100 ways to slightly improve your life without really trying (Part 4: 40-21)
We’re helping our readers improve their hangovers today, along with other suggestions on clothes, compliments and cold showers
Thursday 25 January 2024
NEXT HOME GAME: Harrogate – Saturday 3 February, 3pm
NEXT AWAY GAME: Doncaster – Saturday 27 January, 3pm
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Dear County fans, Stopfordians, and anyone else joining us today, a very warm welcome to IMPROVEMENT WEEK on The Scarf My Father Wore!
On New Year’s Day 2022, The Guardian published the following article: 100 ways to slightly improve your life without really trying.
I care about all of my readers and subscribers, so having stumbled across the article recently, I thought I’d share it with you, to see if I can help improve your life in a small way. But the feature by The Guardian simply listed the 100 recommendations. There was no meat on the bones. How do we even know those 100 things will make any improvement to your life whatsoever?
There was only one thing for it. I’ve analysed the list myself, and with the kind help of fellow County fans, other football supporters, and writers, bloggers and podcasters from across the country, we’ve collectively produced the definitive guide to (slightly) improving your life this year, without really trying. If you try any of these suggestions yourself, please let me know how you get on!
Today’s edition is sponsored by Claire Green Bespoke Cakes and Bakery, joining The Scarf My Father Wore family for the first time! A big thank you to Claire, who I’ll definitely be placing an order with in September for my 40th! If you’re celebrating anything soon and you’d like a special cake for the occasion, give Claire a call on 07821 880638 or email clairegreen930@gmail.com.
Finally, I’m currently walking every street in Stockport to raise money for mental health charity Mentell. If you’d like to make a donation to help me reach my target, please click here.
Total distance so far: 46.68 miles
Total steps so far: 83,302
Total raised so far: £1,037
Total completed streets so far: 24 (Click here for the full list, which includes reports and photos from every day of the walk.)
Further information on the walk can be found by clicking here.
Des Junior
40: It might sound obvious, but a pint of water before bed after a big night avoids a clanger of a hangover
Matt, editor of Barnsley fanzine Ey Up & Down
I swear by a pint of water before going to bed after having a skinful of beer, it does take the sting out of the impending hangover. But I also go one better too. Us runners use hydration tablets to replace salts after a lot of sweating. Pop a hydration tablet into the pint of water and you'll be amazed how much weaker the hangover is. Game changer.
Rating: 8/10.
39: Connect with nature: stand outside barefoot for a few minutes – even when it’s cold
Des Junior, The Scarf My Father Wore editor
I tried this. And as it’s January, it was bloody freezing. But do you know what, it was quite nice. I think we all like to connect with nature from time to time don’t we, which is why we head to the beach or the countryside on our days off.
Rating: 8/10. Might have been a 10/10 but a couple of points deducted as you always run the risk of stepping on a slug or dog shit in the UK.
38: Be polite to rude strangers – it’s oddly thrilling
Mat Roper, editor of Leyton Orient fanzine Pandamonium
I have in fact done this regularly for a couple of years now. Forget the "far too much hate in the world" bit, it’s rather amusing being polite with a very clever sarcastic slant on it and seeing people’s reactions. Trains, queues, shops – anywhere is an opportunity.
The best thing is that others, being strangers, don’t know how to take you. Is he taking the absolute piss? Is he genuinely being nice? Is he a random loony who’s always smiling? Nothing funnier than the thought process in my head trumping theirs!
Right, I’m off to catch a bus. Let’s see if there is a queue jumper…
Rating: 8/10.
37: Always bring something – wine, flowers – to a dinner/birthday party, even if they say not to
Des Junior, The Scarf My Father Wore editor
I always bring something to every occasion: my dazzling good looks and witty repartee. 10/10.
Rating: Actually, it’s an 8/10. I’ve forgotten the wine and the flowers.
36: Learn the basics of repairing your clothes
Michael Miles, editor of York City fanzine Y Front
Whilst this piece is not about repairing clothing it’s actually a step up from that: making your own clothing.
In 2021, York City were about to embark on hopefully a bright new dawn moving into our new home of the LNER Community Stadium. This coincided with what I thought in my own mind was the return of the fashion of Madchester and the Second Summer of Love.
Being 16 and at college in 1989 the fashion of flares and flowery shirts and bucket hats has left an indelible mark on my fashion psyche. Of course some of this inspiration came from the first summer of love and the hippy movement in 1967. Again this is something that has long interested me.
The music of the Stones, Roses, Inspiral Carpets, Charlatans, Happy Mondays and more continue to dominate my playlist to this day, thus I always have part of me back in the late 80s and early 90s. So, determined to be at the cutting edge of fashion I set about to change the course of terrace fashion away from CP Company and Stone Island and bring some individuality and colour to a very dull and drab scene.
Of course, I couldn’t buy the stuff I wanted to make a statement with – namely fisherman’s smocks in paisley and flowery material. Here stepped in my girlfriend who not only being an artist she is also a whiz with a sewing machine. In no time at all I had a collection of fisherman’s smocks that would have made John Squire blush.
So that season whilst the weather was good there I was in quality Adidas trainers, flared jeans and paisley fisherman’s smocks topped off with various bucket hats. I felt like the dog’s bollocks and in my mind I was trailblazing a look that soon would be seen on football grounds all over the country.
Well, I have to be honest, things did not go the way I planned. The style was not copied by my fellow Yorkies nor from fans of any other clubs. In truth when I look back at the images now I look a right prat.
But you know what, I tried to be different and I gave it a go and that made me feel uplifted and it was good for the soul. So you don’t always have to wear a £500 jacket at the football to make a statement. A homemade piece can work just as well.
Rating: 8/10.
35: Try taking a cold shower (30 seconds to two minutes) before your hot one. It’s good for your health – both physical and mental
Andrew Sloan, Stockport County fan
In the days before Covid I used to drive to work with the radio on, Chris Evans and his sidekick Vassos spinning the tunes. Chris loves his health kicks and the latest fads, and the topic of a cold shower caught my ear. The suggestion is that a cold shower, for 30 seconds to a minute, has a number of health benefits.
Now I run a lot and have had the odd ice bath but the idea of starting a day with a freezing cold shower did not appeal. I tried it once, and, well, that was that. So when asked a few years later to take on a challenge I opted for this. I do like a challenge. I had a bet I couldn’t give up chocolate for 40 days. Seven years later and I’m still clean, so I knew I’d give this a good go.
However, I don’t like the cold. When going swimming I used to take an age to lower myself into the pool (not so much now). So many things came through my mind. Do I start on warm and turn the cold up? Do I walk into the already freezing shower? Or do I just stand there, turn it on and count the seconds down? Then, do I face the water or let it run over my head? There’s a lot to think about. I like to take the path of least resistance, so I opted for walking in with the water slightly heated before simply turning up the cold.
I have two kids and they occasionally hear the odd expletive (usually a Saturday any time after three and before five when County concede) but I don’t think they were ready for it first thing in the morning as the cold water was ramped up. I’m not going to lie, that first go was a long 30 seconds. It’s meant to be a minute as well – why would anyone choose to do this? I’ve decided to run marathons and often questioned the decision but for some reason this was worse.
There I was, freezing, watching things get smaller than they ever could. Time seemed to stop. 30 seconds to finish a 200m race – not that long at all. 30 seconds in a cold shower – an eternity. I managed it, though. Job done. Well, for this day, but it was a challenge to repeat. I used to look forward to that hot shower but now I was facing freezing cold water before getting warm.
Day 2 came, and again the same response.
“What the f…!”
Why did I agree…”
It takes something like six weeks to form a habit and two to break it. I didn’t do the six weeks. I’m still facing up to the challenge of going back to it. The problem is that most mornings I’m up and out for a run before work so a cold shower straight after just doesn’t suit. That’s my excuse anyway.
I’ll go back to it. I will. I know I will. The question is when. Seven days of cold showes. Did I get faster? Did my muscles repair? I’ve no idea. I know it increased my kids’ vocabulary, but not a word they should have picked up…
Rating: 8/10.
34: Read a poem every day. Keep a compendium, such as A Poem for Every Day of the Year, by your bed
Michael Wilson, editor of literature blog A Novel Chapter
Reading a poem a day could be a fantastic way to build up a hobby around reading. Poems provide escapism and a way of exploring ideas and learning about people, cultures and ideas that are different to your own. Indeed any kind of reading can be beneficial, even if you decide to read a page of a book a day, or listen to an audiobook in the car.
Reading books is shown to reduce stress, improve language, communication skills and knowledge, and can be a cheap form of entertainment if you join your local library. You can even use a local Little Free Library in your community – something which is especially important during the current cost of living crisis.
The original article in The Guardian recommended A Poem for Every Day of the Year as a starting point. I would also suggest my favourite poet Carol Ann Duffy and her collection The World's Wife which explores the women behind real and fictional men throughout history.
Rating: 8/10.
33: Laugh shamelessly at your own jokes
Maurice Perkins (also known as Moz, Polly or Mo, depending on where you know him from), author of six books
I do laugh at my own jokes or funny incidents that have happened to me. Humour is a really simple way to improve your life, I know because it works for me.
Once, I’d been awake for hours and it was all Elton John’s fault. Well, not exactly. One of my many weird dreams had me and my wife Bev discussing Kingsman and the same guy who played Elton John in Rocketman. I then began humming one of his songs. All whilst I was still asleep, or half asleep.
Then I remembered the song. It was called “Song for Guy” and I laughed to myself remembering a story. It must have been then that I woke up…
Back in 1979, I was home on leave from the Royal Navy and had taken Bev to the County Club. It was next to Stockport County’s ground, the area which is now the Cheadle End and car park. We had enjoyed the cabaret, then danced the last hour when the disco started and smooched the last number before being asked to leave the premises as they wanted to shut up shop.
I walked Bev home to her house in Cheadle Heath and after a doorstep smooch, made my way home. No taxis for me in those days. A waste of money when you could walk the three miles or so to Offerton.
Walking home after ale always made me hungry. Nothing open at that time of the morning. Not like these days with a kebab shop on every corner. I decided to make a sandwich when I got in. Except when I looked in the fridge, there wasn’t much for me to go at. A bit of cheese which my dad would need for his butties for work in the morning. I didn’t fancy jam or fish spread out of a jar so dropped to my fallback position: broken fried egg butties.
I dropped some butter in a frying pan, which immediately stirred the dog, MacTavish, Mum and Dad’s West Highland terrier. He was always on the lookout for a snack, which both he and I knew would happen at some point.
I buttered four rounds of sliced white. Nobody had really heard the miracle of wholemeal back then. Standard fare was white sliced loaves. Everyone made them. Ours were from Champion Bakery. As the butter fizzed, I dropped three eggs into the pan, messed them up a bit with a butter knife and waited for them to cook. Once done, they were carefully fed onto four butties, each with a dollop of ketchup on.
I meandered into the living room and put the stereo on for some noise. I wasn’t stupid though, I put the headphones on so as not to wake up the rest of the house. It was about four in the morning by then and I tuned into Piccadilly 261, Manchester’s independent radio station.
The duty DJ had an “intro” competition on. He asked his caller if she was ready, and she gave the affirmative. She had until the intro finished and the artist began singing to name the tune. As it started, I thought this was easy. It was “Song for Guy”. Nice tune.
Elton began to knock out the intro on his piano and as I was munching through my first egg butty I dutifully waited for the caller to name the tune. She dithered. “Ahh, I don’t know,” she wailed. The DJ trying to be helpful said “It’s a song for someone” and I thought he’s given it away here, before she replied, “A song for you?” more in question than statement.
Through mumbled egg butty I tried to help too and announced: “It’s called Song for Guy.” But I don’t think she could hear me as she said: “Is it a song for me?”
The DJ said “No” and then gave his biggest hint: “It’s the name of a gorilla.” I thought, oh yeah, Guy the Gorilla from London Zoo, everyone would know that. But not her. Her final answer that failed to win the prize and name the tune before Elton kicked in was “A song for King Kong” and I laughed out loud, spurting egg butty in all directions. Just the sign that MacTavish had been waiting for as he busied himself running around the living room picking up bits of egg and bread that had gone in all directions. Cheers mate. His reward was to share the fourth egg butty with me as I managed to compose myself.
It was a day or two later when Mum was cleaning up and asked why there was egg pebble dashed on the stereo tuner. No idea Mum…
And that is why I was wide awake. Because my brain took me back to that time the duty Piccadilly 261 radio DJ was playing Elton John, and I woke up laughing.
Laughter really is the best medicine.
Rating: 8/10.
32: If you find an item of clothing you love and are certain you will wear for ever, buy three
Liam Scahill, host of the European football podcast Eurotales
Being a lover of Aston Villa for over 30 years has given me some memorable times. Along the way, us lovers of the beautiful game often amass a treasure trove of a jersey collection. We buy our club’s shirts with vigour each passing season, each shirt infused with memories and innate mystique from seasons passed.
The third shirt is often a chance for fashionistas and designers to cut loose. No colours are off limits. It is rarely worn but always bought. As the years pass by and we procure our club’s three jerseys each season, the habit becomes a religion, part of the calendar year. That is, until recently, when we decided to go with Castore.
Next season I’ll buy all three when we’re part of the Adidas family.
Rating: A strong but humble 8/10.
31: Learn how to floss properly
Ed Bridges, host of Newport County podcast 1912 Exiles
Oh, I wish I’d looked after me teeth,
And spotted the dangers beneath,
All the toffees I chewed,
And the sweet sticky food,
Oh, I wish I’d looked after me teeth.
My mother would regularly quote the above Pam Ayres poem to me as a boy, in a doomed attempt to get me to adopt vaguely human levels of dental hygiene. And it broadly had the desired effect, with me maintaining an adequate but old-school brushing regime, employing a vigorous technique but using a manual toothbrush and no flossing. Until now. Spurred on by The Scarf My Father Wore I’ve given it a go for a month, methodically flossing every night before bed. My wife – a lifelong flosser – has been by my side providing encouragement and extolling the benefits I will reap in terms of lower cholesterol and reduced risk of dementia.
The result? Flossing’s a bit “meh” really, isn’t it? It’s a faff to do, and because I brush quite hard I’m not convinced it made my teeth much cleaner. I’ll probably use up the rest of the pack, but can’t see it being something that sticks.
However, there is a happy postscript to this: reviewing my dental hygiene made me realise just how yellowing my teeth are, doubtless accelerated by endless cups of tea and coffee. As I spend a large chunk of my working day on video calls, it probably doesn’t give colleagues the best impression, so my New Year’s resolution is to get them properly whitened. Like the flossing, it may not make them feel much cleaner, but it will probably look a bit better and give me a bit of a confidence boost. Perhaps I can report back on that one in 12 months’ time…
In the meantime, greetings to fans of ‘the other County’, thanks for the unexpected three points at Rodney Parade in the biggest surprise of our season so far, and all the best as you romp towards a much-deserved title.
Rating: 8/10.
30: Go to bed earlier – but don’t take your phone with you
David Garratt, editor of Chesterfield fanzine Legends of the Spire
Like a lot of people, I’ve got a habit of picking up books and putting them in the metaphorical box of good intentions. This time – as the BBC mantra goes – I’ll make an effort to “inform, educate and entertain” myself I say. At least that’s what I tell myself. In reality the books end up on a pile that I use to balance a cup of tea or as a place to charge my phone. It’s not that I don’t want to read them, it’s just that reading is not in my procrastination checklist that generally includes scrolling through phone apps, stalking former Chesterfield players on social media and, last Christmas, finally solving a Rubik’s cube.
This year though, I’ve cracked it. I’ve started going to bed an hour earlier and putting my phone away. I then spend an hour working my way through one of the books in the pile. Past Dave seems to have done a good job of curating a collection that will keep me amused for some time. I’ve been reading about the history of fish and chips, the origin of football chants and being truly inspired by Phil Quinlan’s And a Bang on the Ear about surviving brain injury.
The words I’m reading are genuinely transforming my day-to-day life. I feel revitalised in the mornings (quite a task with two young kids), am managing to de-clutter my bedside table at last, and have a newly found ability to annoy people – with titbits of information that they were never ever interested in knowing.
Rating: 8/10.
29: Say hello to your neighbours
Fyfie, Swindon Town fan
I’ve got two different examples for you.
1) I recently said hello to my neighbours who I've lived next to for a few years and handed over an Amazon delivery I'd accepted for them. This prompted a 10-minute chat about their Christmas plans. The elder lady seemed to appreciate this. When I got home later that day I received my first ever Christmas card from them (typical in the year I decided not to send them) but that card certainly improved my mood that day.
2) I said hello to my attractive neighbour the other side and she said hello back. Before I could walk into my house, she engaged me in chat about the training my son and I were doing. It took me approximately five seconds to realise the top she was wearing was see through so I had to try very hard not to stare while also staying engaged for what turned into a half-hour chat about all sorts. I'm not sure it impacted her day, but it did mine!
Rating: 8.5/10. (8 for the card, 9 for the neighbour…)
28: If something in the world is making you angry, write (politely) to your MP – they will read it
Hannah Brown, Stockport County fan and co-host of The Lower League Look
I come at this from my time spent working in the Brussels office of an MEP. Full disclosure, I didn’t write a letter, but I do know why it’s important that you do.
1) You get it off your chest. Your MP is an elected representative and speaks for you. Your voice deserves to be heard and they may be able to advocate for you in personal matters, or you can understand their position if they don’t agree with you.
2) The more people that write, the more voters are seen to be affected by this issue. So encourage your neighbours or colleagues to write too. In Brussels we would collate letters by topic – a big wad meant this was something we needed to speak about.
3) Consider starting a petition. Change Now petitions are great for getting awareness about your issue, and people can share the link with their MP.
4) Be constructive. We had a file that genuinely included those letters that looked like ransom notes with words cut out of newspapers so there was no handwriting. Other people sent reams of paper about conspiracy theories.
5) Be clear about what you’re asking for, and what you want the outcome to be. If you want a meeting, ask for it. If you want them to visit a local interest cause, invite them (and tell them there will be photographers, they love that).
Rating: 9/10, if only because it gets it off your chest and helps you feel like you’re actively doing something.
27: Join a local litter-picking group
Kelvin Briggs, Stockport County fan
Litter picking entered my life circa 2018. I joined up with the Alderley Edge in Bloom group. I took on a regular stretch of Wilmslow Road, picking up litter every Monday morning. This included keeping the VITA HQ roadside area tidy. I wonder if Stotty knows?
Twice a year we litter pick the Alderley Edge bypass and last year filled over 70 bags of litter in two hours. The council claim to be skint so we just like to keep our village tidy. It’s social, too. We hit the caffeine in Caffè Nero at 11am every Monday.
I get really p****d off at the amount of litter going to County. The walk from Ye Olde Vic through the estate up to Castle Street is a social embarrassment. Looks like the local residents and council have given up. How can we turn this round and restore people’s pride in their surroundings?
Most interesting items I’ve picked up include a punctured blow up doll and a vibrator found where an ex Premier League footballer liked to park up with his young mistress…
Rating: 9/10.
26: Don’t be weird about how to stack the dishwasher
Alan Dakin, Stockport County fan
Don’t be weird about how to stack the dishwasher. I never am. Why? Simple. Because I am the dishwasher. In the time it takes to load and unload one, you could have washed up by hand, and not wasted electricity. Don't see the point of them myself.
Rating: 9/10. I'd have to rearrange the kitchen to put in a dishwasher. That's not making my life easier.
25: Buy in person, rather than online
Isaac Stronge, freelance football writer
I’d say this is definitely the case with clothes, but it also applies more generally as well. Nothing ever looks the same online as it does in person, and you can get such a better idea of the fit and the materials when you see something in the flesh, saving that dreaded trip to return any unwanted items. It also goes a long way in terms of sustaining the high street, a feature of most UK towns that we won’t fully appreciate until they’re gone. Plus, you never know what else you might find!
Rating: 9/10. Can’t beat getting out and about.
24: Nap
Des Junior, The Scarf My Father Wore editor
I absolutely LOVE a good na…
Rating: 9/10. (Des Junior has just nodded off. Please keep the noise down.)
23: Sleep with your phone in a different room (and buy an alarm clock)
Mike, Sutton United Talk Time on Podcast host
Gather round, young types, and let me spin you a yarn about the bygone days! Believe it or not, we (this very much includes me) weren’t always glued to mobile phones. And even when these gadgets first appeared, they were a far cry from the do-it-all devices of today.
Back in my late teens, a fresh name emerged in the world of telecommunications: Mercury One2One. With them came the first truly accessible mobile phones, complete with those tiny plastic aerials that were purely cosmetic. Market research showed people felt more confident with these appendages, even though they did zilch. Being a bit of a tech geek I was way ahead of my peers, owning one when nobody else did.
As time marched on, everyone else caught up. SMS texts became all the rage, and we were engrossed in games like Snake. During this era, I managed a Sunday League football team which I cleverly named Parklife, inspired by the Blur song. We had our very own ready made anthem, a stroke of genius I thought at the time.
However, as the first season unfolded, the team bonding sessions on Saturday nights began to infringe on my precious beauty sleep, when my phone would erupt with impromptu renditions of this anthem. After three weeks of this nocturnal chorus, I banished the phone from my bedroom – a habit I've maintained to this day, long after the football team disbanded.
Little did I realise, I was unwittingly pioneering what's now known as a “zen lifestyle method”. But in all seriousness, I can’t recommend it enough. There's always something tempting to read or watch, especially if you're the type to have the last word in every conversation. Before you know it, hours have slipped by, leading to a poor night's sleep, subpar performance at work, frayed family relationships, and a cascade of other woes.
So, ignore what User827907278 thinks of your witty retort. Leave watching INITIALSFC_fan54561's amazing edit for the morning. Keep your phone out of the bedroom, get that restful sleep, and wake up ready to be the best version of yourself.
Amazingly there is research that currently backs this up. Whilst more is needed the current evidence suggests that creating a technology-free bedroom environment is recommended for enhancing sleep quality. This involves removing devices such as smartphones, tablets and computers from the bedroom, establishing a relaxing bedtime routine that doesn't involve screens, and keeping the bedroom lights dim to support natural melatonin production. Reducing exposure to blue light emitting devices in the hours leading up to bedtime can also help improve sleep quality and have positive effects on sleep quality and overall happiness.
Rating: 9/10.
22: Give compliments widely and freely
Oli, co-host of Sheff United Way
Receiving compliments can really brighten someone’s day, and telling people when they’ve done something well will also give you that same rush of endorphins.
The world can be a horrible place, but we can all just be nice to each other and make ourselves and everyone else feel better. This costs nothing and makes a huge impact on yourself and on everyone around you.
You’ve done great for reading this far – and I hope you have a nice day!
Rating: 9/10.
21: Always use freshly ground pepper
Hannah Brown, Stockport County fan and co-host of The Lower League Look
I mean… why wouldn’t you? Get yourself to Home Bargains on Castle Street and get one of those little grinders with peppercorns in for less than a quid. It will transform eggs, pasta, bread with salted butter.
Rating: 10/10. I don’t even know why this is on there to be honest. Basic quality of life thing.
Part 5, counting down from 20 to 1, will be on The Scarf My Father Wore tomorrow. Click on the subscribe button and you’ll receive it for free in your inbox.
Are you having a baby this year?
How good do these look!
Claire Green Bespoke Cakes and Bakery regularly provide a delicious range of cakes for baby showers across Stockport and the surrounding areas. If you’re expecting a new arrival this year, order some tasty treats for your own baby shower!
To discuss any catering requirements, give Claire a call on 07821 880638 or email clairegreen930@gmail.com.
Des Junior getting in shape in 2024 (Part 1 of 52!)
Thursday 18 January: 15st 5lbs (BMI 26.5)
Thursday 25 January: 14st 5lbs (BMI 24.8)
I posted two photos on social media a couple of days ago, evidencing the fact I’d lost a stone in five days, and I don’t think many people believed me! I was bloody shocked myself.
However, the only food I’ve eaten in the last seven days was a tray of seasoned fries at Chorley on Tuesday night. I’m writing a new groundhopping series so I had to try the food at Victory Park!
Instead, I’ve had 21 bottles of Huel (“human fuel”) during the last week, for breakfast dinner and tea, which has culminated in a total of 1,200 calories per day. Don’t worry, I’m not doing this long-term as it wouldn’t be healthy, I just wanted to have a big start to week one by seeing how many pounds I could shift.
That certainly won’t be all fat loss by the way. This article shows you can easily lose a stone in a week when you start a new fitness regime, but it’s to do with water and salt and lots of other stuff. I might even be slightly heavier when I weigh myself next week, but it’s going in the right direction anyway, ahead of my 40th birthday in September!
Photo of the day
Someone’s telly
Christ, they’re on the box more than Ant and Dec at the moment aren’t they!
Today in SK
💿 DJ
90s night at Bask (SK1). Plus, free pints of Bask Lager available between 8pm and 10pm. Free entry.
🥘 Food and drink
If you’re in Stockport today, pop into The Petersgate Tap (SK1) for a pint or two. Open till 11pm.
Lite bite meal deal at The Friary (SK3). Cod or haddock, served with chips, and a side of peas, curry or gravy. Plus tea or coffee. £9.95. Open till 7.30pm.
Are you giving Dry January a go? The Crown Inn (SK6) have a great selection of non-alcoholic beers and ciders, plus nozeco!
Two main meals for £20 at Cheshire Line Tavern (SK8).
Enjoy a taste of India with Curry Thursday at Platform 5 (SK8). £14.45 for a curry, which includes rice, naan bread, poppadoms, mango chutney and a drink. Served till 8pm.
🎶 Free jukebox
Nelson Tavern (SK1). From 6.30pm.
🎱 Free pool
George & Dragon (SK7). 6pm - 9pm.
🎤 Karaoke
Enigma (SK1). 8pm. (And there’s a 10% discount on all drinks!)
❓ Quiz night
The Dog & Partridge (SK2). 8pm. (And if you can get there from 7pm, there’s a delicious tandoori menu before the quiz!)
Random County fan of the day #25 – Si Calvert!
One final thing before you go… if you’re looking to learn to drive in January, or lose a few pounds after Christmas, or even get some work done at home, please contact our fantastic advertisers!
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🛁 Grout Refresh & Recolour: GroutGleam Stockport
💇♀️ Hairdressing: C West Hairstylist
🛠 Home Improvements: Menzies Develop & Build
💻 IT Services: Bridge Computer Services
🪚 Joinery: SAW Contracts Ltd
👨🍳 Kitchen Appliances: SW Appliances
🔑 Locksmith: APL Locksmiths Ltd
🚐 Minibus Hire: Westfield Minibuses
🧤 Oven Cleaning: That Oven Girl
🖌 Painter & Decorator: BGM Decorators
🧱 Plasterer: Tate Plastering Services
🚰 Plumber: GTG Gary the Gasman
📕 Publishing: Victor Publishing
🛖 Roofing: ADM Roofing Services Ltd
☀️ Solar Panels: Malbern Solar Ltd
⚽️ Sports Coaching: UK Sports Coaching Ltd
🖊 Tattooist: Heatons Tattoo Club
🪵 Timber Supplies: Portwood Timber Division of Illingworth Ingham (Manchester) Ltd
👨💻 Web Design: SITEZO
⚖️ Weight Loss: Slimming World Reddish & Bredbury with Shlean
🪟 Window Cleaner: R ‘N’ B Window Cleaning
🏋️♀️ Women’s Fitness: Sophie Pavey Fitness
🧘♀️ Yoga: Greenshoots Yoga