System 1 TV presenter Emma Walsh is within the coronary heart of London to expertise a slice of Korean tradition on the Battersea studio of luxurious automobile model, Genesis.
With their dedication to the Korean philosophy of Son Nim, Genesis are dedicated to treating anybody who enters the studio as an “honoured visitor”.
Guided by professional Genesis Model Consultant Samira, Emma is proven across the elegant studio and given an in-depth introduction to the Electrified GV 70, and the GV 60 – together with some stunning options.
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Okayids have been in tears: guests complain of Santa ‘shambles’ at Hampshire grotto”. So goes one headline this week although, in reality, it may have been written in any December of any yr. For ’tis the season – not, it transpires, to be jolly, however to be dissatisfied by chronically lacklustre Christmas “experiences” up and down the nation.
At this newest iteration of a swiftly thrown-together Santa’s pad, hosted by the Nice Corridor in Winchester, it was the fats man himself who prompted dad and mom’ wrath and kids’s weeping. St Nicholas was accused of not solely having a “blatantly pretend beard” and “low-cost pink swimsuit”, however of even missing the good-time persona that you simply’d assume was a prerequisite for the job. “He wasn’t very talkative in any respect – he didn’t appear very jovial,” complained hacked-off father-of-three Matthew Fernandez. “It ruined the expertise.”
A number of dad and mom described the grotto as a “shambles” and referred to as for it to be closed down; one alleged {that a} monosyllabic Santa supplied “no hohoho, no merry Christmas, nothing”.
The backlash provoked such a furore that the Nice Corridor was pressured to deal with the accusations, refuting recommendations that the occasion had been “mis-sold” however providing a full refund to anybody who was but to go to. “This yr’s Santa expertise is model new and does supply some nice new additions which broaden the supply. At no level have we urged that this yr’s expertise was the identical as that delivered by the earlier operator,” reads a press release.
Winter Wonderland is commonly accused of charging sky-high costs (Getty/iStock)
Although I sympathise with the bawling offspring and their beleaguered caregivers pressured to shell out £18.50 per little one for a completely uninspiring day trip, I do need to surprise at Brits’ perennially misplaced optimism. At this stage – after this many identikit tales yr after yr – shouldn’t we simply admit that the UK doesn’t, effectively, excel with regards to Christmas occasions? Can’t we merely settle for that we’re extra probably than not going to really feel let down and pay by means of the nostril for the privilege?
A primary instance of the festive anticlimax comes courtesy of Winter Wonderland, London’s annual hate-inducing venue in Hyde Park. Kicking off in November and operating till early January, it’s turn out to be synonymous with vacationer entice costs, Bavarian-themed tat and vibes greatest characterised as “primary”, plus the sort of ungodly queues normally related to music festivals. Entry prices as much as £7.50 for a peak ticket; as soon as inside, guests can sit up for paying a premium for completely all the things. Assume £22 for a rack of ribs; £11 for churros; £9 for a Bratwurst; £7.75 for a pint. The rides, that are undoubtedly extra funfair than theme park, additionally don’t come low-cost, with the Looping Coaster priced at £11 a pop and the large wheel at £8 per go-around. Blink and, earlier than you already know it, you’ve flushed fifty quid.
Yearly, social media fills up with complaints of “£10 for tacky chips!” from outraged patrons. Yearly, folks hold rocking up and hoping for the most effective.
Once they reached the North Pole, her nine-year-old queried ‘why all of the buildings had holes in them’
But it surely’s the occasions particularly geared toward kids that usually set off the best sense of disillusionment. Sadly, dad and mom wanting to offer little ones with a “magical” expertise they’ll always remember are a few of the best marks, keen to plough enormous quantities of money into yuletide memory-making. Wish to clear up with minimal enter or effort? There’s arguably no higher get-rich-quick scheme than scattering some cotton-wool “snow”, bulk shopping for the glitter, throwing on a extremely flammable pink swimsuit and charging a small fortune on the door.
A good friend of mine has been burned greater than as soon as by the will to see her lovable offsprings’ faces gentle up with delight as they meet the “actual” Father Christmas in his workshop. Final yr’s outing noticed the household transported round a buying centre carpark by golf buggy, inexplicably inspired to take images of cardboard cut-out elves. It was, in fact, pouring with rain. It was, in fact, strictly verboten to take their very own photos when the youngsters have been launched to Santa. Dad and mom have been as a substitute pressured to pay an exorbitant quantity for the “official” pictures, taken on what seemed to be a CCTV digital camera.
This yr they opted for driving an hour and a half to have a go on the Polar Specific (TM), a festive franchise loosely based mostly on the Tom Hanks animated movie, the place an immersive journey takes place aboard a prepare. That they had, in equity, gone the week earlier than the attraction’s official opening to expertise the gown rehearsal, swerving the jaw-dropping £200 charge for a household of 4 within the course of. Nonetheless, my good friend was somewhat greatly surprised on the undeniably shonky aesthetic: the northern lights consisted of “4 colored spotlights in a tunnel”; after they reached the “North Pole”, her nine-year-old queried “why all of the buildings had holes in them” and appeared like they’d been repeatedly shot at. “Was it value it? I can actually say it was not!” got here the unforgiving evaluation.
A backdrop on the Wonka occasion that was so dangerous it achieved viral fame (Monorail/PA)
Then there’s the scourge of “rip-off” Christmas markets that pop up throughout the nation like clockwork every December. Manchester appears to have copped explicit flack this yr, branded “overpriced” by disgruntled customers on Tripadvisor. “Utter garbage, solely stalls promoting meals or drink,” reads one assessment. “Subsequent to nothing in the best way of presents, undoubtedly save your cash and go elsewhere.” One other commented that it was “the right place to go when you’ve not too long ago come into a big inheritance and it’s burning a gap in your pocket” – proving that not less than we haven’t misplaced our sense of humour in all of this.
Christmas apart, the UK’s monitor file with regards to novelty “experiences” normally is objectively crap. Keep in mind the notorious Willy Wonka expertise in Glasgow earlier this yr, so manifestly horrible that it went viral and garnered worldwide consideration? Greater than 800 folks needed to be refunded and the occasion, marketed as “immersive” and “enchanting”, shut down early after households bemoaned the “disorganised mini-maze of randomly positioned outsized props, lacklustre sweet station that dispersed one jelly bean per little one, and a terrifying chrome-masked character that scared many children to tears”.
My level is that this: why will we hold making the identical mistake? Why will we hold anticipating extra when that is evidently an space the place acute disappointment is all however assured? Madness, the favored saying runs, is doing the identical factor time and again and anticipating completely different outcomes. Should you nonetheless decide to attend a hellscape of a festive tour this yr, go in along with your eyes extensive open, decrease these expectations – and, when you’re nonetheless dissatisfied, I remorse to tell you that you simply’ve solely bought your self accountable.
From reproductive rights to local weather change to Large Tech, The Impartial is on the bottom when the story is growing. Whether or not it is investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our newest documentary, ‘The A Phrase’, which shines a light-weight on the American ladies preventing for reproductive rights, we all know how necessary it’s to parse out the details from the messaging.
At such a essential second in US historical past, we want reporters on the bottom. Your donation permits us to maintain sending journalists to talk to either side of the story.
The Impartial is trusted by Individuals throughout the whole political spectrum. And in contrast to many different high quality information shops, we select to not lock Individuals out of our reporting and evaluation with paywalls. We consider high quality journalism must be accessible to everybody, paid for by those that can afford it.
Your assist makes all of the distinction.
These keen on working for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the nominee for Well being and Human Providers secretary, can fill out an internet utility that asks a collection of weird persona questions.
The web questionnaire, which will be obtained right here, asks candidates to finish a puzzle and synonym take a look at earlier than present process a persona survey – presumably to hitch Kennedy’s staff and probably the Division of HHS.
It’s unclear the place the take a look at originated however it was first flagged by Puck Information, which claimed it confirmed with the Trump staff that Kennedy’s staff is utilizing to vet potential staff.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the previous environmental lawyer who has espoused conspiracy theories, reportedly has an internet utility to vet potential candidates for his staff (Getty Pictures)
One part, reviwed by The Impartial, asks candidates to select three or extra attitudes that go well with them reminiscent of, “I require extreme admiration” or “I don’t have that a lot curiosity in having a sexual expertise with one other particular person.”
One choice presents, “I consider in issues many others don’t – like having a ‘sixth sense,’ clairvoyance, and telepathy – and as an adolescent, I had weird fantasies or preoccupations.”
Seemingly, the take a look at asks these questions to be able to vet individuals who might have psychological well being points.
Within the persona trait choice part, candidates are requested to decide on 5 traits that apply most to themselves.
These choices embody, “Imagine that an excessive amount of tax cash goes to assist artists” (a perception supported by The Heritage Basis), “Don’t like poetry”, and “Attempt to keep away from advanced folks” amongst others.
The appliance additionally features a part by which folks should full puzzles based mostly on patterns and likewise match a phrase to its synonym.
It’s unclear what precisely Kennedy’s staff is in search of in candidates or what the applying is for precisely. A spokesperson for Trump’s marketing campaign informed Puck confirmed the questionaire is actual and that, “Many nominees and appointees are soliciting résumés after which submitting them to the transition for the consideration and course of”.
Trump tapped Kennedy to guide the HHS division final month which stirred controversy.
