People in Iceland have gathered together this week to hold a memorial service for a glacier, which has melted and been destroyed as a result of climate change.

The huge pile of ice, which was called 'Okjokull', was destroyed after enduring the warmest July ever recorded. Climate change activists mounted a  bronze on bare rock on the site of the glacier, attended by local researchers Rice University alumni.

[[imagecaption|| Credit: Getty]]

Speaking at the event, Icelandic Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir stated: "I hope this ceremony will be an inspiration, not only to us here in Iceland, but also for the rest of the world, because what we are seeing here is just one face of the climate crisis."

The plaque bears the inscription "A letter to the future" and contains an epitaph written by Icelandic author Andri Snaer Magnason.

It states: "Ok is the first Icelandic glacier to lose its status as a glacier. In the next 200 years all our main glaciers are expected to follow the same path. This monument is to acknowledge that we know what is happening and what needs to be done. Only you know if we did it."

[[imagecaption|| Credit: Getty]]

In a later interview with BBC News, Magnason stated: "ou think in a different time scale when you're writing in copper rather than in paper. You start to think that someone actually is coming there in 300 years reading it. This is a big symbolic moment."

He added: "Climate change doesn't have a beginning or end and I think the philosophy behind this plaque is to place this warning sign to remind ourselves that historical events are happening, and we should not normalise them. We should put our feet down and say, okay, this is gone, this is significant."

[[imagecaption|| Credit: Getty]]

Magnason's dedication concludes with the date of the ceremony, and the current concentration of carbon dioxide in the air globally as of today: 415 parts per million (ppm).

It's summertime! That means pool parties, picnics, beach trips and a fair amount of cocktails when you get the chance. And while it's fun to do so in bars and restaurants... it can get a little expensive. Fortunately, you don't even need to leave home to try out one of these new fruit-flavoured spirits.

Smirnoff have just announced a new range of spirits that have been infused with fruit flavours, and it won't be long until they're on store shelves.

Smirnoff Infusions comes in 'Orange, Grapefruit & Bitters' flavour and 'Raspberry, Rhubarb & Vanilla' flavour, both available for £14 a (50cl) bottle. Just go with the recommendation of one part vodka to three parts soda water and a lot of ice, and you'll be golden.

[[imagecaption|| Credit: Getty]]

“Smirnoff Infusions is an exciting new addition to our portfolio in the UK," Sarah Shimmons, the brand's marketing manager for Europe, said.

"The process features real fruits infused and distilled individually for the perfect amount of time to allow their natural flavours to be extracted. The resulting drink is blended with Smirnoff No. 21 Vodka and crafted at 23% ABV, to ensure the perfect balance of natural and fruity flavours."

In addition to this, there are still the Strawberry & Rose, Cucumber & Lime and Watermelon & Mint flavours on offer to.

[[imagecaption|| Credit: Getty]]

Not only that, but each serving works out at just 87 calories, bringing more fruit and less alcohol to the table. The mixed drink is rated at 5.75% alcohol content, which is about the same as a beer or a strong cider.

So where can you buy them? Wholesalers have been listing the new drink already, but it's nearing release to the rest of us soon enough - with The Sun reporting that it should be available to buy this month.

Well, it's official, it's time to start thinking about Christmas.

I don't know if you've noticed, but already the festive adverts have kicked into gear on TV, and brands have been announcing holiday-themed products for a good solid month now.

So really, do we have any choice but to fall into line and clap along to the Christmas countdown?

My one bugbear with the ridiculously early start to the build up to the holiday season is that my excitement usually peaks a good week before Christmas day itself.

[[imagecaption|| Credit: Aldi]]

I've had the 24/7 Christmas songs radio station on for nearly two months straight, I've bought myself a lovely bottle of candy cane gin liqueur and placed my order for a two-metre long pig in blanket.

Oh, and let's not forget that I've written about practically every festive special limited edition product under the winter sun.

So if you're sitting there planning your festive drinking and snacking as meticulously as I am, your Christmas eve is probably looking something like this at the moment:

Wake up, quick pig in blanket, almond croissant, wrap some presents while drinking candy cane gin liqueur, have a grinch-inspired green cookie, and hang up the buddy-the-elf Christmas wreath.

[[imagecaption|| Credit: Home Bargains]]

But if all of that holiday-themed excitement still isn't enough for you then fear not, because I'm bringing you yet more news of festive fare.

That's right, I'm here to tell you about a shimmery 'snow fairy' gin you can buy in time for Christmas from Home Bargains.

The limited edition tipple from Manchester Drinks shimmers when you shake it, stir it and pour it into a glass, for that added touch of pizzaz and theatre to your Christmas cocktail making.

It's a gin liqueur which is 18% ABV, comprising notes of orange, cinnamon and spice. The bottle is just £8 for 50cl and will be available in Hoe Bargains stores across the United Kingdom from Monday November 4.

A bartender has left their followers divided after filming the way she shut down a customer who asked for no ice in their drink on the assumption that would mean they got more alcohol instead.

Anyone who's ordered a drink at a bar knows there's often nothing worse than paying for an expensive cocktail, only to find the glass is filled with more ice than it is with liquid.

Then there's also the issue of how watery that drink gets if you don't sip it quickly enough and the ice melts down into it, so there are many reasons why asking for no ice would be a completely valid choice.

However, one bartender who goes by the name Jemima June on TikTok, has left viewers divided with the way she shut down a customer who assumed no ice meant more alcohol in the same glass.

See the moment below: 

Jemima filmed herself handling a customer's order after they asked for no ice when ordering a tequila cranberry drink.

The customer could be heard yelling "no ice" again over the loud music before Jemima paused to look up at them and tell them: "Just because you say no ice, that doesn't mean you're going to get more alcohol."

She then informed the customer the only way to get more alcohol is to order - and pay for - a double, telling them: "That means you're going to get more alcohol."

There can be many reasons people choose to get their drinks without ice in them. Credit: Pyrosky/Getty Images

People took to the comments to share their opinions, with many sticking up for the customer by writing: "never once in my life have I expected more alcohol when asking for no ice... doubt anyone has lol."

Others added: "Maybe he has sensitive teeth and doesn’t like ice touching them???", and: "you couldn't put some more cranberry juice?"

Another joked: "Bro just give him more it’s not like it’s coming out of your paycheck", while someone else added: "Maybe She could’ve put more juice? I’d be mad if they give a cup half empty."

Some people were on Jemima's side, however, and believed she'd acted accordingly when dealing with the customer, adding: "To me, she was more than polite. She's super sweet and was in no way out of line."

Others wrote: "She wasn’t even rude that’s just how bartenders talk", and: "1000% FACTS hated being asked this in bars and getting attitude when they didn't get more alcohol! Ya want more drink at home we tryina make money!"

Someone else commented: "This 'attitude' is justified because she has to explain this a million times in one night."

While no ice definitely doesn't mean more alcohol is added to the cup, an extra splash of mixer to fill the glass probably would have appeased the customer pretty easily.

Featured image credit: SimpleImages/Getty Images

 

Alcohol has always been an excellent way to lower everyone’s inhibitions. Speaking from personal experience, it’s much harder to feel physically repulsed by your own naked body when you’re too pissed to see. Though this has long been a more than acceptable status quo for the majority of British people, a pub in London has now decided it’s high time that we all upped the ante and came to terms with our horrible appearances in the starkest way possible.

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/dcatdemon/status/1134475538951757824]]

Norman’s Coach & Horses Pub on the corner of Greek Street has been a Soho institution since 1847. The business has already gained notoriety for its recent conversion into the area’s only vegan watering-hole and for previously being home to "London's rudest landlord". But the bare-faced cheek of their latest stunt looks set to have heads turning once again in one of the city’s liveliest neighbourhoods. Going against all commonly held stereotypes about British sensibility, Norman’s Coach & Horses has taken the dramatic step of rebranding itself as the capital’s first ever nudist-friendly bar.

In an interview with CNN, landlord Alistair Choat revealed that his unconventional approach to bartending was not totally without precedent. As he explained, much of his motivation came from a desire to honour the “great British tradition of stripping off". What began as a series of nude calendars, commissioned to raise money for local charitable projects, is now a fully fledged nude haven, officially sanctioned by local authorities and appreciated by local patrons. It is one of the ballsiest business proposals in the area’s recent history.

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/LPtravelnews/status/1135186817358225408]]

Understandably, jumping through all the necessary legal hoops has not been a straightforward task. Choat, who runs the pub alongside his daughter, Hollie, revealed that "you have to apply for a special notice" in order to get this type of operation off the ground. He also added that "you do have to have the right staff on, because obviously the team have to be comfortable with it". This will come as a relief to any body-conscious bartenders fearful of being shanghaied into nude service.  

Choat also explained how both he and Hollie remain committed to maintaining "the bohemian atmosphere so beloved by writers, journalists, actors and artists," for which the Soho area remains famous. Though there has been no firm date set for the grand opening of the nudist evening, Choat added "we are going to be planning, in June, a nude night...so that all these people phoning up wanting to get naked and have a pint in the centre of Soho will be able to do so."

Anyone used to spending an evening sitting quietly in a corner with a pint could be forgiven for thinking that a roomful of naked people might make the experience a little awkward. Choat, however, disagrees. “To be honest with you, when you do these things, after 10, 15, 20 minutes no one notices anymore,” he told CNN, continuing, “it's a bit like you go to a pub where there's a band playing and you're not very interested in it, after a while it's just background music.”

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/aTravelCompanio/status/1134843546027122689]]

It’s obvious from Choat’s attitude that the new initiative holds a special place in his heart. However, if you dig a little deeper, it also becomes clear that there’s more at stake than a celebration of the human form. The pub itself is actually leased from Fuller’s - a large brewing conglomerate who run hundreds of similar businesses across the country and who are increasingly eager to take over operations from Choat and his daughter. The new nudist evenings are part of a wider initiative designed to raise funds to rebuff the takeover, which has also included the staging of a play and the creation of a petition, which has currently accrued over 10,000 signatures.

Despite the attempts of Choat to remain independent of the larger company, Fuller’s insist that they are just as invested in maintaining the pub’s character as he is. In a statement provided to CNN, a spokesperson revealed, “We have been patiently waiting since we purchased it for our time to run the pub. It is an amazing and historic pub in Soho and, when the tenancy comes to the agreed end, it will become one of the gems in our Managed Pubs & Hotels business. We intend to preserve all that is great about this pub and protect her future for locals and tourists to Soho alike and we look forward to meeting with, and listening to, the local Soho community when we take the pub on in June."

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/MikeAbbott2/status/850273900931858432]]

However, for all their reassurances, Choat remains sceptical that Fuller’s really will be able to maintain what makes Norman’s Coach & Horses so special. As he told CNN, the pub remains "very much a traditional old boozer," but insists that, "that's what people love." Of the proposals to smarten up the place, Choat mused, "they're going to make it glorious in terms of their painting and decorating, but it's never been like that, ever. And that's why people come here."

Whether or not the new nudist plan is a final hurrah or the turning of the tide in Choat’s favour remains to be seen. Whatever the outcome, it’s obvious that he and Hollie are determined to make sure anyone who wants to party naked has a place to go. Far from feeling doubtful, Choat insists that "if everyone's naked it's going to be hilarious, it will be very funny." While the idea of strangers finding your naked body “hilarious” might not be everyone’s idea of an ideal night out, it certainly sounds like Soho evenings may be about to become much more memorable for everyone. Here’s hoping that they will remain so for a while yet.

This article was originally posted on Twisted.