It’s officially pumpkin spice latte season… there’s no denying it now.
Okay, although over the last few weeks the UK has been dealing with both the unseasonably-warm temperatures of a so-called ‘Indian summer’, followed by the chaos of Storm Babet and everything she brought with her – but now, it’s finally starting to feel like autumn.
When the nights start to draw in, the air gets colder, and we all begin to wrap up warmer, then it gets a lot harder to resist the urge to grab a sweet pumpkin spice latte.
Starbucks may be the place that most people associate with the popular autumn drink, but a whole host of other coffee shops and independent cafes also brew up their take on it each year – with some notable chains being Greggs, Pret, and more.
And now, one company is looking for someone to test them out.
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So, if you were already planning on spending the colder months sipping away on a pumpkin spice latte, then how about getting paid for drinking them while you’re at it?
Drinking autumnal drinks is just one of the responsibilities that lingerie brand Pour Moi‘s new ‘Cosy Coordinator’ will be tasked with.
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In what is said to be the perfect job for “fall fanatics that love everything about the colder season”, Pour Moi says it’s on the lookout for “an autumn girlie” who knows their pumpkin spices from their hot chocolates, gets giddy when they hear the Gilmore Girls theme tune, and loves nothing more than lighting a cinnamon-scented candle and snuggling up on the sofa as the night’s draw in.
The key focus of the brand-new role is to test out Pour Moi’s comfy bras and pants to ensure they’re fit for all the cosy tasks this autumn.
The job tasks include drinking some of the season’s most popular autumn-inspired hot drinks, watching your favourite fall-feeling box set or film, and curling up on the sofa with a good book, all while wearing Pour Moi’s comfortable range of non-wired bras and soft pants.
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After enjoying a perfect snuggly weekend, all the successful applicant will then have to do is review the underwear, and state how well it fared when taking on the cosy tasks.
Pubs can extend their opening hours if England make it to the Euro 2024 semi-finals
Emily Sergeant
Pubs are to be permitted to extend their opening hours if England make it through to the semi-finals of EURO 2024 this summer.
With the Premier League, and the English and Scottish football leagues, all drawing to a close over the next couple of weeks, our nations are already looking ahead to what is gearing up to be a massive summer of sport – with both the UEFA EURO 2024, and the 2024 Olympics coming up before August is out.
And now, it’s been revealed by Home Secretary James Cleverly that if either England or Scotland’s mens national football teams make it to the semi-final of European football’s flagship tournament, then pubs will be allowed to stay open for longer.
But, there’s a bit of a catch… because isn’t there always?
The Government has said that venues will be allowed to stay open for an extra two hours on match days if either or both teams reach the last four or the final of the competition, but this only applies to pubs that already have a license to open until 11pm anyway.
Pubs can extend their opening hours if England make it to the Euro 2024 semi-finals / Credit: Piqsels | Wikimedia Commons
The move to extend opening hours comes after a consultation at the end of last year, and is hoped to provide a boost to the hospitality industry – which has notably been hit hard during the ongoing cost of living crisis.
The Home Secretaries in England and Wales, under Section 172 of the Licensing Act 2003, can make an order relaxing licensing hours to mark occasions of “exceptional national significance”, but the Scottish and Northern Irish Governments have to set their own rules.
“We have listened to the public through our consultation,” explained Home Secretary James Cleverley, “and we will be extending pub licensing hours should England or Scotland reach the semi-finals or final of Euro 2024.”
The EURO 2024 semi-finals are to be held on Tuesday 9 and Wednesday 10 July / Credit: UEFA
Mr Cleverley said the move will “allow friends, families and communities to come together for longer to watch their nation hopefully bring it home”.
This legislation is set to be laid in Parliament today (Wednesday 8 May) to ensure there is enough time for it to be debated and passed before the tournament begins on Friday 14 June, the Government has confirmed.
Blue Peter is launching a FREE book club for kids at Manchester’s Central Library
Emily Sergeant
Blue Peter is launching a book club for kids right here in Manchester later this month, and it’s free for everyone to get involved with.
Book-loving mini Mancs are in for a real treat in a couple of weeks time, as the iconic BBC children’s TV series is partnering with Manchester Libraries and The Reading Agency for an exciting new project called ‘Blue Peter Book Club Live’.
Officially kicking off at the Central Library in the heart of Manchester city centre next Saturday (18 May) Blue Peter Book Club Live is set to be a “fun-filled event” that’s open to all.
It's official! The Blue Peter Book Club is launching live from Manchester Central Library. 💙
— Manchester City Council (@ManCityCouncil) May 8, 2024
Not only will kids get to discover a whole host of “brilliant books” and “celebrate the joy and adventure of reading” with guest authors Eve Ainsworth, and the Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho, but there’ll also be the chance to meet Blue Peter presenters Abby, Joel, and Shini, along with Henry the Blue Peter Dog, at the free event too.
CBeebies presenters George Webster and Gyasi Sheppi will also be there to take families on some “enchanting escapades” with magical story time sessions.
Creative crafts, masses of books, and the opportunity to meet some classic book characters like Alice, the Mad Hatter, Willy Wonka, Peter Pan, and more, are also set to make the library “come to life”.
Blue Peter is launching a free book club for kids in Manchester / Credit: BBC & The Reading Agency
The Blue Peter Book Club ‘Badge Trail’ also launches on the day too, and it challenges children to discover special Blue Peter badges on display in 12 different cultural venues across Manchester – with a bonus badge in the Blue Peter Garden in Salford, and some exciting prizes up for grabs.
Beyond the launch event, a series of ‘Book Hunt events will also be coming to “unexpected settings” in Manchester’s parks and open spaces throughout the summer too, and schools across the Greater Manchester region can also join in with Blue Peter Book Club Live by using activity packs and reading resources developed by The Reading Agency to create a “nationwide celebration”.
Ahead of the event next weekend, Councillor John Hacking, who is the Executive Member for Skills Employment and Leisure at Manchester City Council, has called Blue Peter’s new book club a “magnificent initiative”.
Blue Peter Book Club Live will kick-off with a launch event at Manchester Central Library / Credit: Ricardo (via Flickr)
“We are thrilled to be hosting this exciting book event alongside our partners in the iconic Central Library,” Cllr Hacking commented.
“The book club is a magnificent initiative to inspire a love of reading and creativity to get our children engaged and excited by books, and this launch event is one that families with young children will not want to miss.”