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Manchester Christmas Markets named the best in the UK

We definitely already knew this…

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@manchesterchristmasmarkets / Instagram & Arthur Edelmans / Unsplash

A new survey has officially named Manchester’s Christmas Markets as the best in the whole of the UK.

In the run up to the festive season, the independent holiday cottage agency My Favourite Cottages anlaysed thirty Christmas markets in major cities across the UK to see which one provides the best Christmassy experience.

Each market was judged on eight data points including the number of stalls, the running time, the number of visitors per year, the entrance fee and the likelihood of meeting Santa Claus, before each being given an overall market score out of ten. 

@mcrchristmasmarkets / Instagram

And low and behold, Manchester’s markets came out on top, with an impressive score of 8.39 out of ten. The website said of our epic festivities: “Arriving in the city in 1999, the Manchester Christmas Market scores highly in typical visitor numbers, recording approximately 9 million visitors at its last event.”

It also pointed out that Manchester’s Christmas Market is the most popular online, with it garnering the most online interest in the last year with over 114k Google searches, surpassing the Winter Wonderland in London’s Hyde Park, which saw just 82k searches in comparison. 

The Manchester Christmas Market also ranked highly across all eight factors analysed – including having 300 stalls and running for one of the longest periods of almost six weeks.

Birmingham’s Christmas Market came in at second place, while the York Christmas Market snatched third place and Glasgow came in at fourth. 

@mcrchristmasmarkets / Instagram

Though things at our markets are going to look a little different this year; while the heart of the markets is usually centered around Albert Square, ongoing renovations to the Town Hall have forced them to move to Piccadilly Gardens, the council confirmed last month.

The area is in the process of being transformed into the ‘Winter Gardens’, with all the usual yuletide bars, market stalls and food huts being in attendance. 

To see the full list of the UK’s best Christmas Markets, head over to the My Favourite Cottages website. Meanwhile, to see which traders will be at this year’s Manchester Christmas Markets, which open next week on November 12th, click here

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Former Corrie actress Helen Flanagan reveals psychosis episode due to ADHD medication reaction

Flanagan shared the health update on Instagram after taking a break from social media

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@hjgflanagan / Instagram

Former Coronation Street actress Helen Flanagan has revealed she experienced an episode of psychosis after having a ‘bad reaction’ to ADHD medication.

Flanagan shared that she had been struggling with her mental health after splitting from her ex-partner 18 months ago.

She said she had been really struggling with her mental health in December and January.

@hjgflanagan / Instagram

She also had to pull out of a theatre tour where she was supposed to play the role of Miss Scarlett in Cluedo 2 – The Next Chapter.

The 33-year-old who is a single mother to three children – Matilda, seven, Delilah, five, and Charlie, two, who she shares with Scott Sinclair – is best known for playing Rosie Webster in Coronation Street.

She split from footballer Sinclair in October 2022.

In a post on Instagram, after ‘having a few months off’ from social media, Flanagan wrote: “Had a few months off from social but I’m back now xxx. So basically I really struggled mental health wise December/ January xxx.

@hjgflanagan / Instagram

“I felt really not great in my head over Christmas and I didn’t really feel that much different when I took the kids away for new year xxx 

“I had a lot of difficult things going on things I just can’t talk about on Instagram x.”

Flanagan continued: “I felt terrible, so I was due my theatre tour which I was excited about so when I came back from holiday I thought it was best for me to take some medication so I’d feel better and be able to cope better with being a working single mum of three and I was emotionally struggling with the break up from the father of my kids but I had a really bad reaction though to the medication ( an ADHD medication) and it sent me into a psychosis for a few days which I didn’t know I was in x.

@hjgflanagan / Instagram

“I just love my kids so much x this bad reaction though was a few days before rehearsals were starting and sadly I just wasn’t mentally well enough to do it xxx.

“I was heartbroken as I’ve always been professional as an actress but i needed to stay at home and feel better for me and my kids, with the help of my amazing parents xxx.”

The actress and model added: “I’ve always been honest on here and I feel in a really good happy place now xxx.

“therapy can be amazing and I feel like I’ve worked on myself with things that were quite tough to me but I feel lighter now anyway sending love and please be kind.”

In the comments section, Girls Aloud member Nadine Coyle wrote: “Sending loads of love gorgeous girl!!! Xxx.” Carol Vorderman also posted: “Sending huge love my little meerkat angel.” And former Made In Chelsea star Ashley James commented: “I love you. nice to see you back.” 

About Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), NHS England says: “Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that affects people’s behaviour. 

“People with ADHD can seem restless, may have trouble concentrating and may act on impulse.Symptoms of ADHD tend to be noticed at an early age and may become more noticeable when a child’s circumstances change, such as when they start school.

“Most cases are diagnosed when children are under 12 years old, but sometimes it’s diagnosed later in childhood.”

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Northern hiring train drivers with salaries of £54,000 per year

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Northern

Northern, which operate trains across Greater Manchester and the North of England, is looking to hire train drivers.

The company is hoping to entice people who haven’t considered a career in rail before, with no experience required.

If successful you’ll eventually earn £54,000 per year, following a 64-week training course – the starting salary during this training period is £23,000.

Northern


And if you fancy becoming a conductor instead, wages start at £22,000 before rising to £29,000 following a 16-week training course.

Throughout the year Northern wants to hire more than 300 train drivers and conductors,  which breaks down as 108 drivers and 198 conductors.

Recruits will be able to train in both Manchester and Leeds, and you must finish a paid apprenticeship in one of these two training academies.

Available roles will be advertised over the coming months, so keep your eyes peeled.

Northern


The company’s chief operating officer, Tricia Williams, said: “We have a range of rewarding roles for anyone who wants to become part of a dedicated team that runs more than 2,500 services a day to over 500 destinations.

“We are looking for customer-focused people with excellent communication skills who thrive in a dynamic environment and may not have considered a career in rail before.

“Successful applicants will demonstrate a high level of responsibility, a strong work ethic and a commitment to maintaining safety standards.

“We’ll be recruiting throughout the year and provide all the training you need. We want our workforce to reflect the communities we serve and we’re proud to include people from all walks of life in our team, from military veterans and ex-police officers, to former office workers and stay-at-home parents.”

Head to Northern’s careers page here for further info and job alerts.

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Drivers are now realising they’ve been using roundabouts wrong

Are you using roundabouts correctly?

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Rumeysa / Pexels & Gerald England / Geograph

They may have passed their tests a while ago, but some drivers are only just realising they have been using roundabouts wrong.

When it comes to roundabouts, most drivers will probably feel very confident they know what they are doing and think they how to use them correctly.

So, you know to give way to the right, but which way should you be indicating and which lane should you select for the turn-off you want?

Andrew Skudder / Flickr

We all remember being a nervous learner driver and the sheer panic that would overcome you when approaching a roundabout.

But after plenty of practice they soon become a doddle – until you’ve been driving while and have picked up some bad habits.

Roundabouts are some of the most common places where you hear angry drivers beeping their horns because someone has pulled out or driven into the wrong lane, and all sorts of silly reasons.

Rumeysa / Pexels

Many motorists will already know that if you’re taking the first exit off the roundabout, you select the left-hand lane and use your indicator to signal left – unless some signs or markings indicate otherwise – as per the Highway Code.

And when you’re turning right, you should select the right-hand lane with your indicator signalling right – and keep to the right before you need to change lanes.

However, if you’re driving straight over the roundabout, this is where many drivers get a little confused and make common mistakes.

Gerald England / Geograph

According to the Highway Code, if your ‘intermediate exit’ is positioned at 12 ’o’ clock, you need to be in the left-hand lane – not the right-hand lane as many drivers seem to think.

It sates that you should ‘select the appropriate lane on approach to the roundabout, you should not normally need to signal on approach, you should stay in this lane until you need to alter course to exit the roundabout, and you should signal left after you have passed the exit before the one you want’.

It says that when there are more than three lanes at the entrance to a roundabout, you should use the most appropriate lane on approach and while you’re driving through it – which basically means you should use your common sense based on the rules of the roundabout.

JanPetterWigum1962 / PxHere

The Highway Code also says: “When reaching the roundabout you should give priority to traffic approaching from your right, unless directed otherwise by signs, road markings or traffic lights, check whether road markings allow you to enter the roundabout without giving way. 

“If so, proceed, but still look to the right before joining, watch out for all other road users already on the roundabout; be aware they may not be signalling correctly or at all and look forward before moving off to make sure traffic in front has moved off.”

And when it comes to looking out for cyclists, it adds: “You should give priority to cyclists on the roundabout. They will be travelling more slowly than motorised traffic. Give them plenty of room and do not attempt to overtake them within their lane. Allow them to move across your path as they travel around the roundabout.”

 

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