Oh My Goodness – We Get A Truly Wonderful Halloween Surprise

Well …….

……. we all thought that we were well and truly ready for our Halloween Sleepover (and half term holiday) ………

…… but, while Darrell was just out adjusting our festive doormat and putting a few treats outside our door for our neighbours to share in the excitement with us, even you know who ….. in the spirit of the season.

……. when Rob, our lovely Postman, spotted him and said that he’d got a parcel for us in his van, and it was a big ‘un!  Well, as we weren't expecting anything, we got, unsurprisingly, a little excited.

Then, it got emotional, very, very …….. VERY emotional ……

….. as, inside said humungous box, was the most beautiful wreath for our festive portal,  from our very wonderful friend Paula in romantic Plymouth ……

……. and, we’re not to ashamed to say that a few, unfettered, manly tears were shed …..

…… and then, once we’d composed ourselves,  what we already had on our door was swiftly replaced and our new wreath put in it’s rightful pride of place.

And, there was more …….. there were do it yourself Halloween squishes for Uncle Nigel to paint with our beloved nephew and niece during the half term holidays when calm was needed to be restored.

What can we say Paula, but the most humungous thank you.  You do it to us every year ……. you really our Halloween Queen.

XXXXXXX THANK YOU XXXXXXX

A Very Spooky, Yet Romantic Addition To Our Festive Halloween Decor ………

Nigel arrived home yesterday, after a day out with Lu, like a dog who’d been taken for a walk and found two bones, a ball and a large stick …….

……. he’d made a very considered purchase of something he hoped would be the icing on top of Darrell’s festive Halloween décor cake ……. to wit, real life, bleeding candles of the tapered variety!  

Let’s just say that when they swiftly replaced  Darrell’s normal candles in his seasonal beaded candelabra, things got emotional …….  very, very, VERY emotional.

Darrell, for all his hosting perfection, had no idea, that such wonderous candles even existed. Tears were not very manfully wiped away, in fact it was an absolute blubberfest!

And, when lit, did they actually bleed?

Well, not actual real blood, that would be a step a tad too macabre, but the overall affect was just too brilliant for words.  We can’t wait to share their lighting with Iris and Bertie later on tonight ……. Nigel “dun soooooooooo soooooooo gud”, where on earth would we be without him and his untutored, yet totally instinctive finesse for such occasions!

Pumpkins In Most Ample Sufficiency ……

It has to be said that we have yet to avail ourselves of one of Lidl’s finest pumpkins ………

……. however, although we are cutting things fine, it’s good to see that one of our neighbours won’t be found at all wanting ……

……. in either the decorative or pie type stakes!  What are they like?

Considered, Seasonally Comestible Selections!

Preparations for our up and coming annual Halloween sleepover are going really, really well …..

…… and it goes without saying  as with all our other ghoulish celebrations, a carefully planned menu, plus treats for spooky, but age appropriate, film watching and party game prizes, are all very much de rigueur under Darrell’s usual expert, festive eye …..

….. therefore with the much anticipated arrival of the seasonal edition of the weekly Lidl leaflet, it was all hands on deck to pore, very slowly, over it’s pages, taking in all the new and interesting offerings.

I mean, who could resist the protective powers of a cheese and leek spider with garlic butter dip, especially when there’s the possibility of  the odd vampire being in the vicinity of The Towers over the course of the evening!

Yes, Darrell could very easily make his own version of the spider etc. but he’s also not averse to taking a few short cuts in his party preparation to give him more time for other important jobs like balloon pumping!

So, with Nigel’s considered opinion on such occasions, a shopping list was duly put together ……

........ and tomorrow evening, Darrell along with his beloved and ever faithful shopping trolley, will meet up with the little fella, outside Lidl, after the school run, to collect all the chosen “essentials” for a wonderful weekend…..

…… the jobs a gud ‘un, happy days (and nights)!

Toujours Seasonally Decked Out …..

Darrell came back from town this morning as pleased as punch with with life.

Although he really didn’t need a new outfit for our up and coming annual Halloween sleepover, he’d spotted a top and matching bottom in the three for 99p basket in one of the charity shops he likes to frequent … and well, it would have been rude not to, so buying a keyring from the same basket to make up the three, said outfit was duly purchased.

When he got back home, the top was absolutely perfect, but the judges are still are out on the trousers, as they are just a tad shorter than he’d usually wear, but at 66p all in, he certainly won’t be found wanting in the dressing up stakes on the big day (and evening) ……….

…… he said he’d just tuck the bottoms into his boots, held in place from rising with a garter and no one will be any the wiser and Bob would then be the pumpkin’s uncle!  What is he like, if not always truly immaculately and seasonally turned out!

Nigel Stumbles Upon A Real Halloween Treasure ……

Oh my goodness, can you imagine the state of Nigel when he discovered this, almost too wonderful for words, Evesham Halloween treasure on his travels?

He’s completely obsessed, enraptured and enthralled, among other things, all at the same time! He says, once he built up the courage to ask, the creators have based it on “Stranger Things”, admittedly a programme we are all totally unfamiliar with ……

….. but in no way detracts from the pleasure it’s given Nigel and all the other visitors travelling from, we gather, near and far, to bear witness to it’s magnificence and powers of awe and spooky wonder!

Needless to say, if Nigel goes missing or is late in from the school run or for his tea, it won’t take much to work out where he’ll be drinking in all it’s charm and every last crumb of detail ……..

……. while donating to a vital and much needed service. It’s absolutely inspired, which now has the little fella wondering if they will do anything similar for Christmas, perhaps an homage to The Nightmare Before Christmas?  If they do, sure as Christmas is Christmas, he’ll be there! What is he like? 

The Evesham Hedgehog Gets A Friend

It seems that the graffiti Evesham Hedgehog Darrell first noticed on the side of the railway back in June ……..

…… has gained a companion.

We think it might be another hedgehog, but it’s hard to tell ………

…… as it appears to have a beak??  Perhaps it’s some sort of weird Australian creature/furry type bird (a potoo??) or simply just a dodgy picture by an artist who was no doubt working in the dark when he produced it!

So for now, the judges are out, we’re still going with a hedgehog……. until otherwise proved wrong!

The Tide Is High

Oh my goodness ……..

…… with all the rain we’ve had (and still expecting), it’s inevitable that our usually beautiful and relatively calm river has burst it’s banks!

It’s up about three/four steps at the bottom of our bank, so access along the river, either way, is a no real no go …… as I would expect is some of our park.

It’s also flowing at a speed of knots, with debris flying past ……

……. leaving Nigel completely mesmerised ……..

….. and worrying about the fish having to swim against such a strong current and managing to find their way around in such chocolate coloured water.  Thankfully, his beloved swans seem to have sought refuge somewhere safe, off the water.

Needless to say we’re keeping a very close, watchful eye on it all ……..

……… as we’re not entirely sure that it’s stopped rising yet ……..

…… and since they won’t be able to get down to the river to do the monitoring of “our” bridge,  no doubt our garden will be swarming with the gentlemen from Network Rail at some point today, to do all their measuring and observations, to see if it will have to be closed, if the water hits the central support island.

At this point, we’re not unduly worried, the highest the river has ever been since we’ve been at The Towers, was half way up the bank and if it ever reached the top, it would be (as our survey said) a once in a 100 years event and then Evesham would be in BIG, BIG trouble ……..  however, just in case Nigel has double checked the sandbags and we know where there’s more if we need them!

As always,  we’ll keep you informed…… but for now, we simply hunkering down and enjoying Darrell’s wonderful, seasonal comfort food!