Latest news with #WillIreland
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Scottish Sun
Average age Brits meet their ‘best friend for life' is revealed in new study
Just 13 percent see their best friends on a weekly basis MATE FATE Average age Brits meet their 'best friend for life' is revealed in new study Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE average Brit met their best friend at age 19 – with one in 10 having had the same one since they were 10 years old. The research of 2,000 UK adults revealed 22 per cent met genuine friends for life between the ages of 11 to 15, making school the ultimate friendship factory. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 One in 10 meet their best friend when they are just 10 years old Credit: Will Ireland/PinPep Classrooms were the birthplace of 37 per cent of these best-friend connections, especially among Gen-Z and millennials, while 17 per cent found their forever friend on the job. Trust (67 per cent), support through tough times (53 per cent), and a shared sense of humour (41 per cent), were identified as the glue that helps best friends stay together. To mark National Best Friends Day, Nutella placed a 3.8m high and 3.5m wide ice cream tub in Potters Field Park, London, to invite pals to share a snack together. Gemma Mattison, a spokesperson for Ferrero UK & Ireland, makers of the spread, said: 'Best friends are the people we laugh with, lean on, and share life's little moments with - and that's something worth celebrating.' read more on friendship CHECK IT OUT The summer trend dividing style queens as it brings back bad memories for many But remaining close isn't as easy as it once was - a third of those polled think it's harder to maintain adult friendships as they only manage to meet up with their best pals a few times a year (22 per cent). Just 13 per cent see their best friends on a weekly basis, and 17 per cent leave it as long as a year in between catch ups. And it seems busy life schedules are to blame, with 46 per cent believing it's because people are more unavailable now, so it is harder to find time to connect. Food continues to be a key ingredient to great friendships and spending time together, as almost half (45 per cent) maintain contact by going out for brunch and breakfast with their mate. According to the OnePoll study, ice cream tops the list as the ultimate friendship dessert; 27 per cent of Brits say it would be their forever go-to with their best friend, followed by chocolate cake (20 per cent) and cheesecake (16 per cent). The study also uncovered 13 per cent of adults aged over 65 have more than five best friends, whereas only six per cent of Gen Z has the same number. Almost half of the silent generation said they made their best friends after the age of 35, with one in 20 holding onto relationships from six to 10 years old. 3 Trust and support are two of the most important things in a friendship according to the study Credit: Will Ireland/PinPep
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- General
- The Irish Sun
Average age Brits meet their ‘best friend for life' is revealed in new study
THE average Brit met their best friend at age 19 – with one in 10 having had the same one since they were 10 years old. The research of 2,000 UK adults revealed 22 per cent met genuine friends for life between the ages of 11 to 15, making school the ultimate friendship factory. Advertisement 3 One in 10 meet their best friend when they are just 10 years old Credit: Will Ireland/PinPep Classrooms were the birthplace of 37 per cent of these best-friend connections, especially among Gen-Z and Trust (67 per cent), support through tough times (53 per cent), and a shared sense of humour (41 per cent), were identified as the glue that helps best friends stay together. To mark National Best Friends Day, Gemma Mattison, a spokesperson for Ferrero UK & Ireland, makers of the spread, said: 'Best friends are the people we laugh with, lean on, and share life's little moments with - and that's something worth celebrating.' Advertisement read more on friendship But remaining close isn't as easy as it once was - a third of those polled think it's harder to maintain adult friendships as they only manage to meet up with their best pals a few times a year (22 per cent). Just 13 per cent see their best friends on a weekly basis, and 17 per cent leave it as long as a year in between catch ups. And it seems busy life schedules are to blame, with 46 per cent believing it's because people are more unavailable now, so it is harder to find time to connect. Food continues to be a key ingredient to great friendships and spending time together, as almost half (45 per cent) maintain contact by going out for brunch and breakfast with their mate. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Exclusive Exclusive According to the OnePoll study, ice cream tops the list as the ultimate friendship dessert; 27 per cent of Brits say it would be their forever go-to with their best friend, followed by chocolate cake (20 per cent) and cheesecake (16 per cent). The study also uncovered 13 per cent of adults aged over 65 have more than five best friends, whereas only six per cent of Gen Z has the same number. Almost half of the silent generation said they made their best friends after the age of 35, with one in 20 holding onto relationships from six to 10 years old. 3 Trust and support are two of the most important things in a friendship according to the study Credit: Will Ireland/PinPep Advertisement 3 Enjoying a bite to eat with your best friend is also one of the best ways of bonding Credit: Will Ireland/PinPep
Scotsman
6 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Brits ‘waste' £29bn worth of work a YEAR
Workaholic Brits are 'giving away' up to £29 billion worth of work a year – by not taking their full lunchbreaks. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A poll of 2,000 adults in full or part-time employment found that those who have a lunch break typically take only 70 per cent of their allotted time – and those who don't take their full break end up skipping it entirely twice per week. For someone in full-time employment, who works an average of 233 days per year and based on the average full-time salary, this is effectively £1,012 worth of time annually they're forgoing. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Nearly half (46 per cent) say this is because they have 'too much work to do', with other reasons identified as feeling pressured to go back to work (23 per cent) and not seeing the point because they don't have enough time to go anywhere (21 per cent). And more than a third (35 per cent) deemed their lunchbreaks 'too short' – with the average amount of time given to them during a workday only 39 minutes. To give working Brits back their afternoon breaks, bakery brand St Pierre set up a 'respect zone' in Potter's Field Park – paying homage to the sacred lunch break and urging Londoners to 'eat avec respect'. It has been designed to transport lunch-breakers to Paris, encouraging workers to 'do as les Français' – who are notorious for making the most of their slow-paced and leisurely lunches. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A spokesperson from the brand said: 'Lunchbreaks shouldn't be a luxury – and especially not something we feel pressured to forego. 'Even though life is busy and work is important, we need to remember to take time out for ourselves to really get that break we need – and go back to work energised, refreshed, and satisfied by a delicious meal we were able to properly savour.' St Pierre launched 'The Respect Zone' to offer a relaxing escape from the chaos of the working day | Will Ireland/PinPep St Pierre launched 'The Respect Zone' - to give Brits back their afternoon breaks This is clearly needed, as 22 per cent believe we don't respect our midday meal enough in this country, especially compared to others in Europe – with Spain (33 per cent), Italy (28 per cent), and France (27 per cent) the most enviable. Respect was also missing from their employers' attitudes towards this sacred time according to 23 per cent, with four in 10 declaring employers should encourage all staff to take their full lunchbreaks. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But even when those polled do manage to take time for a midday meal, over half (51 per cent) often do something work-related, such as checking emails or answering calls. This may be because 52 per cent admitted they tend to stay at their desks during lunch, even if not doing work – with a popular alternative being mindlessly scrolling through social media (42 per cent). And of those who do work through this period, over a fifth (22 per cent) admitted they would find it hard to break the unhealthy habit if they were given the chance. This revelation comes despite 37 per cent agreeing regularly not taking a lunchbreak can lead to burnout and can negatively affect work performance (28 per cent). Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad As a result of these non-existent lunchbreaks, food choices also suffer – with 42 per cent rating them as 'average', or worse, according to data. The phenomenon also leads to lunchtime being a solitary affair in the UK, with 38 per cent revealing they typically spend this time alone, despite just under half (46 per cent) saying they would enjoy this time much more if they ate with others. St. Pierre's spokesperson added: 'It's a sad state of affairs that our main break during a long day of work isn't really being treated as one – and that we can't seem to switch off even when given permission. 'There's something to be learned from the French here – taking that moment to really unwind and enjoy a delicious meal, without thinking about other things. 'We're also missing a prime opportunity in our everyday lives to connect with other people over good food and conversation.'
Scotsman
6 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Brits ‘waste' £29bn worth of work a YEAR
Workaholic Brits are 'giving away' up to £29 billion worth of work a year – by not taking their full lunchbreaks. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A poll of 2,000 adults in full or part-time employment found that those who have a lunch break typically take only 70 per cent of their allotted time – and those who don't take their full break end up skipping it entirely twice per week. For someone in full-time employment, who works an average of 233 days per year and based on the average full-time salary, this is effectively £1,012 worth of time annually they're forgoing. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Nearly half (46 per cent) say this is because they have 'too much work to do', with other reasons identified as feeling pressured to go back to work (23 per cent) and not seeing the point because they don't have enough time to go anywhere (21 per cent). And more than a third (35 per cent) deemed their lunchbreaks 'too short' – with the average amount of time given to them during a workday only 39 minutes. To give working Brits back their afternoon breaks, bakery brand St Pierre set up a 'respect zone' in Potter's Field Park – paying homage to the sacred lunch break and urging Londoners to 'eat avec respect'. It has been designed to transport lunch-breakers to Paris, encouraging workers to 'do as les Français' – who are notorious for making the most of their slow-paced and leisurely lunches. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A spokesperson from the brand said: 'Lunchbreaks shouldn't be a luxury – and especially not something we feel pressured to forego. 'Even though life is busy and work is important, we need to remember to take time out for ourselves to really get that break we need – and go back to work energised, refreshed, and satisfied by a delicious meal we were able to properly savour.' St Pierre launched 'The Respect Zone' to offer a relaxing escape from the chaos of the working day | Will Ireland/PinPep St Pierre launched 'The Respect Zone' - to give Brits back their afternoon breaks This is clearly needed, as 22 per cent believe we don't respect our midday meal enough in this country, especially compared to others in Europe – with Spain (33 per cent), Italy (28 per cent), and France (27 per cent) the most enviable. Respect was also missing from their employers' attitudes towards this sacred time according to 23 per cent, with four in 10 declaring employers should encourage all staff to take their full lunchbreaks. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But even when those polled do manage to take time for a midday meal, over half (51 per cent) often do something work-related, such as checking emails or answering calls. This may be because 52 per cent admitted they tend to stay at their desks during lunch, even if not doing work – with a popular alternative being mindlessly scrolling through social media (42 per cent). And of those who do work through this period, over a fifth (22 per cent) admitted they would find it hard to break the unhealthy habit if they were given the chance. This revelation comes despite 37 per cent agreeing regularly not taking a lunchbreak can lead to burnout and can negatively affect work performance (28 per cent). Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad As a result of these non-existent lunchbreaks, food choices also suffer – with 42 per cent rating them as 'average', or worse, according to data. The phenomenon also leads to lunchtime being a solitary affair in the UK, with 38 per cent revealing they typically spend this time alone, despite just under half (46 per cent) saying they would enjoy this time much more if they ate with others. St. Pierre's spokesperson added: 'It's a sad state of affairs that our main break during a long day of work isn't really being treated as one – and that we can't seem to switch off even when given permission. 'There's something to be learned from the French here – taking that moment to really unwind and enjoy a delicious meal, without thinking about other things.
Scotsman
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Where to see the Harry Potter Dragon in Edinburgh: Hungarian Horntail flies into the Capital for two days only
The mythological creature will be in the city centre after breaking out of its theme park home. Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Harry Potter fans will have the chance to get up close and personal with a ferocious beast from the world-straddling franchaise at the end of May as part of a UK tour. The 25-ft-long animatronic Hungarian Horntail has wowed crowds in London and is now on its way to Edinburgh. | Will Ireland/PinPep A replica of the Hungarian Horntail dragon, which featured in Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire, is coming to Edinburgh. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Complete with a moving head, mouth and eyes, the hydraulic dragon roars and bares its teeth to visitors and was created to celebrate the new Triwizard Tournament - Making of Champions feature at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter. The dragon, which weighs 1.3 tonnes, brings to life the fan favourite, nail-biting scene where Harry Potter's Hungarian Horntail breaks free of its chains during the first task in the Triwizard Tournament. The skilled recreation of the famous dragon was carefully crafted over 750 hours, using materials that included 40 metres of fiberglass The team first created a series of detailed sketches and CGI mock-ups, before sculptors, carpenters and scenic artists meticulously built the dragon's head, which was 3D printed using a scan of the original Hungarian Horntail from the film. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A total of 119 spikes were individually applied to garnish the dragon's head and tail, taking 265 painstaking hours, whilst 38 razor-sharp teeth create bite in the creature's animatronic mouth. You'll be able to see the dragon, and have the opportunity to win tickets to Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, on Edinburgh's Castle Street on Friday, May 30, from 1-9pm and then on Saturday, May 31, from 9am-8pm
