The Valleys Are Calling

Tristan made a flying visit to the office on Friday as he had a fitting for a new gum shield in Birmingham.

He says he looks forward to popping in because he likes the poster of sheep the ladies have pinned on their wall.

He says “It makes me think of home, isn’t it”, doesn’t it”. He sat and gazed at it for ages and he sighed a lot, in a Welsh accent.

I wanted to say “Mint sauce.” to him, but that would have been in the poorest of taste!!!!!!

Hook A Duck – All The Fun Of The Fair But In Your Front Room!

The fair came last week, but to be honest I am not very keen on being spun round till I feel sick or bumped from behind  in a dodgem car resulting in a bitten tongue.  I prefer gentler fairground games of a chance……. like hook a duck.

So imagine my great delight when I found this little set in Ali at the Papershops’ 30p each or 4 for a £1 box …….

How BRILLIANT is this?  I put numbers on the bottom ……

And put them in a dish of water ……..
 
Darrell joined in too.

My only criticism is that the ducks have slightly odd faces, but for only 30p it seems a little churlish of me to say so.

Cadbury World – Part 3 - Sharing With Friends and Family.

I have had quite a few e-mails from people asking me what I bought for myself at Cadbury World.  Well, to be honest, I was very happy with just the free bits they gave me as I went around.  They were very kind and I was given two bags of buttons, two curly wurlies and a bar of dairy milk – a fair bounty of chocolate treasure.

I did look at all the different pens they had, but how many pens does a monkey need? Although I do like pens, I decided to use the ones I have already before buying any more, and anyway I have my photos for my souvenirs.

I asked Darrell what he would like and he chose a curly wurly and I had a packet of buttons, we ate them together as I told him of my adventures and how good it was to see Mr Collis’s monkey.

I have put the rest of the sweets aside to share with Aunty Jan and Lucy when she comes for Sunday dinner on Sunday.

Cadbury World – Part 2 - Time to Relax

Once I had done all my shopping for the Hungry Office Ladies I could relax and enjoy the attractions that Cadbury World had to offer ………

There was a lot to see. I thought this muscular gentleman must have been very good at restricting his chocolate intake, judging by his impressive abs,  “How unlike my own” I thought, as I studied this historic tableau!

And as I gazed up at the multicoloured pipes running across the ceiling I had a romantic notion of warm, liquid chocolate flowing through them …. but really I think that idea is just in the realms of Willy Wonka.

The car ride was very "sweet". When you went into the winter part they blew cold air on you, and all the little chocolate beans had very excited squeaky voices.

I was entranced by the alluring chocolate bunny, but not in a Molly type way. She had the aroma of caramel and chocolate around her, Cadburys must have had a special chocolate perfume commissioned for her that she dabs behind her ears and on her pulse points. It's the sort of smell that seems perfectly natural amongst all the chocolate at Cadbury World, but I am not sure what the reaction would be if she got on the Banga Bus reeking of Cadbury's Caramel ..... George might have to squirt his Fabreeze about after she had alighted the bus.

In one section it looked as if the walls were made out of chocolate, how BRILLIANT is that?  I would love to have one of my bedroom walls decorated in a similar way, in fact I am suprised that Laurence Llwellyn Bowen hasn't used the idea in one of his flamboyant room makeovers.  Trouble is, I could see Cyril trying to lick my walls, just to make sure they really weren't made of chocolate, and the idea of him doing that is very unsavoury.

Cadbury World was very busy and after an hour or so my head was banging, so it was nice to sit in the fresh air for a while and have five minutes to myself to ponder …….. about chocolate in all it’s many guises.

Cadbury World – Part 1 - Buying Chocolate for Hungry Ladies.

The responsibility of having to purchase so much chocolate, for so many ladies weighed heavy upon my shoulders….. especially knowing that their short term happiness depended on me………..

I am afraid that I was so busy checking and re-checking my list on the bus that I didn’t notice Mr Collis’s monkey sitting at the side of Mr Collis’s seat, until he coughed and said “A-hem….. remember me?”

We caught up with each others news and he kindly offered to help me get my shopping.

The shop was huge ……

and chocolate was in abundance ……

But, I knew I had to stay focused on the task in hand before I could have fun …… (that will come in tomorrow’s post).

It was a good job Mr Collis’s Monkey offered to help me,  because in the end we had filled 5 carrier bags ……. which Mr Collis put in his spacious boot so that it wouldn’t melt.  Those ladies sure are hungry ladies!

When I got back I had to put everyone's orders together  ……..

and sort out what everyone owed me …….

To be honest I was quite, quite exhausted and didn’t really fancy any chocolate …… I fancied something savoury instead.

Is It Just Me?

 

It might be just me, but I find Foxy from Foxy Bingo a little disconcerting, in fact, to be honest, I find him a bit pervy.

And while I am at it …… I don’t really like it when he says “Sweet cheeks” ………… ughhhhhh, it’s not a term of endearment I would use with Molly.

RACE FOR LIFE UPDATE – Thank You xxxxx

A HUGE THANK YOU TO SUSAN, SHARON, AUNTY JAN, BERNADETTE, KAREN, MANDY, HOLLY AND DEBORAH FOR BEING KIND ENOUGH TO SPONSOR ME AND CYRIL …… WE PROMISE WE WON’T LET YOU DOWN.

My Race for Life number came on Saturday, how exciting is that?  It is rather large, so I am going to shrink it down on the posh photocopier to make it fit my t-shirt a bit better. I think I may laminate it too, because I don’t want it to tear as I lunge towards the finishing tape.

I like the number I have been given ….I am going to use a combination of numbers in it to do my next lottery ticket to see if they are lucky …. 1, 4, 8, 14 16, 18 – how BRILLIANT would it be if they came up?

My training is going well, yesterday I did a star jump and leaned to the left and then the right twice, I ached a bit , but a warm bath eased it a little.

Preparing For A Trip To Cadbury World

It’s all very exciting…….. the young ladies who do cookery are going to Cadbury World tomorrow to study all things of a chocolate nature and they have asked me to go with them!  Mr Collis is taking us in his bus, which is very exciting too, as I will get to see Mr Collis’s monkey.  I hope he lets us sit on the special seat at the front.

In preparation for this trip it has been my job to e-mail all the ladies in all of the offices to ask if they would like anything bringing back ………..

This is a great responsibility ……. and I have much to get ………… I may need help to carry it all.

Nightmare

I had a terrible dream last night, I woke up with a start

I dreamed that they put a new driver on the Banga bus and I was trying to find George.

It seemed so real.

I tried to get back to sleep but it took ages. 
When I got up I looked to see if it was George driving the 7.45 bus, he was, phew!

How Brilliant Is This?

I love a frothy cup of coffee, but a trip to Starbucks or Costa is a special treat reserved for the odd Saturday as a mid shopping indulgence.

But look what I’ve got ........ it's a mini portable coffee whisk, so I can have frothy coffee on the go, anytime …… it even comes with a spare whisk and faux leather pouchette, so I can take it anywhere.

I know my coffee isn’t very frothy in these pictures, there is a story ……….. this is the second time I have posed with this BRILLIANT aide de cafe, the first time I filled my mug too full and the coffee went everywhere, so I had to change my top and clear up the mess, but it does work, but with slightly less liquid.

Cheesy Balls & Party Rings

I am going to Cyril’s tonight to watch some re-runs of Jeremy Kyle. I said I’d bring the cheesy balls and party rings and he said he’d lay on some Marmite and Dairy Lea sandwiches and Um Bongo.

A Gift From The Young Ladies

The young ladies who are studying Geography for their GCSE’s bought me back a chocolate lolly from Tenby, where they have been studying things of a complicated and geographical nature.

It is a very posh lolly because it is tied with a lovely black ribbon. In a way it’s a shame to eat it, but it would also be a waste to allow it to go stale and thus eventually render it a health hazard to consume.

I am “blessed” in a Hello Magazine type way, to have so many lovely friends who still think of me, even when they are on educational pursuits.

Another 30p or 4 for £1 Bargain.

Ali at the Paper Shop must be sick of me furtelling through his box on the counter, but it just has the most amazing things in it. 
I got this jumbo tape measure, it’s brilliant. I have measured everything in my bedroom and have written it all down in my note book just in case anyone asks me the size of my comb etc. in passing.

Bonnets Des Douches

Aren’t bonnets des douches just BRILLIANT?

A Tasty Alternative To A Krispy Kreme Doughnut.

I love Krispy Kreme doughnuts, but they are a rare treat, as the nearest shop that sells them is in Selfridges in Birmingham, where you have to queue for ages. 

As I can only afford to buy one at a time and the Banga bus doesn't run  to Birmingham, I have to wait until Aunty Jan phones me and says “Monkey, I am in Birmingham, do you want me to bring you a Krispie Kreme doughnut back?” and I answer “Yes please, can I have a chocolate iced custard filled "

However, I have now discovered Yum Yums, they are very lovely and moreish and a most satisfactory alternative to a krispy Kreme glazed original

Yum Yums are Yum Yum and a pack of four costs about the same as one Krispy Kreme!  How BRILLIANT is that?