Experts say social media can be detrimental for us.
And in this case, they’re probably right, because you deserve a massive pat on the back if you managed to stop yourself from scrolling on Twitter yesterday and inevitably avoid your eyes being burned with the image of the latest food collaboration that everyone’s talking about.
We mean it when we say everyone’s talking about it too.
Not only has this cursed tweet been retweeted over 70K times, it’s also racked up tens of thousands of comments from people, companies, countries, and more, all wading in on the debate.
Even Greater Manchester Police has got involved with it too, and have confirmed that the matter has been “passed over to our major incident team who deals with cereal killers”, so you know it must be something pretty serious.
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There’s no denying it’s a violation, but if you’re still not sure what we’re referring to yet, we’ll just say it’s probably not as bad as you’re thinking – or is it?
So, what are we talking about then?
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Well, yesterday morning just after 9:30am, as we were all minding our own business and cracking on with our day, two iconic British food brands decided it was the perfect time to collaborate, so Weetabix took to Twitter to share a snap of a bowl of its hearty cereal topped with, none other than, Heinz Baked Beans.
And it absolutely broke the internet, with a level of outrage not seen in a long time.
The public, quite rightly, just couldn’t seem to wrap their heads around what they were seeing, with the main question on everyone’s lips – this can’t be serious, right?
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They’ve got to be having us on here? This is a joke?
Both foods are beloved in Britain, but no one in their right minds is topping their morning Weetabix with baked beans, are they?
It’s a question that remains unanswered at this point, and despite Weetabix’s Assistant Brand Manager revealing to LinkedIn that this whole debacle is one of the reasons why “I love my job”, we’re still none the wiser to concluding whether or not it’s a genuine match-up, or something devised solely for marketing purposes with the intent of getting everyone as wound up as they have.
For everyone’s sanity, we’ll keep our fingers crossed that the latter is true.
But it sounds like sanity might already be out the window anyway, because the official Twitter account of just about every other company you can think of has chipped in with their opinions.
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Let’s set aside our differences to prosecute this under the Geneva Convention.
National supermarket chain Sainsbury’s response managed to tie it in with last week’s meme of the moment, the Handforth Parish Council Zoom meeting madness, and the Jackie Weaver fan club that followed soon after it.
The north’s even united in agreement that it needs seeing to as well, with Yorkshire Tea willing to report the issue to the police, and Bolton-born bread brand Warburtons being prepared to back them up.
If you need a witness statement, please let us know
And whether you believe it or not, it’s even been deemed a serious enough issue for government authorities, national embassies, the actual country of Israel, the NHS, and the city centre department of our very own Greater Manchester Police, to get involved with too.
The latter informing the public that: “We’ve bean looking into this after a number of complaints today [and] due to its serious nature, we’ve passed it over to our major incident team who deals with cereal killers”.
We've bean looking into this after a number of complaints today. Due to its serious nature, we've passed it over to our major incident team who deals with cereal killers!
We didn’t even scratch the surface with replies to this tweet, as you’d probably be here all day if we had, so head on over to the full thread on Twitter if you want more.
Even though the concept has got all the elements of instant viral fame, you’d never have predicted it would’ve angered the globe quite as much as it has, so we can only imagine what it’s like at the Weetabix and Heinz HQs right now.
All we can say is, it’s massively kicked off and we hope they’re proud of themselves.
Now, that’s enough internet for one day.
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The lyrics to Auld Lang Syne for New Year’s Eve, and what the song means
Daisy Jackson
The clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, the confetti is thrown, the kisses are exchanged, and then up starts Auld Lang Syne and you realise, once again, that you don’t know the lyrics to the iconic song.
This classic song is traditionally sung as we welcome in a new year, but you may (like us) find yourself singing the words as ‘dah daaah dah dah daaah dah dah, dah dah daaah dah Auld Lang Syne.”
Well it’s time to stop that behaviour and learn yourselves the Auld Lang Syne lyrics, quick time, before we hit 2025.
The text of the song is actually from a Robert Burns poem, penned way back in 1788 and based on an old Scottish folk song.
It was set to a tune a decade later, and since then has been recorded by dozens of different artists.
Auld Lang Syne can loosely translate as ‘old long since’, or ‘days gone by’ or ‘old times’.
So its meaning roughly is ‘for the sale of old times’.
There are longer versions of the song, but the lyrics to the most commonly-played version of Auld Lang Syne are below.
So hold hands with your loved ones, crack open the champers, and ring in a very happy new year.
What are the lyrics to Auld Lang Syne?
Fireworks on New Year’s Eve, when the song Auld Lang Syne is traditionally sung
Should auld acquaintance be forgot And never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot And the days of auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear For auld lang syne We’ll drink a cup of kindness yet For the sake of auld lang syne
And surely you will buy your cup And surely I’ll buy mine! We’ll take a cup of kindness yet For the sake of auld lang syne
We two have paddled in the stream From morning sun till night The seas between us Lord and swell Since the days of auld lang syne
For old acquaintance be forgot And never brought to mind Should old acquaintance be forgot For the sake of auld lang syne?
For old acquaintance be forgot And never brought to mind Should old acquaintance be forgot In the days of auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear For auld lang syne We’ll drink a cup of kindness yet For the sake of auld lang syne
How and where to recycle your Christmas tree in Greater Manchester 2024
Thomas Melia
There comes a point in time where you’re all ‘spruced’ out and it’s time for a home interior refresh, so here’s all the ways you can recycle your Christmas tree in Greater Manchester.
Christmas has been and gone, but there’s no party blues yet, as the new year is just around the corner, there’s still plenty of fun to be had.
After taking down all those decorations from your tree, you may be stumped on what to do with it next, but don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
They say you learn something new every day, so if the ‘Twixmas’ period is when you like to take down your Christmas decs and start anew, then let us tell you about all of the different ways to dispose of your once-decorated greenery.
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Recycle your real Christmas tree in food and garden bin
You can pop your real Christmas tree into your food waste / garden bin, as long as its chopped and trimmed, with the trunk needing to be thinner than your wrist – but only if it isn’t possible take it to a Christmas tree recycling point instead.
Or you could continue the Christmas spirit by replanting your tree into your garden and keep it as a reminder of the fun of the festive season all year long.
Additionally, you can try returning your tree to the retailer or vendor you bought it from, whether that’s a shop or garden centre, but just make sure you check you can do this beforehand.
There are loads of different ways to recycle your Christmas tree in Greater Manchester / Credit: Flickr
Take it to your local tip
Christmas trees are accepted at all 20 recycling centres within Greater Manchester for free.
How ever you choose to give your tree the big send-off, make sure to apply for a specific vehicle permit if you’re giving your tree a more spacious mode of transport – such as a van, pick-up truck or a twin-axle trailer.
You can also drop off any unwanted ornaments here too, including that one that’s progressively been making its way to the back of the tree each year (we’ve all got one).
Artificial trees will be welcomed at all these locations too, so all that’s left to do is find your nearest recycling centre here.
You can find more information and register your tree here.
Greater Manchester residents can get all the advice they need online / Credit: Sean Foster (via Unsplash)
Donate to charity
Local charity, Just Helping, is providing collection services in some of the key Greater Manchester areas.
Everyone at this charity – which launched in 2012, and operates 106 collection areas nationwide – is not only helping to raise money for other Greater Manchester charities, but they’re also eco warriors too, as recycling Christmas trees prevents 82,000 kg of carbon dioxide emissions.
Anyone thinking of utilising these services can do so here.
If you’re still struggling on what to do with your Christmas tree, you can find more tips and advice on your local Council’s website with a link to each borough’s Council here.
Emily Sergeant -
10th February 2021 
