Well Done Nigel……..

Embracing my idea for using old souvenir tableware spanning our beloved Queen’s reign to celebrate this years the Platinum Jubilee ……..

……. Nigel has excelled himself, only finding a genuine, real life, 70 year old, original coronation mug ………

…….. for just 50p, plus a silver jubilee one for the same price, so we now have a mug each, plus a spare!

We are so proud! 

Spoons are next in our sights. Plates and bowls are proving a little more elusive ………

……. but it’s upwards and onwards for our quest, no charity shop basket, box, or shelf, no matter how high or low, will remain robustly unscoured……… we are monkeys on a royal mission!

Darrell Rocks The Look

Darrell returned home this morning like a dog that had just found two bones, a ball a bone and his tail!  He’d made a considered purchase that would have looked too rude to walk away from.

He’s been fancying getting himself  a teddy coat since Hugh mentioned that they were the latest must have in casual attire ……

…….. “Not necessarily the most flattering of de rigueur trends, more cute and cosy, rather than rigid haute couture  and certainly not a garment to flatter ones silhouette, but sooooooooooo much fun darling, warm and practical, yet injecting a  certain je ne sais quoi to the school run or nipping up to the local One Stop.”

I have to say, I was a little taken a back by the colour. Originally I think Darrell had been contemplating something in either cream, beige or tan, perhaps a palish grey, so shocking pink was a bit of a curved ball, but at just 40p on the rail in his go to charity shop of choice, what’s a boy to do?

……. and let’s be honest, if anyone can rock a bright pink coat with ears, with aplomb ……… even in Evesham ……….. it’s our Darrell! What’s he like?

An Unfortunate Turn Of Phrase Perhaps?

Nigel did a double, nay triple take as he perused the community noticeboard in the A-Plan Insurance shop window in town the other day ……..

Was it him ……….

……. or did it sound like ….. if you whiff a bit, Steph was the woman, to hopefully, through BodyShop at Home products, turn your problem around and put you on the right tracks to alleviating any malodourous pong you might have about you?  He was a little confused.

However, as Nigel wouldn’t even dream of leaving The Towers without a cheeky wee sniff test, it’s very doubtful he’ll be getting in touch with the said Steph. He has quite an impressive  wardrobe of masculine shower products, almost surgical cleaning utensils and manly fragrance ……  as guided by Darrell’s expert tutorage. There are, how shall I put it delicately  ……… no flies on Nigel! 

Darrell’s Top Kitchen Tip

Stuck for somewhere to stick your spoon while a dish is simmering on the hob ……….?

Why not pop it through the hole at the bottom of your pan handle …….

……… while acting as a bit of a stabiliser for said pan.

What’s he like?

Nigel Is Discombobulated

There’s a To Let sign that Nigel has been passing nonchalantly passing for a while now …….

…… there’s nothing particularly special about it, except that Nigel had just noticed that there always seemed to be a pigeon sat sitting on it,  perhaps it was simply good spot for a rest or someone in the flats had been putting the odd seed or two on it to attract a few birds near their window.

Anyway, yesterday, as he had the time, the little fella thought he would take a closer look………

……. to see if the bird was ok and not in some way unfortunately snared on the sign.

Well, he certainly fell for that one, every time that proud, pert bird had caught Nigel’s eye, it had been part of the sign all the time.  He said he felt like a bit of a prize idiot  ……… but now I rather gather he’s planning on using his folly to try and trick Darrell next time they are out on a stroll together ……… what is he like?

Hello Gusto

Amidst reserved excitement our first meal box from Gusto arrived yesterday afternoon ……..

It’s early days with Gusto, so it was not totally unexpected when Darrell said he wouldn’t be able to relax until he’d double, neigh triple checked that everything that was supposed to be in the box was actually there and not substituted with 4 packs sausage meat, as was the case with our last Hello Fresh box, although Darrell’s savoury sausage plaits (three now in the freezer) were a triumph!

Darrell insisted on opening each and every “bits and bobs” bag very carefully ……..

…….. checking its contents against each recipe card.

Unfortunately, he did find that we were short of one sachet containing 1 tablespoon of curry powder, a little remiss for a beef korma, however Darrell has a full and varied spice rack which contains several types of said powder, so a major culinary meltdown was averted on this occassion ……….. and a £1 credit received! So all credit due to Gusto!

Perhaps the carrots and ginger were a little on the disappointing side, but once peeled and chopped who’s to know, but again noted.

On the flip side, Darrell particularly liked the two individual egg containers (for our Goats Cheese and Spinach Florentine Tarts), wondering if we should put them aside (emptied of course)  to use in some sort of crafty way for Easter?????  What’s he like?

And how was our very first Gusto meal, beef keema with lime and coriander, as prepared very adeptly by Darrell?

Well, it’s a nom, nom, nom from me, a nom, nom, nom from Nigel and a thumbs up and a nom, nom, nom from chef Darrell …….

A Present From The World Famous Betty’s (Harrogate) from Our No. 1 Fan, Jan The Fan

Yesterday morning emotion was totally out of control chez Le Towers!

We’d been tantalisingly told to expect a “little something” in the post by our best beloved and  No. 1 Fan, Jan the Fan ………

…… but not given even the tiniest of clues as to what it might be.

Then the postman arrived, and …….OMG, it was only a box of Cheeky Little Rascals from the World Famous Betty’s in Harrogate!  Let’s just say the tears began to flow almost instantly and in great abundance ……..

A gift made all the more poignant because just before this blessed Covid took over the world, we’d been all booked for a wonderful weekend in Harrogate with a romantic and hearty nomming session at Betty’s tearoom on the books …….

…….. only for our much anticipated plans to be quashed,  and sadly, so far, we haven’t managed to sort anything out again.

We were truly lost for words at this kind and thoughtful gift, especially as, though we always try to find something to buoy our spirits every day ………

…….. the long, dark nights, grey skies and constant stories and apologies for cheese and wine parties that other people seemed to be enjoying, while we were getting our heads round zoom and trying to home school, were beginning to get to us a little.

But I digress. It would have just looked plain rude to allow the mini versions of Betty’s famous Fat Rascal Scones (in three celebratory new flavours)  to go stale, transfixed by them though we were.

So, after a little debate, none heated, we decided to share a cherry and almond rascal to, how shall I say, test the water?  OMG, It DID NOT disappoint, moist, rich, buttery, flavoursome and moreish …….

……. or as Nigel so succinctly put it deeeeeeeeelish! We were torn between making them last as long as we could, but not wanting them to go past their best, so we decided to eke them out slowly during the rest of the day, a double chocolate and orange and sultana one shared at elevenses (instead of our usual chocolate coated Hob Nobs), we had the other cherry and almond and orange and sultana for our afternoon tea break and finally the last double chocolate shared between us while enjoying the return of The Apprentice in the evening with our Horlicks.  It was the gift that kept on giving.

What can we say but THANK YOU so much Jan the Fan, you’ve made our month  ……. and brightened up a pretty dismal day, especially for Nigel, as he had no beloved school run to do, as Bertie is very much Covid positive and a previously infected Iris now riddled with the snotty nose/cold from Hell!  THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU ………… I think I need to stop now, as we are all filling up again!

For your information ……….

A Very Special Day For Nigel ……..

Yesterday, at last, Nigel was able to finally fulfil his dream role as a Helping Hand at Iris and Bertie’s school, listening to the little ones in Year 2 read. He was so excited, I thought he might spontaneously combust!

He was positioned in the library, on one of the big sofas and the children would come to him, one at a time, to read.  Never has anyone embraced Biff, Chip, Kipper, Wilf and Wilma quite like Nigel that day.

There was some ticking to do, with a real teachers pen and he had to write an encouraging comment in each record book ……..

…….. and, as a Nigel bonus, each reader could choose two stickers from the pad he’d bought so proudly, especially for “his readers”  all those weeks ago, before Omicron struck, a small one to go beside Nigel’s very positive comment and one for their jumper to wear in class.

It was, erm …….. very emotional for the little fella ……… but hopefully as the weeks go by, perhaps Nigel won’t be quite as emotional as he was when he got home this week!!!!!!!  What is he like?

Plans For Our Beloved Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

This year we will be part of history being made, when we celebrate our beloved Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, a unique celebration, the likes of which the country is very unlikely to witness again for many, many years, if ever.

So following Nigel’s fine example as regards to sustainability, I thought it would be an novel idea, instead of purchasing new pieces of ephemera to use during the coming year, I would look for Queenie type bits of memorabilia, from past jubilees and celebrations, breathing new life into no longer used mugs, plates etc., especially having learned our lesson with the Markle Sparkles Tesco mugs  we bought and very quickly donated,  say no more!

Therefore, a bit like Sir Lord Alan Sugar’s search for a new business partner, I am primed and already on the  case ……..

……. and without even having to try hard, I have already stumbled upon this beautiful glass bowl in the shape of a crown, reduced from £2.99 to 99p. Well, it would have been rude not to and will be perfect on the tea table gracing one of Darrell’s celebratory boozy trifles inside!

I also found two mugs, one for Darrell and one for Nigel  ……. that will do for now, it’s a start, but I think I can do better.

Three small side plates would also be nice, but I think they might be harder to come by, so perhaps a couple of larger plates to serve sandwiches or cakes in the meantime

The fun is all in the pleasure of the chase ………. who knows what else I might happen upon now I am looking with a serious eye ………..