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Here is The Nottinghamian from Wednesday, November 9:
Hello,
Today's edition of the Nottinghamian takes a look at the preparations for this year's Winter Wonderland. With less than a week to go until this year's event opens, firm favourites are making a return and new additions are appearing.
We will also take a look at how a Basford woman won big on the lottery after seeing someone else win big at the same newsagents. Plus we have news of another bakery closing down amidst rising costs and the latest on buffet restaurant COSMO's closure.
Countdown on
The Council House is almost overshadowed as Nottingham's Winter Wonderland takes shape in Old Market Square. It might only be the start of November, but the city's Christmas preparations are in full swing.
The giant observation wheel is up, the log cabins are in place ready for the Christmas market and this year's new aerial skating path is under construction. Sky Skate is being put up, metres above the ground, covering all four corners of Slab Square. Skaters will be able to stop off along the way at a skate-through bar - one of several drinking spots, which also include an ice bar.
The Helter Skelter bar has arrived and so has the Old Windmill Grill, the outlet for bratwurst and other German favourites. There's good news for fans of the toboggan run that first appeared in 2018 - it too is back in King Street. Winter Wonderland will open on November 15 and runs until December 31. Take a look at the preparations here.
'Complete shock'
Former staff at city restaurant COSMO have described their "complete shock" at arriving to start work only to find it boarded and chained up. The national buffet chain which offers customers food from around the world, recently announced that it was closing its Nottingham branch after seven years of service in the city.
Jinfeng Wang, 40, who had been an administrative worker at the restaurant for five years, was expecting a normal day at work but when he arrived at 9am, he found the restaurant boarded up. He said: "I had no idea what was happening and so I messaged my manager and he had no idea either. He said that there was no point in waiting around and that I should go home. It was later that day that I saw the news online that the closure would be a permanent one."
A former back-of-house chef at the restaurant, who did not want to be named, said he was "very disappointed" after three years of working at COSMO. He said: "It's obviously really sad for everyone because this is people's livelihoods. I myself have a one-year-old to look after and I'm now looking for another job but it's a challenging time with Christmas on the way." Read more here.
Weather and trivia
Weather: A generally dry but breezy day on Thursday, with a mix of cloud and sunny intervals. In any sunshine it will feel very mild for the time of year. Maximum temperature 16 °C.
UV: Low
Further reading: Fears of town being 'put to one side' by shake-up of Notts map
Trivia question: What does the name Arnold mean?
The answer to today’s trivia question is at the bottom of the newsletter.
Notts says
Across the pond there are rumblings of the return of Donald Trump as president. We asked the people of Nottingham: "Do you think Donald Trump will announce he is running for presidency next week?"
Sue Davies, 57, from Mapperley, said: "I hope not! That would be a disaster. I was so relieved when they voted him out, I would be shocked if he got the job again."
Kian Stewart, 32, from Beeston, added: "I mean I think it could happen. We nearly had Boris back. A lot of Americans do still love Trump. It is quite hard to say, especially with being from England, who knows what they will decide."
Connor Allen, 21, from the city centre, said: "I would not be surprised, it is something he would do. I just hope he doesn't get in again. He made a joke of politics and one of the most powerful jobs in the world. We can't see that again."
Winner
A Nottingham woman is planning a trip to Egypt after winning £300,000 on a National Lottery scratch card that she bought from her local shop Sonia Stores in Basford whilst getting bread and milk. Karen Parkin, 51, says she first started buying the scratch cards after seeing a lady win £50,000 on one whilst queuing behind her in the newsagents.
Karen bought herself a scratch card and returned home to see if she was a winner whilst watching The Chase. Before her win, Karen said: "Only last week I found a leak in my hosepipe and couldn't justify buying a new one at £48. I've just been out and bought one for £52.
"I am constantly thinking about how to pay for things, putting £20 of fuel in the car rather than filling it up. Life will be less stressful…it just feels brilliant." Since Karen's win, she has already bought a new campervan and is planning a trip to Cairo with her mum. The Maldives is also on the cards and Karen is also hoping to buy a new house in the near future as well as treating her two Bull Mastiffs, Elvis and Vogue.
End of the road
Another independent business has had to make the "difficult decision" to close due to spiralling costs. Clemie's Vegan Cakes has announced the end of the business that started as a hobby in 2016. Clemie Torselli began baking for fun and selling her cakes at Sneinton Vegan Market, at a time when vegan sweet treats were harder to come by.
She later quit her job as a teacher and made cakes her full time career by supplying vegan cafes and running a shop in Watnall Road, Hucknall. She wrote on Facebook: "All good things come to an end. After much deliberation we’ve come to the decision that Clemie's Vegan Cakes will be closing at the end of the year.
"It’s been such a difficult decision to come to terms with, but sadly the current financial climate has left us no choice." Clemie's Vegan Cakes will be at markets including Sherwood Vegan Market on Saturday, November 12, and Beeston Farmers' Market on November 19. The last cake counter at Watnall Road will be on Christmas Eve.
That’s all for today
Thank you for joining me for today's edition of The Nottinghamian. I hope you enjoyed it, and if you did why not sign up to receive it directly in your inbox every weekday by clicking here.
The answer to today’s trivia question, what does the name Arnold mean, is it’s land where the eagles are seen. I can't say I've seen any eagles when visiting the town!
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