Today is Friday the 13th, a date on which otherwise sensible human beings become suspicious of ladders, black cats and perfectly innocent mirrors.

Nobody is entirely sure why. The superstition appears to have developed from two older fears: the number 13 and Friday. The earliest clear written references to their unfortunate combination have been traced to France in 1834.

Things really took off in 1907, when American author T. W. Lawson published Friday, the Thirteenth, a novel about a stockbroker exploiting the date to cause financial chaos. Apparently, even back then, people were quite happy to lose money over something entirely imaginary.

There are several theories about the origins.

One involves the Last Supper, where Jesus dined with his twelve disciples. Thirteen people were present, including Judas, who rather spoiled the occasion. Jesus was subsequently crucified on a Friday, although the supper itself took place on Thursday. Clearly, the calendar department had some explaining to do.

Another theory involves Loki, the Norse trickster god, supposedly gatecrashing a dinner of twelve gods in Valhalla and causing the death of Balder. It's a wonderful story, although the original Norse sources don't actually describe this thirteen-person dinner party. Folklore, it seems, occasionally enjoys embellishing the guest list.

Then there's Friday 13 October 1307, when King Philip IV of France ordered the arrest of the Knights Templar. A genuinely unpleasant episode in history, but despite its excellent horror-film credentials, historians have found no convincing evidence that it inspired the superstition.

So there we have it. Centuries of mythology, religion, historical coincidence and literary embellishment have combined to make one particular date rather unpopular.

Meanwhile, the universe is approximately 13.8 billion years old, contains hundreds of billions of galaxies and operates according to physical laws we barely understand.

And humanity is worried about a Friday.

Friday 13th – still beats a Monday.

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I've been experimenting with my sci-fi alter ego and seem to have ended up as a rather unfortunate cross between Holly and Rimmer.

Half ship's computer, half hopeless bunkmate. All smeghead!

I'm not sure who's more worried: the crew or the computer.

At least Mocha hasn't been promoted to captain. Yet. 😹

"Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast!"

// Deakster

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A big thank you to Councillor Yvonne Wright and her fantastic team of volunteers who are out and about in Tottington every week, helping to keep our village looking its best.

Whether it's clearing fallen leaves, tidying flowerbeds, picking up litter or generally lending a helping hand, these dedicated volunteers give up their own time, completely unpaid, to make a positive difference to the place we all call home.

It's easy to take these little things for granted, but the time and effort that goes into keeping our streets and public spaces looking lovely deserves recognition and appreciation.

"This is what community spirit looks like"

The team also regularly organises community events and activities, giving everyone an opportunity to get involved, lend a hand and show their support.

You don't have to be a regular volunteer to make a difference. Even joining in for an hour or attending one of their events helps support the great work they do.

If you'd like to get involved, find out what's coming up on the Events Calendar.

A lovely village doesn't just happen. It's made lovely by the people who care about it.

Thank you to Yvonne and everyone involved!

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Christmas Fayre – The Tottington Centre

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Tottington!

The Tottington Centre is getting into the festive spirit with its Christmas Fayre on Saturday 5th December.

Come along, enjoy the Christmas atmosphere and have a browse around the fayre. It's a lovely opportunity to get into the festive mood, discover something interesting and support a fantastic local community venue.

Whether you're looking for a little Christmas inspiration or simply fancy a festive outing, why not pop in and see what's on offer?

Event Details

📍 The Tottington Centre
Market Street, Tottington, Bury, BL8 3LL

📅 Saturday 5th December 2026
🕙 10:00am – 4:00pm

Wrap up warm, bring some Christmas cheer and enjoy a festive visit to the heart of Tottington!

We hope to see you there!

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Popup Book & Jigsaw Sale – Tottington

Fancy picking up a good read or finding your next jigsaw challenge?

The Tottington Centre is hosting a Popup Book & Jigsaw Sale on Saturday 21st November. It's a great opportunity to browse a selection of books and jigsaw puzzles, discover something new and support a valued local community venue.

Whether you're looking for your next holiday read, something for the bookshelf or a puzzle to keep you occupied on a winter evening, it's well worth popping along.

Event Details

📍 The Tottington Centre
Market Street, Tottington, Bury, BL8 3LL

📅 Saturday 21st November 2026
🕙 10:00am – 1:00pm

Drop in, have a browse and see what you can find!

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🎄🎅 CRACKING CHRISTMAS MARKET – TOTTINGTON! 🎅🎄

Get into the Christmas spirit and join us for a fabulous festive day at St John's Church, Tottington!

📅 Sunday 22nd November 2026
⏰ 11:00am – 3:00pm
📍 St John's Church, Tottington
🎟️ FREE ENTRY!

Come along, browse, shop and soak up the festive atmosphere at our Cracking Christmas Market.

There'll be plenty of Christmas cheer and a wonderful opportunity to support local traders and enjoy some festive shopping.

🎁 SPECIAL RAFFLE!

Tottington Civic Pride will be hosting a raffle with some fabulous prizes up for grabs! Make sure you come along, buy your tickets and be in with a chance of winning.

Whether you're looking for Christmas gifts, a festive treat or simply a lovely way to spend a Sunday, there's something for everyone.

Bring your family, invite your friends and help us make it a cracking Christmas celebration!

❤️ FREE ENTRY – EVERYONE WELCOME!

We look forward to seeing you there!

🎄 Cracking Christmas Market
Organised with festive spirit for the Tottington community.

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Would you know what to do if someone suffered a cardiac arrest in front of you?

Here's an opportunity to learn a potentially life-saving skill – and it won't cost you a penny!

A FREE Defibrillator Training Session is taking place at St John's Church on Saturday 21st November, between 10.30 am and 12.30 pm.

The session offers an opportunity to learn more about defibrillators, understand how they are used and gain confidence in responding to a cardiac emergency.

You don't need any previous experience or medical knowledge. These skills could one day help you save someone's life.

A personal message from FS HOT

This is a subject particularly close to our hearts.

Our own neighbour suffered a heart attack this year and, thankfully, was saved. Having experienced something like this so close to home, we know just how important it is that ordinary members of the public have the knowledge and confidence to help when an emergency happens.

You never know when you might find yourself in a situation where knowing what to do could make all the difference.

We wholeheartedly endorse this training session and would strongly encourage local residents to take advantage of this FREE opportunity.

Please spread the word among friends, family and neighbours. The more people who know what to do in an emergency, the better.

It could be someone you love who needs your help one day.

FREE ENTRY – Everyone Welcome!

Saturday 21st November | 10.30 am – 12.30 pm
St John's Church

Please support this excellent community initiative.

Knowing what to do could save a life.

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The people of Tottington are invited to come together this Sunday for the annual Remembrance Parade and Service.

The parade will commence from Harwood Road at 2.30 pm, before gathering to remember and honour all those who gave their lives in the service of our country.

Remembrance Sunday provides an important opportunity for our community to pause, reflect and pay our respects to the servicemen and women who made the ultimate sacrifice, as well as those who continue to serve.

Residents, families and members of the local community are warmly encouraged to attend and show their support.

Lest We Forget.

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Sometimes, it's nice to take a moment to appreciate when something you've been working hard on gets a little recognition.

I'm absolutely delighted to share that the Bury Times has published an article about me and the work behind FS HOT, including the development of our website privacy scanner.

It's always encouraging to see something you've invested time, effort and passion into recognised by your local community, and I'm genuinely grateful to the Bury Times for taking an interest in what we're doing.

Thank you to the Bury Times for helping shine a spotlight on online privacy and cybersecurity.

Why this matters

Online privacy is something that affects all of us, whether we're individuals browsing the internet, running a small business or managing a much larger organisation.

Yet, it's an area that can often be overlooked. Many people simply aren't aware of how much information websites can collect about their visitors, or how tracking technologies operate behind the scenes.

This is one of the reasons behind the work we're doing at FS HOT.

Our aim is to make online privacy and cybersecurity more accessible, understandable and relevant to everyday internet users.

The website privacy scanner is part of that journey, helping bring greater awareness to what happens when we visit websites and encouraging people to take a closer look at their digital privacy.

A little recognition goes a long way

For anyone working on a project, developing an idea or trying to make a difference in their own field, having a local newspaper take an interest is a genuinely rewarding experience.

It also provides an opportunity to reach people who might not otherwise have come across FS HOT or the work we're doing.

So, once again, a huge thank you to the Bury Times for featuring me and FS HOT. Your support and interest are very much appreciated.

And, of course, thank you to everyone who has supported, encouraged or taken an interest in what we're building.

There is plenty more to come!

If you haven't already read the article, you can find it here:

Read the Bury Times article – Bury cybersecurity expert creates website privacy scanner

Thank you, Bury Times!

FS HOT – Making a difference through better awareness of online privacy and cybersecurity.

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🎨 ARTS & CRAFT FAIR – SUPPORT LOCAL HOME-SCHOOLED CHILDREN! 🧵

Looking for something lovely to do on a Sunday morning?

Come along to a special Arts and Craft Fair, showcasing a wonderful selection of handmade creations made by local home-schooled children.

It's a fantastic opportunity to see the creativity and talent of our young local makers, pick up something unique and handmade, and show your support for their efforts. ❤️

Whether you're looking for a special handmade gift or simply fancy popping along to support the children, everyone is welcome!

Please come along, spread the word and support our talented young craftspeople.

Let's celebrate local creativity and community spirit! 🌟

#LocalEvents #ArtsAndCrafts #SupportLocal #HomeEducation #CommunityEvents #FSHOT

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🎄🔥 FS HOT CHRISTMAS PARTY 2026 🔥🎄

It's time to turn up the heat this Christmas!

Get ready for a fantastic night of festive fun, great company and Christmas party madness!

📅 DATE: Saturday 19th December 2026

📍 VENUE: Robin Hood
Tottington, Bury

🎅 Get your Christmas spirit on, bring the party energy and let's make it a night to remember!

FS HOT CHRISTMAS PARTY – LET'S MAKE SOME NOISE!

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Things are getting a little spooky here at The Robin Hood, Tottington, Bury! 🕷️🕸️

Meet Chloe, our very own wickedly wonderful barmaid, bringing a whole new meaning to serving up a frightfully good time! 💚💜

With creepy costumes, spooky smiles and Halloween magic filling the pub, there's no better place to celebrate this Halloween! 🦇💀

Pop in if you dare… Chloe might even serve you a treat rather than a trick! 😉

Happy Halloween! 🧙‍♀️🍻

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I am officially inventing a new word: Dadfishing.

The Definition: The act of luring someone into a conversation under the guise of an urgent, serious, or dramatic text message, only to hit them with a terrible dad joke and trap them in a lengthy, unsolicited lecture about niche dad hobbies.

The Anatomy of a Dadfish

1. The Bait: A text that demands immediate attention.
"Please call me as soon as you get this. It’s about the garage."

2. The Hook (The Bad Joke): The dramatic buildup is immediately deflated by a pun.
"It’s completely full of my new lawn mower! Let me tell you about this deck height..."

3. The Reel-In (The Lecture): You are now trapped. You can't escape the ensuing 45-minute breakdown of mechanical specs, the history of the company, or the structural integrity of the grass catcher.

You’ve successfully been dadfished.

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Deakster: “We’re off to London!”

Mocha: “Oh no we’re not! We’re off to the treat cupboard!” 😹🎅

// Deakster

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Operation Blofeld: Licence to Purr.

Deakster and Mocha take on the 1970s Bond villain look. One secret lair, one cream suit, and one very cool cat.

The name’s Mocha. Mocha Blofeld. His mission? World domination. His human? Merely the henchman. 😂

// Deakster

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I’m out in the field over the next few days. Testing, exploring, researching and reporting in the real world.

Less screen time. More field time.

Follow the journey → Field Blog

Same world. Different settings. 🎮

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If you grew up in the golden age of the Amiga, you already know that the legendary cracking group Fairlight represented the absolute peak of digital cool. 😎

Fuelled by pure nostalgia, I decided to run our old logo through an AI generator. The mission? Recreate it in the iconic, high-octane style of Fairlight’s legendary Pinball Dreams intro.

I have to admit... I am absolutely in love with how this turned out! 🕹️✨

This is just the beginning of a major blast from the past. More retro revamps are on the way—stay tuned, folks!

// Deakster

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Hi folks 😀

I have a new section on FS HOT - Field Blog.

It will contain News, Quick Updates etc.

Keep an eye on the homepage for updates.

// Deakster

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