There’s a lot of aspects to life that we’ve found ourselves having to adjust to amid the ‘new normal’.
For many Brits, working from home is one of those aspects.
Companies of all shapes, sizes and industries are looking to embrace the concept of working from home a lot more as we head into the coming months, but when the stresses and strains of uncomfortable working positions just end up getting on top of us, we all deserve to treat ourselves every now and then, right?
Thanks to online gifting retailer Prezzybox, here are some of the best at-home massage products on the market right now to do just that – treat yourself.
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Vibrating Body Massager
Prezzybox
This fantastic handheld massager means you no longer have to travel anywhere other than your own home when the daily stresses and strains of life have you feeling a little bit uptight at times.
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It’s your very own massage assistant at your fingertips.
The vibrating ball-shaped massager has special pads for the right pressure to ease any tension, has soft-coloured LED lights to help on your journey to relaxation and is retailing at just £7.99 on Prezzybox.
You can get your hands on the Vibrating Body Massagerhere.
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Vibrating Neck Massager
Prezzybox
This vibrating neck massager can help soothe muscle aches and pains in your neck after a long day of working.
The soft and pillow-like massager has innovative therapeutic vibrating technology, can be wrapped around your neck to allow for hands-free pain relief, is the perfect size to carry wherever you go post-lockdown and is retailing for just £14.99 on Prezzybox.
You can get your hands on the Vibrating Neck Massagerhere.
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Mini Massage Cushion
This small-but-mighty massage cushion is the ultimate relaxation accessory.
It’s powered by a UK mains adapter, meaning no more pesky batteries, has rotation massage features and four pressure points – plus an optional ‘heat mode’ for aches and pains – and provides deep tissue relief for any part of your body.
It’s also the perfect size for post-lockdown travel too and is retailing on Prezzybox at £29.99.
You can get your hands on the Mini Massage Cushionhere.
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Eyezone Massager
Prezzybox
This Eyezone Massager has three revolutionary features.
It combines massage therapy, pinhole therapy and magnetic therapy, all in one clever little tool. According to the product description, “a lot of the stresses we feel living in today’s world have a technological cause [and] it’s therefore sensible to approach relieving these stresses and strains in a scientific manner”.
It helps to combat headaches, eyestrain, fatigue and insomnia, and is retailing on Prezzybox for just £9.99.
You can get your hands on the Eyezone Massagerhere.
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Lower Back Massager
Prezzybox
This portable Lower Back Massager is a handy and efficient way of dealing with the muscle strain and posture issues that are brought on by working from home, because according to the product description, “we often neglect and take for granted the way that the body copes with strains and tension”.
It’s easily attachable, can be worn around the waist or across the chest, helps to ease pain by releasing heat in soothing waves and is retailing on Prezzybox for only £9.99.
You can get your hands on the Lower Back Massagerhere.
News
Castlefield is being transformed into Gotham amidst more Hollywood filming in Greater Manchester
Danny Jones
Castlefield, with its iconic viaduct and cobbled streets, is once again being used for big-budget filming as the latest Batman/DC Universe title, Clayface, looks to be setting up in the eye-catching Manc corner.
Whether it’s football kit reveals and brand shoots, BBC dramas or the next upcoming Netflix series, production crews can’t get enough of Castlefield, it would seem.
For those who hadn’t heard, work on the new Clayface movie revolving around the cult favourite Batman villain is well underway, and the North West has been used as the backdrop on multiple ocassions this month already.
You can see early glimpses of the set being put together down below.
Come on, how cool is it that we get to stumble on stuff like this right on our doorstep so often?
Speaking to The Manc, a source detailed that the set is being assembled today (Tuesday, 16 September) ahead of a single day of principal photography on what we can only assume is more Clayface filming sometime tomorrow.
While she could not confirm with us directly, she said, “If you’re a comic book nerd and look at the posters, you’ll be able to figure it out.” We’ve certainly been studying all the easter eggs already.
It might not quite be as dark and gritty as Gotham City, but this particular part of Manchester has been used in TV and film – especially period dramas – many times for good reason.
The Victorian-era steel structure, dark red brick and overall industrial aesthetic work so well when it comes to creating a believable and cinematic world.
Besides perhaps the most famous instance of Peaky Blinders shooting in these parts, you can add multiple music videos, several Manchester United and Man City shirt launches, and so many more that we’re starting to lose track.
As for Clayface, this isn’t even the first time the upcoming DC ‘body-horror’ flick has popped up in Greater Manchester.
Last week saw the equally striking Art Deco facade of the old The Plaza Super Cinema in Stockport turned into a fictional movie premiere to stunning effect:
Speaking of, another childhood favourite is filming here in Manchester right now, too.
Besides perhaps the most famous instance of Peaky Blinders shooting in these parts, the new Narnia adaptation by Greta Gerwig may just be one of the biggest projects that has ever landed underneath the familiar ‘birdcage’.
ln fact, it just so happens that there are actually multiple noteworthy small and silver screen works fighting over the Castlefield shooting schedule at the moment…
Manchester City staff member sacked after wearing Man United shirt to shift
Danny Jones
Man City have divided a fair few supporters after they sacked a barman for wearing a United shirt to their shift during the Manchester derby.
Although it’s not exactly surprising, the decision has ruffled plenty of feathers on both sides, as well as among neutral fans.
The Blues emerged victorious in the 197th clash between the two local rivals, winning 3-0 on an evening that paid tribute to the late, great Ricky Hatton, but another backstory looming over the fixture that caught the attention of football fans online was the City staff member who lost his job.
Working on concessions inside the Etihad Stadium before the game, the barman was made known to the official MCFC Matchday Support channel on X, who quickly confirmed he had been let go before the game even began.
In the since-deleted post, the home fan who reported the worker wrote: “Absolute joke – letting one of the bar staff in block 315 wear a United shirt on Derby Day.”
Although many City fans applauded the fast action by the club on the day, it’s fair to say that sacking him so soon that he didn’t even last until kick-off has rubbed many others the wrong way.
One Liverpool fan commented: “I hate United way more than City, but to sack him from a job because of an item of clothing is crazy. So, so poor from Manchester City, this. It’s just football lads, he’s not wearing a political or derogatory symbol. It’s literally a football team…”
Another neutral added: “Getting a minimum wage worker sacked for having a bit of fun instead of just winding him up is the absolute sad state this country is in.”
Even the ‘Out Of Context Football Manager‘ parody account chipped in, writing: “The guy’s been sacked for this. All he needed was a formal warning. I get he’s taking the p*ss – but losing a salary he might really need over this?!
While many have been even more outspoken in their response, as you can see, many supporters – be they Red or otherwise – have come up with arguably the perfect solution:
Manchester City are yet to comment on the backlash, apart from the initial confirmation that the still-anonymous staff member has been released from his position, but as for Man United, simply sticking him on the kiosks in the Stretford End could prove to be a very easy bit of positive PR.
Besides the growing frustration around the fanbase, as Ruben Amorim has yet to turn things around at Old Trafford (pressure was growing even before the derby day defeat), the Red Devils could no doubt do with some positive press for a change.
In fact, it was only earlier this year that co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, CEO Omar Berrada and the wider INEOS Sports administration sanctioned a second round of redundancies at United, with approximately 450 individuals losing their jobs.
That being said, although some have labelled the sacking of the now ex-City barman as “absolutely horrendous behaviour” for Man City, many jumped to quip back that “[United are] more likely to sack more bar staff, not hire them”, as well as simultaneously taking aim at their significant transfer spending.
Emily Sergeant -
3rd July 2020 
