There’s Nothing Romantic About Our Skip

Other peoples skips always seem to have a frissant of romance and excitement about them ……..
…… you never know what discarded treasures may lie beneath …….
…. however, the skip currently outside Castle Greysquirrel, hired while we are undergoing its restoration ……
…… can not be regarded, in any shape or form as being aforesaidedily romantic or having the slightest element of mystery about it  ……

…… because for Darrell and I it represents hours and hours of robust and manly hauling, with only the occasional cup of tea, as we got so dirty we didn’t like to go in the kitchen and leave another trail of devastation behind us …….

It was definitely not a glamorous or de rigueur activity  …….

And as for our self appointed site manager, offering up “helpful” suggestions  …… we are not saying a word, lest we appear rude and less than grateful!!

Misty Moisty Mornings …..

It’s so wonderful to be leaving Castle Greysquirrel in the light now to get to work ……..

…… however I am not sure about the misty, moisty mornings that have instead greeted me these past few mornings ……

……. or how high I would rate them on our scale of romantic impression!!!  Perhaps a 5?

The Wonderment Of A Workman’s Toolbox!

There is something very manly and romantic about a workman’s toolbox,  all those tools, used to great purpose and all with a patina honed by many years of masculine use ……….

…… Sadly, we are strangers to such wondrous treasure chests and their fascinations, not knowing one end of an accruement  from another, but that it doesn’t stop us greatly admiring them, especially Nigel ……. who I have had to warn, bedazzled though he is, NOT to touch ANYTHING, lest damage to them … himself….  or Castle Greysquirrel is done!

However, we are all very curious to see how things are progressing, from behind closed doors  and so, when the foreman’s whistle has been blown and everyone has downed tools for the day, Darrell and Nigel are oft to be found availing themselves of  a sneaky peek ……

…… All that is now left of the Castle’s salle de bain is the bath …… and the carcass of our old airing cupboard ….. which I have warned Darrell and Nigel is not for climbing,  and if they get splinters it will be it on their own heads …..

……. and not to come running to me to pull them out!!! Exciting days indeed at Chez Castle Greysquirrell …..

Nigel’s Unhealthy Fascination

With the restoration of Castle Greysquirrel now fully underway Nigel has acquired a very unhealthy fascination for a certain pipe in the bathroom …..

….. to wit the pipe that was once connected the toilet …..

……. “I thought that there would just be a hole in the floor where the toilet used to be ” he mused

What is he like? I have told him that he is now “banned” from going anywhere near the vicinity ….. and that he must stay firmly behind the bathroom door ……

…….  as I have visions of him (and Bagpuss) disappearing up said hole, head lamps akimbo in exploratory mood ……. and I will not to be responsible for my actions, if we hear distressed voices coming from within and have to fish them out in goodness knows what state!!!!!

Not Sure What To Do …..

The building work is still going on apace at school and although Darrell and I are now firmly ensconced in our new office, Nigel still trolls over to the demountables, where we used to “live”, to see the Geography Ladies, proffering tasty leftover comestibles from the kitchen, of which we are becoming ever suspicious!

However, I digress ….. on his way over the other day Nigel spotted this sign ……

….. and as a result remained resolutely and robustly rooted to the spot until Darrell eventually found him in quite an emotional state.  It appears that he was afraid to  “walk by” without “doing something about it” as the sign instructed…… but, as far as he could see,  there was no one in a distressed state about to leap from the new build to do "something about",  but had felt it his duty to stay put, just in case there was …, so that he could, perhaps, do his best to persuade them against such a foolish action!!! !  What is he like?????? 

Quelle Horreur!

Oh mon dieu ……


This is our bathroom,  as we now know it ……

….. and Nigel is naturally trying to use the situation re: the restoration of Castle Greysquirrel to his own advantage …..

…….. by faking, with robustly melodramatic concern, his inability to have a bath ….. for at least several weeks, because obviously, we have  no useable bath for him to bath in ……..

I naturally am having none of it and have told him that if a tin bath in front of the fire worked for me when I was a boy, a plastic bucket in front of the radiator will be fine for him ……

…… poor Nigel, foiled again!!

Darrell, Homeward Bound

There were the inevitable tears over breakfast as Darrell said farewell to Hugh before he (Hugh) was whisked away in his limo to “sort out”  the new nursery for the baby son of a very high profile client.

But, in his heart Darrell, despite all the romance of London and London Lounging, had to admit that he had started to pine for the familiar comforts of Castle Greysquirrel and the company of Nigel and my good self.

“Enough,  is as good as a feast” he said to himself philosophically, as he lovingly stroked his necklace,  and he watched for the train to Wolverhampton to start boarding, “…. and anyway, …. Hugh is only but a Skype away …….” “It will be good to be back home ……. and live an ordinary life again!” What is he like?

A Time To Exchange Gifts

Let’s just say that Hugh was absolutely ecstatic with the piece of “Holy/Sacred” jewellery Darrell’s found for him in a charity shop …..

“Oh my Darling,  it is sooooooooooo de rigueur in a totally frugal chic type way …… what can I say? But I ADORE it!   I can’t wait to show it to my dear friend Elton, as I know he will soooooo love it too and may even be a soupcon jealous perhaps? You are too kind Darrell, but wait, I too have a small gift ….. for you ……

…… to make amends for my busy schedule and your having to fend so much for yourself this week.”,  and from behind a cushion Hugh bought out a very distinctive turquoise box that Darrell was sure he has seen somewhere before, but couldn’t quite remember where ……

….. and in that said turquoise box, was an equally turquoise pouchette ……  and inside that equally turquoise pouchette was ……

…… a very beautiful, manly gold necklace, in a subtly chunky type way.  “I thought it was understated enough for you to wear at work and when popping in to your Tesco Express.” explained Hugh “ Forgive me, but sometimes I forget that what might be just a mere frippery in London, can be seen in Wolverhampton as totally OTT!”

Poor Darrell was too overcome for a short while to speak, but even when he had recovered, he was still speechless, ……. he felt so de rigueur and so en trend, but in a delicately refined type manner as Hugh had hoped. Hugh really was the Grande Dame and Master of all good taste and sophisticated sophistication ……. and Darrell vowed that he would NEVER take his wonderful gift off, EVER ….. well……  not until the next trend came along at least!

A Gift For Hugh, A Visit To A His Adopted Hostelry, And A Time For Quiet Reflection For Darrell.

While Darrell was out and about in London he was always keeping an eye out for a special gift for Hugh to thank him for his most generous hospitality during his visit.

It had to be de rigueur, en trend and something Hugh hadn’t got, so, not an easy challenge for Darrell, but on his last day he saw exactly what he wanted in a charity shop window, it was a no brainer, a neck piece made up of holy medals,  Darrell knew he had struck gold ….

…… as he remembered that during one of their late night talks Hugh had mentioned that “sacred medals” were “Soooo, soooo, sooooo Darling!” and that they would be the next “must have” at all society do’s ….. with excess being the keyword!

Nigel tried it on for size and felt very “de riguer” and “on point” in it, a a purchase was duly made … with Darrell hoping that Hugh would feel the same way about it too.

In celebratory mood Darrell decided to take himself off to what he now regarded as his “local” in London, The Uxbridge Arms, for a cheeky lemon and lime …..  and noticed, for the first time a plaque saying that Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais used to drink there …… perhaps even in the very spot he was sitting !!!This was a very poignant moment for Darrell because they wrote, among many, many other things things Auf Wiedersehen, Pet which was Andy’s very, very favourite programme,  he would watch it on dvd almost every night when he worked late in the office, it didn’t matter how many times he saw an episode,  he still loved it and would always ask for the latest series for Christmas or Birthdays …….

Darrell reflected for a while ….. and thought on how such chance and random things could bring so many memories flooding back……… and then still in pensive mood ambled back to Hugh’s flat, his gift jangling in his pocket, knowing his few days away in London were, sadly, nearly over.

Darrell Does Mexican

Hugh suggested that if Darrell fancied a Mexican while he was out and about in London, his best bet would be the Margarita Loca in Battersea.

Hugh apologised profusely because he wouldn’t be able to take Darrell there himself, as he had been booked for the rest of the week to be on the panel to find the next new Loose Woman, something he just couldn’t get out of ……. darling!!!!!!

To be honest Hugh’s absence didn’t really daunt Darrell, although it could be quite advantageous to have a celebrity friend who could “open doors”, Darrell also found it refreshing to go out and about in London without Hugh and his enormous entourage!!!

Darrell liked Margarita Loca immediately, there were hats on the table, that broke the ice, the decor was eclectically Mexican and the music was traditional and vibrant ……

……. and so, in a chilled mood of a Mexican type nature, Darrell decided to live a little and order a cocktail ……..

……. which went down very easily ……. and relaxed Darrell even further, leading him to order another one, because he reasoned, it would be rude not too ……

However, when he was half way through this said second cocktail Darrell thought it best  to order some food …… as he was two bus rides, six stops on the tube and a short walk away from Hugh’s flat, and he was beginning to feel a little erm ….. woozy and not a little little devil may care ……

So, when the waitress came over to take his order, he pointed to something on the menu that he couldn’t pronounce without spitting and hoped for the best …….

…. and when, whatever it was arrived, it was very acceptable, in fact it beat Darrell’s almost unfillable stomach AND took the edge off his wooziness, thank goodness, ……….. and the two bus rides, six stops on the  tube and the short walk back to Hugh’s flat were successfully negotiated!!!!!!! What is he like????