Rain And Blustery Winds Will NOT Stop Play!

DISASTER – we had set up the grounds of The Castle in plenty of time to allow us an ample sufficiency of time in order to prepare all the comestibles for our guests  and then …… disaster struck in the guise of a very intemperate temperature, we had taken the step of texting everyone to suggest that they perhaps bring a sensible cardigan or pashmina …… but then wind and rain ensued too!

I thought Darrell would be terribly down hearted after all his work, but he just sprang into action again, and moved everything all indoors …….

…….. with Nigel’s and my help, naturally.

It was going to be a snug fit, but we reasoned that in 10,000BC caveman (and perhaps dinosaurs) would have been used to huddling in their caves for warmth …… so we turned down the heating for added authenticity!

When everything that could be done, had been done, Darrell and Nigel double checked that they had enough of the party favours they had made to present to each of our guests as they left (another London touch, suggested by Hugh) – “Oh Darlings, zee jars are soooooo tres de rigueur dans zee Notting Hill partie circuit zis year!” he had told Darrell. “….. you simply must ‘ave zem!”

Nigel had set his heart on one too …… and so unbeknownst to Darrell he had secreted one away  …… but promised himself that if there was one short, he would relinquish it ……what is he like?

The scene was finally set ….. all we needed now, to quote Pink, was “to get this party started
………..”

Very Homes And Gardens

Perhaps our 10,000BC Cavemen and Dinosaur theme party wasn’t the most romantic of said themes, but …… I don’t think the grounds of Castle Greysquirrel has ever looked quite so romantic, thanks to Darrell, with a little de rigueur advice from Hugh via Skype from his Worcester Country Pile  …..

…… all styled, they tell me on “Zee New Opulent Caveman!”, a new growing revivalist trend in London, according to Hugh, who should know!

“Ooou is not to say zat zee big, ‘airy cavemen did not pick zee wild flowers for zere caves!” Hugh had argued “….and crocheted zee soft furnishings with zee coloured vine tendrils with zee old bones. Zee caveman, ‘e was in touch with ‘is feminine side, no?”

I have to admit, despite my reservations, that under Hugh’s expert tutorage Darrell had done a brilliant job, “All zat ‘ard work at Zee London Palladium when I was juste starting out, it did zee business no?” said Hugh. 

It all looked soooooooo very robustly lovely that Nigel couldn’t help but keep popping out to just look and sigh and make sure it was all still there ……imagining what it would look like when it was full of marauding cavemen and dinosaurs, feasting on our roasted pterodactyl (which, sadly, in all our busyness, we forgot to photograph!!!)

Nigel’s Does Assembly

We all agreed that in our last two weeks working in school Nigel should go into assembly if that is what his heart so desired…….

……. but, we also took it upon ourselves to keep the little fella as far away  from any excessive flatulence inducing comestible food substances prior to the event, so  any beans, cauliflower, onions and definitely sprouts have been strictly off piste for the past week!

Yesterday was the chosen morning, and when Nigel was sure that everyone was in the hall, he crept in at the back.

I knew seeing all the girls en-mass would be an emotional moment for Nigel …… and when the hymn was announced and Mrs B started to crank up the organ, I admit I feared the worst ………

……. but, it has to be said, that no one in the entire 100 year plus history of the school has ever thrown themselves with quite as much gusto into All Things Bright and Beautiful as Nigel, let’s just say that heads turned at his “The purple-headed mountains, The river running by, The sunset and the morning, That brightens up the sky!” especially when followed by a spontaneous “bum, bum, bum” as he launched robustly into the chorus…… it was emotional ……. and if you could clap in assembly, well, there would have been a standing ovation!  As Simon Cowell would say, Nigel “nailed it!”……. and no hint of any …. erm …….windy accompaniment!!!

At that I think the enormity of the situation became a little too much for Nigel as he was spotted quietly leaving the hall and hurrying down the corridor to find a quiet place to compose himself ……. before returning to the kitchen and his sauce rotational duties!!!!

Election Day 2015

Darrell and I made sure we were up really early and ready for the opening of our village Polling Station, with matters of such great national importance it would have been rude not to be there on time!

I admit that I had a restless night, the responsibility of the future of our country lying heavily upon my shoulders and no doubt on Darrell’s too.

I made sure our polling cards were in order and then Darrell and I headed across the road to the church hall to do of which our country expected of us.

I think we were the first there …….

……. and with phones switched off, we went inside to cast our votes.  By that time I was fairly sure where my crosses were going to go so I was in and out quite quickly ……. but I am afraid, that in the end, I went back to Nigel and my breakfast, leaving Darrell still deliberating, …..

……… twenty seven minutes and thirty three seconds later he emerged triumphant, but saying that The Poll Master General had muttered, a little testily, that if everyone took as much time as he had there could be the danger of queues  building up and then possible ensuing crowd control issues ……but you know Darrell, he can’t be hurried in matters of great import!!!!

Hellmann’s Mayo–Bringing Out The Best

Ok …..trust us……. but party time chez Castle Greysquirrel  is just too much of  an opportune type moment not to partake in a little blatant product placement – to wit, one jar of Hellmann’s Mayo sent to us by BzzAgent - https://www.bzzagent.co.uk/  - which all came about when Darrell thought it would be a no brainer to sign us all up since we love reviewing new products, especially of a comestible type nature and, as we will very soon no longer be chained to a work desk (or steamy kitchen) it could make an interesting little hobby,  so, this is the first campaign we have been invited to join …and bzzzzzzz about ……..To be honest, we feel a little bit like cheats as Hellmann’s is already our  rich and creamy mayonnaise of choice, nothing else will do  ……not only on our sandwiches, salads and as a dip for Nigel’s favourite carrot stick crudités …….

……..  but Darrell can also wholeheartedly  recommend it as a conditioning hair mask, a softener for his cuticles pre manicure and to sooth sunburn ……….not to mention as an excellent exfoliant for the dead skin on his feet!!!! 

However, we digress …….. we shall indeed be using this very generous “free” jar of Hellmann’s mayonnaise to make a potato salad, a red cabbage coleslaw, and a very acceptable Waldorf salad, plus a variety of extremely tasty dips for all our honoured guests at our 10,000BC Caveman and Dinosaur Party ……. we can almost hear the nom nom nomming from here!!!!

For more Hellmann’s recipes have a look at  ………https://www.hellmanns.co.uk/ ……however for Darrell’s mayonnaise inspired beauty tips you may have to e-mail him!!!

What Does The En-Trend, De Rigueur, 10,000BC Cavemen and Dinosaur Party Host Wear?

Darrell and Nigel are presently totally consumed by the tangible and overwhelmingly palpable excitement of what to wear for our 10,000BC Caveman or Dinosaur themed leaving soiree!

Darrell has finally decided to air his tiger onsie (from last Christmas) to become a sabre tooth tiger, at no extra expense.  

Nigel has announced that he wants to reconnect with his inner caveman type nature …… so it’s pretty obvious that a caveman outfit will be the order of the day  …….

………however, I have chosen to turn a deliberate deaf ear to his constant questioning as to what a caveman would wear to keep his “never regions” warm, and have told him firmly to do some research on the internet!!!

I, myself have gone for a much more subtle and practical approach and found myself a very acceptable and appropriate dinosaur t-shirt in the local charity shop for 50p which I have to admit to being pretty chuffed with.I plan to team it up with the “balalava” balaclava Alex and her mum made for me when Nigel and I went on our Icelandic adventures last year with the A Level Geographers. It will be an homage to the Geological features that dinosaurs would have been familiar with and had to live with during dinosaur times.

With our costumes now more or less sorted ….. apart from Nigel’s  “pants” there is still much to organise …… like a select comestible buffet!

Nigel Has Dreams Of Fiona Bruce And The Antiques Roadshow ……

Nigel has found more treasure on the way to work ……..

…… and this time he is absolutely and unshakeably convinced that this is “the real thing”

…… a ancient ring, that fell from the bony finger of a vanquished medieval baron lord, clad in full armour,  as he mounted his horse ….. lost for the ensuing centuries, until re-found, outside the Barclay’s Bank, in our village, by Nigel!!!!

He is convinced that the mysterious and  romantic symbols on it are the key to it’s history ……..

……. and a reason to take it to the Antiques Roadshow, where Fiona Bruce (who he has a bit of a crush on) will become totally entranced by it (and him) and whip him to the nearest expert to have it identified and valued as almost definitely priceless!

I don’t like to burst the little fella’s bubble, but if I thought for one minute that his find had any sort of monetary value or history I would certainly feel duty bound to take it and him straight to the nearest police station to have it claimed as Habeas Corpus and Non Potest Rex Gratiam Facere Cum Injuria Et Damno Aliorumand,  and only when, if it isn’t claimed in the allotted time, he can consider any sort of encounter with said Fiona Bruce!

It’s A Good Job …..

It’s a good job, I suppose that Nigel ………

…….. has never had to go into assembly!!!

Darrell Finds A Russian Bride?

Yesterday, Darrell got an e-mail yesterday …… from Russia, …..  the writer purported to be a  lonely, single, descended lady, who addressed him as her “privet” new friend …..which Nigel pointed out was “a tough and versatile shrub that can be clipped into all kinds of interesting shapes!” which made them almost wet themselves with riotous laughter!

Anyway, it appears that Darrell’s details have found their way on to a Russian “site of marriage”, where it is has been “foretold” that Darrell is looking for  “serious relations” and after studying Darrell’s  “structure” this lady of said  Russian type origin is interested in him and as such wants to see his face!!!!

Those two boys are just sooooooooo naughty, realising this it was undoubtedly a scam, they amused themselves for the rest of the afternoon trying to find a suitable picture of Darrell for“Marina” – a most romantic name!

……. what are they like?????  

And then, they decided to ask “Marihuana” if she had a friend ……

 

…… who might be interested in Nigel, and sent a few photos of him too, for good measure!

Sometimes I just despair!!!!

The Responsibility Weighs Heavy

Our Poll Cards have arrived ……

……. and knowing that if the results are close our votes could decide who wins or loses the election and indeed, form history, weighs very, very heavy upon our shoulders!

Time To Start Feeding Andy’s Fish Again

We had noticed that the fish have been coming closer and closer  to the surface of the pond just lately ……

…… and wondered if it is time to start feeding them again …..

……..  but you have to be very careful, because if you feed them too soon, and it goes cold again it can kill them.

In the end we decided just to try a few flakes …..

At first, they were a little hesitant, and we thought we might have made a bit of a fish feeding faux pas ……

…….. but after a little while and us keeping very, very still …….. we almost had a feeding frenzy.

Happy Days …… with the fish starting to feed, we know that spring is really here!