The Circus Comes To Town

Evesham is no stranger to the pleasures of the circus, there always seems to be one coming or going, as the hundreds of flyers plastered all over any available space in town will attest. ………

……. however, after all these years, we are still to pay a visit ……..

…….. mainly due to our unbridled fear/mistrust of clowns or rampant clownophobia as Nigel likes to put it.

They just give us the total creeps.  This one, at first sight doesn’t look all that bad, but what’s really going on behind that “innocent” wide eyed smile and what’s with the unsavoury looking nose?  The playful tousled hair and simple sideways look doesn’t fool us either, clowns can’t be trusted, they are unpredictable and somehow too spookily malevolent for our liking, leaving us on edge. All that shouting, running amok in huge shoes and silly tricks generally of a water based nature ……..it’s not for us I am afraid.

However, one person who did spike Nigel’s curiosity on the poster was the man in the top hat, starry vest and blue cloak (?) …….

…….. he swears blind he’s seen him before, several times in fact, on his very favourite posters of a wrestling type persuasion ……..coming to the conclusion that the circus is likely to be said persons summer job, with his love for the ring being the common denominator. What on earth is he like?

OMG, Nestle Milky Bar Raspberry.

OMG, omg, omg, look what Darrell found in B M Bargains this morning ……..

…….. only ……. Milky Bar Raspberry!  I can’t believe we never even knew it was a thing!

Judging from the bumf on the back, we’re pretty sure said store sourced them in Australia,  Allen’s being an Australian sweet that inspired this Milky Bar combo.

Darrell was so excited at finding this confectionious delicacy that he’s forgotten how much he paid for it, but let’s just say it wouldn’t have been anywhere near the prices that people are currently asking on eBay or Amazon (have a look), and, as ever, it would have been rude of him not to make a considered purchase, in order for us to bring you one of our on the button and insightful comestible reviews.

On unwrapping we immediately saw that our very favourite white chocolate of choice was generously packed with raspberry, jelly pieces and the two flavours really went well together.  We really, really liked the meld ………..

…….. however, though we loved the mix of tastes, if we are brutally honest, none of us are that fond of a jelly type sweet, it’s a texture thing, when the chocolate had melted away, the raspberry pieces lingered, needing to be chewed a little bit more.  Perhaps instead of jelly we might perhaps prefer a raspberry flavoured, chocolate swirl instead, but that being said, yes, we would be tempted to buy it again as an occasional treat.

Soooooooooo…… taking all things into consideration, we think 8 out of 10 sheets to the wind would be an appropriate score for Milky Bar Raspberry on our World Famous Richter Scale of Noms.

But now, we’ve heard that there is a Milky Bar Kit Kat to be had …….

…… which means we have a new quest and as and when we are able to get our little mits on one, two or three, you, as always, will be the first to know.  What are we like?

A Royal Souvenir Too Far

Now, we all very much appreciate the odd royal souvenir ……

……. but yesterday, while I was out mooching in town I spotted this monstrosity, set up high (I wonder why?) in the window of The Georgian House Emporium.

Why, just why?  Poor Wills and Kate, stuck, sat sitting side saddle on a rocking horse, that in turn appears to be precariously perched on top of some palace roof, flying the flag, trying their best to look romantic! It’s an absolute abomination. Who on earth sat down with a design team and said “Make no mistake, that’s a winner if ever I saw one” and then went out and produced goodness only knows how many.  Questions should have been asked in Parliament!  

Needless to say no considered purchase was made, however I challenge any of our beloved followers to try and find anything as flipping awful.  All pictures will be carefully perused and adjudicated and then published in a later post …… the best, who knows, may win a small prize!  What are we like?

Holy Cheese?

Nigel had to do a double take when he spotted this Nazareth cheese while he was having a cheeky mooch in Lldl the other day, on the way back from the school run.

He was sorely tempted, but as he knew Darrell had already sorted the shopping for this week, on this occassion no considered purchase was made, despite the almost overwhelming urge to try this holiest of  cheeses.

Christmas may still be seven months away, but in Nigel’s humble opinion and without a single morsel even touching his lips, “we” need this on our festive running buffet table, so despite the “when it’s gone its gone” warning, so hopefully there will be a pack or two left next week for our delectation to make such a decision.  What are we and Nigel like? 

A Night At The Opera?

It’s usually Nigel who finds posters featuring, how shall I put it, erm, dubious looking characters, generally of a wrestling persuasion, but yesterday it was Darrell’s turn ………

Now, we’ll be the first to admit, unlike our Foreign Correspondent Mr D in far away, hot and sultry Mexico, we are total strangers to  the pleasures of the opera ……. 

……… however, said poster did pique Darrell’s interest as he thought that both gentlemen (above and below)  looked decidedly shady, especially the one who appeared to be completely unable to rock a cravat in any shape or form, although, Darrell did concede that even he might have had difficulty, as the offending article was obviously new and needed to be rinsed several times in order for all the starch to be removed and thus sit more comfortably around his neck! 

……. and don’t get him started with that t-shirt under that jacket!!!!

As for the rather accusatory looking lady, well, Darrell thought she looked like an old school headteacher, the one you would never want to cross, the sort who could see the guilt written all over your face from across a crowded hall and whose pointed finger, as she called your name, would put the fear of God into your heart. However, after a bit of a shudder of memories past, he was still a little curious to know why she appeared to be wearing an apron while summoning someone to her study!

So, Mr D, your starter for ten, given that the featured arias appear to be fashioned for modern times, which operas, in your expert opinion, do you think they may be from.  Sorry, no prizes ………. but it would help to put Darrell out of his quizzical, musical misery!

Another Find For Nigel …….

Yesterday, on the school run, sur la pont d’Evesham, Nigel spotted a rather fetching dinosaur and a cat or hamster ball (?) ……..

…… obviously put in said prominent position in the hope that its rightful owner, or parent, would retrace their steps and so jubilantly reclaim them.

It has to be said that Nigel always worries when he comes across such a lost toy, knowing how he would feel if it happened to his beloved niece and nephew …….and it preys on his mind 

However, it looks like this story ended quite quickly and hopefully happily when Nigel saw that both the dinosaur and ball had gone by the time he walked past again later in the day …….. so no need for a fretful, picked at tea, followed by an equally fretful slumber.  What is he like?

Fate & Fortune Magazine Comes Up Trumps Again

Oh my goodness, we got a totally unexpected letter in the post this morning, bearing tidings of great joy ………

Though they have no recollection of doing so, it seems that Darrell and Nigel had entered an online draw in the April edition of Fate and Fortune Magazine and……..

……. only gone and won a copy of Stephani Grace’s book Creating Real Happiness A to Z.

We were none this wiser, so we decided to look the tome up on Amazon, the bumf says ……

 “YOU ARE WORTHY OF LOVE & ACCEPTANCE
Creating Real Happiness A to Z will help you to cultivate awareness and presence so you can finally understand the truth that no matter your circumstances or conditioning, you are enough. Inspired by working with clients in her thriving counselling practice, Stephani Grace has assembled key spiritual ideas and that have proven to create lasting change.      
Wherever you are on your journey to self-love, this book and its simple, bite-sized A to Z format is designed to make it easy for you to discover real happiness and deepen your relationship with your true self. The practices in this book will help you: accept and love yourself as you are; develop a healthy relationship with your body; find the right partner; feel empowered to change your life; find real peace in a chaotic world”.

Well, as you know we’re always up for a bit of self love, finding, deepening and empowering, not to mention the odd lick of mindfulness, so we are now eagerly awaiting said books arrival.  Darrell said we ought keep it as unread, to take on our upcoming Greek Odyssey when, with all that release of tension and relaxation, we should all be extra receptive to it’s potential, what is he like? As and when it does arrive, you, as ever, will be the first to know! 

Poor Budge ……….

Nigel came from the school run in very downcast, muted mood last night ……..

….. he said the nest (see 4th May) that he’d been keeping a watchful eye on had been empty on both the occasions he’d  gone past  and that the ever patient Budge, as Nigel had christened her, was sitting, all alone on another branch, looking very lost and forlorn ……….. 

He couldn’t see any evidence of a hatching, so perhaps the egg, despite all Budge’s tender care, simply failed to hatch ……

…….. but the sight of poor Budge, he said, broke his heart. The nest that had so much hope and love put into just looked so desolate and abandoned …….. sadly that’s nature I am afraid.

However, on the other hand, the two marina Canada Geese have been proudly showing off their five little goslings by bringing them over our side of the river for us to see and admire ……..

…….. nature as Nigel is finding is out is one huge rollercoaster of pleasure and pain.

Nigel Finds Real Treasure

Nigel has had a bit of a fallow period as far as “finding” things on the school run or his travels is concerned ……..

…… so imagine yesterday when he almost thought that he’d finally found something of a real life, true treasure type nature when he spotted something glinting and catching the sun under a bush at the top of Iris and Bertie’s road …………

He said he couldn’t believe just how loud and fast his heart was pounding as he  fished out the glinting object, to be greeted by a goblet or chalice, possibly a long lost and very holy one, taken and hurriedly secreted when Evesham Abbey was destroyed by Henry Vlll.  The boy certainly has a vivid imagination, he was like a dog that had found two bones, a ball and a very satisfying stick, true treasure!  Said goblet/chalice was then quickly put safely in his bag, the little fella already coming to terms with the possibility that he might have to give it up almost immediately, if it proved to be treasure trove or even the tip of a ancient hoard iceberg.

Once at Snake Mountain Nigel looked for any identifying marks that could help tell of it’s history …… he found a hallmark, but heart still pounding, couldn’t quite make out what it was, it was time to bring out the big guns, to wit Iris’s very large and forensic magnifying glass …….. to reveal ……. it said ……….

………. EPNS!!!! So of little, if any cultural or historical interest, except to perhaps Nigel.

Poor Nigel and his now little crestfallen heart, fame, fortune and a possible film deal had once more eluded him, but at least he could keep said chalice, instead of handing it over to the local coroner, to only be able to see it again on display in a glass case in some museum and left to ponder how things could have been! So, for now, Nigel’s quest to find the absolute real deal continues ………..

Golden Wonder Spicy Bikers

Following Nigel’s discovery of these “Spicy Bikers” in Home Bargains last week and now that the excitement of what was a wonderful Eurovision has died down, we’ve finally found time to do a review.

Firstly, we have to say that, ever the prudent shopper, combined with the wonder of Home Bargains, these only cost Nigel 79p and not the £1 as stated on the bag …… so not such a great hit pennywise if they disappointed.

Now, from similar snacks we’ve sampled before, we half expected these Spicy Bikers to taste vaguely pickled oniony ……

……. and on opening the bag they certainly smelt that way ……..

……. however, on tasting, they didn’t have that vinegary undertone we’d anticipated but they certainly packed a punch. If you licked them (????) they were very generously coated with a potent, spicy flavouring, which had a slight but not unpleasant after burn to it, as well as a defined, lingering savoury after taste.

They held nothing back, leaving us in no way wanting flavour wise. We quite liked the idea of passing them round as a televisual watching sharing bag, a bag to oneself might be a little too much, needing a glass of something cleansing to wash away some of the spicy burn now and again perhaps.

In summing up Me Lord, there’s nothing vaguely wishy washy about these corn snacks, they have a strong, vibrant, piquancy that doesn’t fade, each wheel is as tangy and zesty as the next. Dare we suggest, they would be perfect in a lunch time crisp buttie……. and yes, we would have no hesitation in sending Nigel out to look for them again.

Soooooooo for these Golden Wonder Spicy Bikers we have to give an unequivocal, full side saddle, 100 spokes out of a chain stay, on our World Famous Richter Scale of Noms.  We loved them. Well done Nigel, snack finder-in-chief extraordinaire!