Wednesday 27 February 2019

Our En Suite Saga Saga Never Fails To Continue ……..

Well, the good news is that the faulty shower was replaced, no questions asked ………
…… and last night the new one was expertly fitted by Mr Tom the Plumber, who has told us that we really need to drop the formalities and just call him Tom, because after all his visits, endless cups of tea ……and mopping up tears we feel almost like family.
However ……… there is a sting in this tale …….. there has been yet another unexpected problem …….
……… to wit, the waste pipe now appears to have sprung a leak!  Tom has told Darrell where to go to get new one, along with a photo sent to his phone of the offending part as a reference and said to call him as soon as we’ve got it!
I am trying to be calm and philosophical. Darrell has reassured me that after this ….. nothing else could possibly go wrong ….. but to be on the safe side, he will leave me some of his brown paper bags to breath into just in case I have a bit of a wobble while he is out shopping for said new waste.  What would I do without him?  After this is all over I really owe him something “nice”.

Tuesday 26 February 2019

Nigel Enjoys The Historic Pleasures Of Exmouth

Nigel says his hotel in Exmouth are just perfect …….. I believe he has his own en-suite, but I suspect that due of the fraught situation chez Le Towers he is trying to stay off piste as far as that subject is concerned.
He says that the Manor Hotel is steeped in ancient Exmouth history dating back to the 1700’s, making it the towns oldest remaining hostelry, and so well qualified for being haunted by wild and marauding Cornish pirates, or even perhaps Franz Liszt, the famous composer, who once stayed there, although Nigel says that when he asked on reception, no one, to the best of their knowledge had ever heard a mysterious and ethereal pianist  playing in the middle of the night.  What is he like?
He has been made to feel very welcome, especially by the party of birdwatchers who frequent the bar in the evening planning their next “twitch”.  He says he has been polite but declined their very kind offer to take him out with them as, sadly, he hadn’t bought his deer stalker and binoculars with him.
Nigel is more than happy to stroll along the beach, popping into the odd tea shop for a piece of Tiffin and chai latte and then mooch round the many charity shops ……
…………… and taking in the wonderful sea views from his room …… much as he loves “our” river back in Evesham, it is the sea, he says that will always truly hold his heart ……….
…… Darrell hoped that this last comment didn’t mean that Nigel was becoming in some way possessed in an Derek Acorah type nature by the spirits of said earlier wild and marauding Cornish pirates especially when he is staying somewhere sooooooo historical.  I  told Darrell that he could stop thinking like that immediately …… it was more likely that the surfeit of sea air was just making Nigel extra whimsical and romantic and was therefore nothing to do with any sort of demonic possessional activity.

Monday 25 February 2019

Nigel Avails Himself Of A Few Days In Exmouth

Nigel, bless him has taken himself off for a few days, he said he had a sudden yen for the sea.
I think it may also have a lot to do with the somewhat tense atmosphere currently permeating The Towers ….. yes, we have a new shower …… but Tom (the Plumber not the Scientist)  failed to turn up as promised or even call at the weekend to install it, leaving us in a state of limbo not knowing whether to in turn call him for fear of nagging or looking needy!
I think after our en-suite saga is finally over I may also need to take a few days by the sea in order to recover.
Nigel says that Exmouth is beautifully peaceful, and almost deserted  at this time of year, he has filled his lungs with the bracing sea air and found having the beach almost all to himself most cathartic …….
…… and that he has been channelling his new found inner peace, of a  Derek Acorah type nature, to both Darrell and especially me, bless him.  I feel sooooooooo guilty!
He said he wasn’t really planning on doing much, other than keeping his head down until he feels the coast is clear for him to return home, preferably to a fully functional shower room! He thinks he may have missed the opportunity to Sail with Santa or partake in a Festive Special and that although he very much embraces the odd robin or a Canada goose, a guided bird watching cruise isn't really his thing …..

Thursday 21 February 2019

Nigel Makes An Ill Timed Faux Pas

With so much angst permeating The Towers at the moment poor Nigel’s attempt to lighten the mood fell like a lead balloon when he asked Darrell and I if we had ever considered a hot tub ………..
I have since apologised for my  erm, outburst …….and then went on to explain that under the terms of our lease I didn’t think we would be allowed one. Nigel took it all in good grace, but I can see that with all his natural exuberance and positive outlook on life  the little fella is struggling to avoid treading on eggshells, especially of an en-suite type nature. 

Wednesday 20 February 2019

Our En-Suite Saga Saga Hits Rock Bottom ……

A few days ago I was in such jubilant mood …… we had been grouted to within an inch of our lives  ……
…….and as such, my buoys, if you pardon the expression, were well and truly buoyant, I had even planned a bit of a surprise for Darrell  ….. but then fate decided, once more, to burst my en-suite bubble
With the final frontier within sight Tom the Plumber came round to fit the new shower only to discover that it was in fact faulty and we had water gushing and spuming from it in every direction ………..it would have to go back …….
I am afraid I didn’t cope too well with this new development, poor Darrell didn’t quite know what to say or do ……….. but to quote Sir Ronan Keeting “You say it best, when you say nothing at all!”  We sat in the shower cubicle doing just that, as I attempted to compose myself in between heartfelt sobs.
But, we now have a new replacement shower ……….

..... and Tom said that he will be back to fit it, along with the shower doors, at the weekend ……
…….. and then, fingers crossed, we “should” be done!

Tuesday 19 February 2019

We Know No More …..

Following on from yesterday, Darrell did go down to the river and under the bridge to investigate what was occurring with what has become affectionately known as Darrell’s barrage balloons ……..
……… but, to be honest, we are not really any further enlightened or any the wiser.
The river appears to be a little higher due to the rain we’ve been having  and to Darrell’s uneducated eye it wouldn’t take many more inches for the river to flow into the field.
So, after some debate, none heated, we think the barrage balloons may be some sort of flood prevention thing, as there is very something similar further down the river by the weir.
Darrell said he will continue to keep his eye on things and if he sees anyone in a hi-viz vest looking important, he will rush down and make some further inquiries……
…… because our dearest wish is for the river would be for a bridge, a very simple rope bridge would suffice. We can almost touch Iris’s school from where we are, but the only way to get round to it is a about a thirty minute walk ……. a bridge, that would be just heaven!  Darrell said he might even try to get a question asked in Parliament …. if he can find out who the Minister with Portfolio for Bridges is, what on earth is he like?

Monday 18 February 2019

Strange Happenings Over The River

A couple of days ago there appeared to be something going afoot across “the pond”………

Darrell had noticed the appearance of what he had called “barrage balloons” over at the marina, although I am not quite so sure that’s really the correct technological term for such objects.
There has also been quite a bit of small boat activity with gentlemen in important looking hi-viz jackets whizzing up and down the river, however yesterday, while we were on our school run  duties said objects disappeared almost as mysteriously as they had appeared.
I have told Darrell that rather than continually ponder and muse as to their “fate/destiny” perhaps, when he has five minutes, he should have a little meander down under the bridge and see if he can see anything of interest or import ….. let’s just say he’ll be on the case ….. as soon as he can find his wellies!

Friday 15 February 2019

Another Possible Meaning ……….

As per usual the seasonal Valentine window displays to be seen in and around Evesham have been of very great interest to Nigel ……….

Nigel was particularly taken by the romantically dressed swings in the window of the florists up the road  …….
…….. however, to be honest, Darrell and I are not too sure exactly what their well intentioned sentiment it is trying to convey. Although we wouldn’t dream of bursting Nigel’s whimsical, starry eyed bubble, there could possibly be a very different meaning for those inclined to, how shall shall we say …… a more open and freer type of relationship! I shall say no more!

Thursday 14 February 2019

Spread The Love

Happy, Happy Valentine’s Day …….
…… and what better way to celebrate such a romantic day Chez Le Towers other than with the love of our lives ……….
…… a special edition jar of Valentine marmite, secured by Darrell from the 24 hour Tesco up the road, life just doesn’t get any better than this!!!   What are we like?

Wednesday 13 February 2019

Our En-Suite Saga Saga …… Still ……Continues.

Sorry there’s still more to come ……. but it really feels as if all our organising is all coming together …….

……… thanks to the very impressive skills of Mr Paul the Tiler, Darrell’s much considered plain white, matt tiles are finally in place ………

…… and tomorrow we are promised grout, let’s just say Darrell has found it all to be quite emotional.

Nigel as per usual has been more focused on Mr Paul’s very comprehensive array of tools and equipment, the safekeeping of which we have been entrusted overnight …… we are so proud.
In the meantime, I have warned Nigel, under no circumstance is he to as much as breath anywhere near the spacers, which I fear could lead to a tile coming out kilter, resulting in an awful tsunami  of tiles down the wall. I could not be accountable for my actions …… we have come too far for a mishap of any nature.

Nigel has taken my words to heart and has now offered to stand guard over Mr Paul’s work until his return,  after all, we could be within a few short days of being able to have a “proper” shower again ….. and that would be bliss!

Tuesday 12 February 2019

Our En-Suite Saga Saga Continues

Our en-suite saga saga continues ….. but yesterday we had the Lovely Mr Richard come over to lay the foundation stones (????) to the walls of what was once our lovely shower cubicle to replace the old ones that were sadly found to have turned to mush!

Mr Tom also returned to re-set our shower tray.  The sense of finally “getting somewhere” seemed to waft very tangibly and palpably throughout The Towers at this stage.
But then I had a bit of a wobble of confidence when I found what I thought looked like some sort of important pipe looking fittings left on the shelf ….. which I though might go under the tray ……
I will admit to lying on the floor for several minutes to double check on things  …….. not that I really knew what I was actually looking for ………
…….. I know I just need to leave it all to the professionals to do their job and chill, but it’s hard …….

Monday 11 February 2019

Giant Baguettes Akimbo

Lu said she’d treat Nigel to a slap up roast pork baguette, with all the trimmings, to line his stomach ready for his journey back to Evesham.  They’d been to Roasters together before, about two years ago and had oft mused romantically about the prospect of paying a return visit.


Let’s just say said return visit it DID NOT disappoint, it was just as wonderful second time around as it was the first, but this time Nigel opted for a soft baguette remembering how undignified it can get when trying to work your teeth through a crusty one. Trying to get  good purchase with his “gnashers” when taking a good bite, had lead to some unseemly content spillage down his front last time, and in the company of a lady, to wit La Lu, was just plain embarrassing.


Needless to say, this sorted much nomming ensued …… a most ample roast pork baguette consumed
with relish with all the trimmings:- stuffing, crackling and just a smidgeon of gravy …… it don't get any better than that! 

Wednesday 6 February 2019

A Light Dusting Of Snow

This morning Darrell and I woke up to snow!
Sadly, it wasn’t enough to cause us come over totally Bing Crosby ……..

………… nostalgic or even whimsically romantic. I may have heard Darrell hum a little Frozen, Let It Snow, but his efforts were half hearted to say the least. It was just a light dusting, which disappeared almost immediately once the sun started to come out.
Even so Nigel (currently back in the Homeland with Lu) will be gutted to know he’s missed it, not that he could have done much with it ……. this was not the stuff of snowmen and rushing to find a carrot and old scarf.
…….. but you never know, perhaps Wolverhampton got some too and he’s a happy bunny there instead.

Tuesday 5 February 2019

Nigel Explores The Pleasures Of Wolverhampton Market

Lu asked Nigel if he’d mind  fetching some fruit and some salad stuff, while she was out at work, for her lunch box and their teas, but rather than just nip across to Morrisons Nigel decided to hop on a bus, something I know he pines for, to see what the new market had to offer as it wasn’t open the last time he visited the Homeland.

He says it came as quite a surprise as it did not disappoint.  First he came over all nostalgic when he saw the bread stall …… “Bostin’” and “Wench” are words that are strangers to Evesham, but to Nigel they sang comfort and belonging. What is he like? And, although she hadn’t asked him to get one, Nigel couldn’t help but make a considered purchase of a large Pineapple Cream Tart ….. pastry, with a gooey, sweet pineapple filling on the bottom,  followed by a layer of a sweet cream type confection, and then yellow icing sprinkled with hundred and thousands (sorry no pictures) …… a true and honest Food of the Gods, a real Midlands delicacy with which the foresaid Evesham has nothing to compare!

Then, he remembered the fruit and salad stuff on his list, bought by the £1 bowl full, how how romantic is that?


The watermelons however were not by the bowlful, that would have been silly, but for another £1 each, well, it would have been rude not too take one back for Lu.


Nigel had to admit, although he is not a great fan of chicken hearts gizzards and livers, Evesham’s tiny little market paled into significance when compared to Wolverhampton’s much more eclectic fayre.

Who wouldn’t want to snap up nine Snappers for £10 or a bag or two of Tilapia, if you knew what to do with them! 
It was almost too exciting, especially the free sample of falafel and dip he was offered and accepted from the newly opened vegan snack bar, but aside from his pineapple cream tart Nigel thought he had best stick to what Lu had actually asked for rather than sail close to the wind into uncharacteristic uncharted waters!  But happy days none the less!