be played in a couple of hours, I was secure in the knowledge that I would get maximum bang for my buck in just one evening. With no anxiety that this experience would become a slog. The game is a delight and one of my favourite gaming experiences of recent years.

I began to research and put together a list of short games I could complete in an evening or two. Then it occurred to me I should combine this search with the elephant in the room: the dreaded backlog.

As a PlayStation Plus subscriber since the launch of the PlayStation 3, and a frequent wine-fuelled late night peruser of gaming sales and impulse buyer I have amassed a huge catalogue of almost 600 games on PlayStation alone. Within those I reasoned I must already own many short and sweet gaming experiences, hidden amongst the 30, 40, and 60 hour long epics.

I needed a way to cross reference my game catalogue with How Long to Beat and find out definitively how long each game I already own would take me to play, so that when I begin a game I can do so fully cognisant of the contract I’m entering into.

A quick ChatGPT discussion led me to the solution. I could allow the website Infinite Backlog to access my PSN profile and create a list of all my games that could be exported to a spreadsheet. Then ChatGPT wrote a Python code that would combine the list with How Long to Beat. An hour or so later I had a list. Unfortunately, at around 300 games, it was only half complete. PSN only shares the games you have previously opened or obtained a trophy in.

So all the games I’d purchased and never touched I had to add myself. But I ultimately arrived at a complete list. My next task was to create folders in my PlayStation library marked ‘1-2 hours’, ‘3-4 hours’, ‘5-6 hours’, etc. all the way up to ‘40+ hours’. I then methodically went through the entire catalogue of 600 games and organised them by length. This whole process took all my spare time over a week or two, so was no small undertaking.

What I found was sometimes surprising. I had no idea Resident Evil 3 is just six hours long and as a result I’m now keen to play it. I would have dismissed Power Wash Simulator as a novelty indie game but there’s 40 hours of game there. Portal can be beat in just three hours, Metroid: Zero Mission in only 4.5 hours. Half-Life 2 clocks in at 13 hours, double a typical Call of Duty campaign. Whereas Hollow Knight is a 27 hour commitment. I cannot believe a game like Nioh requires a commitment of 40+ hours. Ironically, most of Sony’s sad dad simulators are probably too long to be played by most dads.

The point is, it’s hard to judge a book by its cover and it’s frankly shocking that games aren’t clearly marked with their length. [We feel you’re underplaying the usefulness of How Long To Beat in your situation, especially as you can search for games that can be completed under a certain length of time, filtered by format. Publishers would be opening themselves up to litigation if they promised a game was X number of hours long and someone could prove they beat it more quickly – GC]

What I did find was that there is an embarrassment of riches in games that can be completed in under eight hours. I now have a new strategy. Most nights I now go to bed at the same time as my wife. We’re both in bed by 10 and should get a decent amount of sleep before the kids wake between 5 and 6am and be fresh and fully equipped to handle the day. But Wednesday and Sunday are now my nights to stay up late until midnight and do something for my own entertainment. Forearmed with the knowledge of what I’m undertaking.

So far, I have played A Short Hike, which was wonderful. Thank Goodness You’re Here! which I thoroughly enjoyed. The Stanley Parable, this was a misstep as I was completely unaware of the open-ended nature of it and ended up very annoyed at 1am wondering when it was going to end. Quake 2 on N64 – this one was great fun at first but quickly ramped up the difficulty and I’ll have to return to it again on the easiest mode. Finally, I’ve spent two nights playing Carrion and have enjoyed every single visceral, bone-crunching second of it, secure in the knowledge it will take me no more than three evenings to complete. All of these are games I never would have chosen to play by my old metrics.

I know that games clocking in at under six hours are an easy decision to make. Anything 10 hours or over is a much bigger ask and something I may only do a handful of times a year. And I am unlikely to choose to play a game lasting 20 hours or more knowing that’s a decision that will see me playing the same game for months.

Games should wear their length on their sleeve, as a badge of pride. Being short is not a failing, nor is being long a guarantee of enjoyment. As gamers we should all be liberated from false starts, frustrated abandonments and disrespected time. It should not be this hard to identify what we want to play, in the time that we have available to play it. For those faced with similar dilemmas I cannot recommend enough investing a bit of time to organise your game library this way.

All of this means my gaming landscape has narrowed, but that’s fine. I’m now enjoying gaming again in a way I haven’t been able to for a few years. And I’m handling those weekend car drives much better.

By reader thewearehere (PSN ID)

The reader’s features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.

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Hundreds flocked to Bishop Auckland College on Saturday (June 13) as Bishop Auckland Pride kicked off its third year in the town. 

Rainbows and glitter were the norm amongst the lively audience as punters watched the likes of  Tess Tickle and The Dragettes and a Taylor Swift tribute act while the sun shone.

Music lovers – who were spoilt for choice with an array of stalls and even a fairground ride – then made their way over to the stage for former X Factor winner Joe McElderry.

Bishop Auckland Pride (Image: Chris Booth)

Amongst the audience was Alison Sample, who came along to pride with her family.

“It is great, everybody has got together and the whole community has come as one”, she said.

Bishop Auckland Pride (Image: Chris Booth)

Bishop Auckland Pride (Image: Chris Booth)

“We came last year and it is a lot busier this year. We come to support our family and friends and we don’t prejudice – it is great to see everyone having fun.” 

Her daughter Lauren Sample, 29, also was thrilled to be there – even donning a “straight but I don’t hate” t-shirt while wearing rainbow face paint. 

Lauren Sample at Bishop Auckland Pride (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

“I love it”, the Bishop Auckland mum-of-two explained. 

“I am straight but I just love it, it is so full of love. It is very busy compared to last year too. I got to bring my two kids here, we are only five minutes down the road. I just feel safe here.” 

Alison’s granddaughter Alyssa, 18, worked the event last year but was now enjoying it alongside her family. 

Alyssa Sample at Bishop Auckland Pride (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

“It is really nice to be here with everybody as part of something. It is not just LGBTQ+ people, it is about bringing people together. 

“I have seen people with England flags, everybody has got their own thing. It is nice to bring everyone together and have some fun.” 

Kendra Sowerby, 33, said the event was “really good” to see: “I actually went to this school back in 2010 and there was nothing like this then. Is it good that they have moved forward. 

Gina Bond and Kendra Sowerby at Bishop Auckland Pride (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

“I wasn’t expecting this many people here.”

Joe McElderry fans Carol Patterson, who are from Newton Aycliffe and Shildon, were another two people popping along for the day.

“We have just come to see what it is all about”, Carol said. “I think it is good for Bishop Auckland to have something like this – Durham has pride and Newcastle has pride.” 

North East ‘foodie couple’ Connar and Shiv, 34 and 34, were another two lapping up the atmosphere.

Connar and Shiv at Bishop Auckland Pride (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

“I love that it has gotten more people than last year”, Connar said. “It is family friendly, it’s nice to see little kids running around integrated.”

Shiv, who runs their @fussyandfearless Instagram page with Connar, added: “It is nice to come to a small town and see it is accepting. I like this kind of pride, it is the way it should be. 

The Bowburn man added: “It is a mix of celebration – and a bit of a protest at the end of the day too. It is a safe space.”

Bishop Auckland Pride (Image: Chris Booth)

‘This is what it is all about’

Thomas Wales, managing director of Baccanalia, said this year’s pride is expecting to see around 5,000 people flock to the event, up from 1,500 the first year and 3,000 last year.

Thomas Wales, managing director of Baccanalia (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

“It is about inviting all the community down to a shared space, enjoying some time together, no matter who you are, where you’re from”, Thomas told The Northern Echo. 

“It’s sort of a melting pot – and it is really good to see so many people here. We’ve already smashed previous years, the queue was all the way down past the second gate.”

Bishop Auckland Pride (Image: Chris Booth)

Bishop Auckland Pride (Image: Chris Booth)

He said it was “incredible” to see the event continue to go from strength to strength.

“Baccanalia is my company and I set it up from Bishop Auckland because I wanted things to happen when I was younger”, he explained.

“Not that much happened and there weren’t many cool things to do. 

“So this is exactly what it’s all about, communities having things to do, especially on the doorstep as well, without having to go to Darlington or Durham. 

“It is at a cheap price as well; we’re a community interest company, so part of our constitution is to make access as easy as possible for people. 

“I think this compared to other prides is a bit more family friendly, we have the family area and it’s free entry for children because we know a lot of them come down. 

“It is really brilliant to see everybody coming along and showing up.”

“You sort of worry about that these days so it’s really encouraging and nice to see that people just want to show up and have a good time.”

The production, titled Gerry and Sewell, is currently running at Newcastle’s Theatre Royal until June 13.

Anarchy Brewery, based in Heaton, has brewed a 4.2% session IPA also called Purely Belter to coincide with the show.

Phil Beaty, operations director at Anarchy Brew Co, said: “Beer and football go hand in hand, so we were over the moon when the show’s production company got in touch a couple of months ago.

“We’re all huge fans of the show – and the film and the book, too – and to be part of it in this way is a real honour.”

The beer is available on draught and in cans at the Theatre Royal’s bars, giving audiences the chance to toast the Tyneside tale in fitting style.

Gerry and Sewell, at the Theatre Royal, tells the story of two twenty-something fans trying to find money, by any means necessary, to get season tickets for home games of their beloved Newcastle United.

It is an adaptation of the 2000 film Purely Belter, which itself was based on Jonathan Tulloch’s novel The Season Ticket.

Jamie Eastlake, producer at Eastlake Productions, said: “Collaboration across regional businesses is always a great thing.

“The show itself is a gateway to theatre for non-traditional theatregoers, so to have a drinks offering alongside the football-themed show made lots of sense.”

Anarchy already has strong links to football through its Shearer’s Beer, named after the legendary goalscorer.

The brewery also makes a donation from every can sold of Shearer’s Beer to The Alan Shearer Foundation.

The new Purely Belter IPA can also be purchased online via the brewery’s website at anarchybrewco.com.

Tickets for Gerry and Sewell are available from the Newcastle Theatre Royal website.

For those who want to enjoy a pint with a side of nostalgia, Purely Belter promises the perfect match.

Tommy Fury announced his newborn son’s name with “Midas” emblazoned on his fight kit as he walked to the ring to take on former World’s Strongest Man Eddie Hall

Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury have announced the name of their newborn son in style tonight.

Molly-Mae had suggested her partner would reveal the name on his fight shorts when he walked to the ring to take on strongman Eddie Hall in Manchester tonight. And Fury did exactly that with “Midas” emblazoned on his fight kit as he walked to the ring to England’s football anthem It’s Coming Home.

Fury and Hague, who met on the ITV dating show Love Island, had their first daughter Bambi in January 2023 with Hague announcing she was pregnant with their second child in February. On Wednesday, the pair revealed the news in a joint Instagram post which featured the trio admiring the new member of their family in a black and white photograph.

So what exactly is the meaning behind Midas?

The meaning behind Midas

Midas refers to a legendary king of Phrygia from Greek mythology who was granted the wish that everything he touched turn to gold.

In Greek and Roman legend, King Midas of Phrygia is famous for his foolishness and greed. After performing a favor for the god Dionysus, he was granted any wish and chose the ability to turn everything he touched into gold. He quickly realized the curse of this gift when he accidentally turned his food, drink, and even his daughter to gold.

This myth gave rise to the common phrase “the Midas touch,” which describes someone who is exceptionally successful or profitable in their endeavors.

It was a great night for Tommy, not only from a personal perspective, but from a professional stance as he controversially outpointed giant strongman Eddie Hall with fans left furious with the result.

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .

The Moon aligns with Saturn today, bringing a more serious edge to the day ahead. Now is the time for some important decisions to be made.

Aquarius, Sagittarius, and Scorpio, your thoughts and feelings hold extra weight. Don’t dismiss your emotions, as they could be telling you something imperative.

Focus will come in abundance. The cosmos understands the stakes are high today, so trust this.

Ahead, you’ll find all star signs’ horoscopes for today: Sunday June 14, 2026.

Like checking your horoscope every morning? You can now sign up to our free daily newsletter to get a personalised reading for your star sign delivered straight to your inbox.

To order your unique personal horoscope based on your time, date and place of birth, visit patrickarundell.com.

Aries

March 21 to April 20

Your ideas sharpen into something purposeful, giving you a sense of direction and helping you to gather your thoughts. As the Moon in your sector of talk and thought aligns with Saturn in your sign, it’s an opportunity to use your words like tools to further your plans. Just give information, opinions, and an assessment before making any binding decisions.

Head here for everything you need to know about being an Aries

Taurus

April 21 to May 21

Thoughts about money and values could echo in the quieter spaces within you. You’ll take such reflections seriously, and any insights could lead to steady action that improves how you feel about and handle financial matters. Want to develop self-worth and confidence at a deeper level? Saturn in a private zone might encourage you to link with a coach or mentor.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Taurus

Gemini

May 22 to June 21

The Moon in your sign and its tie with Saturn suggests that you’ll be more aware of how you present yourself and where you belong in your social circle. It’s time to thoughtfully choose your groups and your company. You may want to link up with someone or a crowd who is serious about the same things you are. A collaboration could be mutually beneficial.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Gemini

Cancer

June 22 to July 23

Your thinking may drift behind the scenes but could still shape important decisions about your future or reputation. For a while today, you may feel less visible, but important groundwork is being laid. Although the current focus makes it tempting to stand out from the crowd, taking time to listen for deeper insights could be very valuable at this time.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Cancer

Leo

July 24 to August 23

The Moon’s tie with prudent Saturn hints that a conversation could lead to a collaboration or group project that promises positive rewards. It might even seem that your social world is acting like a compass and pointing you towards ideas that genuinely matter to you. If you’re attending an event or connecting on social media, expect something interesting to show up.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Leo

Virgo

August 24 to September 23

You’ll have plenty to say, but it’s what others share about you that really counts, and that can swing things your way. The strength of others’ approval and their willingness to put their support behind you can boost morale and help you be considered for a job, contract, or other opportunity. If you need more resources to support your important plans, just ask.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Virgo

Libra

September 24 to October 23

A partner or friend may challenge you in a way that’s helpful. The Moon’s positive tie to Saturn hints that something you think is a good idea may need some dedicated input to enhance and improve it, and even to make it doable. Don’t take any criticisms to heart; instead, welcome them, because with this insight, an okay plan can become something truly amazing.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Libra

Scorpio

October 24 to November 22

You’ll realise that powerful emotions and the daily habits you often cling to for support are more connected than you imagined. An insight today could open the door to understanding why you do what you do. If you’re finding it hard to drop certain attitudes, today’s line-up could assist you in making changes, not because you have to, but because you want to.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Scorpio

Sagittarius

November 23 to December 21

Someone may encourage you to take your feelings, desires or creativity more seriously. This is certainly so if you have talents and have been worried about showcasing them. Saturn in your sector of creativity encourages you to overcome any fears related to self-expression, so sharing your concerns with someone could be a game-changer, inspiring you to be bold.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Sagittarius

Capricorn

December 22 to January 21

Today’s Moon-Saturn tie-up suggests that a small adjustment to your daily schedule could restore peace at home. It might be a decision to create a regular routine for housecleaning that keeps everything on track without you feeling overwhelmed. You might also want to declutter paper hotspots. Even physically moving furniture around can open up new space.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Capricorn

Aquarius

January 22 to February 19

Take your thoughts seriously today, as even the wildest brainstorm could be a winner. Write the best ones down. A light-hearted conversation might lead to a significant project that really fires you up. Something you hear about or experience first-hand could set you thinking that with work and a sound strategy, you could achieve something similar, if not perhaps better.

Head here for everything you need to know about being an Aquarius

Pisces

February 20 to March 20

Home matters could prompt thoughtful conversations about finances, priorities or long-term plans. For the Moon’s link with Saturn encourages you to put your money to good use, and although you may have a list of things you think you need, a little thought can help you cut those items right back. Saving can seem like a better option than impulse buys.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Pisces

Your daily Metro.co.uk horoscope is here every morning, seven days a week (yes, including weekends!). To check your forecast, head to our dedicated horoscopes page.

Head here for this week’s tarot horoscope reading, and see what the cards have in store for you!

Check out the tarot horoscope reading for the month of June here.

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The scene grew tense as police tried to contain the group that had tried to break free of the barriers.

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Rival protesters clashed in Glasgow on Saturday after thousands descended on the city for an anti-racism rally.

Some in the small counter-protest group performed what appeared to be Nazi salutes as the two groups gathered at Buchanan Street in the city centre.

Stand Up To Racism organised the “reclaim our streets – stand up to the far right” demonstration following disorder earlier in the week in the wake of the stabbing attack in Belfast.

Sudanese national Hadi Alodid, 30, appeared at Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, charged with attempted murder and was remanded in custody. Stephen Ogilvie lost an eye and suffered deep cuts to his head, face and back following the attack in Belfast on Monday, June 8.

He claimed asylum after arriving in Northern Ireland in 2023 and was granted leave to remain in the UK until 2028.

Police Scotland said disorder saw people in the city targeted due to the colour of their skin, while a Glasgow mosque was forced to lock worshippers inside for their safety.

Saturday’s rally saw thousands of anti-racism protesters gather alongside a significantly smaller group of counter-protesters who were fenced off from the main group by police.

Most of the counter-protesters, who were almost exclusively men, wore balaclavas or other face coverings.

The scene grew tense as police tried to contain the group that had tried to break free of the barriers.

The group eventually spilled out onto Bath Street under Buchanan Galleries.

Projectiles, including drink cans, were thrown towards the Stand Up To Racism group, while an egg appeared to be thrown towards the counter protesters.

Some of the counter protesters waved Union flags, and others waved Israel flags while the anti-racism side waved Palestinian, Ukraine and Scotland flags.

Some of the men who counter-protested shouted anti-Islam chants while anti-racism protesters shouted “Nazi scum off our streets”.

Several politicians attended the anti-racism rally, including Labour MSPs Paul Sweeney and Pauline McNeill, along with Green MSPs Iris Duane and Holly Bruce.

Former SNP equalities minister Kaukab Stewart and prominent human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar also attended.

Police Scotland said it had a “significant operation” in place to “ensure the safety of the public and to minimise disruption” and that the protest passed “without major incident”.

A 53-year-old man was arrested for threatening a police officer, while another officer was struck by an egg.

People were issued with city centre dispersal orders for their conduct following the protest, police said, but did not say how many.

A number of hate crimes which were reported will now be investigated.

Chief Superintendent Stevie Dolan said: “We did warn that officers would respond decisively and robustly to keep communities safe and I want to thank the public for their patience while the demonstration took place.”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter .

Kynren – The Storied Lands, billed as the UK’s first live action show park, will open within the wider Kynren site in Bishop Auckland on Saturday, July 18.

The bespoke outfits for its four-legged performers are being produced by master saddler Shelley Musker Turner, founder of Battle Horse Ltd, whose leatherwork has featured in major international productions.

Costumes are being created for the attraction’s horses and riders (Image: Supplied)

The specialist company, which focuses on historic and fantasy saddlery and leatherwork for film and television, has previously worked on more than 40 major productions including Gladiator II, Napoleon, Rings of Power, Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker, and The Witcher.

Now, Shelley’s craftsmanship is helping bring the worlds of Kynren – The Storied Lands to life, with costumes being created for several of the attraction’s horses and riders, including elaborate pieces for Bishop Bek’s horse, mounted guards, and Bishop Flambard’s horse.

After spending time working with horses and camels in Spain and Austria during her teenage years, Shelley returned to the UK to formally train as a saddle maker before specialising in saddlery and leatherwork for the film and TV industry.

One of the Sketches for The Trusty Steed, an Equestrian Stunt show launching as part of Kynren – The Storied Lands (Image: Supplied)

Alongside her work in film production, she is also an internationally performing Celtic harpist who has toured across Europe and the United States with acclaimed Welsh folk band Calan, performing alongside major orchestras and artists including Sir Bryn Terfel.

Shelley said: “For me, both music and leatherwork are about storytelling and atmosphere.

“Whether you are creating a piece of costume for a horse or performing traditional folk music, you are helping create emotion, character, and immersion for an audience.

“Kynren – The Storied Lands is operating on a scale rarely seen in the UK, and there is an extraordinary level of detail going into every aspect of the production.”

Laurie Robinson, Director of Cavalry and Estates at Kynren, said the costumes form an important part of the visual storytelling throughout the new attraction.

“The horses play a major role within several of the experiences, and Shelley’s work brings an authenticity and craftsmanship that audiences immediately recognise,” she said.

“Horses are incredibly intuitive animals, and many of them know the moment the costumes appear that it is nearly showtime.”

Among the horses being fitted is Ufano, a 17-year-old Andalusian Spanish horse who will feature within the new productions.

Kynren – The Storied Lands opens on July 18, combining large-scale live shows, immersive environments, animals, mythology, history, and spectacle across what organisers describe as the UK’s first live action show park.

Santander, Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland are closing branches across the UK

Almost 250 banks are due to close in 2026 as the major banks continue their withdrawal from high streets and town centres.

By the start of June, 138 banks had closed across the UK in 2026. June is set to be the most destructive month so far, with 82 branches due to close this month alone, and more to follow throughout the year.

In total, closure dates have been fixed for 245 branches of the major banks by the end of this year.

Lloyds customers have been hardest hit, with 82 Lloyds branches already shut or scheduled to close this year, along with 43 branches of Halifax and 28 branches of Bank of Scotland.

That comes after Lloyds Banking Group announced it would close 166 branches in 2026 and 2027, including branches of Halifax, Bank of Scotland, and Lloyds Bank.

The decision was blamed on customers shifting away from in-person banking to using mobile services.

Meanwhile, Santander is closing 54 branches this year, and NatWest is closing 35 banks.

The closures affect every part of the UK, with 31 branches due to shut in Scotland, 16 in Wales, and four in Northern Ireland, with the rest spread across England.

Check out if your local branch is on the list by searching our interactive map below:

Since February 2022, when all major banking groups committed to a voluntary agreement to assess the impact of each closure, a total of 2,167 branches have either shut down or announced plans to close.

That’s an average of nearly 10 closures each week.

The LINK initiative was established to scrutinise each closure and ensure that vulnerable customers and small businesses were not left behind in the transition to cashless payments and virtual banking.

When closures leave communities without any local bank, banking hubs or free ATMs are set up to fill the gap. So far, LINK has recommended the opening of 277 bank hubs.

In May, the Government announced an independent review into access to banking, to be led by Richard Lloyd, the ex-Director General of Which? and the former interim Chair of the Financial Conduct Authority.

As part of the review, Mr Lloyd has launched a consultation on the impact of branch closures and what they mean for the future.

Currently, closure assessments focus on cash access and the potential gap left by a branch closure. But this assessment could be extended to include access to banking, which could mean recommending new banking hubs at branches that have already been assessed for closure, as well as at future sites.

Experts believe the previous commitment of 350 hubs could increase to 550 if these changes are implemented.

Nick Quin, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, LINK: “More people are choosing to bank and pay for things digitally. Many people rely entirely on their smartphones when they leave the home, and don’t carry cash or even a wallet. That means cash use is falling too, but it remains critical, and over £76bn was withdrawn from LINK cash machines last year.

“Whenever a bank branch does close, LINK will assess the impact to see if additional cash services are required. We’re committed to protecting the cash infrastructure for the millions of people who still rely on it.”

Gareth Oakley, CEO, Cash Access UK: “The way people are banking is changing as more people choose to bank and pay for things digitally. But for those people who still rely on cash and face-to-face banking services, the good news is that more banking hubs are opening every week. We’ve opened more than 200 now, including 100 in 2025 alone.

“What’s particularly brilliant about hubs is that we can serve the customers of all the major high street banks in one location. They’re getting busier too with on average around 150 customer transactions every day. There’s a real buzz about them. Hubs alongside deposit services and other new cash solutions will continue to help businesses and consumers to readily access and deposit cash when they need to.”

Environmental health officers have been busy this fortnight visiting businesses across the city to see if they are meeting hygiene requirements.

Based on guidelines set by the Food Standards Agency, inspectors look to see how clean the facilities are; what food safety management procedures are in place and how hygienic food handling is.

Ratings are then dished out from five to zero — with the higher score the better the result.

Five — Very Good

Cosy Club York in 19-22 Fossgate, rated 5 on May 28, 2026.

The Luxury Ice Cream Company in 20 Back Swinegate, rated 5 on May 28, 2026.

Waqif Arabian Kitchen at Unit 4 Spark York, Piccadilly, rated 5 on May 28, 2026.

Bird & Blend in 73 Low Petergate, rated 5 on May 29, 2026.

Holiday Inn in 53 Piccadilly, rated 5 on June 1, 2026.

Yahala Mataam at The Citadel, Gillygate, rated 5 on June 1, 2026.

Applefields School at Applefields School, Bad Bargain Lane, rated 5 on June 3, 2026.

Haxby Road Primary Academy at Haxby Road County Primary School, Haxby Road, rated 5 on June 3, 2026.

IFG t/a Hutchison Catering at Huntington Primary School at Huntington Cp School, North Moor Road, rated 5 on June 3, 2026.

Askham Grange Prison at Hm Prison Askham Grange, Main Street, rated 5 on June 4, 2026.

The Flames in 74 The Mount, rated 5 on June 4, 2026.

Hutchison Catering at St George’s RC Primary School at St Georges R C Primary School, Winterscale Street, rated 5 on June 5, 2026.

IFG/ Hutchison Catering at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs RC Primary School in Hamilton Drive, rated 5 on June 5, 2026.

NYES Catering at Carr Infant School at Carr Infant School, Ostman Road, rated 5 on June 5, 2026.

Red Tower – Community Cafe & Food Bank at Red Tower, Foss Islands Road, rated 5 on June 8, 2026.

Businesses may have been re-inspected since, and this will be reflected in our next round-up.

The White House is gearing up to host a UFC event as part of celebrations of 250 years of American independence. The fighters on the card are relying on body conditioning techniques that have been around for centuries to try to emerge victorious. Muay thai, karate and jiujitsu all use ancient practices that condition the body for their field.

The human body over time, and under the right stresses and strains, can become more resilient to physical and physiological challenges. One of the key scientific principles here is Wolff’s law – the idea that bone remodels itself in response to the loads placed on it. Studies have shown that in many sports the dominant limb develops denser bone than the non-dominant side. In martial arts, this effect is seen in both arms and legs.

In muay thai, fighters condition their shins by kicking banana trees – whose soft outer layers and substantial bulk make them ideal for the purpose. The repeated impact gradually adapts the tibia to the forces generated by kicking.

The tibia is the second-longest bone in the body. Like most bones in the body, it has a dense outer shell surrounding a cavity, crossed by tiny structural rods – a design that combines strength with minimal weight.

The thickness of the tibia is greatest at the points between 40-70% of its length from top to bottom, the outer (cortical) layer of bone is, on average, between 4-6mm thick in males and 3-5mm thick in females. No studies have directly compared tibia thickness in combat athletes and non-athletes. But in 2004, UFC fighter Shaun Strickland posted an X-ray image of his legs on Instagram showing noticeably thicker bone cortices – visible evidence of what years of shin conditioning can do.

Kick forces are high enough that opponents are warned against single-arm blocks – the impact can fracture the ulna, the longer bone in the forearm, which accounted for a quarter of all mixed martial arts (MMA) injuries in one study.

Even ancient traditions such as iron arm and wing chun, which exploit Wolff’s law to condition the forearms, may struggle to prevent these high-impact traumatic breaks.

Many athletes in combat sports also train their hands and arms. A popular way to do this is rice gripping: submerging hands in buckets of rice and performing various exercises against the resistance.

This works multiple muscle groups simultaneously, in ways that traditional gym exercises often deal with in isolation. As the forearms and finger muscles grow stronger, they pull hard on the bone, triggering Wolff’s law and causing bone to thicken.

Studies show that combat sport athletes have denser bones and more lean muscle in their limbs than both non-contact sports athletes and inactive people – evidence that this kind of training pays off both for delivering strikes and absorbing them.

Many people assume that combat sports require conditioning of the core muscles, such as the abdominal muscles to protect the organs from trauma. But this is only partly true. The other function is to increase the force generation, impact and accuracy of striking, as many striking blows initiated by the upper body start from the legs. Studies have shown that martial artists in a variety of combats improve in force, impact and accuracy from core strength training.

Not risk free

All this training has its risks. Even with gloves, fighters regularly damage the soft tissue and bones in the hands, these can be from a single heavy blow or repetitive strain or injury. For centuries, practitioners have used dit da jow liniment (bruise wine) in repairing the hands after combat.

One common injury is boxer’s knuckle, where the joint and tendons of the middle finger are damaged, causing inability to straighten the finger or snapping of the tendon across the bone. This knuckle is affected because it protrudes out the furthest in a clenched fist and is often the impact point.

It shouldn’t be confused with a boxer’s fracture, which sees the metacarpal of the little finger in the palm of the hand break due to impact trauma. A chain is only as strong as the weakest link, and in the hand it is always the bones of the little finger, because they don’t contribute the same weight in activities as their larger neighbours.

All this impact also affects the skin, which responds by thickening to protect underlying structures to present as knuckle pads. The skin in conditioned areas also adapts through neural desensitisation, where repeated exposure to painful stimuli causes the receptors in that area to recalibrate what they deem as a painful level of stimulus.

This is a well-studied area in conditions where small amounts of a stimulus cause a hyper-reaction. Strikes from combat or training to specific areas, particularly pressure points, can cause damage that can take years to heal.

For all the conditioning, whether using modern or ancient methods, the human body has its limits. There will always be weak spots. Women suffer more upper limb injuries, while men suffer more lower limb injuries. Head and neck injuries and their long-term effects are becoming a growing concern. If conditioning is something that you are interested in pursuing, slow and steady is the safest way to go, giving the body time to respond to what you are asking of it.