A grandad in Leeds has gone the extra mile for his grandsons, building them a bespoke Minecraft-inspired bedroom from scratch.
Mark McFarlane from Bramley has become a bit of a local legend after images of the Minecraft-inspired bedroom he built for his lads were shared hundreds of times on Facebook.
Created for Oscar, 7, and Finn, 4, Mark needed a project to help him stave off boredom during lockdown and the Minecraft bedroom proved the perfect thing.
Mark McFarlane
He even let the boys watch him on FaceTime as he assembled redstone torches and painted diamond swords, building up to a big final reveal to show them the end product.
Due to covid restrictions, the boys haven't been able to visit him for over a year, so he wanted to make the room extra special for them.
Mark designed his own shelves, cupboards and decorations based on the hit video game, combining different colours of paint with masking tape to create the unique block, wooden and stone-walled effects.
The Minecraft tools on display were cut from an old 1.5mm foam board he had laying around in the shed, whilst the boys' crafting box/table is made from wood lats.
The project, which Mark told the YEP took around three weeks and £60 to complete, has definitely made him a hit with his grandchildren who are beyond pleased with their new digs.
"It was a small project to starve off the boredom we've all had to endure during lockdown whilst everyone has had to sit their regular routines out, but now things are looking up we can all start getting back to filling those voids," he said.
As a founder and director of registered nonprofit organisation 'Sentinel Squad UK,' a Star Wars-themed group that raises thousands of pounds for Yorkshire and surrounding areas children's charities - Mark is a dab hand at building characters and bringing fantasy to life.
He can often be seen walking around West Yorkshire dressed as a 7.5 foot Wookie - so if you spot him, make sure to say hello. It's all for a good cause.
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‘Ugly, run-down’ and ‘untidy’ – Leeds named UK’s tenth best big city
Britain's 20 biggest cities have been ranked, and Leeds has done pretty well.
Although, you wouldn't be able to tell judging by the overwhelmingly lacklustre description we've been given.
The listing comes from The Telegraph and ranks Britain's 20 biggest cities from worst to best, taking into account visitor appeal and where offers most to tourists.
Leeds comes in at a very respectable number 10, however judging from what they've said about our city you'd think we were much, much lower.
Kicking things off, the description reads: "There’s an untidy quality to Leeds, borne of a patchwork of periods in its built environment and the fact that a lot of regeneration is underway (cranes rise at every corner)."
Image: Unsplash
Yep, not off to a good start but it's only down hill from there as Leeds is then said to have a 'certain shapelessness'.
But perhaps the worst part is yet to come: "There are some ugly, run-down streets very close to the centre, and while the Headrow and other high streets have a fair number of shops, there’s no real boulevard or grand square.
"The most atmospheric spaces are Queens Arcade and perpendicular Cross Arcade, and Thornton’s Arcade; Grand Arcade is also Victorian but looks and feels less uplifting."
By the end it starts to get slightly more positive, emphases on 'slightly': "Leeds’ strongest points might be its small size and its north-central location; it’s easy to walk everywhere inside the city, and a short ride away are Ilkley, Skipton and the Dales."
Our visitor appeal gained a 6.5/10, beating Cardiff, Sheffield, Brighton and Nottingham.
Taking the top spot was Liverpool followed by Edinburgh, Belfast and Glasgow. Read the full ranking here.
An award-winning Sardinian restaurant made famous in Sheffield is now opening in Leeds
Clementine Hall
This family-run restaurant has chosen Leeds as their second location, and we're very glad they have.
Introducing Domo, a Sardinian independent born in Sheffield that is loved by many for its delicious food, inviting atmosphere and stellar service.
Run by Raffaele Busceddu and Sarah May Elliott, Domo serves a range of traditional Sardinian specialities from homemade pasta dishes to show-stopping grills.
They've also got a banging cocktail menu full of signature serves and refreshing spritz, perfect for enjoying with friends over some delicious sharing plates.
Images: The Sheff
They've been teasing a second site for some time now but finally the cat is firmly out of the bag as they've announced they'll be bringing Domo to Leeds.
But where might you ask? Well, none other than the scenic location of the Lockside overlooking the canal.
Slotting right in next to BAKE, they're going to be in very good company indeed.
Image: The Sheff
Announcing the exciting news to Instagram, Domo said: "So most of you guessed it right...it’s been a long time coming but Domo 2.0 is finally cooking.
"Here’s a little sneak peek at our week which we’ve mostly spent admiring the views and getting to know the new neighbours …. If you can guess where it is there’s a glass of bubbly on us next time we see you. To be continued ………"
That's all the information we have so far, but we'll keep you in the loop as and when we find out more.
We can't wait to have you here in Leeds Domo, but for now we'll pop round to Sheffield to get our Domo fix and we highly suggest you do too.
Georgina Pellant -
24th May 2021 
