A Review Too Far?

NB: Please do not attempt this review for yourselves, remember, we are professionals!

When we started out these Alaska milk cream filled corn snacks promised much, when removed from the packet the rolls smelt wonderfully of a creamy vanilla and we all went “Mmmmmmmm” ……

……… but, in the tasting, oh my goodness me, there was no nom nom and how often do you ever hear us say that where comestible treats are concerned?

I don’t think it was the filling that was the problem, it was more the corn outer layer that was soooooooooo awful, so succinctly described by Nigel as being just like the polystyrene pieces you get in packing boxes but worse …… and no, I didn’t ask how he knows that ……….

……. but they were bad!

Once our palates were surgically cleansed and recalibrated we all agreed that, in this instance, our review should be declared to be null and void, with no score being awarded as no figure could go low enough.  However, perhaps on the plus side, we might send Ant and Dec a pack of Alaska for a none wiggly insect borne Bush Tucker Trial, as they can’t taste any worse than any ostrich rectum or testicular bit they have served to celebrities in the past!  What are we like?

Nigel’s New Game

To be honest, our frequent journeys to and fro nursery is pretty boring, it’s not the most exciting of walks, lacking  in any interesting landmarks …….  there’s not even a shop on route to pop into for the odd treat or two ……

……. so yesterday Nigel decided to introduce a new game to keep Little Miss Iris and Young Master Bertie amused ……

……. Spot the Dropped Glove!

Let’s just say that the game was played with much enthusiasm and gusto ………

…….. with huge squeals of delight greeting each dropped glove spotted.

I reckon the novelty of this game will last about a week or two, and then I think Uncle Nigel will have to come up with a new spotting game …….. hmmmm.

News Of Nigel’s Swanlings

Nigel’s beloved swanlings have all but grown up, although you can still see a few of their baby grey feathers.

And, yesterday, Nigel noticed that one of them had started to become more independent ………

….. leaving Mum and Dad, even in the pouring rain, to swim up to our part of the river

It was an emotional and poignant moment for Nigel,  who vowed that he will NEVER ever leave Darrell and I ……….

………… not ever, ever, ever!  Bless him.

Always Remembered

Perhaps it’s a funny thing to muse upon …….

……. but, I don’t thing any of us, on our way to and from Tom the Scientist and The Lovely Laura’s, has failed to notice how beautiful the churchyard at St Peters Church always looks.

No matter the time of year ……..

……… someone always makes sure there are fresh flowers on almost all the memorial plaques and the gardens are immaculately tended, it’s an uplifting sight, especially first thing in the morning, as we round our last corner and face the final incline up to said Tom and The Lovely Laura’s.

World Book Day

World Book Day is coming up on 1st March …………

………. last year Little Miss Iris dressed up as Winnie The Pooh.  I am not sure who she wants to be this year, I suspect it could very well be Lily Bobtail (Peter Rabbit), but first we need to double check that Lily Bobtail actually appears in a book and not just a TV programme, as that doesn’t count.

But, let it be said that whoever Iris wants to be Darrell, Nigel and I, as proud to bursting uncles, will make sure she isn’t found wanting in the costume department!

Taken …….

How very spooky ……. following yesterday’s post and the much mentioned Moses basket, after passing it myself, I have a little news to impart to Darrell …………

The metal stand has gone! Perhaps now, if we are in the vicinity on bin day, we should simply put the remaining basket on one of the bins in the hope that the bin men finally take it, as I don’t really want this post to become a serial of the baskets comings and goings!!

It’s Not Really On …… But …….

This Moses basket and stand, plus bedding have been left outside one of the houses up the road, beside the bin, for at least two months now and to be honest it’s beginning to really get on Darrell's nerves.  It’s such a waste as there is a charity shop just up the road, but after all this time and inclement weather it’s all pretty useless. 

And, it’s also obvious that the bin men are not going to take it …… but, in it's remaining Darrell has a quandary, although said basket, stand etc. have not moved in all this time, the occasional added extra contents have …….things like beer cans, bottles, and other various bits and pieces ………..

....... where have these gone and by whom and for what reason were they removed??????

It’s Been A Long Time Coming ……..

But, how brilliant is it to leave The Towers for work in the morning  ……….

…….. and still get home at the end of the day ………

…….. in the light!  Darrell is such a different and happier bunny without all those depressing dark mornings and evenings.  All I can say is haaaaaaaaaaaallelujah!

Darrell Succumbs To The Unknown

There was much excitement Chez Towers this morning with the arrival of Darrell’s subscription craft beer.

He finally succumbed after seeing all the tantalising boxes that arrive every month at Tom the Scientists.

Now, as you know, we all very much appreciate a well shaken cocktail, but sometimes Darrell and my own good self sometimes fancy something a little hoppy of a Saturday night.

……. but as relative strangers to a craft beer, Darrell thought a subscription of said beers, chosen by others for our delectation, would broaden the horizon of our palates and save on all that time erming and ahhhing in front of the supermarket shelves.

This months choice comes from Amsterdam and promises much, Amsterdam being a very vibrant city.

Our dipping our toes into the world of craft beers will be aided, hopefully, by the “tasting notes” in the accompanying Ferment magazine, so at least we will have an idea of what to look for as we are genteelly supping, and of course, on our journey, we will obviously bring you the odd review or two.

There are also a few recipes in the aforementioned Ferment, however I don’t think anyone will be torching any sea urchins for tea at The Towers, that’s just a little too exotic, even for us and goodness knows where we would get sea urchins in Evesham anyway.

Our first beer, we have decided, will be Thai Thai …… with its “ …..exciting interaction between spices, sweetness and freshness”…… hmmmmmmmmm. 

A Festive Easter Quandary ……….

With the Lenten Season upon us, Nigel, being Nigel, has naturally been taking a very keen interest in all the Easter Eggs that are now starting to fill the shop shelves, deciding which one he might liketo find at the bottom of his Easter bed ……….

……. but I have a quandary ……

I still have three chocolate reindeer left over from Christmas in the top cupboard ……..

……… do you think I could somehow persuade Nigel that they are a trio of red nosed bunnies ………

……. if I play innocent, with the strategic placing of an adhesive Easter sticker or two to cover any Christmassy tell tale bumf, do you think I could get away with it? Or, should I just cut my losses by melting them down and making crispy cake nests with them ……… and say nothing?  Answers on a postcard please.

Evesham Hit By An Earthquake!

OMG …….. who would have thought that yesterday afternoon, at around 2.42pm Evesham would feel the full force of a 4.4 magnitude earthquake. It didn’t last that long and by the time we’d mustered under the safety of the dining  table it was over…….. but the earth definitely moved.

Unlike Mr D in Mexico in Evesham we are very much strangers to the movement of the earth’s tectonic plates and seismic waves…….

….. but living so close to the river I had to reassure Nigel, as best I could, that I really didn’t think there was the risk of a tsunami to follow.

However, we decided it best to stay under the table for the best part of two and a half hours just in case there were any nasty after shocks …… before moving when Darrell and Nigel started to miss their afternoon snack.  That a day!

We Review Labertz Krauten Printen

OMG ……. Ze Monkeys have come up trumps with this triumphant packet of Teutonic gingerbread delicacies ………

…… to say that they tick absolutely every one of our comestible boxes would be an understatement.

……. they are soooooooooooooooo good, we think they will even eclipse the new Lemon Drizzle Kit Kat if/when we can get our hands on one!

They are just proper plain gingerbread without any added chocolate or sugar glaze, just a slither of nut!

They are also  very firm, so firm you have to bite them with the side of your mouth and have a real good pull and chomp …… then, they go chewy and you become overwhelmed by all the full on rich gingerbready flavour ……

……. followed by the extra crunch of sugar crystal bits in every bite. It says, on the bumf, that you can dip them in coffee or tea to soften them up, but even as advocates of a good dunk, and believe us, we love a good dunk ……… that would be sacrilege!

What more can we say, except no score today, that would just be too rude!!!!! To quote Mary Poppins they are “practically perfect in every way”  Nom, nom, nom!

Nigel Explores Uncharted Territories

Nigel finally got round to toddling down to the pond that none of us had ever noticed before until recently. It is situated on the cusp of our estate and Nigel has been been mithering about it ever since he first spotted it, so in the end I said “ ……. just get down there for goodness sake Nigel!”

Let’s just say it was VERY green, so green pea soup springs to mind!

Nigel could only look down to it from the pathway as it was securely fenced up, so he wasn’t able to work out how deep it is.

It also has a bed of well established bull-rushes and other foliage of a pond type nature.

Further down the field it looked a little flooded and boggy, probably due to all the recent inclement weather we’ve had and didn’t look so securely fenced up. 

I think Nigel was secretly hoping on finding a rope swing and perhaps a den ………. He needs to wait a while ‘till it’s not quite so squelchy under foot and then re-explore. When we first moved, we did read in another flats details that it had views of the fabled “the watercress fields” ……since finding the pond Darrell and Nigel’s further research has come up with nothing ……. but, just perhaps, this is what Nigel has found?????  We will keep you informed if we can find out more.