He’s Been, He’s Been, He’s Been ……..

OMG,  he’s been, he’s been, he’s been …….. and I find myself in mysteriously repetitive mood, it must be all the excitement!

Not that we’d ever, ever, ever doubt that The Big Man, wouldn’t pop by …..

… leaving for the first time ever, ever, ever, a very cherished and precious note written in his own real life handwriting ……..

……. explaining the presence of a bingo game, which we’ll admit did leave us a tad puzzled…….

It seems said Big Man has also sorted out a long weekend in Weymouth for us in April, where a game of bingo in the evening will be de rigueur. After our pitiful performance in Dawlish, we were well aware that we needed to up our dabbing skills to match those we displayed during our Greek Odyssey to Elounda back in June.  Father Christmas, he knows absolutely EVERYTHING!

It goes without saying that on receiving such a wonderful and totally unexpected surprise it became ……… erm …….. very, very, VERY emotional.  What are we like?

We feel totally, totally blessed of a Hello Magazine special Christmas edition type nature.

Now begins a week of festivities and seasonal frivolity a la Towers and as such we’ll be taking our usual week off to fully embrace each and every one of them, but fear not, we’ll be back on the very first day of 2023 to start yet another year of adventure and musing and anything else that comes our way ……….. Thank you and a very Happy Christmas xxxxxxx

It’s Finally Christmas Eve ……..

It seems to have taken forever in coming, but it’s finally, finally, finally Christmas Eve, the most magical eve of the year.

Our stockings are hung, our turkey plucked and stuffed to an inch of it’s life all thanks to Darrell and his incredible culinary skills and in a little while we’ll all putting a festive, comestible tray together for Father Christmas and his reindeer for when they hopefully pop by.

But first, we need to put our little battery operated lantern of remembrance in prime position in the back garden.

Battery operated for health and safety, just in case there should be an untoward gust of wind or any curious interference of a squirrel type nature. The ground is pretty damp, but there is no way we want to be held responsible for any bush fire, unseasonal or otherwise or receive any complaints re: a naked rogue flame from any of our neighbours.

It will simply be left to “burn” over the holiday to fade naturally ……….

…… a constant reminder of all those loved ones who can no longer share our Christmas’s with us, although they are always in our hearts, especially at this time of year.  I wonder what they would make of our lives as they are now……..

Then, we’ll go inside and light the poignant candle Darrell found the other day in Home Bargains where a slightly misty eyed and wistful considered purchase was duly made.

Wishing all our beloved followers, near and far, a very wonderful and peaceful Christmas.

See you on the other side ……..

Love Monkey, Darrell and Nigel xxxxx

The Most Important Letter Of The Year …..

It’s that most wonderful and important night of the year when we all gather together round the table in order to scribe our letter to Father Christmas.

It’s always an emotional occassion, evoking so many happy memories of Christmas’s past when we’ve settled down to do the exact same thing.

It’s also a subject that has been very much on our minds all through December, our most favourite month of the year …….

….. but once we finally sat down, we all confessed that we’d like to do the same as we’ve done for the past few years and ask Father Christmas once more for a surprise ……..

……. something we could all share, as let’s face it, we’re extremely blessed with a life where we really want for nothing …….

…….. and we have to say Father Christmas has never got it wrong in all those years ……..

……. he knows us soooooooooooooooooo well!

When we were all happy with what we had written, we cast our precious letter out on the “midnight wind”, even if it was only about half past eight. Then Darrell decided it was about time we broke open the Antiguan Skulduggery rum he’d had in his cocktail cabinet for the past four years, until now untouched as we were a little wary of its potency ……..

OMG …… thank goodness Darrell was, for once, frugal with his portion control!   Let’s just say we slept very, very well, with dreams of all the things that Santa might bring! Happy days ………….,

Seasonal Window Gazing ……..

Hmmmmm, it has to be said that Nigel isn’t all that overly impressed by the seasonal window offerings of Evesham’s finest emporiums in celebration of Christmas 2022.

There’s really nothing stand out or noteworthy ……..

…….. nothing that has given him those intoxicating Christmas goose bumps, has had the hairs on his arms standing up on end or has had the power to hold him spellbound for hour upon on hour ………

…… and going back for more whenever he is in town, to be lost once more in his festive hopes and dreams, bless him.

However nothing can dampen the season of goodwill to all men for young Nigel …….

…….. especially a nativity ………..

…….. even though, in his opinion, Darrell might have been able to arrange the figures a tad more sympathetically, in a scene that is aching for a tad more straw to cover the expanse of coffee table glass. And, no doubt the donkey would be absolutely exhausted from their arduous journey, but perhaps his behind is a little too close to the manger for Nigel’s and indeed Baby Jesus’s comfort ………. what is he like? (Nigel, not Baby Jesus or said donkey).

A Pertinent, Eco Friendly and Sustainable Gift ………

Nigel’s little mind has very much turned on to Christmas finding a few presents and, as ever, is also trying to be as eco-friendly and sustainable as possible in said giving and yesterday, well, he struck gift giving gold as far as Darrell is concerned ……. and for free.  

There’s an empty shop in the arcade that been filled with unwanted books that you can help yourself to, for free …… how brilliant is that?

The only thing they insist on is stamping any books you choose to avail yourself of to help prevent any selling on of a profiteering type nature.

https://www.facebook.com/imagineevesham/

Nigel pops in whenever he’s in town, when they are open, just for a mooch and has found quite a few choice bits and pieces, but this Five A Day cookbook has to be his best find ever, ever, ever, especially when he tummy will no doubt benefit after its receiving.  Happy days, a gift that keeps on giving. What is he like?

Nigel Makes An Important Festive Drop Off

Nigel’s next appointment with his very favourite dental hygienist of choice is not until the midst of February 2023 ………

……. but nevertheless, he still had a very important festive drop off to make at his dental surgery, as Jo, said hygienist, is at the very top of the little fella’s Christmas card list.

Unfortunately, she was busy scaling and polishing another patient when he popped in and sadly, as he’d hoped, there weren’t any free toothpaste samples in the giant fish bowl by the reception desk (always a very useful and practical “something” to pop in a handmade Christmas cracker) to quell his disappointment, but hey ho……

……. there would be time in February to catch up …… not that he’s counting the days!

Sadly Lacklustre ………

It's far too late now, but in Nigel’s humble opinion, if ever there was anywhere that could perhaps benefit from the artistic, festive skills of none other than our very own, beloved Darrell Fortescue Monkeey ……..

……. it’s has to be almost devoid of any magical seasonal glitter and sparkle …… Evesham shopping centre.

Three fenced off Christmas trees, one admittedly bedecked in cellophane wrapped candy cane type decorations, along with a single, soft toy reindeer, does not an unbridled Christmas spirit make, let alone raise a weak and half hearted ho ho ho!

And, what’s the  spooky monk with a Christmas elf headband atop his cowl and flashing Christmas light necklace round his neck all about?No wonder he’s clutching his rosary for dear life? Even poor Nigel was lost for one of his usually upbeat, poignant or sage comments.

It’s all rather lacklustre and joyless for words and as such Nigel has already started petitioning for serious questions to be asked in Parliament and Darrell to be approached to take on the challenge!  His heart is soooooooo in the right place, what on earth would we do without the little fella?