It’s officially been 101 days of lockdown here in the UK.
Whilst that does sort of sound like a far-fetched sequel to the classic 1996 Disney film 101 Dalmatians, it does also make it hit home just how long it’s been since life as we once knew was tipped on its head in the wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
4th July is set to bring about the relaxing of lockdown restrictions to a level that will resume some form of normality, but for a lot of us, there will still be a human-shaped void left to fill.
There might just be a solution for this though.
If you’ve been stripped of human contact for far too long and don’t fancy letting that continue any longer, how about an IKEA DJUNGELSKOG bear instead?
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Yes, we know that’s not quite the same as human contact, but it seems to doing the trick for a whole host of people on Twitter after a tweet by Lily – @stargazeridiot – went viral yesterday. Her comical tweet, accompanied by pictures of the DJUNGELSKOG bear, simply read:
It’s pretty self explanatory and who’s to say she’s not on to something here? We won’t judge.
The tweet has gone on to amass well over 73K retweets, 300K likes and hundreds of comments in less than 24 hours since posting, so she likely is on to something.
Many other Twitter users also replied with pictures of their DJUNGELSKOG bears too.
The IKEA DJUNGELSKOG bear is 100cm-wide and according to the description on the IKEA website, is a “big brown bear [that] always greets you with open arms”. It’s “cuddly like no other and with a lovely giant stomach where you can feel safe resting – in other words, a real softy.”
The DJUNGELSKOG bear is actually part of the wider DJUNGELSKOG collection, which has the important purpose of highlighting wild animals that are endangered due to human activities. According to IKEA, “through the textiles and soft toys in the DJUNGELSKOG collection, we can get to know [these endangered animals] up close.”
“In reality, many of them are threatened by human advancement, but it is possible to change.”
“We have chosen to use materials like sustainably grown cotton, lyocell and polyester made from recycled plastic as our tribute to all beautiful animals threatened by extinction”.
If you’re on board with this whole DJUNGELSKOG bear human replacement thing, then you’ll be pleased to know you can get your hands on one for just £25 from IKEA stores and online here.
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Drinks prices revealed as Manchester Airport’s first-ever Wetherspoons pub opens inside T2
Emily Sergeant
It’s official… Manchester Airport’s first-ever JD Wetherspoon pub has officially opened its doors inside Terminal 2.
The 300-seater pub – which welcomed its first customers earlier this week – is named The Belle Vue after Manchester’s historic showground.
Throughout the pub, you’ll spot design features that nod to the city’s sporting heritage – including vintage event posters and memorabilia, a ‘locker wall’ hosting trophies and other sporting exhibits, and a cricket-themed design in the carpets and bar panels.
Creating around 150 jobs in the process, The Belle Vue is the final planned new eatery to open in the airport’s redeveloped Terminal 2, marking one of the final steps in the super-terminal’s decade-long, £1.5bn transformation.
Manchester Airport’s first-ever Wetherspoons pub has opened inside Terminal 2 / Credit: Supplied
According to the MEN, pints are priced from £6.20 for Carling and Coors lager, £6.45 for Budweiser, £6.60 for Guinness, and £6.70 for Poretti and 1664 Biere.
Prosecco is £9.20 for 175ml glass and £37.10 for the full bottle, while spirts and mixers are £6.80 for singles and £10.20 for doubles.
There’s also the classic Wetherspoons tea and coffee machines, where you can refill as many times as you like for just £3.60.
“It’s a proud moment to see the final new retail unit opening in our new-look Terminal 2,” commented Richard Jackson, who is the Retail Director at Manchester Airport.
“To be rounding off this 10-year programme by adding such an iconic name as Wetherspoon to the terminal is particularly special and we know that it will prove extremely popular with passengers. We think they’ll love the nods to Manchester’s heritage in the décor and design – and of course the name.”
The Belle Vue will be open from the first flight to the final flight each day, and food will be served from opening until 10pm.
Featured Image – Supplied
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Iconic Manc movie 24 Hour Party People is set to return to cinemas for its anniversary
Emily Sergeant
One of Manchester’s most iconic movies is set to return to the big screen next month.
Remastered in 4K and returning to UK cinemas to mark 24 years since its original release, Michael Winterbottom’s 2002 biographical comedy drama film, 24 Hour Party People, tells the story of Manchester‘s popular music community from 1976 to 1992 – specifically about Factory Records‘ founder Tony Wilson.
The film begins with the punk rock era of the late 1970s, before moving through the 1980s into the rave and DJ culture, and of course, the ‘Madchester‘ scene of the late 1980s and early 1990s.
The narrative largely follows the career of Tony Wilson, played by Middleton-born actor Steve Coogan, while also covering the careers of the major Factory Records artists – especially Joy Division and New Order, as well as A Certain Ratio, The Durutti Column, and Happy Mondays.
If you haven’t seen 24 Hour Party People before, it’s a dramatisation based on a combination of real events, rumours, and urban legends, as the film is sure to make clear.
Coogan is joined by a cast by a mixture of big names and, at the time, rising stars like Paddy Considine, Shirley Henderson, Lennie James, John Simm, Ralf Little, Andy Serkis, Sean Harris, John Thomson, and even Peter Kay, alongside cameos from other figures connected to the Manchester music scene.
Before it returns to cinemas, the film will first open music and media festival/conference, Beyond The Music, at MediaCity in Salford on 6 October.
The screening at the festival will also be followed by a Q&A with Coogan, Winterbottom, and producer Andrew Eaton.
24 Hour Party People will then be re-released in UK cinemas from 9 October, and you can check your local cinema for screening times and book tickets online now.
Emily Sergeant -
1st July 2020 
