Sunday 28 January 2024
NEXT HOME GAME: Harrogate – Saturday 3 February, 3pm
NEXT AWAY GAME: Grimsby – Saturday 10 February, 3pm
If you’d like to write an article for The Scarf My Father Wore, share a few snippets or photos, or advertise your business, please email thescarfmyfatherwore@substack.com.
Dear County fans, Stopfordians, and anyone else from The Football Family joining us today, a very warm welcome to your Sunday edition of The Scarf My Father Wore.
Earlier this month, we published a feature on sandwiches, which was the first in a new series where I speak to other people who run their own Substack newsletters and websites. I thought we’d have another one this weekend, so today we’re joined by Lucy Sweet who runs The Lucyverse – an amusing weekly write-up of anything Lucy chooses to review. So far in January, she’s already reviewed a Cliff Richard calendar, a vegan Fray Bentos pie in a tin and a blanket that looks like a giant tortilla. It’s very random, and very entertaining.
Today’s edition is sponsored by SW Appliances. A big thank you to Steve. If you’re looking for a new oven or a washing machine at the moment, have a look around Steve’s showroom on Castle Street before the Harrogate game on Saturday.
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
Give us a brief history of your Substack.
The Lucyverse started in January 2022 to entertain myself, really. I felt like the world was crap and also full of crap, so I should try to make the best of it by reviewing it all. At the beginning of the pandemic I’d done a short lived blog called Left on The Shelf which reviewed unwanted items that nobody even wanted to panic buy in the supermarket. That got a good reaction so I thought I would try that again from a different angle. I had about 300 subscribers in the summer of 2022 and now have around 3,500!
I post for free every Monday morning at 8am, which I think is good timing because it’s just when people most need a laugh. And now paid subscribers can also get a weekly Friday Bargain Bucket round-up and a monthly post about crap adverts. Please subscribe! I need to pay my gas bill.
What’s the best thing you’ve reviewed for your website?
God it’s so hard to think of something – it’s all pretty much shite, which is the point. I am very partial to various flavours of Soreen – the chocolate one is best.
What’s the worst thing you’ve reviewed for your website?
Probably a candle holder that looked like a butt plug. Or any kind of gonk.
Does Lucy Sweet prefer sweet or savoury?
I think I might err on the savoury side but will give anything sweet a go, especially if it’s Haribo eggs.
A little birdie told me (well, you, when you replied to my first email) that you went to Stockport College back in the day. Best and worst memories from that place?
The best memory was skiving off to play darts and get pissed in the afternoon at The Nelson Tavern just down the road.
The worst was my tutor Duncan. He used to smoke roll ups and shout at us and tell us that life drawing was harder than working on a building site. (Pretty sure it’s not).
Can you put your Lucyverse review skills to use doing a funny Stockport-related review for us?
I live in Glasgow and haven’t been to Stockport for about 30 years so I would only be able to review Fatty Arbuckles and Coco Savannah.
Can you give us a sneak preview to anything you’re going to be reviewing over the next few weeks?
I would love to but I think of them on the day! That’s what gives the Lucyverse its fresh, topical… I mean, rushed, last minute vibes. It also depends what butt plug shaped candle holders I can find in B&M.
Your first writing gig was doing reviews for Melody Maker. What was that like, and what was the best gig you ever went to?
I was at uni studying art and I went in for a competition to win the Best Albums of 1992 (I am old). I wanted to win them so I sent in two entries with reviews of my faves – I didn’t realise it was a ruse to find new writers. I was the only one who bothered to write in twice, so they took me on. I was usually sent to see the most terrible and obscure indie bands in shithole venues, but I had a brief role as their regional Riot Grrrl Correspondent. My favourites were the Thrush Puppies (from Northwich) and the picturesquely named Delicate Vomit from Newcastle. All fine, upstanding ladies.
Who’s your favourite newspaper critic?
I loved Nancy Banks Smith who reviewed TV for The Guardian. Her writing was so warm, funny and effortless. I also love the food critic Marina O’Loughlin because she takes no prisoners and she makes me hungry.
The Guardian published an article recommending your website last August. Were you expecting that and what sort of impact did it have?
No – I was very happy to be included but thought I’d get about three extra subscribers. I got 2,000! People are obviously actively looking for things to cheer them up – and I don’t blame them.
What’s your take on the abundance of obese food reviewers scoffing their faces on YouTube in front of millions of viewers?
Oh I don’t really watch that kind of stuff. I’m more obsessed with cooking videos. I love Poppy Cooks and her potato recipes. I think stuffing your face is fun but I’ve got high cholesterol so I have to eat fucking Soreen and pretend I love it.
What do you like to get up to when you’re not writing reviews?
I have a real life job as a copywriter and I am obsessed with jigsaws and Codewords. Also, I have a 15-year-old dog called Joe who is very lazy. I’m doing a jigsaw of him now but it’s too hard and I wish I hadn’t started. I have a terrible habit of making fun things into work.
Your website says you have no self-control around taramasalata, Wotsits or Percy Pigs. Do we need to stage an intervention for you?
I’ve given up taramasalata but I still think of it often. No intervention needed for the others!
Your Twitter bio says you shout at the telly for The Big Issue, do copywriting, draw cartoons, and eat. How does a typical day look for you comprising those four elements?
I mostly do copywriting all day, with a Big Issue column once every three weeks. Shouting at the telly and eating happens most days, sometimes all day. Drawing cartoons doesn’t happen enough.
Your Twitter bio also says you think you’re funny and that’s what counts. Don’t they say you shouldn’t laugh at your own jokes…
Well if you’re a writer who doesn’t laugh at your own jokes then writing will be dull and hard and you should probably not be a writer. You’ve got to enjoy it, don’t you? I'm happy making up stupid crap – it’s my vocation.
Click on the links below to read about the previous topics we’ve covered in our Substack series.
CHILL OUT! (with this brand new fridge freezer)
I don’t want to be accused of slander by a man with significantly more money than me, but I reckon Jeff Bezos has never set foot inside Edgeley Park. On that basis alone, don’t buy your kitchen appliances on Amazon. Get them from SW Appliances instead, a business owned by County fan Steve Gibbons.
Whether you visit Steve’s showroom on Castle Street, or purchase online, SW Appliances have hundreds of products in stock. You won’t get a personal service from Bezos if you buy a kettle off him, but you will if you do business with Steve. He’s the appliance version of a train spotter and what he doesn’t know about appliances simply isn’t worth knowing. (That’s not an insult by the way, it’s on his website.)
Perhaps you’re in need of a new fridge freezer at the moment. How about the one in the picture? With a total combined food storage of 280L, this Zanussi ZBB28441SV integrated fridge freezer certainly has the capacity to store family-sized quantities of food. It’s divided 70/30 between fridge and freezer, and features a low-frost freezer and a low electricity consumption as shown by its A+ energy rating. And it’s currently on sale for £399.99, reduced from £499.99.
Visit swappliances.co.uk for further details.
County’s first ever victory at the Keepmoat Eco-Power
Photo of the day
A house in Edgeley
At 3.28pm yesterday, I received the following message: “Hi Uncle Boo, we are ready if needed.” (That’s a family name by the way, don’t ask.)
Cute, eh? And these two would also probably have scored against that Doncaster defence yesterday.
Today in SK
🍽 Food and drink
10% off all drinks at Enigma (SK1). 3pm - 10pm.
Ignore the “beer police” and support your local pub in January. If you’re in Stockport today, pop into The Petersgate Tap (SK1) for a pint or two. 12pm - 9pm.
Are you giving Dry January a go? The Crown Inn (SK6) have a great selection of non-alcoholic beers and ciders, plus nozeco!
Located next to the lovely canal walk in Romiley, The Spread Eagle (SK6) is the perfect spot to rest those weary legs over a refreshing drink and a delicious carvery. 12pm - 8pm.
🎶 Free jukebox
The Nelson Tavern (SK1). 3pm - 6pm.
The Scarf My Father Wore works closely with venues on a daily basis to bring you the most comprehensive guide to all of the best offers and events taking place across the whole SK region. Click on the links below for full details of everything taking place in your area over the next few weeks.
SK1 / SK2 / SK3 / SK4 / SK5 / SK6 / SK7 / SK8 / SK9 / SK10 / SK11 / SK12 / SK13 / SK14 / SK15 / SK16 / SK17 / SK22 / SK23
Random County fan of the day #28 – Hayley Timms!
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!
🎨 Art & Gifts: Kate O’Brien Art
💈 Barber: STUDIO26 Haircare
🪟 Blinds & Shutters: Bauhaus Blinds & Shutters
📚 Bookkeeping: Eleven Accounts Services Ltd
🍰 Cake Maker: Claire Green Bespoke Cakes and Catering
🧽 Car Valeting: Rub A Dubz Detailing Ltd
🧼 Carpet Cleaning: Pro Clean Carpet Services
🏠 Carpets & Flooring: Kingsway Carpets & Rugs Ltd
🐈⬛ Cat Sitting: The Crazy Cat Ladies Cheshire
👶 Child Health: The Sleep Nanny
🤹♀️ Children’s Entertainment: Stockport Hero Hire
🧹 Cleaning: Beespoke Cleaning
🚙 Coatings: Colourtone Ltd
🦮 Dog Training: Paws High Peak Dog Training
🚘 Driving School: CFN School of Motoring
💷 Financial Services: The Mortgage Mill
🔥 Fire Protection: Radial Fire And Security Limited
🍸 Gin: Hatters Gin
🛁 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