The Clap for Carers campaign is set to return once again this Thursday after the UK was plunged into the third national lockdown of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Can you remember back to Thursday 26th March 2020?
At 8pm on this very date, the UK stepped outside their front doors, stood on their balconies, and took to the streets to unite in thunderous applause as a mark of support for our health heroes, carers and key workers.
There seemed to be a sense of collective agreement that it was a genuinely moving moment that touched so many across the country and began to make us realise that we really are all in this together – and it was a great success.
So successful in fact, that it continued to take place every week, on the same day, at the same time, and began to take on a life of its own.
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During the first wave, millions of people came out of their homes to cheer, bang pots and applaud, but the campaign eventually faded after several months. That was until this week though when organiser Annemarie Plas has revealed it will return once again this Thursday, and this time, with a new twist.
It will now be now known as #ClapForHeroes in honour of everyone who has been affected by the pandemic, including NHS workers, parents, and people who have been shielding.
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Ms Plas – who was originally inspired to set up Clap For Carers by similar campaigns in her home country of the Netherlands, and in France and Spain – has asked people to express their gratitude to all carers by opening windows and clapping at the same time each week.
We are bringing back the 8pm applause, in our 3rd lockdown I hope it can lift the spirit, of all of us. Carers teacher, homeschooling parents, those who shield and ALL who is pushing through this difficult time! Please join & share!#clapforheroespic.twitter.com/Tl27BlzqlH
She said: “It will be different this time, it’s not a surprise to us what will happen, but it will still be bloody challenging. My hope is that it will have the same response, to set it up in a day is a bit of a challenge, but I will be going out with a spoon and a pan to activate people on my street.
“I was waiting to start it up for the anniversary in March, but life is full of surprises and we entered another lockdown on Monday.
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“We want to include all the heroes of the NHS who work tirelessly round the clock and all the jobs around that [and] we want to applaud all those people who are shielding. I haven’t hugged my father in a year because he is vulnerable so it will be for him and others going through the same.
“The heroes include parents with children who now have had their schools closed after one day and will now have to juggle work with childcare.”
But not everyone is pleased to see the campaign return.
Since Ms Plas’ announcement earlier on today, a debate has begun on social media and it has seen people point out a series of major problems and criticisms.
One Twitter user responded: “No. Stop with the empty gestures and fight for real change with pay and protection.”, and a second asked: “‘Heroes’ or underpaid workers who put their lives at risk and are snubbed repeatedly by government?”
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“It’s a hard pass from me, not because I don’t have the utmost respect for them, it’s a toothless gesture and vacuous,” a third agreed.
Another chipped in with: “Nobody wants this. NHS staff don’t need empty applause, they need everyone to stay at home, wear masks etc. and they need better wages. But, you go ahead and clappy clap clap if you need the attention.”
“Clapping is not about thanking: clapping should be a celebration. You don’t celebrate the sacrifice of frontline health workers. You don’t celebrate the fact we clapped the last time to thank them & worked hard to protect the NHS & now the government has made things far worse.” another concluded.
Where do you stand?
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The Japanese takeaway with a Michelin-trained chef serving a secret omakase menu out back
Georgina Pellant
Good sushi is a hard thing to find in Manchester nowadays. To be honest, ever since the demise of Umezushi, it has felt out of reach.
Average sushi, however, is suddenly available in abundance thanks to an explosive proliferation of trendy, if soulless, Pan Asian restaurants.
You know the sort. The spots with the claggy, dried-out rice on ostentatious platters, whose chefs stuff cream cheese into the middle of their maki, or disguise its lack of freshness with cascading waterfalls of dry ice.
These spots, with their fake flower walls and neon signs that scream “Pick me!” seem, depressingly, to be taking over. So it’s with relish I can reassure you at least one place in Manchester city centre is doing its bit to remind us what real sushi should actually taste like.
Image: The Manc Group
Image: The Manc Group
Even better, it’s entirely missing the gaudy flamboyance of Manchester’s glitzy Pan Asian sushi scene – so if, like me, you’re not into superficial sushi, you should feel right at home here.
I’m talking about One Sushi, formerly known as Ikkan – a tiny Japanese takeaway shop on Oxford Road filled with little more than a few wooden counters and a cash desk topped with metallic maneki-neko, or beckoning cat.
Opened last year by the team behind China Buffet, a popular Chinese restaurant in the heart of Chinatown, its takeaway cabinets are stuffed with California and red dragon rolls, deep-fried ebi, and various tempting combo platters.
These lovingly packaged takeaway morsels are already considered by sushi fiends in the know to be amongst best in the city, but – whilst they are really good – they are nothing compared to what is coming off the kitchen’s near-invisible pass.
Hidden at the back by a blue flag featuring the One Sushi logo and rolling waves that resemble Japanese ukiyo-e artist Hokusai’s famous Great Wave off Kanagawa print, it’s here that you will reconsider whether you’ve ever really had a good piece of sushi before in your life.
Prepare to be blown away.
The no-frills setup for the omakase, which literally translates as ‘I leave it up to you’. / Image: The Manc Eats
A piece of Otoro tuna nigiri. / Image: The Manc Eats
We’re talking otoro belly tuna, A5 seared wagyu steak (that’s the highest grade you can get), sweet Japanese scallops and prawns, all prepared right in front of you by master sushi chef Eddie who trained at two Michelin star Hong Kong restaurant Zuicho.
All the fish here is super fresh, and the entire style of the menu is down to chef Eddie – meaning he chooses for you, preparing the best of the best from that day.
Priced at £58 per person, Eddie can accommodate up to four people at once for this incredible omakase sushi experience. There’s really nowhere like it in Manchester for this price, in fact the only other place where you can go to experience something like this will set you back at least £200.
For sushi lovers, this is a dream come true.
Featured image – The Manc Group
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Manchester United confirm Antony will return to training following assault allegations
Danny Jones
Manchester United winger Antony is heading back to training amid his multiple assault allegations.
Antony‘s case is still ongoing, with a total of three women coming out to accuse him of domestic abuse — chiefly, his ex-girlfriend Gabriela Cavallin, who was first to raise concerns surrounding his alleged behaviour — but his cooperation through the investigation has led them to revise their position.
Issuing an update on Friday morning confirming that the forward with be brought back into the fold until the situation is resolved.
A club statement reads as follows: “Since allegations were first made in June, Antony has co-operated with police inquiries in both Brazil and the UK, and he continues to do so.
“As Antony’s employer, Manchester United has decided that he will resume training at Carrington, and be available for selection, while police inquiries proceed. This will be kept under review pending further developments in the case.
“As a club, we condemn acts of violence and abuse. We recognise the importance of safeguarding all those involved in this situation, and acknowledge the impact these allegations have on survivors of abuse.”
Erik ten Hag‘s side plays their second game against Crystal Palace in less than a week after beating them 3-0 in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday and while it is not thought Antony will be brought straight back into the team, he will be available for selection moving forward.
United currently sit ninth in the Premier League with three wins and three losses to their name.