Presents Of An Unexpected Type Nature

We had a parcel on Friday of a totally unexpected type nature from our huge friend Jan the Fan (not to be mistaken with Auntie Jan). We were all very curious to see what it contained.

Darrell was first to find his present, a sun hat with a Nemo on, very on trend.

It really suited him, and I think Nigel was a touch envious, but …..

Jan the Fan, knowing how partial Nigel is to lollipops had put one in for his present, beautifully labelled, so his sunhat envy was short lived

In fact, all our gifts had lovely tags attached.

My gift, I have to admit, made me fill up a little, it was in a box in a velvet bag with a tag that said “Monkey, found this – thought of you.  I know Darrell has Stacey, I hope one day you too will find true love and give this away.  Love Janthefan xxx”

It was a perfect heart shaped stone …… how wonderful and what a precious gift.

We are so blessed in a Hello Magazine type way to have such lovely fans and followers.  Thank you Jan the Fan, we love you xxx

Nom, Nom, Nom, It’s National Doughnut Week – 7th to 14th May 2011

 

For seven days every year, bakers up and down the country sell doughnuts to raise money for The Children's Trust.

Every doughnut sold by participating bakers in National Doughnut Week raises money for The Children's Trust, a national charity that provides specialist care and rehabilitation for children with multiple disabilities.

Over the last 19 years, National Doughnut Week has raised over £700,000. In 2011 they hope to raise at least £50,000!! So join in the fun and make this, the 20th Anniversary the best fundraiser ever!

These are old pictures of our most recent doughnut eating experiences,  however, you can be rest assured that we will be doing our utmost to support this noble venture all this week …….. nom, nom, nom …..(new photos to follow).

http://www.nationaldoughnutweek.org/

Join the Spots

One of our favourite games of choice is dominoes or as Darrell likes to call it “Join the Spots”

I like to keep my pieces close to my chest.

But Darrell has a habit of showing his to me and asking “Does this one go?”,  which sort of gives the game away, bless him, (metaphorically speaking and not in a Priest type way).

Cooking With Leftovers – Nomming Good Bread Pudding.

We don’t like to waste food, so when we have any leftover bread our economic recipe of choice is for a hearty bread pudding, a comfort food that’ll make your ribs stick together and one of the Lovely Laura’s  particular favourites.

We don’t really weigh anything out, we just tend to throw everything in together, left over bread, sultanas, sugar, a bit of butter and some milk.  We let the bread and stuff soak up all the milk until it goes all mushy and then give it a good old stir, before putting it in the oven, with a good sprinkling of sugar on the top.

We don’t think our bread pudding has any powers of a magical type nature but we always make a wish on our last stir just in case.

Nom, nom, nom ……

An Unexpected Nibble Box Gift of a Nutty Type Nature

We had a lovely surprise present in the post yesterday – it was a nibble box full of lovely treats of a nut type nature from graze - http://www.graze.com/

 

At first we thought it was something that Darrell had “clicked” for, on one of the “free stuff” sites he frequently  frequents when he has got nothing much to do, but, when we looked more carefully, we found it was from the Lovely Miss Jane:- Thank you Jane, we were very touched in an unexpected nibbley nut type way

 

It was all beautiful packaged, including a serviette,which Darrell nabbed straight away…….

……. and the little packs of nutty snacks had funny names.

I chose Honey Bee Good (honey peanuts, cashews and pecans) nom, nom, nom and Darrell fancied the Rock the Casbah (dates, pumpkin seeds and walnuts, also, nom, nom, nom. 

We noticed a bit of tiny weeny writing that said we should be careful because the packs might contain bits of stone or shell – I had to explain to Darrell that this didn’t mean rocks, pebbles or sea shells, but fruit stones and nut shells! What is he like?

Find A Penny

There’s a saying that goes “Find a penny, pick it up. All day long you’ll have good luck”

I find it very exciting when I find a penny and always pop it in my pocket hoping that it will bring me good fortune for the rest of the day.

But, trust Darrell …….

He found a 5p coin outside the Tesco Express, (between the trolleys and the post box), and now wants to know the implications of this fortuitous event.

Does it mean he will now get five days continuous good luck for this unexpected windfall or will destiny shine upon him five fold on the day he found it?  Answers on a postcard please or I’ll never hear the last of it! I am inclined to tell him to just go and spend it on  five penny chews as that could be seen as an unpredicted stroke of luck, especially as Darrell is very partial to them…….

And it would save all the angst!

A Change of Image …..?

Hmmmmm not sure, there is a similarity I suppose , but I don’t think I can really carry the heavy rocker look off …..

……. and I’ve heard that tight leather trousers can chaffe a little…..

Nooooo, this isn’t the image for me ……… back to the drawing board!

Clothing A Monkey On A Budget

It’s often remarked on how well we dress and I thought that I would divulge one of our little fashion secrets ….. carboot sales!

I know I spoilt Darrell with his Batman shirt on Saturday, but with carboot sales rife in this area over the Bank Holiday weekend I thought I would go and have a rootle to see what I could find of an on trend type nature……

…… to demonstrate how a little money can go a very long way if you are prudent ……

Darrell was a very willing model when I got home, here he is modelling a check cotton shirt, bought for 20p, smart when worn buttoned up, casual when worn over a t-shirt.

Here we see Darrell modelling a another shirt,  looking very much part of the nautical set.  Notice how professional he is looking with his hand casually resting on his hip.  This effortless fashion cost just 60p

And the boots, a snip again at 20p, not Converse, but it’s hard to tell the difference  ….. I hope Gok Wan is reading this, as he is my main fashion influence, though, if he asked Darrell (or me) to walk down a catwalk naked, I know what the answer would be!! But, if he asked Nigel ….. that would be a completely different matter!

Finally,  Darrell is modelling a very “him” type tank top, embroidered on the front with a guitar motif, again only costing 20p

Darrell has done me proud, I wonder if I should enter him in Britain’s Next Top model?  I’m sure he would win.

Look at that face …… it’s got Calvin Klein written all over it!

Mario Testoni - Official Pictures?

If ever we need official pictures taken of us, Mario Testoni would definately be our photographer of choice. 

He has taken some really lovely pictures and I think that he could do the same for us ….

He is very good at not getting anything in the background of his pictures, we always seem to have the washing or fruit bowl etc. in the back of ours.  If he had taken the picture of me (above) I'd be looking wistful and deep in thought, and not thinking about what to choose from the takeaway menu!

He might cost us a bit more than going into one of those photo booths at Wolverhampton train station but it would be worth it, even for Nigel!

I’ll Google him and see if I can find his price list.

….. then see when he has got a window of opportunity to come to Wolverhampton.

Retail Therapy With Auntie Jan

After the wedding I felt a bit flat, so when Auntie Jan offered to take me shopping, I jumped at the chance.  I didn’t want anything in particular, but thought it would be nice to peruse the shelves of retail establishments a little.

But, I found a brilliant Batman shirt for Darrell …

And an assortment of amusing sweets for Nigel ……

And while Auntie Jan was buying several pairs of  Union Jack flip flops in Poundland …. I looked at the bags ….

I ermed and ahhed at these butterfly bags, but did not yield into temptation ….. but, they might have looked quite nice with a bit of glitter and a strategically placed sequin, and now wish perhaps I had ….

Anyway, when I got home Darrell was THRILLED with his new shirt

And the jelly false teeth I got for Nigel caused much amusement ……………..

Hmmm I don’t think a confectionary review with them would be in the best possible taste …..

  ….. especially after Nigel had played with them! What is he like?