Like in any other commercial concern, morale sometimes dips in the Hot Press office. I know it might appear to the casual on-looker that we ride constantly around on the pig's back, enjoying champers and swan for breakfast as we arse about with rock stars and guffaw at Stuart Clark's endless tales of "how it used it be" when Capel Street was nothing but fields, but the pressures of producing the leading cultural periodical of the state oft-times takes a toll. It is at moments like these that I leap from behind my station in the cloakroom to read aloud some inspiring words, that I might encourage younger members of staff to greater achievement, as captured in the daguerreotype reproduced above.

It's metrical composition of a high moral fibre that is called for, and I'm particularly partial to the good book. Let us remember the Epistle of Paul to the Colossians, 3:23 "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters" or Proverbs 12:24 "Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor". I tend to avoid Proverbs 14:23 "All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty" as that's a little too close to the bone, and quite possibly explains why I am forever potless.

Yes, a timely verse usually does the trick. That, or hanging the threat of  a Nathan Carter review over heads like a Damoclean sword.

Speaking of the bible and holy rewards, here is our Sunday service, in the form of this week's Golden Hour. Don't forget to click that heart button in order that you might be blessed with regular updates. You also risk eternal damnation by failing to follow the Hot Press Spotify channel. On your own head be it.

https://open.spotify.com/user/patcarty/playlist/6jkIIG93gaz8nGC1ympvjj?si=CjKjMKp_TkuF73LxJYL0Ng