Darrell "Dun Gud"

Well, I think I can safely say that  Darrell has excelled himself with his Halloween decor this year, so far he has certainly not been found wanting.

Everything that need to be is now up, but since we are not actually starting our festivities until the weekend when Iris and Bertie come back from a few days in Salcombe there are still a few things to prepare........

......... like Iris and Bertie's weird and wonderful concoction cocktail bar (of a totally non-alchofrolic type nature of course), the much anticipated, well for Nigel at least, spooky pick and mix counter, and if the weather manages to hold out, a lantern lit midnight walk.

However, in the meantime The Towers looks like an explosion in a Halloween factory but done with certain degree of taste if you know what I mean, but goodness knows what the Queen of Beige Lord Lady Dame Kelly Hoppen would make of it all!

I know that Darrell is particularly pleased with his Halloween Tree, to be honest I think it was just a sneaky excuse to get out festive branches out without looking too ridiculously early!

I have to say I quite like being surrounded all the fun and colour

...... especially as I find November can be such a long and dreary month.

We now have time to bask in all of Darrell's efforts for the next  couple of days before the mayhem of our weekend celebrations begin ......

 ....... and then ..........

...... although I am not saying a thing, if Darrell is not in any great hurry to start to putting things  away .......

...... I really have no objections to leaving everything where it is ....... for say a week or so .......

........ What am I like? Happy Days!!!

Darrell Sets Nigel And I To Work ..........

Darrell is a monkey on a serious Halloween mission ........

....... and as such, has put Nigel and I to some serious work...... he hasn't divulged much, but says all will be revealed tomorrow! I have to screw tiny eyelets into the back of goodness knows how many rubber bats .......

....... and Nigel's has been tasked to thread them, ready to hang. Darrell is naturally in charge of product control and is a hard taskmaster, but when he could see that Nigel and I were waning everso slightly under the pressure .......

....... he bought out the "big guns" to keep us going ...... definitely lifting the mood, but I am afraid we were then rendered so helpless with laughter, production actually was slowed down and I admit that some screws were put in a little wonky.......

.......especially after Darrell decided to dim the lights for full comic effect ....... but we had soooooooo much fun, it really didn't matter in the end ......... it's beginning to feel a lot like Halloween and we are soooooooo excited!

The Tide Is High

It has to be said that after all the rain of the past few days the river looks just that little bit closer to The Towers  ........

...... but, rest assured, as we stand is at the top of quite a steep bank there no imminent danger of our having to get the sandbags out just yet.

.....

However, a little curious, Darrell decided that it might be prudent to just check exactly how high said river had risen .....

...... and found that it had reached the bottom of the steps that lead to the the river bank and it all looked quite dramatic .......

 ...... with all the fishing platforms and the footpath into town well under the water.

This is the second time since we moved to Evesham that we've seen it this high .........

...... and as it rained non stop on Saturday we think it's more than likely that it will rise a little more before it eventually subsides.

The Bonfire Night celebrations in town have already been cancelled because the field they use for the event is currently under water and unlikely to dry out in time to take all the cars, stalls and people that usually attend .......

....... but it's safe to say that, at the moment, Darrell's Halloween spirit ..........

....... and sense of fun are certainly not to be found dampened!

It's Beginning To Look Like ........ Halloween!

Full of the joys of his little sojourn in the Malvern Hills Darrell flounced into lounge this morning, after the postman had been, looking like the cat that got the cream, carrying a grey plastic parcel bag which generally means that he's  been online shopping in exotic far away climes ....... to wit China!

As he began opening said parcel he told a very expectant Nigel and I that he had decided to go the whole Halloween hog this year as we'd already decided that this was going to be the year that wonderful memories were going to be made for Iris and Bertie ..........

..... and to that end he'd bought some extra festive soft furnishings to go with the myriad of other items of a home decor type nature that he and Hugh had been putting together to really give The Towers a real but "refined and tasteful" Halloween flavour ......

...... with, to wit, some spooky cushion covers! I have to admit Nigel and I were very impressed .....

........ and have no doubt that this year we will certainly not be found wanting in any shape or form in the Halloween accessory department!

........ Darrell has done us proud, bless him ........ and it's only early days yet!!!!

The One That Got Away ......

While Darrell was out and about in Malvern it would have been rude not to just pop into one or two of it's charity shops .........

........ however, he left with one mahooooosive regret ........

....... he hivered and hovered for ages thinking how this prize piece of porcelain  it would look soooooooo at home and perfect in the downstairs facilities of Hugh's Worcestershire bolt hole, but then wondered if was the sort of thing you could actually give as a gift.  In the end, wracked with indecision Darrell left it behind, only to instantly regret it as soon as he got on the train, Hugh would have loved it ....... but now, what were the chances of Darrell ever finding another one, just the same and at such a bargain price again ............ doh!!!!!

The Foley Arms, Malvern

We had already pretty much decided that we very much like a Wetherspoon Hotel, but after Darrell's  critique of The Foley Arms in Malvern I think they will now be our first hotel of choice in the future whenever we are looking to book one of  our weekends away. 

The accomodation is reasonably priced and the complimentary tray always abundant, with an ample supply of individual packets of biscuits..... as for the  breakfasts, a full English, including hash browns for £3.75, what more do you need to set yourself up for the day?

But it is the individually furbished rooms that win us over every time, and once again, the Foley Arms passed Darrell's very critical scrutiny ....... first of all, in his opinion, you just can't beat a bit  of aubergine to give a room a feeling of opulence and grandeur, and his room had it by the bucket load ........

....... as as for a heavy, gold ormolu mirror, well, don't get him started, ....... especially as his room not only one but two, plus an original archway feature leading to his bathroom facilities, he was in second heaven.

All the artwork in the reception, hallways and rooms were by local people and school children, all beautifully framed and lit .......

...... as opposed to the same picture featuring in each and every room in a certain chain of hotels we have also stayed in, naming no names!

The only thing he, who loves a chandelier, wasn't too sure about was the lightshade, but that was just  personal taste and a tad picky.

But in the end it was the view that really stole Darrell's heart ........

....... watching the sun slowly rise as he was sat sitting in bed, a mug of coffee in hand was just  .......... perfect and ......... romantically emotional!

Darrell Enjoys The Pleasures Of The Theatre

Darrell has been in Malvern to enjoy the pleasures of John Finnemore's Flying Visit .......

It has to be said that whenever we fly off to foreign climes Darrell always has Cabin Pressure on his mp3 player to listen to during our flight. 

I should be used to it by now, but it can still sometimes be a little disconcerting sitting next to someone who is chuckling away to themselves, especially when you're not quite sure what it is that they are finding so amusing!

Darrell said that the theatre was in the most romantic road, with the Malvern Hills as its backdrop and the back door opening out into the park, where he was able to drink in the atmosphere with a pre-show schooner of sherry. 

And the show? It was wonderful to see one of his radio hero's in real life (and he is now wondering how he goes about trying to get tickets to see a radio show being made). And yes, of course he chuckled, but this time along with the other seven hundred odd people in the house!  Happy Days

Because it's coming up to "that" time of year ....... our most favourite one .... we're hoping to bring you a few extra posts in the week for the next couple of months.......

Darrell Enjoys The Pleasures Of Malvern

Darrell is currently away in Malvern to see a show at one of it's most splendid theatres.  It's only about forty minutes away from Evesham but Darrell says it feels as if he is a million miles from The Towers and all its chaos.

He says he feels extremely chilled and at one with himself.  He was a little worried as to whether his propensity towards attitude sickness might kick in, being as he is high up in the Malvern Hills, but touch wood, he has only been able to breathe in and embrace the towns restorative air.

He is staying at the Foley Arms in the town centre which he says is both quirky and delightful, somewhere Hugh, his best friend and mentor would really appreciate away as a get away from his star spangled showbiz life. Darrell though he might even suggest it for their next boy's weekend away.

He also tells me that his room has the most unbelievable view, he's not sure where it is he can see in the distance, Geography not being one of his strongest points, but wherever his looks it's just stunning ........ 

...... and he's found himself just sitting and gazing out of his window, just sat sitting on his sofa for hours on end  ........ 

............ lost in all its pleasures ...........

........ the view ................. not the sofa.  

As the sun when down and night began to fall he could see all the mysterious yet strangely comforting twinkling lights in the distance (as well as the back of Wilkos), it was, and I quote ......."Almost too impossibly romantic for words, but without a companion" What is he like?

And so to round off what had been a perfect day, Darrell decided to treat himself to a very small vodka and coke in bed before he turned in ...........and why not, bless him?