Faffing Friday Edition #11
A bumper edition - look whose joined Substack, a fabulous hybrid wine you need to try, a fairytale afternoon tea, Taylor Swift continues to break the internet, a super simple supper recipe & more
Faffing Friday is an affiliate free zone.
It’s simply links and recs to stuff I’ve discovered IRL and on the internet this week.
WINE 🍷 A “Genius” new hybrid wine from Aldi. I’ve meant to share this for a few weeks and now I’ve repurchased it several times so would definitely recommend. I love it but then again I love a nice dry rosé for summer drinking. I just made myself LOL then when I wrote ‘summer’.
Despite being called Rosorange Rosé it doesn’t really taste of orange. The citrus-y notes give it a nice clean taste on the tongue. £9.99. Love the bottle, too. We’ve enjoyed it when we’ve have charcuterie style nibbles.
FASHION 🦁 I’m not sure who will be able to afford this but it’s still cute and very stylish. The House of Balmain’s collaboration with Disney to mark the 30th anniversary of The Lion King.
My kids loved The Lion King and I remember we were merched to the hilt. I have fond, funny memories of our youngest boy falling asleep half way through when we went to see the musical at The Lyceum in London’s West End. He’s 27 now. Actually his birthday was Monday.
AFTERNOON TEA ☕️ 🧁 Wisteria Kitchen. This IRL place recommendation is close to me where I live in the North East of England so one for my local Faffers. I visited last Friday afternoon with my mum. I was really lucky as I’d won afternoon tea for two in an Instagram competition. I’d wanted to visit for ages so as if by magic I was a winner.
We were delighted to enjoy their Happily Ever After Afternoon Tea. My mum loves afternoon tea. She is an expert taster so she was the ideal person to take along with me.
This is their official photo ..
and IRL it didn’t disappoint. Our Happily Ever Afternoon Tea included:
👑 Fairytale Princess white chocolate cake truffles
🧚🏻 Lost boy treasure chest filled with indulgent millionaire chocolate brownie
🐚 Biscoff sand filled Mermaid shells with mini lemon meringue pearls
🍎 Both sweet and savoury scones served with a poisoned apple strawberry jam and clotted cream.
🧞♂️ Arabian Nights homemade Hummus on a magic carpet with dipping bread and infused magic lamp pouring oil
🗡️ Sword in the Sandwich with ham hock filling (can be substituted for egg)My mum give it eight out of ten. She also gave the service from the lovely WK team a solid 9/10.
Here’s a selection of my photos … and yes we had to bring a box of leftovers home as too much to eat in one sitting.
I can’t wait to return as we couldn’t help but stare at the plates of fabulous looking food that was coming out of the kitchen.
The place was crowded and we understand why.
BRAIN HEALTH 🧠 I’m all ears when I come across anything to do with understanding the risks of dementia. You might remember if you’ve been around a while that I had a brain scan myself some years ago. The vast majority of us can reduce the danger – especially if we look after our bodies is such an interesting read.
SOCIAL HEALTH 🗣️ Very many of the types of articles and health recs that talk about brain health also mention time and time again about social health - the little-known idea that could make all the difference. We undervalue the impact of connection.
SUPPER RECIPE 🍴 Mary Berry’s Pasta and Red Pepper Penne. I can’t take credit for ever rustling this up as it is Mr B’s stand by supper that we all love. I reckon even I could deliver if I needed to. Every single time we all want a second serving. He can never make enough. I don’t take many photos of food as I never seem to get them right so this is the official one. If I could this is exactly how it turns out ..
SEXISM 🤬 I’ve commented on a few online debates this past week on this so called ‘opinion’ piece trying to take down Taylor Swift as a role model for young women. I wonder was the clickbait the writer’s true intention or did he think the women of the world wouldn’t notice? It was amended on Tuesday but I’m struggling to see what’s different. I did read it through a red haze though the first time. Maybe he should dig a bit deeper to discover why so many women choose to be childless and unmarried. Birth rates are dropping across the whole world right now and UK birth rates are lower than ever. There’s a lot stacked against women and maybe we are making choices to suit ourselves for once?
50+ MEN 🙋🏽♂️ Loved this being the first thing I saw in my Linkedin feed when I logged on yesterday morning shared by the Silver Marketing Association { whose work I’m loving btw} from Men’s Health: '50 guys over 50 who are redefining aging.'
STREAMING 🍿 I watched Diane von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge last Sunday afternoon. She is iconic. A feminist icon.
"The idea of being able to go into Studio 54 alone is what thrilled me the most: again, a man's life in a woman's body."
I mentioned her in Faffing Friday Edition #8
Check out the trailer ..
And that’s it for this week Faffers. I hope you’ve enjoyed my roundup.
Oh and
has joined Substack .. week made ⚡️Next week I may have to miss .. not sure yet. I’ll be out of the country vacaying 🏖️ but I have something lined up for you on Tuesday 💗
Ciao for now,
Hitting the Like 💗 button and re-stacking is the most massive help in getting the word out on Substack about Best Before End Date.
ANNNNDDD .. I love conversations so the comments is good place to start those.
I’m massively appreciative of any support because writing this really is my jam 😊
Have a great holiday and skip next week , you deserve it!!!