Issue 49: Winter

DECEMBER

ISSUE 49

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Contents.

Entertainment Students Favourite Cheap Winter Activities 18 Cosy Games to Play in the Holiday Season 19 Local Artists 14-15 Winter Ghost Stories 6 Best Films & Series Leading up to Christmas 7 Health & Lifestyle Staying Warm in Winter Favourite Winter Recipes Fashion & Beauty Best Beauty Products for Christmas Gifts

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Sport 1914 Christmas Game 11 Ipswitch Town is Coming for the Top Spots 16 Creative Writing 123 Annwn Road - The Cellar Wyrm Falling Snow

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Writers Bronwyn Coleman Charlie Dowey D.C. Castillo Douglas Doba Evan Alexiou Grace Cushnie Jess Bourne Maja Kaldonek Molly Lee Peregrine O’Reilly Torin Fahy Designers Adrianna Jekot Bronwyn Coleman Ellie Astill Evan Alexiou Julia Wronka Liam Stearn Millie Ball Sophie Ockert Photographers Evan Alexiou Kane Binnersley

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Editor’s Message

Hi everyone, and welcome to the second issue of The Demon for this academic year (23-24)! We’re all very excited for you to read it!

This month we decided on a Winter issue, just in time for December. There’s a range of great articles in this issue, so give them all a read. Preparing you for the colder season, we have articles from cheap winter activities for students, to ways to stay warm in the winter weather (I defintely needed this one).

The Demon Team

Deputy Editor Noé Ponte

Entertainment Editor Elena D’Onofrio

Health & Lifestyle Editor

News & Discussion Editor

Robbie Childerhouse

Maria Regina Semedo

Sports Editor Iga Lapinska

Creative Writing Editor Jonathan Castro

Head of Editorial Design Liam Stearn

Head of Photography Evan Alexiou

Again, we hope you enjoy reading this issue, and hope you all have a lovely Winter break! ­Sophie Ockert Editor-in-Chief

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Staying Warm

in Winter

Winter is full of hot chocolates, cosy nights in and a whole load of festivities.

But it also brings the constant struggle of trying to stay warm.

Below are a few ways on how to keep the cold out and stay toasty during the cold days and nights.

Layering

This is one of the easiest ways to stay warm during the cold and you can just use what you have in your wardrobe, but if you do want to do some retail therapy, it’s the perfect time to. In order to stay warm, you just need to add more layers that you usually would when you get dressed. Woolly jumpers, thermal trousers, fluffy socks and of course a massive coat is a great way to stay warm. If you want to stay extra snug, you can add a hat, gloves, and a scarf. Not only will layering keep you warm but you can also add your own little style to it to make sure you look your best.

Hot water bottles

These are a fabulous way to stay warm at home and outside. You can place them in your bed to warm it up before you go to sleep or use them whilst you’re watching a film with family and friends. However, if you want to use them outside of the house, you can.

Just fill the hot water bottle up and take it with you on your journey. The long strip hot water bottles are perfect for taking outside the house. You can even get ones that you can tie around your body and, even better, you will be able to hide them under your jumpers to keep the heat in for even longer.

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Hot baths or showers

Hot baths and showers aren’t just a good way to keep warm in the winter but can also be a lovely way to relax at the end of the day. Just turn the temperature up, but don’t burn yourself, and enjoy the warmth. If you choose a bath, you could make is a luxurious experience using a bath bomb or using some bath salts.

After you’ve finished your bath or shower, you can snuggle up into your nice warm bed.

Electric Blankets

Electric blankets are a brilliant way to keep you warm during the night but ensure that you turn them on before you get into bed so then you don’t have to lie in a cold bed until the blankets heats the bed up. However, if an electric blanket isn’t something that catches your eye, blankets are perfect to snuggle into on a cold winter’s night. You can use one or five depending on how warm you want to be. And blankets are relatively cheap and as a bonus, they look great as décor.

Oodies and onesies

These amazing inventions have gained popularity in the past few years. They are essentially hooded blankets that you can fit your whole body into. The oodies are made from fleece materials on the inside and the outside so are guaranteed to keep you warm. Just like oodies, onesies are one of the best things to ever be invented. You wrap your whole body in the outfit, and you can get them in so many different designs. If you want to be a unicorn, or a cow, you can with a onesie.

And what makes them even more attractive to people is that many come with hood and feet to keep every part of your body warm.

Hand warmers

These are just like hot water bottles but just for your hands and these are just ideal for your pockets. You can get reusable ones or disposable one’s but the one time use warmers can take a while to heat up so if you prefer something instant, the reusable ones are the ones to go for. These are also great for those on a budget, especially the reusable ones, they are around five pound or under – what a great way to keep your hands warm on those cold winter days.

Heaters and radiators

Now, heaters and radiators can really affect the electricity and gas bill, so they are not the best cost-effective way to stay warm but nonetheless, they do work wonders. But to ensure that they do heat your room, make sure that there are no drafts or openings where the warmth could escape. Now a top tip, which I’m very wary of, but been told that it works wonders is putting bubble wrap on your windows… and yes, you did hear me correctly. Apparently, as the bubble wrap has a layer of trapped air, it acts as a double glazed effect and ensures that there is minimum heat loss in the colder days.

Hot food and drinks

The final way to stay warm in winter is tucking into delicious food and drinks. The best drinks to stay warm are hot chocolates, teas, or coffees. They will keep you warm and also act as a hand warmer if you hold the mug for long enough. These hot drinks can also be taken on the go, you can get yourself a reusable cup and take the drink with you on your way.

But for food, some hearty winter meals will do well to keep you warm. A few of my favourite meals are a stew, a casserole, or a delicious curry. These meals will definitely ensure you stay warm and after you’ve filled up, you can get on the sofa and snuggle up and watch a lovely Christmas movie.

But remember, you can use these at one time, so if you want to snuggle up with a hot chocolate, in your oodie and under a blanket, go for it..

By Jess Bourne

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Winter Ghost Stories BOO! The 31st of October has come & gone but ghosts aren’t just for Halloween. With the clocks changing and the colder nights, it feels like a good time to learn more about these spooky spirits.

---Winter ghost stories have been told throughout history with some tales dating back as far as the 8th century. Gathering around the fire to share ghost stories was a traditional activity during winter festivities.

This was a big craze, particularly during the Victorian period.

Details about the origins of this tradition remain unclear because the first stories were oral (spoken) and not recorded in writing.

The first steam-powered printing press was developed in Victorian England, a machine that helped publish and distribute existing oral ghost stories on a larger scale. Modern Spiritualism (the belief that people can communicate with spirits) emerged around this time too, which might explain the widespread appeal of ghost stories.

---Ghosts have long been associated with wintertime because it’s a season closely linked to death & darkness. On top of that, it’s a season full of transition – Winter solstice.

---The words spectre, haunt, apparition, phantom, poltergeist and ghoul are all used by authors to refer to the supernatural. You’ll find many of these terms in wellknown works such as ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens.

Dickens’ 1843 ‘A Christmas Carol’ is perhaps the most famous example of a winter ghost story. In this story, the miserable Mr. Scrooge encounters four ghosts on one Christmas Eve. Together the ghosts play an important role as they manage to open Scrooge’s eyes to the world around him, take him on a spiritual journey and bring about big changes by the end of the story.

Other authors who have written winter ghost stories include William Shakespeare, Mary Shelley and M.R. James.

---If you want to read modern winter ghost stories check out ‘The Snow Ghost and Other Tales: Classic Japanese Ghost Stories’ which brings together some chilling tales from Ancient Japanese folklore. The collection places readers in eerie caves, haunted tombs and other nightmarish places. You might also like ‘The Winter Spirits: Ghostly Tales for Frosty Nights.’

How do you feel about telling winter ghost stories? Do you think we should bring this tradition back?

Written by Charlie Dowey Design by Liam Stearn

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The Best Films and Series to Watch Leading Up to Christmas.

The sun is setting earlier and earlier, the High Street is adorned with tinsel and Mariah Carey is as seemingly unavoidable as death and taxes: Christmas is finally here. It’s time to settle down on the sofa with a warm mug of yuletide cheer, and to watch some of the best films and shows the festive season has to offer.

‘A Muppets Christmas Carol.’

‘Nativity.’

The first Christmas film of the year is a tough choice. Though if talking frogs and singing rats in the Something new? Something familiar? For me, it’s al- Muppets Christmas Carol aren’t really your thing, ways been A Muppets Christmas Carol. How does you could instead watch Debbie Isitt’s Nativity for one improve upon one of the greatest stories ever some Christmas-themed nostalgia. Mainly utilistold? They add Muppets. ing non-actors and British television stars, Nativity manages to perfectly capture the mayhem of a priReleased in 1992 and directed by Henson Company mary school Christmas production, all the while heir Brian Henson, this musical take on the Dicken- still being a tender story of finding the seasonal sian classic sees Michael Caine in the role of Eben- spirit. It was an immediate classic and I haven’t ezer Scrooge. Though it may include a few more been to many a household that doesn’t find time to felt characters than Dickens originally imagined, watch this, or one of its great sequels, on a Christthis film never fails to bring the Christmas cheer mas evening.

‘The Polar Express.’ through its infectiously merry musical numbers. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry and, most Deeply unsettling animation aside, Robert Zeimportantly, it’ll have you ready for Christmas day meckis’ The Polar Express has gathered something quicker than you can say: ‘What actually is Gonzo of a cult audience: Tom Hanks and recent star of Five Nights at Freddy’s Josh Hutcherson, voice supposed to be?’ characters in this off-the-rails winter adventure ‘Love Actually.’ to meet Father Christmas. The titular train acts British holiday classics are abundant and, if you’re more like an otherworldly roller coaster, soaring looking for a more romantic feature, Love Actually over snow fields and ice lakes, eventually reaching never fails to disappoint. Starring seemingly the en- the North Pole – all with the help of more than tire glitterati of British cinema, writer Richard Cur- one mysterious figure voiced by Hanks. Though if tis draws caricatures of all of those who are look- you’re made uncomfortable by theuncanny valley, ing for love before the 25th. Worth seeing multiple this may play as somewhat more of a horror film times this year for Bill Nighy alone. and might be worth a miss.

‘How The Grinch Stole Christmas.’

If you’re a fan of off-beat Christmas films then How the Grinch Stole Christmas may be the weird and wonderful fever dream for you. Jim Carrey is wildly unhinged in this Ron Howard fronted feature, forever making himself synonymous with Dr. Seuss’ furry green scrooge. This 2000’s adaptation may not be remembered for its overwhelming quality, but it’s certainly shining with charm.

‘Community.’

It’s always a pleasure being able to binge all our favourite shows’ Christmas specials. Name any sitcom and you’ll find at least a couple merry episodes: for me, Community is my first pick when it comes to satirical Christmas specials.

Dan Harmon manages to lampoon the classic Christmas animation, abrasive family holidays and even Die Hard (a covert Christmas tale, if you’re looking for something with a little more grit) within just a few seasons. Once again, our national trade Written by Douglas Doba seems to be festive productions as Gavin and Stacey, Designed by Sophie Ockert Doctor Who and The Royle Family all have Christmas specials that seem to be as iconic, or even more so, than the rest of the show. *If you’re a fan of Doctor Who specifically, there’s going to be a new special, and a new Doctor, premiering this Christmas on Disney+ and BBC One.*

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“Lovers” Photographer: Evan Alexiou

BEST BEAUTY PRODUCTS for Christmas gifts

Tis’ the season again! With the hay fever of Christmastime, everyone is trying to find the perfect gift, either for themselves or their loved ones. Whilst giving presents is more rewarding than receiving them for some, remember that it is perfectly okay to treat yourself to something nice this holiday period - not sure what to decide on? I’ve got you. Think of me as a Santa little helper, who has included all the secrets for the seasonal beauty goodies in the excerpt below:

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Written by Maja Kaldonek Designed by Adrianna Jekot

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Shave butter A few of us have seen this year’s viral TikTok advertisements promoting fragranced shave butters, but do they actually work? If you choose to shave, body butters may be a good fit for those who struggle with ingrown hair. Using these cosmetics will also reportedly prevent clogging your razors and you are less likely to miss hairy spots on your legs because of the product’s formula. One of your friends may be looking for their perfect way to shave, so why not try purchasing it as a gift for them?

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Why not kick off this year’s holiday season with some everyday treats, starting from the first day of the last month of the year? And I am most definitely not referring to chocolate treats, although it is equally important to have those from time to time. Advent calendars have been released by the beauty industry not that long ago, and there are so many to choose from! My number one would be The Body Shop’s Advent of Wonders - from shower scrubs to body butters, a wide selection of cruelty-free, vegan and deliciously scented cosmetics will most definitely help you warm up this season.

Do you also feel like you’re overpaying for your lashes at the salon? Say no more! Luxurious lashes draw the eye to your eyes, but you can grow a permanent pair of long, natural and beautiful lashes with a lash growth serum. Eyelash curlers can damage your lashes, too much mascara can irritate them, and frequent use of waterproof mascaras may cause your lashes to dry out. So, this Christmastime, why not get something that makes your lashes stand out permanently and without unnecessary flaws?

Beauty advent calendar

Lash growth serum

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The Cellar Wyrm It was another slow day of lectures. David, her Physics of the Universe professor, was especially droning today and it meant that escaping was twice as relieving as it usually was. Monica would never complain outright, David was a nice enough person but there was something about his BBC broadcaster accent that made it so easy to tune out.

Monica pulled herself out of the trudge of the lecture to instead trudge home. She made sure to stop at the Tesco on the main road to get oat milk and an ungodly amount of chocolate for Walter. They were all out of Maltesers, so she had to compromise and get several bags of Dairy Milk Buttons. Otherwise, he would sulk for a week and that meant no hot water, so it wasn’t worth the trouble.

Walter was by the cellar door when she got in, whining with his face pushed hard against the wood. Monica rolled her eyes as he fell from the momentum of her opening the door and nudged him back down the stairs.

He spat a few sparks her way out of mild indignation, but she just stuck her tongue out and pulled out the bags of buttons. He quickly changed his tune when he saw them and curled around her legs like a scaley cat.

“Mhm, that’s what I thought. Now, are you going to be good and warm up the boiler or am I going to have to eat these myself ?” Walter trilled a desperate plea and bounded over to the boiler.

His scales turned a molten yellow as he came alight with heat, he beat his little wings and the room became suddenly sweltering hot. Monica grinned and yelled her thanks as she left the chocolate on the stairs and ran upstairs to draw her warm bath.

She grabbed the bath salts and candles and sat herself down. Really, she would be happy enough with a normal bath but after living here for a month she knew it was better to take precautions no matter what she would prefer. It was better to be safe than sorry. Just last week The Bellwether had to deal with an infestation of gnomes in the garden. Somehow, the gnomes had heard about the fungal colony at the bottom of the garden and were trying to break apart the circle. According to The Bellwether the circle of mushrooms that surrounded the house was protecting us from much more unsavoury things that lived in the forest, so she trusted they knew what they were doing in getting rid of the gnomes. There were things though that the circle couldn’t protect the house from, they said, so it was best to always keep little trinkets and protective items on her around the house.

So, bath salts, and all sorts of crystals and herbs. She was never that type of person before but when you share a room with a ghost and a wyrm lives in your cellar, you start to become that type of person.

THE CHRISTMAS GAME OF 1914 “Voices sang to me from no man's land.” On Christmas Day in 1914, the men from Christmas Truce, Sabaton (2021) the 1st Battalion, The Royal Welch Fusiliers, found themselves playing a Throughout history, humanity has football match with German Battalion 371. experienced moments of respite from the The football match, while informal and horrors of war. The Christmas Truce of light-hearted, is etched in history as a 1914, which occurred on the Western testament to the enduring spirit of Front during World War I, is a shining camaraderie that transcends even the example of such an occurrence. As direst of circumstances. soldiers on opposing sides laid down their weapons, the spirit of Christmas prompted In the midst of a desolate battlefield, these soldiers used whatever was available as a them to exchange greetings, gifts, and makeshift football. Soldiers from both even engage in impromptu football sides converged in no-man's land, and matches in the midst of a brutal war. amidst the frosty air and the sound of carol Among these heart-warming stories, one singing, the beautiful game was played stands out. A football match between the with unwavering enthusiasm. Amidst the 1st Battalion, The Royal Welch Fusiliers, cheers, laughter, and shouts of and German Battalion 371. encouragement, the scoreline remains an The Western Front in 1914 was marked by iconic part of the truce's football legacy. gruesome and relentless trench warfare The Germans emerged victorious with a 2between British, French, Belgian, and 1 win against the Royal Welch Fusiliers, German forces. However, during the but the outcome hardly mattered. What did holiday season, an unexpected and matter was the moment itself, where extraordinary event occurred. As football became a symbol of unity, Christmas Eve approached, the soldiers transcending the divisions of war. found themselves in close proximity to one These football matches were a profound another in the trenches, leading to a symbol of peace. In the midst of the muck moment of collective humanity. Carols and mire of the trenches, the sport that were sung, greetings were exchanged, both sides cherished transcended national and gifts were shared. However, one of boundaries and briefly connected people the most iconic and cherished aspects of who, under different circumstances, might the truce was the impromptu football have been friends or neighbours. It matches that took place. reminded the soldiers that they were more than just combatants; they were sons, The notion of soldiers from opposing sides fathers, and brothers, brought together by playing football in no-man's land during a shared love for the beautiful game. the Christmas Truce remains a symbol of unity and brotherhood amidst the chaos of The Christmas Truce of 1914 was a brief war. The act was not only a display of and spontaneous moment of unity during goodwill but also an affirmation of shared World War I, but not without its humanity. challenges.

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Written By: Evan Alexiou Designed By: Evan Alexiou

Military authorities on both sides, fearing the erosion of discipline, took measures to prevent similar truces in the following years. The war continued, and the trench warfare intensified.

However, the legacy of the Christmas Truce and the football matches endures.

The event is a testament to the enduring human spirit and the power of sports to bring people together, even in the darkest of times. The brief respite from the hostilities remains a poignant reminder that in the face of adversity, shared humanity can shine through.

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FAVOURITE WINTER RECIPES

Written by Molly Lee Designed by Adrianna Jekot

When it starts getting colder and you need something to warm you up in the winter, heart-warming food is a great way to do so. Here are some great recipes for you to try this winter.

Bolognese Fries This doesn’t sound like it would work but it surprisingly does. All you need is your preferred mince (pork, beef, turkey or vegetarian), a bag of frozen fries, tomato passata, chopped garlic, Italian herbs, cheese and one white onion. Dice your onion and cook in a pan with your mince until the mince is fully cooked. Pour your passata into the same pan and mix your herbs into the sauce. Let this simmer on low heat for 20 minutes.

Whilst it is simmering, put your fries in the oven as instructed on the bag. Once this is finished, dish up your fries and then pour your Bolognese on top.

Sprinkle a little, or a lot, of cheese on top and enjoy!

Lazy Lasagne This is a simple recipe and only uses one pan!

You’ll need your preferred mince, one white onion, lasagne sheets, double cream, cheese, tomato

passata, chopped garlic and Italian herbs. Cook your mince and diced onion in a pan until mince is fully cooked. Then pour your passata into the pan with your herbs to make the lasagne sauce. Pour 8 tablespoons of the double cream into the pan and stir. Break the lasagne sheets into pieces and put them in the pan, letting the pasta sheets cook until they are soft. Once the sheets are soft and cooked, you can add as much cheese as you like to get that perfect cheesiness. Then dish it up and you can even pair it with a nice garlic bread!

Bangers and Mash Bangers and mash is a traditional British dish that is a great meal to have to warm you up in the winter. All you need is sausages of your choice (veggie sausages if you’d like) and some potatoes.

If you want the meal to be even easier to cook, you can buy instant mashed potato that you heat in the microwave! If you choose to make your own mashed potato, you need to peel your potatoes and cut them up. Once cut, let them boil in a pan of hot water and then drain them. Then add some butter and a little bit of milk and mash to make buttery smooth mashed potato.

You can either cook your sausages however you like whether that’s in the oven, on a frying pan or even in the air fryer. Sausage and mash can be paired with beans or peas and gravy.

Meatball Pasta Meatball Pasta is one of my favourite and simple comfort foods to make during the cold season. The ingredients include meatballs of your choice, one white onion, tomato pasaata, chopped garlic, Italian herbs, cheese, pasta of your choice and spinach. Cook your diced onion and meatballs in a pan until meatballs are nearly fully cooked. Then pour your tomato passata into the pan with chopped garlic and Italian herbs which makes you marinara sauce. Add however much spinach you like (to get that extra iron) and let the mixture simmer for 20 minutes. Whilst it simmers, boil your pasta in a separate pan. Once, it is boiled, drain your pasta and mix it in with the homemade marinara sauce. Add your preferred cheese and stir to get the gooey cheese melt. Then dish up and enjoy!

Chocolate Spread Croissants This chocolate croissant recipe is so simple and has been shared all over TikTok so why not try it? All you need is prerolled puff pastry that you can buy from most supermarkets, a chocolate spread of your choice, and one egg. Take your puff pastry out of the packet and spread your chocolate spread over it on one side. If the pastry is not already cut into triangles, cut the pastry into equal triangles.

Then, one by one roll them from one corner to the other to make the croissant shape. Crack your egg open and quickly stir it to make an egg wash to put on top of your croissants - this makes them perfectly shiny and crispy! Bake in the oven at 180 for 20-30 minutes until they are golden.

Easy Cinnamon Swirls

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The smell of cinnamon often reminds many of the winter and Christmas season so why not treat yourself and make cinnamon rolls that are easy and simple to make? Mix 180g of plain Greek yoghurt and 150g of self-raising flour to form a dough. Then, roll the dough into a rectangle. Mix 30g of melted butter, 3 tbsp of light brown sugar and 1 tsp of cinnamon. Spread the mixture over the rolled-out dough and then roll the dough into a roll. Slice the roll into your preferred size slices, put them on a baking tray and bake at 160 for 1520 minutes. For a lovely icing on top, mix 6 tbsp of icing sugar and 4 tsp of milk and then drizzle it over the warm cinnamon rolls.

Mouth-Watering Cookie Dough Yes, you can just buy cookie dough from dessert shops but if you’d like to make your own and save some money then this recipe is for you! This recipe makes two. Mix 50g of softened butter, 40g of light brown sugar and 20g of granulated sugar to form a paste. Then add 1 egg and 1/4 tsp of vanilla extract and mix until combined. Once mixed, add 70g of plain flour and 1/4 tsp of bicarbonate of soda to form a dough. Add some (or a lot) of chocolate chips and fold them into the dough. Scoop some of the mixture into a ramekin dish and add a scoop of Nutella or chocolate spread into the middle then put more cookie dough on the top. Top with chocolate chips and then bake in the oven at 160 for 15-20 minutes. Once cooked, enjoy!

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MUTOMBA AND OB THE POET BRING VIBES TO LEICESTER WITH CON4MATION! Leicester has always had a vibrant music scene with lots of independent artists calling this city their home. This month, I have to talk about two young independent musicians that just hit the scene, Mutomba, and OB the poet, and, most importantly, their rhythmic new single "CON4MATION"! * Their song is hip-hop excellence at its best. From the inspiring lyrics to the incredibly moody vibe, this song is incredible, so let's hear from the artists themselves about their collaboration!

Could you tell us about the inspiration behind Con4mation?

OB: I'd say a lot of it comes from my own personal thoughts. It was actually something I was asking myself about, you know, whether I was going in the right direction with certain situations and choices, but also painting a picture of admiration for all the women of the world and all the hopeless romantics too. There are many little things that went into this track when I was writing it: I just wanted to make a sensual song for a better turn of phrase, or as Mutomba says, something to keep the lovers cosy this winter.

Mutomba: OB came to me with the track idea mostly finished and wanted me to do the hooks and closing verse. There are a lot of themes to this track but also a lot of ways to interpret it, but one of the main ideas was to make a track to help all the lovers stay warm this winter.

What was the creative process like when you were working on the song together?

OB: It was a really smooth and quick process, I had 90% of the lyrics written out and just needed a verse from Mutomba to close it. In terms of producing the track, I think it took us less than 4 hours to make a rough draft complete with vocal takes, then we spent maybe a month mixing and changing whatever we didn't like from it.

Mutomba: It was smooth to be honest, we definitely lean towards similar sounds in terms of what we like and that helps a lot when bouncing ideas around. I think the dynamic we have in terms of technical ability and experience also works well when we go in to create. OB having studied and played music most of his life, and me only starting this year, we often approach ideas in different ways, so there are always interesting thoughts getting thrown around.

How do you feel this single represents your musical style and growth as artists?

OB: For myself, it shows a development in my writing style as I usually don't write hooks for my tracks and that was something I wanted to show myself I could do. In terms of production, it was fun to trade techniques and Ideas with Mutomba and watch the process come to life. We both share similar sounds so it will be interesting to see what comes next.

Mutomba: I've always been a fan of seeing things progress, so it's been fun to see this one come together. For me it represents a marker in my musical journey because vocally, it involved a lot more melodic work than I'd been used to up to that point. It's

something that going forward I'm excited to lean into. As a fan, it's also been nice to see OB progress behind the scenes compared to his older stuff, especially in terms of production.

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Can you share any memorable or funny moments from the recording studio or while creating the song?

project to project, and hopefully that shows on this one!

OB, what's next for you after this, are you working on any projects at the minute? Again, what should people expect next?

OB: Yeah, I'm a massive Mac Miller fan and if you've ever listened to The Divine Feminine, you'll know he likes to add certain For me it represents a sounds and textures to his outros. Me being me, marker in my musical I thought it would be a journey because great idea to do the same on ours, and it's vocally, it involved a lot safe to say I will be more melodic work paying someone to record those next time. than I'd been used to

OB: I have two projects currently in the works, the first one is titled Solace Tapes Vol 1, and is a lot more personal to myself and my life. It's a very introspective collection of thoughts, ideas, feelings and perspectives I've had over time. The second is Mutomba: There was a a joint collab titled up to that point. point during the HMEGRWN (Home recording that we Grown) with a good needed some, uhm, friend of mine called questionable audio clips Clayface (yes, like the for the outro of the song. Luckily OB comics), who produces a lot of oldstepped up to do them himself, so I school hip-hop. With this, we want to woke up one morning to a bunch of capture the sound of the city and let the interesting voice notes to mix. people tell their story. Both will be out sometime next year, but I can't say Mutomba, what about your new EP when, so we'll just have to wait and see! coming out November 10th: what should listeners expect from If you want to listen to Con4mation, the "Conditional"? song is out on Spotify, and it has a visualiser on YouTube @obthepoet.

Mutomba: Conditional is a project made Also, if you want to stay in the loop of up of 5 tracks exploring different types what the boys are up to, follow them on of love, whether it be romantic, platonic Instagram @mutomba and @obthepoet. or familial. While the first project I made Give them a listen! You will not regret it. earlier this year was more about my personal experiences and how I was feeling at the time, Conditional is more Written by Evan Alexiou about shared experiences we all have when it comes to personal relationships with the people you love. More so for me than anyone else, I really want to see noticeable growth in my music from

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IPSWICH TOWN IS COMING FOR THE TOP SPOTS.

In the previous issue, the wonderful Evan Alexiou gave deserved praise to Leicester City’s Championship title charge. But why not also have a look at one of their main contenders, Ipswich Town?

Before the season it was expected Ipswich would solidify themselves in the second tier of English football after a turgid few years stuck in League One, but they have hit the

By Torin Fahy ground running and not looked back since.

Going unbeaten away from home and even eliminating Premier League side Wolves from the Carabao Cup. At the time of writing, the Suffolk team is comfortably in second place and right behind the Foxes, which is all the more impressive considering where both teams were coming into this season. Leicester suffered a tragic relegation and lost some star players, but retained several Premier League level players and went on to spend nearly £40 million in the summer transfer window. Ipswich represents an almost opposite approach, with very little money spent and a virtually identical starting XI doing just as well in the Championship as they did in League One. So, how have they done it?

Manager Kieran McKenna might be the most important piece of the puzzle; in his first management role, he has transformed the Tractor Boys into a free-flowing attacking side with goals coming from everywhere. What was a system of “give the ball to Wes Burns and hope he creates a goal” has turned into creativity from everywhere, whether it be left back Leif Davis’ charging overlaps and exquisite passing, Connor Chaplin’s ability to always pull a goal out of nowhere, George Hirst (deemed surplus to requirements at Leicester before being sold to Ipswich for just £2 million in the summer) and his lethal finishing combined with mature hold-up play, Massimo Luongo’s progressive carries from midfield into all areas of the final third, or the aforementioned Burns and his frequent brilliance. McKenna’s tactical brilliance means that whoever is playing fits into the system effortlessly and the quick passing that cuts teams up remains. I’ve been going to Ipswich games with my dad every season since I was 8 and this is easily the best & most fun to watch side in my lifetime.

How that team has been assembled deserves plaudits too. Shrewd transfer business has been conducted across the board: Davis for £1 million, Luongo for free, this season’s top scorer Nathan Broadhead for £1.5 million, Chaplin for £750k. The squad is a healthy blend of young players not valued at their previous Prem clubs as well as seasoned veterans from the Football League, all given their chance to shine at Ipswich. They’ve all seized the moment, with fringe players such as Marcus Harness scoring a brace off the bench to rescue a draw against Birmingham, or loan players like Brandon Williams and Omari Hutchinson making a strong case to be permanent starters after consistently excellent performances either in occasional starts or substitute appearances.

Ten days in December may decide if Ipswich’s promotion push will last: a heated local derby against Norwich for the first time in 4 years, followed by fellow title hopefuls Leeds, and then a game against who else but Leicester on Boxing Day. If Ipswich makes it through these games with some points, then perhaps I’ll be writing about Ipswich’s return to the top flight in a few issues’ time. It’s worth believing it could happen; this is being published in the city of the greatest miracle in football history after all...

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“The lost and forgotten” Photographer: Kane Binnersley

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Seeing the Sights

While the Christmas light switch on has already passed, I certainly feel it’s worth mentioning. The event, this year held on the 22nd of November, is quite a spectacle. The city becomes illuminous, lit by over 16,000 LED lights. The area around the Clock Tower becomes a stage, hosting costumed characters, bands, and Santa’s grotto, with a 50-foot tree taking up the Centre.

The Leicester lights are free to see throughout the Christmas period and, when perfectly paired with a festively warm drink, prove a lovely walk to get you into the winter spirit.

They can be found through any of the streets in the City Centre, but worth adding to the tour are the lights and nativity scene based by the

Ice Skating

This year a new ticket has been introduced to ‘The Jubilee Square Real Ice Rink,’ allowing students to get 45 minutes on the ice for only £5. The super-offpeak ticket is around for the first two weeks of the rink, from Monday to Friday between the hours of 11:00 am until 4:00 pm. The ‘Real Ice Rink’ will return on the 7th of December 2023, and stays until the 7th of January 2024, meaning students have until the 21st to make the most of this great deal!

Christmas (window) Shopping

Of course, one of the best winter activities is Christmas shopping. Just walking through John Lewis could get the grinch on board with the festivities. Typo, Urban Outfitters, Set, Pomponette, and James’ Bistro are great places to get quirky gifts, as well as being perfect for a spot of window shopping. Absorb the festivities without spending any money! Or, pick your presents and spend your parents’.

Winter Walks

While most enjoyable in the winter snow, Leicester’s green spaces prove a great wintery walk. Bundle up and stroll through Abbey Park, along the canal, or follow The Forest Way path for more isolated scenery. There is no better way to clear your mind, both for and from, winter deadlines.

Movie Nights

A classic student activity, with a twist! Grab your cheap bag of microwavable popcorn, pair it with a comforting hot drink, and you have the perfect winter activity. Change the usual comedies and horrors to something festive. There is the classics, Elf, The Holiday, The Nightmare Before Christmas…Or, something different, like the comedy Violent Night. Anything you choose will make a great festive activity, it is tried and proven!

And, remember….any activity is cheap if you invite your parents!

Written by Grace Cushnie Designed by Millie Ball

Cosy Games to Play This Holiday Season

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It’s time to leave the summer partying at the door and throw on your comfiest pyjamas and fluffiest socks, grab your hot beverage of choice, and snuggle in for this hibernation season. I have curated these lovely cosy games to help you feel that sense of warmth and calm.

Ooblets No cosy games list is complete without a farming sim, and Ooblets might just be the silliest and cutest of them all. In this game you will take over a rundown farm, where you can then grow cute creatures called ooblets that can be used to dance battle through a goofy plotline and solve the ultimate mystery – who is behind the manky old cans littering Badgetown?

Ooblets is relaxing and quirky with plenty of fun quests and no time limits. You might even discover some rare gleamy ooblets for your team!

A Short Hike If the thought of committing to an hours-long game scares you, try this game that you can finish in 3 to 6 hours. You will play as a bird who is on vacation waiting for a phone call. However, there’s no signal at the bottom of the mountain so you will need to take a leisurely hike up to the tippy-top. Along the way you will meet cute characters and engage in light minigames and fetch quests that will help you reach a satisfying conclusion.

Coffee Talk Have you ever wanted to be the person behind the bar asking “what’s troublin’ ya”? Now you can!

In coffee talk, you will run a coffee shop that only opens at night. But you won’t be rushed off your feet. In this interactive novel you get to make both coffee and conversation and get to know your supernatural patrons to give them sagely advice.

You can even try your hand at latte art!

Gris A melancholy side scrolling puzzle game. Play as the only living soul in a ravaged land, exploring ruins and fighting the occasional manifestation of grief as you bring colour back to the world. Quiet and a little sad, Gris has such a cleansing feel.

Suika Game Drop and merge fruit to keep growing bigger and bigger in pursuit of the mega-size watermelon.

But be careful not to spill out the top or it’s game over! Although there isn’t much to it, Suika is highly addictive and such a good ‘brain out’ game when coursework is giving you a headache.

Venba A heart-warming cooking game with an emphasis on story. Follow a south-Indian family who migrated to Canada for a better life and their struggle to reconcile their new world with their heritage. Cook appetising food and listen to calming music as their story unfolds.

Lets Build a Zoo This is an everything goes management sim. Do you want to focus on conservation and rescuing animals? Or do you want to give your money to questionable sources and start and battery farm?

Or maybe you want to gene-splice different animals together to create a Frankenzoo of bunny-snakes and capy-hyenas? Whatever your choice, this game offers a surprising amount of content and plenty of quirky and silly scenarios as you fill your zoo with animals.

Mail Time The ultimate cosy cottagecore game. Play as a newly minted mail scout and explore a beautiful autumnal village on your quest to deliver...well, mail. Meet plenty of sweet quirky villagers who may ask for your help and advice as you leap and glide between trees and mushrooms. Low stakes, high charm.

Written and designed by Bronwyn Coleman

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FALLING SNOW 20th of December – Monday – 17:00 Germany, in the covered patio of an Italian family restaurant

It was the 1550th day since winter had officially disappeared from the planet known as Earth. For too long had the human race denied the damage they were doing to the environment, and by the time even the staunchest opposer got their head out of the sand, it was too late. Or so they said.

With winter gone the weather had gone into complete chaos, or so they said.

Sofia was enjoying a cold can of coke, a futile attempt to battle the sweltering heat. It was 32°C and it would only get hotter later in the week. She promptly forgot the can upon hearing Rolf’s next words.

“Tonight!” She exclaimed. “You think there is an opportunity tonight?”

“Ja, uh yes I meant.” Rolf looked away, embarrassed while scratching his short beard.

Of all the times for him to get insecure.

“Are you sure? We only get one shot, we’re all ready for the consequences of this, but only if we’re actually sure that it’ll work.”

Rolf looked her in the eyes “I am 100% sure.”

Sofia took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “All right then, let’s roll.”

She stood up and put down some money on the table, not even bothering to count out whether she tipped too much or too little. Where she was going, she wouldn’t have any use for the money anyways.

Germany, in an undisclosed location, outside the “factory” It was a small group, no more than 5. Enough that they could split up into two when they met Rolf in the factory.

“Surveillance drone shift in T-minus 3 minutes.” Said Fatima, hiding underneath the camouflage blanket beside her.

On her other side was George and his partner Jean. They were all tense, with the exception of Angela on the other side of Fatima. She was nursing on a cup of coffee and looked more excited than anything. The dry grass was starting to irritate Sofia’s bare elbows and she wondered if she would remember this moment later on.

After a period of silence that felt like it lasted way too long, Fatima finally said, “Now!” They all got up and half-ran half-jogged to the 3-metres tall fence in front of them. George pulled out a tiny box with a long antenna on it, he put the antenna onto the net that made up the fence, while staring at its screen.

“Still on.” He reported, confirming that the net was still electrified.

5 seconds passed and then he said, “It’s off.”

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Jean and Sofia immediately got to work, pulling out the fold-up bolt cutters and went through the routine they’d practiced every week since 3 months back. They could cut the net with their eyes closed at this point.

Once they finished, they quickly bent it out of their way and ran up to the unmarked side entrance, where Rolf was patiently waiting.

“Team 1, with Rolf to the generators. Team 2 with me.” Sofia started running with Angela and Fatima behind her. They didn’t know how long it would take for the surveillance AI to notice they were here. Odds are the police was already on their way.

With minimal difficulty they got into the server room. There were three huge computer servers in the middle of the cold room, Angela and Fatima quickly plugged their small laptops into one of them. It took Angela awhile but when she found the evidence, she presented it to Sofia without comment.

Sofia scrolled through it fast, “this is it, proof that Bernhardt-Tusk is artificially manipulating the weather. Holy shit.” She typed a query and instantly got over thousands of hits.

“The solar panels they sell, the wind turbines, the ‘green’ ACs, the electric cars, the firefighting equipment… Every fucking one of their machines are connected! They’re all sending reports on the immediate weather condition.”

“And that’s how they know where to focus their big bad machine on.” Fatima stared at the screen, which showed the location of where the woods she grew up in used to be. ”Where to make the locals crave more of their bottled waters or start forest fires I n order to show off their new firefighting AI.” Sofie turned towards her companions, “Download and put it up on the internet. Make it hard for them to take down.”

“Already on it, boss lady.” Said Angela with a smirk.

The walkie-talkie on Sofia’s belt turned on and Rolf’s voice could be heard, as if he was in the room with them.

“The package has been delivered!”

“We’ll meet you by the entrance in 10 minutes.” She replied.

11 minutes later found them running outside the factory together with the second team. Their run slowed down but didn’t stop until they were 2 kilometres away from the factory. Several drones had recorded them leaving the area. Hopefully the scramblers they all had on would make it harder for the facial recognition software to ID them. That’s when they heard the explosion. It resounded throughout the dry valley, and they could see smoke wafting from the factory.

“It’s over now, we can finally rest.” Sofia sat down on the hard ground, and that’s when she saw it.

Floating from the gathering clouds above. She immediately reached out and took it in her hand, staring at it as it melted. All around her, the team were celebrating. She could see Fatima crying out of joy and George trying to catch one on his tongue.

Sofia stood still, she didn’t need to do or say anything. For her, watching the falling snow cover the factory, and the ground around them, was more than enough.

Written by D.C. Castillo Designed by Millie Ball

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“Derelict Japan” Photographer: Kane Binnersley

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“Dreams on the Wall” Photographer: Evan Alexiou

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