Author of Convenience Store Woman returns with a nightmare world where sex between married couples is taboo
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Sayaka Murata is the Japanese novelist who made her name here with Convenience Store Woman. The novel follows shop-worker Keiko, who challenges societal norms by showing no interest in having a relationship or moving to a different job.
Her character was isolated by society for not wanting to have a husband or start a family. Muraka herself worked in a convenience store, and didn't start writing until she was in her forties. The short novel, her 10th book and first to be translated, was wacky, introspective and, as is Muraka's style, beautifully descriptive.
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The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
All of the waterparks in the UK mapped – with lazy rivers and wave pools in time for the hot weather
IF you're looking for a place to escape the hot weather this week, we've got your back. From lazy rivers to wave pools, here is a round up of all the UK's 8 The UK is home to a large number of waterparks including both indoor and outdoor parks Credit: Trip Advisor Coral Reef, Bracknell Coral Reef is one of the largest interactive water worlds in England , with five waterslides, an erupting volcano and a pirate ship. The swimming pool itself features rapids, a bubble pool , a And there is even a little luxury at the park for adults, in the adults-only Coral Spa. The spa is home to three saunas, a Japanese steam room, spa pool , cool pool and even heated Read more on travel inspo Family swim sessions with water slide access cost from £18.60 per adult and £13.20 per child. Waterworld, Stoke-on-Trent Waterworld is an One ride - Thunderbolt - is also the UK's first trap door waterslide. For visitors wanting some fresh air, there's an outdoor pool too. Most read in News Travel And once you are done in the water, the site also has an Adventure Mini Golf with two 18-hole, tiki-themed More recently the waterpark gained M Club Spa and Fitness facility as well. Scots waterpark crowned 'best in the country' to reopen in weeks Admission costs £24 per person. Alton Towers Waterpark, Staffordshire Alton Towers Resort isn't just home to rollercoasters - it also has its own waterpark. Visitors can enjoy lazy rivers, water cannons and the 'Master Blaster' water rollercoaster. Then outside there is even more, with the Bubbly Wubbly pool and Flash Floods Tickets to the waterpark cost from £18 per person. 8 Alton Towers Resort has its own waterpark with slides and a lazy river Credit: Alamy The Wave Waterpark, Coventry The Wave Waterpark in For example, there is a Tickets cost from £12.50 per person. Splashdown Poole, Dorset In One ride - named Baron's Revenge - drops riders eight metres vertically into the dark. And for younger kids, there are two under five's splash zones. Sessions cost from £19 per person. 8 There are two under five's splash zones at Splashdown in Poole Credit: Splashdown Waterpark Poole Splashdown Quaywest, Devon This isn't the only Splashdown site in the UK as there is another one further along the coast on the Known as Splashdown Quaywest, this site is the UK's biggest outdoor waterpark. In comparison to the Poole site, this park is home to 11 flume rides. Last year, the attraction also launched Shipwreck Island - a giant aqua-play area with slides and sprays for little ones. For parents wanting to chill whilst the kids have a splash, there is also a Admission costs from £19 per person, aged over nine-years-old. 8 Splashdown Quaywest in Devon is the UK's biggest outdoor waterpark Credit: Instagram/Splashdownwaterparks SC2, Rhyl in Wales SC2 waterpark in Wales includes a number of rides, a beach-style paddling pool and a number of play features . For toddlers, there is also Piranha Play with a number of interactive features including buckets, a water wheel and showers. The waterpark reopened on July 5, following a 17month closure due to storm damage. It also has new additions such as an adventure play structure inside of the Rainforest Diner cafe - which has an updated menu too. Tickets cost from £18.50 per adult and £15 per child, over the age of three. Sandcastle Waterpark, Blackpool Located in the popular seaside town of Blackpool, Sandcastle Waterpark is the UK's largest indoor waterpark. The waterpark has a number of family-friendly flumes - with 18 attractions overall - and it is all set inside a tropical 29C degree climate. General admission costs from £26.95 per person. 8 Sandcastle Waterpark in Blackpool features tropical 29C degree climate Credit: Named Waterpark Time Capsule, Scotland Reopening at the end of July following a six-month closure, Time Capsule in Scotland features a number of different slides including Tornado Tantrum and a 25metre Visitors can even test their strength in the Tsunami wave pool. And Cove Island is also a great spot for little kids wanting to enjoy a calmer water play. Tickets cost from £6 per child and £8.10 per adult. Center Parcs Waterparks, various Swimming Paradise. Center Parcs have five sites across the UK - Longleat Forest, Whinfell Forest, Sherwood Forest, Woburn Forest and Elveden Forest. And at each park's Paradise there are a number of different attractions and various pools. For example, there are wave pools, children's pools, slides and rides - all set in a tropical world with palm trees. Day passes can be purchased for the 8 Center Parcs sites across the country all feature their signature waterpark - Subtropical Swimming Paradise Credit: handout Butlin's waterparks, various All three Butlin's Splash Waterworlds feature flumes, racing rapids, meandering rivers and shallow pools for tots. Day passes vary in price depending on which resort you are visiting. Haven waterparks, various In total, Haven operates 38 holiday parks across the UK and a number of Sites like Seashore, Seton Sands, Craig Tara, Primose Valley and Hafan Y Mor are the best for waterparks, according to the There are slides, flumes, lazy rivers and pools - both indoor and outdoor - to explore. You need to be staying at one of the Haven parks to use the water attractions. Alpamare, Scarborough Located in There are also two outdoor pools, a restaurant and bar at the site. 8 Alpamare is an indoor waterpark with four water slides in Scotland Credit: Alamy Admission costs from £12 per person. Blue Lagoon Water Park, Wales Blue Lagoon Water Park is a Wales and is home to a number of slides, flumes, a lazy river and spa pools. Despite the park being closed to the general public most of the year, it does host charity open days for the public. The next open day is on October 28 and each event runs for two-and-a-half-hours from 6.30pm to 9pm. Entry costs £11.55 per person. LC Swansea, Wales The LC in Swansea is Wales ' biggest indoor waterpark and boasts a number of slides and waves. In addition, there is also a lazy river, an interactive pool with a mini slide for small kids and tipping buckets. The destination runs three different kinds of sessions - Toddler Splash for ages zero to three, General Splash - a quieter session in the main pool of the waterpark - and Full Feature Sessions with the waves, lazy river and Full feature sessions cost £39.50 per adult and £7.70 per child. All the lidos in the UK have also been mapped – with water slides, cocktail bars and some are even free to enter. Plus, the weather . 8 A number of holiday parks also have waterparks Credit: Splashdownwaterparks
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Foodie reveals the easy way you can get free Wagamama sides – and why you should never throw away their takeaway boxes
WITH the costs skyrocketing, going out for dinner has become more expensive than ever, especially if you have a family. But as cash-strapped Brits are struggling to make ends meet, one Advertisement 2 One savvy foodie revealed how you can score two free sides at Wagamama Credit: tiktok/@catchagemm 2 There's a reason you shouldn't throw out your takeaway boxes, he revealed Credit: tiktok/@catchagemm The beloved restaurant chain has become a firm favourite for many looking for The Japanese-inspired chain, known for its legendary According to one money-smart foodie, only known as @ And if you love ordering a cheeky takeaway from the popular chain, you might not want to chuck those boxes away. Advertisement read more on food Spilling the beans on the platform, the TikToker first urged foodies to download the Wagamama app on their mobile devices. ''Once you download the app and sign up a new account, you'll get a free voucher for either edamame or prawn crackers,'' he said in ''You can redeem these with your main.'' The cheapest mains, according to their new menu, start from just £10 - and by adding the free side, you'll make them more filling. Advertisement Most read in Fabulous The savvy foodie went on to reveal another easy hack to bag a free side. ''If you have one of these Wagamama takeaway boxes, all you need to do is just bring it in. I'd heard brilliant things about Too Good to Go so spent £4.40 on an Asda bag - it was an epic fail, I can't eat it all ''The staff will let you know that you can actually trade this for a side. ''Then they will give you one of these vouchers.'' Advertisement With this voucher, he said, bargain-hunting foodies can claim the free side on the same day or during their next visit to the beloved chain. ''You can trade it in for a free side as long as you buy a main. ''Combine both offers - the one on the app and the one for the free side - and then all you need to do is just buy the main and then you'll get two free sides.'' Where can kids eat for free this summer? THE summer holidays are here, but entertaining the kids need not cost a fortune. Here, we reveal where you can get free and cheap meals for your little ones during the 'endless' summer holidays. ASDA CAFE: Nip into an Asda cafe to feed the kids after the weekly shop. Under-16s get a hot or cold meal for £1 at any time of day. Little ones are covered, too. Kids under 18 months get a free Ella's baby food pouch with any purchase. BEEFEATER: This family-friendly pub chain makes mornings a breeze. Two kids under 16 eat for free with the purchase of an adult breakfast for £10.99. It's available from 6.30am to 10.30am midweek and 7am to 11am at weekends. BELLA ITALIA: Book a table and order an adult meal at the Italian eatery for kids aged two to 11 to get three courses and a drink for £1. Offer valid between 4pm and 6pm on Sundays to Wednesdays. On Thursdays, kids eat free all day when an adult meal is ordered from the a la carte menu. DUNELM: Make homeware shopping a fun day out. Dunelm's Pausa Cafes are offering free kids' meals for every £4 spent on their food or drink. Available all day, every day. BILL'S: Dine in at a Bill's restaurant to get up to two free kids' meals (normally £6.95 each) with an adult meal. Valid weekdays only until August 30. IKEA: Make it a food day at the Swedish home store. On every day except Fridays, enjoy a pit stop at their famous cafe from 11am to get a kids' pasta or mac and cheese dish for 95p. Other mini meals are available for £1.50. PIZZA EXPRESS: Kids up to age ten can get a free three-course Piccolo meal including dough balls, pizza or pasta and dessert with every adult meal purchased. The offer runs every day until August 11. TESCO: Pop to the supermarket cafe from Monday to Friday until August 30 for free kids' meals when an adult buys any item in the cafe. You must have a Clubcard to redeem the offer. THE RANGE: Kids under 16 get one free meal per adult main purchased at The Range cafes. Options include sandwiches, a cooked breakfast and fish and chips. All kids' meals come with a piece of fruit and a drink. Site closure However, if you live in Manchester, you won't be able to enjoy this epic offer - as its Spinningfields location has shut its doors after two decades of serving up fan-favourite dishes, we reported in February. Advertisement The chain first opened the Spinningfields site in August 2005, making it the second Wagamama restaurant in the city. The venue, located in Spinningfields Square opposite Rosa's Thai, is now listed as permanently closed on the chain's website. A message told customers: 'We're now closed at this location. but don't worry, you can still get your favourites at the nearby St Peter's Square or Printworks restaurants.' A spokesperson for Wagamama confirmed the decision, stating: 'Given there are already two other wagamama restaurants in Manchester, guests are being directed to the two other sites to either wagamama Printworks or wagamama St Peters Square.' Advertisement The spokesperson also hinted at potential future expansions, adding: 'We are always looking for suitable sites in and around the area.' Despite the closure, Wagamama continues to operate across more than 170 locations across the country, including Greater Manchester locations in the Trafford Centre, Didsbury, and Salford's MediaCity.
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Thousands of tourists CANCELLED holidays after Japan's ‘Baba Vanga' predicted terrifying natural disaster
THOUSANDS of tourists cancelled trips to Japan — over predictions of a huge disaster in a graphic novel. The manga comic claimed the nation would be hit yesterday by a tsunami, an asteroid or even the end of the world. Advertisement 3 Thousands of tourists cancelled trips to Japan — over predictions of a huge disaster in a graphic novel Credit: 3 Japan's 'Baba Vanga' predicted a terrifying natural disaster Credit: Wikipedia Despite a volcanic eruption at Mount Shinmoedake and several earth tremors on its Tokara Islands, thankfully the doomsday prediction failed to come true. But it was enough for superstitious travellers to stay away. Nearly four million people visited Japan in April but there was an 11 per cent dip in May. Most of the cancellations were from people in Hong Kong but also from China, Vietnam and Thailand. Advertisement READ MORE ON JAPAN The predictions came in The Future I Saw, in which artist Ryo Tatsuki details her dreams. In 1999, the comic warned of a disaster in March 2011 — and that month a Japanese earthquake and tsunami killed 18,000 people. It garnered cult status and a Complete Edition reprint in 2021 included the new prophecy that the 'real disaster' would hit on July 5, 2025. But Tatsuki's publishers have insisted she is 'not a prophet'. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Moment 'mini-tsunami' sweeps SIDEWAYS across tourist beach injuring 8 injured as freak wave drags sunbathers over rocks 3 The predictions came in The Future I Saw, in which artist Ryo Tatsuki details her dreams
