Tag Archives: uk

Something for The Weekend: Aldi Launches UK’s first Prosecco Rosé

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Aldi aka Drinks Retailer of the Year* has done it again and we have to hand it to them, they continue to impress wine buffs and lovers alike. This time they have become the first UK supermarket to sell Prosecco Rosé DOC and this is just the tonic we need to toast away our lockdown woes. What we do know about Aldi is that they continue to be King in the drinks market because they not only have fantastic quality wines but their prices are pretty attractive too and we all know high quality, low cost is the customers perfect combo. 

So, what makes it different to other sparkling rosé we may already be acquainted with? Quite simply, to become Prosecco, similarly to Champagne, the liquid would have to be produced in the main Prosecco regions in Italy. It must be made with Glera grapes and must be made with at least 85% of these particular grapes to legally be labelled Prosecco. This ensures that the wine is of the utmost quality and is typically labelled with a DOC seal. In fact, Prosecco Rosé DOC was only approved for production in May of this year and now It is finally available for you to try. 

Aldi’s soft pink Prosecco is made with a stunning blend of Glera and Pinot noir grapes producing elegant and soft notes of summer fruits and peach with a gentle citrus twist. But there’s no need to wait until summer to enjoy this delicious treat, Aldi’s Prosecco Rosé is the perfect aperitif and a luxurious start to toast the festive season and toast away 2020… 

Yes it’s available to buy RIGHT NOW! In-store and online and comes in both a full size 75cl (£6.49) and miniature size 25cl (£2.29) with a case of 6 coming in at under £40!!!! 

Whatever you’re celebrating, end of 2020, Christmas, Election results… ahem, look no further than this delicious bubbly Pink Prosecco. Cin Cin!

https://www.aldi.co.uk/c/wines

*Awarded by Retail Industry Awards

Aldi stores continue to open 7 days a week and a currently operating a 30 minute priority window before opening for Elderly and Vulnerable customers Mon-Sat

With a  30 minute priority window for NHS and Social Care workers Mon-Sun.

How Are UK Dinner Trends Changing?

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With 66% of all UK adults describing themselves as passionate about food and drink, the UK is becoming a foodie nation. We Brits love our grub, and we’ve got big opinions on our favourite meals, how they should be eaten and with whom. What’s our attitude to dinner in particular? Oldrids & Downtown, providers of dinner sets, finds out.

Britain’s favourite dinners

Opinions differ across the UK when it comes to the nation’s favourite dishes – different surveys tend to reveal different results, so we’ll try and give you an overall picture.

According to the Spruce, Britain’s Top 10 favourite British foods are:

  •   Bacon sandwiches
  •   Roast dinners
  •   A Cup of Tea
  •   Fish and Chips
  •   Yorkshire Pudding
  •   Full English Breakfast
  •   Cornish pasties
  •   Strawberries and cream
  •   Teatime Treat, Crumpets
  •   Beer

 

As reported by The Express, a survey commissioned by Welsh Lamb discovered that British food still came out on top – roast dinners and shepherd’s pie are dishes that UK diners favoured when asked which cuisine they would choose. Italian food scooped second place, with dishes like spaghetti Bolognese and pasta, followed by Indian, Chinese and Thai cuisine. The report also found that 56% of Brits are sourcing their food more locally, and paying more attention to where their food comes from.

Family dinners. 

Whilst we are progressively becoming a foodie nation – it seems traditional meal times are becoming a thing of the past, with research showing that fewer British families than ever are eating together, and those that do so tend to eat in front of the television. Over 20% of British families only sit down to dinner once or twice a week, and one in five has family meals in front of the television.According to 60% of parents, ready meals are a preference, as they provide a quick and simple solution when faced with time constraints.

Should we make time for family dinners?

There are a number of benefits in sitting down to eat as a family, according to Health.com.

  •   Children may eat their vegetables. Research has found that children who eat with their families are more likely to eat fruit and vegetables.
  •   More fruit and vegetables means a healthier family. By eating together, a family has a greater chance of eating fruit and veg – making them healthier overall.
  •   Get time to catch up on your day. Eating dinner together as a family is time well-spent. It gives everyone a chance to catch up on their day and talk and listen to each other’s news.
  •   Save money by cooking dinners. As well as being healthier for you, cooking nourishing family meals is much cheaper than eating out. With a little planning – and a little batch cooking – you can make sure you grab a bargain and prepare nutritious meals.

Dinner parties

The formal-style dinner parties of the 80s and 90s has disappeared, according to the Telegraph. Traditional dinner parties of the past had a focus on everyone eating the same meal, with prawn cocktail and fondue on the menu and wine on the table.

As trends shift, dinner party menus are more flexible now to incorporate dietary requirements, with diet-conscious salads, meat and grains and locally-sourced ingredients.

Throwing a dinner party

Despite the shift to a more relaxed, informal style of dining, dining with friends is still popular with Brits. Here are a few tips to hosting a 2017 dinner party.

 

  •  Go for food you can prepare earlier in the day so you can spend time with guests. Stick something in the slow cooker like a stew or curry that can cook while you enjoy yourself.
  •  Put everything in serving dishes and let guests help themselves. Think big salads, rice dishes, assorted meats and sides.
  •  Don’t be afraid of short cuts. If it’s easier for you to buy the bread and use shop-bought pastry just do it.
  •  Make a playlist to set the mood. Cater to your guests and make it varied and fun – you can even include some songs for a sing along/dance off, depending on the liveliness of your guests.
  •  Relax. If you’re at ease, your guests will feel at ease, and everyone will have a better time for it.

 

Sources:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/597667/Family_Food _2015-09mar17.pdf

http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/food/694587/Britain-top-five-favourite-cuisines-revealed-food- roast-dinner

https://www.thespruce.com/britains-top-favourite-foods-drinks-435511

https://www.thesun.co.uk/archives/news/183424/more-than-a-quarter-of-uk-families-dont-eat-a-meal- together/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/food-and-drink/features/death-of-the-dinner-party-the-ultimate-guide-to- hosting-a-modern/

 

How To Ride The UK’s Best Motorbike Routes

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When the temperatures are high and the sun is shining, it’s a great opportunity for those with a motorbike to head out and enjoy the best that the UK has to offer, before the cold and harsh winter weather creeps back in.

What is especially great for motorcyclists, is that the UK has a variety of incredible motorbike routes, as motorcycle clothing retailer Custom Lids has found when selecting their top five rides that you need to experience this summer:

The North Coast 500 in Scotland

If you want an especially lengthy route, look no further than The North Coast 500. The route totals 516 miles, starting and ending at Inverness Castle. Despite only being created in 2014, the North Coast 500 has already been dubbed the Scottish Route 66.

From the picturesque greenery and architecture of Sutherland to Wester Ross’ white sandy beaches and Caithness’ dramatic coastline, there’s so much to see alone this ride. Of course, because of the length of this route, you’ll need to split the journey over roughly a week, giving you more time to explore the very best of Scotland.

Head to www.northcoast500.com to find out more about this route and tips for planning your ride.

Hardknott Pass in the Lake District

Seek out Hardknott Pass and a challenging ride will await you. Winding through the Lake District, you’ll face steep inclines and twisting turns alongside stunning views of the surrounding areas. You’ll also pass through Eskdale and the Duddon Valley on your way to the small coastal village of Ravenglass.

The Cat and Fiddle, along the A537 from Buxton to Macclesfield

Thrill-seekers must check out The Cat and Fiddle A537 route that stretches from Buxton to Macclesfield before any other ride on this list. A winding 11km-long road with twists and turns at every corner, it’s perfect for getting your heart pumping as you take in the picture-perfect Peak District.

Did you know that this route has been named one of the most dangerous roads in Britain? With this in mind, go easy and abide by the 50mph speed limit and you’ll conquer this must-drive stretch and then be back to visit time and time again.

Cheddar Gorge along the B3135

Cheddar Gorge is Britain’s second greatest natural wonder, with an exhilarating route passing right near it — that makes the B3135 a must-ride route. You’ll start in the village of Axbridge before joining the road towards Cheddar. Prepare for tight bends, twists and turns as you travel into and out of the gorge.

The Horseshoe Pass of the A542 in North Wales

Rolling hills and breath-taking beauty are among Wales’ standout features. The Horseshoe Pass is a winding road that sweeps through the valleys, offering the best of both worlds: challenging inclines and enjoyable declines.

Be prepared to be 1,400ft above sea level when you reach the route’s peak. So, if you want to take your riding to new heights — quite literally — this is for you. You’ll feel like king of the world as you survey Wales’ lush scenery.

 

Winky Lux Make-Up Review: Taylor Swift is a Fan, But Are We?

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Winky Lux Make-Up ReviewWinky Lux make-up caught my eye thanks to its awesome packaging, bold colours and original ideas. It helps that all their make-up is gluten free, vegan and cruelty free. Taylor Swift is using their colour ‘Bond’ at the moment and looks fab. The range is full of inventive beauty products from Diamond Powders, PH Flower Balms to Lightbox highlighters. The brand has just launched their Matte Lip Pills. I got sent some of their products to review. Here is what I thought.
winkyluxreview
 Kitten Powder Eyeshadow
Cute packaging, cute name and a great colour. Wins all-round. It has a great texture and is good for blending and creating definition.
winkyluxeyeshadowwinkylux
Light Box Strobing Balm
A highlighter is always an essential addition to any make-up bag. Since having a child I always put some on before a special event. Or when I want to look like I am not dead. This is a brilliant balm with high impact. The cream is smooth and melts into the skin. It feels good applying it and leaves you glowing.
winkyluxlitstrobe
Lip Velvour in Mermaid
Now this is not usually a colour I would go for, but it looks stunning and dramatic. A strong, high-impact teal. I love the lipstick pills. It is hard to be original in the make-up industry and these are really striking and stand out. It is a great lipstick that goes the distance. Feels good on your lips too. It is also paraben free.
lipvelvourmermaidWinkyLux Mermaid.lipstick
Flower Balm Pink
This is my favourite lip balm ever. I mean, just look at it. When I took it out of the box I almost gasped. It truly is a thing of beauty. I almost didn’t want to use it. The flower inside is just such a great detail. The lip balm itself is great of course but when you could just stare at it instead, who cares?
Pink Flower Balm pH Stain Winky Luxflowerbalm
Glossy Boss Romeo And Juliet
This is a great long-lasting lip gloss. I love the colour, which is perfect for me. I usually hate lip gloss but this has none of the usual stickiness associated with other glosses and is lightweight. It gives sheer colour and shine. It is infused with vanilla for delectable application.

winkyluxlipglossI really love Winky Lux. I have become quite jaded over the years but I really love this brand. Their packaging, originality and the actual make-up itself is such a winning combination. I feel this is the start of a long love affair.
In Winky Lux news, the digital cosmetic has released its range of Matte Lip Velour in ‘Lip Pills’ in a range of unique shades from Blue Moon, Mermaid, Meow Winky Lux, the new luxury yet affordable digital cosmetic line is now available in the UK.

Ultra long-wearing matte lipstick delivers intense pigment with a delectably lightweight moussy texture. Infused with natural vanilla for the ultimate lip experience, this lipstick is packed with suspended pigments to give lips a cushiony, plush feel. All products are cruelty free, vegan and gluten free!

Matte Lip Velour​ in Mermaid Shades, Purples & Darks, Nudes, Marzia Mattes, Reds & Pinks.

Price: ​£13.00

Available: ​Asos.com

 

 

Work in London, but can’t afford to actually live there? Work out exactly which commuter town is best for you

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Work in London, but can’t afford to actually live there? Frost loves TotallyMoney.com’s brilliant new property ladder calculation tool. It lets you work out exactly in which commuter town you could own your first home…

London property, property outside London, affordable housing, where to buy, property, homes, owning

Many of us have had our dreams of actually owning a property in London firmly shattered; lack of affordable housing in the capital coupled with pay freezes and mortgage company demands for increasingly large deposits means that most people in their 20s and 30s have accepted it might never happen. In fact, recent figures show that the number of families on a modest income owning their own home there has more than halved over the last decade, falling to just 13 per cent.But London is still where most of the work is – so what’s the answer?

 

If you don’t fancy paying cripplingly huge amounts of rent to unscrupulous landlords, many people look to buy or rent just outside of the big smoke, in a town with a reasonable commute. But where do you actually start? There’s bound to be a lot of research to be done into finding out what average house prices are elsewhere, how long a particular commute would be, which towns are even desirable (and have at least one local pub) – the list is endless, and in the meantime, house prices are only going to be ticking steadily upwards…

 

Well, panic not, for help is at hand. Money comparison site TotallyMoney.com has just launched its new online tool for people who want to get onto the property ladder, and work in London, but can’t afford to buy there. In one simple process, you can set parameters to reflect the maximum time you’d be happy to spend on a commute, how much you can afford to spend on train travel, the value of the property you could afford to buy, and the amount of your disposable income. Then you’ll be presented with a selection of towns which match your criteria – meaning you can start searching for a new home in earnest.

 

TotallyMoney.com has even put together a list of the top ten best commuter towns, and High Wycombe – with a London commute time of only 30 minutes, travel costs of around £4,180, and suitable for those with a disposable income of around £23,341 – is in first place. If you’re keen to keep train time to a minimum, however, Esher, in Surrey (ranked 8th), is a mere 27 minutes away from London, with annual travel costs coming in at about £2,124. If you’re looking for a bargain in terms of property, Erith, in the London borough of Bexley is ranked at number 7, with the cheapest average property price at £238,459, and an annual travel cost of only £1,912 (although it would take a little longer, at 44 minutes).

 

# Town County House Price Season Ticket Time Average Disposable Income Per Head. Per Year
1 High Wycombe Buckinghamshire £346,197.00 £4,180.00 30 £23,341.00
2 Woking Surrey £433,235.00 £3,080.00 27 £21,437.00
3 Staines Middlesex £349,604.00 £2,484.00 35 £21,539.00
4 Amersham Buckinghamshire £542,856.00 £3,368.00 34 £23,341.00
5 Gerrards Cross Buckinghamshire £792,177.00 £3,328 28 £23,341.00
6 Walton-on-thames Surrey £524,145 £2,412 33 £21,437.00
7 Erith Outer London North & West £238,459 £1,912 44 £21,539.00
8 Esher Surrey £878,831 £2,124 27 £21,437.00
9 Redhill Surrey £338,593 £2,696 38 £21,437.00
10 Horley Surrey £340,407 £3,208 35 £21,437.00

 

 

 

Vote For Frost Magazine In The 2016 UK Blog Awards

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facebookFrost Magazine is one of the entries in the 2016 UK Blog awards. We are in the lifestyle and food and drink category. If you have enjoyed reading Frost Magazine over the past six years then please vote for us. Thank you.

Vote for me now in the UK Blog Awards #UKBA16

You can vote for us here until Monday 25th January 2016 at 9pm. Or click on the image above.

 

 

Down and Out Today: Notes From The Gutter by Matthew Small Book Review

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Down and Out Today by Matthew Small Book ReviewI have always been interested in socioeconomics and poverty, and this book from Matthew Small really caught my eye. When my preview copy arrived I read it very quickly. It is a good book. It is well researched and asks important questions. The comparison between poverty in India and poverty in the UK is an interesting one. The truth is there is really no comparison, in India you have slums, in the UK you have a welfare system. The parallels are interesting. You have the Big Issue seller who doesn’t think he is poor because he has what he needs, people who work hard but life beats them down. Those in India with no safety net. Many of the stories in this book haunted me. Especially the one about a a little girl and a baby boy both sleeping on the streets at night. They were alone with no adult, the little girl asleep, using a plastic bag full of rubbish as a pillow and the baby boy, presumably her brother, wearing nothing but a ripped T shirt, bare bottom on the concrete. The baby was gurgling and laughing, playing with a piece of paper on the street, sticking it in his mouth the way babies do. Smalls says he is haunted by this and it is the worst thing he has ever seen but nothing is done. I often think of the child and infant. I have even tried to find them via the internet. I can just hope that someone took pity on them and lifted them from their plight. We live in such a sad world and I can’t help but think more can be done It made me so proud of my own country and our welfare and NHS. You cannot say we do not help the poor. Those who are homeless long term tend to have mental health issues or drug or alcohol problems. Because of this I feel that is where we should turn our efforts in the UK: to those with mental health problems or addiction. This book is a good book but also a haunting one. More importantly, if anyone could let me know what happened to those poor children I would be eternal grateful.

Down and Out Today: Notes from the Gutter is available here.

This is a topical book exploring the meaning of poverty today; questioning whether poverty is specific only to money. The book explores poverty across contemporary society and cultures specifically looking at UK poverty (in Bath) in comparison to India.

Second book from the popular ‘Notes From’ series, with the first book The Wall Between Us endorsed by Jon Snow. The book includes powerful images from Matthew’s travels.

What does poverty mean today? Writer Matthew Small seeks to answer this question and witness the similarities and differences between poverty in the UK and India.

Poverty stretches across all of humanity and by travelling East, Small encounters the raw faces of poverty in India’s slums; he works in a leprosy community, joins the Sisters of Mercy on the littered yet exhilarating streets of Kolkata. He then returns to the UK, to Bath, to see what the passing of three months means to those who are scarred by one of the most unglamorous of all humanities’ ills, being poor.

Small engages with different community members who are living with poverty, to answer these long standing questions: What’s keeping them down? What’s pushing them out? And how can we move forward?

 

 

It Used To Be No Blacks, No Dogs, No Irish, Now It Is No Tories

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The election results of 2015 were shocking, but not as shocking as the reaction from the left. The level of bile and hatred has been truly shocking. I have seen signs on shops saying no Tories, signs requesting that Tories declare their political beliefs so they can be charged more, calls for Tories to be fired from their jobs. More famously the Women of World War Two memorial on Whitehall was vandalised.  by anti-Tory protesters who graffitied ‘Fuck Tory scum’ on the monument. Could there be a more disrespectful way to make a statement? I am not so sure. Although leftie darling Laurie Penny didn’t seem to have a problem with it.

My husband was sure Labour would get in and that there would be a coalition. You are wrong I said, you are forgetting about secret Tories. The truth is, tories have been openly discriminated against for years. In fact, they are one of the few people you can openly discriminate against and it is ‘okay’. The other is white working class males. (See Chavs: The Demonization of the Working Class for details). There certainly is an irony there.

In 2010 I campaigned for Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith.  I campaigned for Zac because I thought he was a good, decent guy who could do good. I would have campaigned for him no matter what political party he was running for. The amount of abuse I got for campaigning for a Conservative was quite something. I lost friends and even work (I am an writer and actor. Both professions are notoriously left-wing). Even my own father commented that I was ‘no longer his daughter’. To this day we never talk about politics or my campaigning.

Social media is ablaze with comments about the destruction of the NHS (Spending actually increased under the last Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition) and comments about welfare cuts. The amount of status updates and tweets I have seen saying how anyone who voted Tory should be ashamed of themselves and are now responsible for the cuts and coming destruction is shocking. My friend Jeremy Drysdale referred to it as an ‘echo chamber’. People with the same thoughts and beliefs following other people with the same thoughts and beliefs, living in a bubble of their own political making. ‘You are an actor’. another said, which explains just how much left wing abuse and bullying I saw. But I am also friends with Conservatives so I get a more balanced view. My Conservative friends have been dignified in their silence. They are also some of the most decent, generous, caring and moral people I have ever met.

Truth is, I don’t hang my mast to any specific political party but I believe in Conservative values: small government, aspiration, working hard. What I don’t agree with is 11.3 million people being called ‘Tory scum’ just because they have a different political belief. There are even calls for a new voting system even though Labour won with less votes in 2005. Where was the protesting then? The Labour majority in 2005 was 66 with 35.2% of the vote and the Conservative majority in 2015 was 12 with 36.9% of the vote. The alternative voting system was rejected by the British Public four years ago. Now because some people did not get the outcome they want they are crying foul.

Truth is, as this excellent article by Byrony Gordon says, the left are just bad losers. You can’t abuse people with different opinions from you just because you didn’t get what you want. The truth is, both Ed Milliband and Nick Clegg were gracious in defeat. If only their followers did the same.

 What do you think?