A woman has gone viral on social media after revealing a genius hack she discovered for protecting oak dining tables and people are absolutely loving it.
Real oak furniture is known for needing a little more care and attention than other forms of wood when it comes to maintenance as it doesn’t like extremes of heat and cold, it won’t thrive in air conditioned rooms or conservatories, can fade easily when exposed to direct sunlight, and dry out with heat from radiators.
Which is why this hack is bound to save a lot of people a lot of hassle, and many are eager to try it out.
The DIY fanatic took to the ever-popular Facebook group DIY On A Budget Official – which currently has over two million active members across the globe – yesterday to share a photo of her dining table and reveal her tip with others looking to keep real wood furniture in the best condition possible.
She wrote: “When I got my new oak table, I didn’t want to put one of those mats on or a table cloth, but at the same time I couldn’t trust my husband not to put hot stuff on without a heat mat, or my daughter not to draw on it, but I still wanted wood on show…
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“So off I went go my local carpet shop with a wood sample and measurements, got me some floor vinyl, perfect,
“Your welcome.”
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And it certainly went down a treat.
In just a few short hours after sharing, the post went on to amass over 11.7K interactions and thousands of comments from other group members impressed at how simple and cost-effective it is to replicate, and thanking the woman for the tip for sharing the clever hack.
In response to some of the questions asked, as well as addressing criticisms over the vinyl potentially covering up the table’s character and charm, she followed up to explain: “The table is extendible [and] as it’s oak, it colours with age so I was told I need to extend it regularly so the middle colours the same,
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“But as I cover it, it should match the middle without having to keep opening it up,
“Also, I like to keep a table runner on it [and] if I did this without the vinyl on, the table would discolour with a stripe down the middle,
“Again, the vinyl stops this problem.
“I appreciate scratches and marks create character, but as I bought all my oak furniture as forever furniture and intend on keeping it till I die, I want to look after it”.
You can find more tips via the DIY On A Budget Official group here.
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You can get FREE sandwiches in Manchester this weekend – but only if you have certain names
Emily Sergeant
Hungry Mancs can help themselves to free sandwiches this bank holiday weekend… but there’s a bit of a catch.
You can only get yourself a sandwich if you have one of these particular names.
We’ve been enjoying some absolutely stunning sunshine across Greater Manchester and much of the UK over the past couple of months, and nothing says sunny days more than taking a packed lunch or grabbing a meal deal and taking it to your local park or greenspace for a picnic.
This is why Pret A Manger has decided to make picnics easier for those who are lucky enough to have a certain type of name.
This late May bank holiday weekend, the popular high street coffee shop chain will be dishing out hundreds of free sandwiches across the UK – including here in Manchester – to anyone whose name happens to start with ‘Nic’.
That means people called Nick, Nicholas, Nicola, Nicole, Nico, Nicolette, and plenty of others could be in with a chance of some free feasting over these next couple of days.
You can get FREE sandwiches in Manchester this weekend / Credit: Wikimedia Commons | Supplied
Here in Manchester, it’s the chain’s Portland Street site, just off Piccadilly Gardens, that’s participating in the free giveaway this weekend, and there’ll be 50 sandwiches a day given out, so you’ll need to be quick if your name starts with ‘Nic’ and you’re feeling peckish.
The offer is only limited to Pret’s freshly-made sandwiches, and unfortunately excludes baguettes, wraps, or rye rolls… but free food is better than no food, after all.
All you’ll need to do to grab a freebie is show your ID at the tills of participating stores this Saturday (24 May) to prove your name, and you’ll get to walk out with your lunch in hand, all without having to spend a penny.
Manchester’s Portland Street Pret A Manger will be giving out 50 free sandwiches to ‘Nics’ this Saturday, and they’re on a first-come-first-served basis.
Featured Image – Eaters Collective (via Unsplash)
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BBC needs adventurous Mancs to take part in next series of Race Across the World
Emily Sergeant
Are you a fan of travelling? Got a bit of a competitive streak in your nature? This might just be your calling then.
The BBC is currently casting for the next series of Race Across the World.
The BAFTA-winning hit show is currently airing to thousands of viewers each week, but with the next series now in the works, producers are on the look-out for ‘intrepid duos’ of all ages who reckon they’re ready to take a step into the unknown, and embark on an epic race across land and sea – and that includes Greater Manchester residents.
With applications for the next series of the massively-popular show now open, nomadic Mancs are being encouraged to take part.
On a limited budget and away from the luxuries of modern technology and conveniences, those lucky applicants selected to take part in the next series will get the chance to experience life in some of the world’s most beautiful and remote locations.
BBC is looking for Mancs to take part in next series of Race Across the World / Credit: BBC
Navigating their way across thousands of miles, they’ll travel through spectacular scenery and dynamic cities, visit ancient wonders, learn local customs, and take part in time-honoured traditions.
But, as producers are keen to point out, “the physical journey is only half of the story”.
That’s because, as the contestants take on the challenge of travelling across the world, the greatest thing they’ll discover along the way could actually be about themselves and one another.
Putting out a UK-wide casting call on the BBC website this week, producers Studio Lambert wrote: “We are now accepting applications for the next series of Race Across the World. This experience is open to all, whether you’re a seasoned traveller or total novice.
“We want to hear what undertaking a trip like this would mean to you, and with a cash prize at stake, what lengths you would go to to win.
Applications for the massively-popular show are now open / Credit: BBC
“Maybe you’re looking to change something in your life? Or are keen to share the journey with someone special like a family member, best friend, or someone you’ve lost touch with. You may even have a very personal reason for wanting to travel at this time in your life or explore a particular part of the world.”
Fancy it then?
Applications for the third series of Race Across the World are now open for anyone over 18 years of age, with a deadline date of 6 July 2025, and you can find out more information and apply via the BBC website.
Emily Sergeant -
29th December 2020 
