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The Guardian
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Irvine Welsh: ‘I'm often astounded that any relationships take place these days'
I was born in the great port of Leith. Stories are in my blood; listening to them, telling them. My family were typical of many in the area, moving from tenement to council scheme, increasingly further down the Forth estuary. I was brought up in a close community. I left school with practically no qualifications. I tended towards the interesting kids, the troublemakers. All my own fault. I was always encouraged to be more scholarly by my parents, who valued education. But I left school and became an apprentice technician, doing a City & Guilds course. I hated it. I was always a writer: I just didn't know it. I cite being crap at everything else in evidence. It's why I've never stopped writing stories about my youth and my go-to gang of characters from Trainspotting. Their reaction to events and changes in the world helps inform my own. They've been given substance by people I've met down the decades, from Leith pubs to Ibiza clubs. But I have never seen myself as an author. If I wrote purely for publication, and let it become a franchise, it would just be another job, albeit an enjoyable one, and better than digging coal. But I never wanted it to be that. As far as I'm concerned, I'm a writer. I de facto retired from the world of work over 30 years ago, packing in my day job at the council to pursue my hobbies of writing and music. If I had the inclination for franchise building, I would have released my books sequentially, in a temporal order, following the characters' lives. If I wanted to chase literary prizes, I'd have written the kind of novels expected to appeal to the people who judge such affairs. Basically, I wait until something inspiring emerges – theme, event, character or storyline – to act as a catalyst and pique my interest in finally writing up my notes, sketches and stories to publishable standard. Skagboys was the first thing I wrote, appearing on my Amstrad word processor as the opening sections of Trainspotting. The resulting book was way too long, so I threw away that first part, opting to take the reader right into the drug-addled world of Renton, Sick Boy, Spud and co, all the way back in 1993. When I got older and more reflective, I thought I'd revisit how the protagonists got into the state they did before Trainspotting: I'd write about the Thatcherite destruction of the traditional working class. So Skagboys (2012) revisited old territory. But in the meantime, I had leapt ahead almost a decade into those characters' lives with Porno (2002). I saw that book as being about the increasing commodification of sex, as we moved into the internet age. Way further down the line, Dead Men's Trousers (2018) was inspired by my experiments with the drug DMT, and the even more astonishing phenomenon of Hibs winning the Scottish Cup. And now I'm back with those characters again. Men in Love, taking place directly after Trainspotting, opens on a junk-sick Renton sweating in an Amsterdam hotel room with his bag of cash, with Sick Boy ferreting around London on the perma-hustle, Spud and Second Prize back in Leith, trying to avoid heroin and alcohol – the drugs that chose them – and Begbie a guest of HMP Saughton. As the title suggests, Men in Love is mainly about that time in life when men (generally in their mid-20s) start taking the quest for romance more seriously. Sign up to Bookmarks Discover new books and learn more about your favourite authors with our expert reviews, interviews and news stories. Literary delights delivered direct to you after newsletter promotion Novels, no matter how well researched, composed or projected, are always – whether you like it or not – at least tangentially about you. Writing Men in Love made me realise that, when I stop running away from it, I've usually enjoyed love unquestioningly, without feeling the need to analyse or even understand it. The checklists of dating apps, articles, self-help books, the inventories of salient points of attraction, ideal types and red flags always seemed to me a boring, algorithmic and reductive response to a very human, mystical phenomenon. Much of what I've learned about love has been experiential, not observational, about not being gun-shy and diving in when the opportunity presented itself. And yes, some romantic sensibilities have been augmented by the imagination and insight of various novelists, from Jane Austen to James Kelman. Looking back now, it strikes me that your mid-20s is a strange time to be embarking on serious romance. Linked to traditional modes of commerce, procreation and survival, we remain culturally bound by such influences, driven to 'settle down'. Once ossified in our social structure, such imperatives are now fading, and perhaps it's about time. For men in their mid-20s, the influence of your partner suddenly becomes greater than that of your peers. It also seems that, in an atomised, narcissistic society, we are left less equipped than ever to meet our bonding needs. The nurturing 'village' of old is replaced by the shouty swamp of the online experience, where people are compelled to create ludicrous personas that they can't live up to in reality. No wonder so many people can no longer be bothered with the whole business. I'm often astounded that any relationships take place at all. Men in Love is my attempt to look at where men go wrong (and maybe sometimes right) in our efforts to subjugate our own pulsating needs to do daft, fabulous things like watch sport, get drunk and obsess about obscure musical offerings, for the greater good of romance, commerce, status, procreation, sex, and yes, L-O-V-E; whatever the motives for joining together with someone are. I think it is as much – probably more – a book for women, who acutely understand the nutters they went out with in their 'bad boy phase', as it is for such men (and I still count myself as only a semi-reformed version of that breed) to understand themselves. It's a crazy, romantic, joyous journey through our higher aspirations, and the inherently ridiculous mortal stupidity and selfishness that constantly undermines them. Things have changed since I wrote Trainspotting. The working class (like the middle class and the government) no longer have any money, trades or careers; just a patchwork quilt of precarious, low-paid jobs waiting to be destroyed by AI. Some deal drugs. This is usually not really for profit, but youths – like the preening oligarchs who dominate the world – need compelling drama. They engage in meaningless turf wars, constantly in search of their own dopamine hits to distract from the uselessness society has pushed them into; an existence of eating rubbish and watching crap on screens, bloating into obesity as their mental health crumbles. The working class are no longer represented by any political party. They have no voice: nobody will write about them, make films about them, far less advocate for them. They are expected to die quietly. Why publish Men in Love at this time? I think we need love more than ever. Loads of it. Orwell wrote: 'If there is hope, it lies with the proles.' I think now, if there is hope, it lies with the lovers. Men in Love by Irvine Welsh is published by Jonathan Cape on 24 July. To support the Guardian order your copy at Delivery charges may apply.
The Independent
15-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Royal Navy's newest warship takes to water for first time in Scotland
The Royal Navy's newest warship has taken to the water for the time time. HMS Venturer made its debut on the River Forth after four years of construction. It is one of five Type 31 frigates that will patrol the oceans this century. It was towed beneath the three Forth Crossings on Saturday evening to complete its construction in Rosyth. Some of the crew, shipwrights and engineers from Babcock International Group – who have worked on the ship – were on board for the 11-mile journey up the estuary. The vessel emerged from the assembly hall last month on a gigantic low-loader before being loaded onto a special partly submersible barge. Since then, experts at Babcock have been waiting for a suitable tidal window in the Forth estuary to allow the ship to be precisely floated off. That operation began on Monday, when the barge supporting the warship left Rosyth and sailed to deeper waters. Members of the new ship's crew worked with Babcock staff to ensure HMS Venturer successfully lifted off the barge safely. Once tugs were attached, the frigate was towed back up river on her maiden voyage with Venturer's senior naval officer, commander Chris Cozens. 'Getting Venturer's feet wet is not just a showpiece, it is the culmination of the structural stage of build before the rest of the fit out and commissioning completes,' he said. 'It has been impressive to see the pride and teamwork in the industrial staff, MoD and Royal Navy. 'There is a single aim to make Type 31 the best it can be and fit to be a Next Generation Frigate, delivering maritime security and humanitarian disaster relief around the world.' Once back at Rosyth, Venturer was manoeuvred into an inner base in the dockyard to allow Babcock and contractors to complete fitting out the frigate and begin commissioning its many systems and sensors as the vessel is prepared for her first sea trials. Sir Nick Hine, chief executive of Babcock's Marine Sector, said: 'In a complex and uncertain world, our ability to design, build and support advanced warships in the UK is more important than ever. 'HMS Venturer's first entry into the water is a clear demonstration of UK sovereign capability in action and the depth, resilience and expertise within Babcock's Marine business. 'This latest milestone exhibits the excellent progress being made across our multi-build programme, which will see us deliver five complex warships for the Royal Navy within a decade. 'This is engineering at its best, delivered, together with our partners, with pride, purpose and precision. HMS Venturer is just the beginning. 'My grandfather used to work at Harland and Wolff, so being involved with Venturer's first move into the Forth is a proud moment for me.' Lieutenant Dai Guthrie, the frigate's deputy marine engineer officer, said he was delighted to be involved at 'such a historic moment as Venturer entered the water for the first time'. He added: 'The operation has been an embodiment of the team ethos that has been ingrained in the build process thus far and a symbol of the progress that's being made to bring a frigate at the cutting edge of naval technology into service.' Operating from Portsmouth, HMS Venturer and its four sister vessels will conduct a variety of duties from thwarting drug smuggling activities to conducting board and search security operations and providing disaster relief.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
DPR Identifies Three Key Benefits of Integrated Contract Strategies for Faster GMP Facility Deployment
Experts discuss how early collaboration and innovative contracting methods are accelerating timelines, controlling costs, and improving project outcomes. BOSTON, June 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- "When you're in the business of life-saving scientific research, every day counts," shared Mike Forth, DPR Construction's Northeast Life Sciences Core Market Leader during ISPE Boston's discussion Accelerating Speed-to-Market for GMP Facilities. "The earlier Owners, designers, contractors and trade partners start collaborating on building a facility, the faster scientists can complete their research." Adopting innovative contract strategies like design-assist and integrated project delivery (IPD) provides significant benefits for owners. "Any contract that prioritizes early collaboration will lead to a more efficient delivery. Right now, locally, we're seeing clients adopt design-assist contracts most frequently," Forth says. "This approach has gained traction nationally, but the adoption has been particularly impactful in the Northeast due to a growing need to balance complex contract terms with the urgency of life sciences projects." The success of design-assist contracts stems from their unique ability to align stakeholders earlier in the process, fostering collaboration that addresses challenges proactively. Owners are finding greater confidence in navigating the nuanced demands of GMP facilities, ensuring streamlined delivery of critical spaces without compromising on quality or timelines. For owners, there are three key benefits of integrated contract strategies: 1. Early Integration Drives Long-Term Success. Early integration allows contractors and trade partners to support design decisions, evaluate material and layout options, and align procurement strategies with schedule demands. Contractors can conduct constructability reviews and develop logistics plans while design is still evolving. This proactive involvement uncovers challenges sooner and opens the door to solutions that accelerate delivery—such as prefabrication, modular systems, or phased construction—while improving safety and quality. 2. Collaboration Enables More Accurate, Predictable Costs. Early collaboration also results in more accurate budgeting. When contractors are brought in during design, they can support real-time pricing, provide feedback on scope decisions, and help the team understand the cost implications of various design options. This is especially important for GMP facilities, where critical equipment may have long lead times or limited manufacturers. "We don't want to receive drawings for an eight-month project and then realize a key component will take two years to deliver," Forth said. "Early involvement lets us consider current and future supply chain and labor conditions to avoid those costly delays." Overlapping design and procurement also opens the door to more competitive bids and cost certainty. 3. Team-Based Models Improve Quality and Reduce Risk. Working together and holding each other accountable as a team is how you build a successful project. When all project partners collaborate in real time, decisions are made faster and with greater confidence. This reduces rework, limits change orders, and improves quality before construction even begins. "Our goal is to eliminate the roadblocks before they arise," Forth says. "We want to have solutions before there's a crisis that prevents construction from moving forward, and we can't do that in a silo." In today's fast-moving life sciences environment, projects that start with alignment finish with confidence. About DPR ConstructionDPR Construction is a forward-thinking, self-performing general contractor and construction manager specializing in technically complex and sustainable projects for the advanced technology, life sciences, healthcare, higher education and commercial markets. DPR's portfolio of work ranges from large-scale new construction to small tenant improvements and special projects. Founded in 1990, DPR is a great story of entrepreneurial success as a private, employee-owned company that has grown to a multi-billion-dollar organization with offices around the world. Strategically focused on delivering more predictable outcomes through applications of virtual design & construction, prefabrication, its team of self-perform craft, and leveraging data to learn and improve from DPR consistently ranks among the top building contractors and employs approximately 11,000 professionals across its family of companies. For more information, visit For more information, please contact: Lisa RuanoDPR ConstructionTel: 908-451-9622Email: lisaru@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE DPR Construction
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Cumbrian firms urged to back 'Just One Pound' appeal to support suicide survivors
A group aiming to help suicide survivors and their families across Cumbria is asking businesses to back its 'Just One Pound' appeal. A sister whose brother took his own life is leading a bid to raise awareness of suicide by putting Cumbria at the heart of a national Baton of Hope campaign. Now a group of Cumbrian businesses giving their support to the campaign are asking fellow firms to back an appeal by inviting all their employees to each donate 'Just One Pound' to the cause. Lisa Birdsall and her brother Stephen in 2012 (Image: Baton of Hope) Ken Johnston, Business Liaison Manager at Forth which has bases at Flimby, Cleator Moor and Barrow, and fellow members of the Cumbria Baton of Hope committee, came up with the 'Just One Pound' appeal to help people make a small donation even when times are tough. Mr Johnston said: "By encouraging businesses across Cumbria to ask their employees if they would donate 'Just One Pound', we are hoping that it will not only enable a greater number of people to donate, but also to acknowledge that suicide is an issue that we should all come together across the county to address. 'Whatever our background, wherever in the county we live and work, many of us know someone affected by suicide. If we are to truly tackle mental health and suicide issues in Cumbria it needs us all to unite and find better ways to help.' Lisa's husband Jonny Birdsall's campaign image (Image: Baton of Hope) Lisa Birdsall, whose brother Stephen took his own life, said: "In Cumbria we have some of the worst statistics on suicide in the UK - Cumbria's overall statistics on suicide are 55 per cent above the national average. "The former Copeland area has the highest suicide rate per capita in the UK. Carlisle is second. Ken Johnston's AI campaign image (Image: Baton of Hope) "Men account for 75 per cent of suicides. "But females outnumber men by more than half in terms of suicide attempts." She added: 'When it comes to talking about suicide we often focus on the despair. "We need to turn the message around because the golden thread binding us all together through this is hope. I want us to show what there is out there to help people. Lisa Birdsall, husband Jonny, and Baton of Hope founder Mike McCarthy on the Baton of Hope tour in Gateshead in 2023 (Image: Baton of Hope) 'We are raising the profile of the need to talk. To be preventative we need to be open and honest about mental health discussions. 'There are a lot of suicide charities, but we can be siloed. The Baton of Hope is designed to bring all of us together and make us a stronger force for change.' Ms Birdsall is determined to change the narrative around suicide, focusing on hope rather than despair. Ken Johnston (left) and Lisa's husband Jonny Birdsall pictured at a campaign mural created by Cumbrian-based artists Beardy and Twiggy at Strand Street, in Whitehaven to promote the appeal (Image: Baton of Hope) The campaign is part of the national Baton of Hope initiative, which aims to unite suicide charities and organisations to create a stronger force for change. The Baton of Hope will be hosted in Cumbria on September 7, with more than 80 baton holders, including suicide survivors and families, forming a relay through the county. The event is supported by a range of businesses providing funding and logistical support. Graham Cartwright, projects director at Forth, said: "We know how prevalent suicide is in Cumbria and we know how devastating it is for everyone concerned, for all families and friends, and we absolutely know that more needs to be done to help those who are in a dark place and who feel, for whatever reason, that there is no other way out. "We have been only too glad to give our support to Lisa and Jonny to help make the Baton of Hope coming to Cumbria a turning point for mental health support in the county." Campaign QR Code (Image: Baton of Hope) A campaign mural has been created by artists Beardy and Twiggy, who are based in Cumbria, on Strand Street in Whitehaven to support the appeal. The Baton of Hope Cumbria event has received backing from partners including the Decommissioning Alliance (TDA), as well as a range of businesses, organisations, charities and venues. Those offering their support include Forth, Sellafield Ltd, Goodlives, Whitehaven RL, the Beacon, schools from the area, Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners, Irvings Coaches, Penrith Young Farmers, Carlisle United FC, the new fire station in Carlisle, Andy Man's Club, the NHS, first responders, Carlisle Castle and English Heritage. The Baton of Hope charity was founded in 2022 by two dads, Mike McCarthy and Steve Phillip, who both lost family members to suicide. Mr McCarthy wanted to ensure that the legacy of his son Ross' death would be to change the landscape of mental health services in the UK. The Baton of Hope is due to set off from Leconfield, Cleator Moor, in the early morning of September 7, starting at Forth's offices and Sellafield Ltd's Engineering Centre of Excellence. It will stop at the Goodlives project at Westlakes Science Park, before moving onto Whitehaven. It will then travel to Bassenthwaite Lake, Penrith, and onto Carlisle. A website has been created where more information can be found about the Cumbrian leg of the tour To donate to Cumbria's 'Just One Pound' appeal visit:
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Fundraiser conquers height of Everest in Wainwright challenge
A determined fundraiser is set to complete his challenge to climb all 214 Wainwrights in the Lake District in one year, three months ahead of schedule. Ken Johnston, a business liaison manager at Forth, embarked on the challenge in July to raise funds and awareness for Goodlives West Cumbria. This charity helps local residents find employment. Forth is an award-winning UK advanced technology solutions business with bases at Maryport, Cleator Moor and Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria. Mr Johnston's dedication has seen him scale 9,587 metres in just six days, surpassing the height of Mount Everest, which is 8,849 metres tall. This is the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest and Eskdale's Harter Fell combined. Mr Johnston, who works at the engineering firm, is set to complete his challenge by the end of April. His determination saw him cover 100 miles in the process. The Goodlives West Cumbria teddy bear mascot accompanied Ken Johnston on his hikes (Image: Supplied) In January, he doubled the distance of a charity walk from Forth's HQ in Flimby to Goodlives' base in Cleator Moor, making it a 40-mile round trip. Mr Johnston said: "I am currently undertaking the challenge of walking all 214 Wainwrights so I thought I would continue that mission with the aim of scaling the equivalent of Everest in one week. "I'm known for pushing my limits, so of course I wanted to go higher and in less time – and, when I had surpassed in just six days, my next goal was to break the 100-mile mark. "This trek was tough going over boggy ground and I had to push on through painful blisters, but I wanted to really challenge myself to make the rewards of completing the hikes feel more worthwhile. "All of this is to raise money for, and awareness of, such an amazing charity which benefits the lives of many people living in West Cumbria." The fundraiser was part of Forth's campaign to raise £25,000 for Goodlives to mark the engineering firm's 25th anniversary. Mr Johnston is not finished with his fundraising efforts. Alongside his colleagues, he aims to conquer the Three Peaks of Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike, and Snowdon within 24 hours on July 12. This was the original date set by Mr Johnston to complete his Wainwright challenge. He will be joined by Lewis Mattinson, Aaliyah Rawlinson, and Imogen Frazer, with Graeme McLoughlin providing logistical support. Mr Johnston added: "As a company, Forth is really passionate about championing local causes and Goodlives West Cumbria does an incredible job in helping people improve and develop their employability skills to get them into work, thus benefiting the local economy. "It's a landmark anniversary for Forth as we celebrate 25 years in business, and that journey has included supporting our local community along the way. "We are determined to raise as much money as possible for Goodlives." During his challenge, Mr Johnston was accompanied by the Goodlives West Cumbria teddy bear as a mascot. For those interested in supporting Forth's fundraising campaign for Goodlives West Cumbria, donations can be made on Johnston's JustGiving page.
