Understated, Simple And Very Mr Berts ...... World Book Day 2026

This is probably our beloved nephews very last World Book Day, which, as you can imagine, we are finding pretty emotional ........

...... it therefore goes without saying that it was only natural that we all wanted to get involved in his "costume", not an easy task, as young Master Bertie doesn't like too much attention on him on such occasions, therefore our brief was strictly as understated and simple as possible.

Soooooooooo, following some debate, none heated, old Berts said he'd be perfectly happy to go as George from Roald Dhal's George Marvellous Medicine, a most excellent choice and one of our very most favourite books too.  

The ever fragrant Alice and Eric were then put in charge of his t-shirt, George's is a very simple red one, but they decided to take a quote from the story and get it printed on a suitable shirt, to, how shall I say, spell it out! 

Darrell was put in charge of the all important props, to wit a large spoon from the cutlery drawer and George's medicine bottle.

I have to say the bottle was truly disgusting from both the front and the back. I could almost smell the ponk it would have had, let alone imagine just how foul it's contents would have tasted.

Anyways up, I think we all "dun gud" (I polished the spoon!), I don't think our efforts will win any prizes, but then, that's the last thing our bashful nephew would want, but in our eyes ....... he's a winner! 

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Vienna?????????

I thinks it's become pretty obvious by now that we've gone pretty cold as far as The Eurovision Song Contest is concerned, this year being held in Ahhhhhh Vienna, on 16th  May.  

It sooooooooooo used to be our televisual highlight of the year, we practically put our lives on hold during Eurovision Week, but after Finland was outrageously robbed in 2023 and the UK being stuck steadfastly on the right side of the score board since "Spaceman", despite our undying love and support, it's been hard to embrace the competition with all our unbridled and unfettered gusto of yore.

And ..... sadly, I fear, that this 2026 may follow a very similar path in the aforesaid said Ahhhhhh Vienna, as we've just heard that the UK are fielding "Look Mum No Computer", no, we've not a clue either, perhaps we're just too out of touch with music these days ????? 

We've looked the gentleman up on YouTube and we're currently ambivalent, but having said that, he does seem like a very nice, enthusiastic young man! However, the proof of the pudding is in the nomming, so we'll just have to wait for the song to debut ...... hope against hope, it will send us into absolute raptures and multiplying thrills (aka John Travolta) and all will be forgiven and our usual vinegar vigour reinstated!

 ....... soooooooo, as and when we hear more, trust us, you'll be the very first to know, with our initial reaction, but at present, to be honest, our union flag is flying, limply at half mast! 

LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER to represent the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026

Music To Eric's Ears

Although the skies are more grey than blue (over Evesham at least) and there still seems to be no end to the rain, the daffodils are really starting to bloom, causing young Eric's heart and spirits to soar as we teeter towards spring, with only eighteen official days to go .......

..... and with the impending season sees the return of enterprising buskers to Evesham's main pedestrian street, even if they have to shelter from the rain, to prevent their equipment potentially blowing up, lifting the little fella's said spirits even higher.......

..... especially when you never know what musical delights you are going to encounter, lyrics you might mishear and do a double take or the occasional, pardon the expression, odd "bum" note or two.

It's also a salient reminder for Eric to keep a few spare coins in his pocket for such happenstance as, he says, such upliftment, especially on wet days needs rewarding. 

Almost Over Before It's Begun

Poor Eric, no sooner has "our" scaffolding gone up, than it was time to bring it all down again .......

..... so, as you can imagine, the mood Chez Towers has been a tad on the more sombre side today.

The little fella has been in and out, front and back since the work on our roof began and in that short time he's got to know Shane and Richard quite well, checking on their progress and listening to their romantic tales of crumbling cement that was just like sand and it's heroic replacement!

On Friday, before they left for the weekend, it'd taken him all his courage to pluck up and ask if he could possibly go up there with them, "just for five minutes" to see what it was like to work up in the skies, without the aid of oxygen or crampons ..... if he promised to wear his safety helmet and followed every hallowed instruction they gave him to the letter.

Unfortunately, they had to let him down as gently as they could as I think they've also grown very fond of him. Perhaps the packs of Hob Nobs and Wagon Wheels left at the bottom of their ladder each morning, before they arrived on site, may have had something to do with it, but sadly the answer had to be no, as neither he or they were insured for such a visit and if anything should go wrong ........... it doesn't bear thinking about. So on terra firma he has had to remain.  

This afternoon we're going to try and distract him as best we can, as we fear the sound of clanking vertical posts, braces, putlogs, transoms and toe boards might be more than poor Eric can manage ...... let alone the final goodbye!  It's been a wonderful few days, but more roofs await, at least we and especially Eric have had the pleasure of watching it all and can sleep soundly at night now knowing our roof is safe for the next few years, through storm and high water!!!  What are we like?

Following On .....

Following on from yesterdays unbridled excitement, this morning Eric was sadly not greeted by the small lorry of yore, but only the roofers actual, real life van .......

..... parked right in front of his bedroom window, which, he said, was a unbelievable honour for him.

And, while yesterday all the action was at the front of the building ........

 ...... this today it was all going on at the back, with another magnificent erection to the side of our lovely neighbour Kata's flat, another honour in Eric's eyes. He said he could only have most abject of admiration for the two gentleman aloft and on high, as it takes a brave man to venture up such scaffolding when anchored on ground as uneven and boggy as our communal back garden.  Trust us it's squelchy, very, very squelchy and soooooooo close the river bank ...... it just doesn't bear thinking about.

Needless to say, mugs of hot tea or coffee and a chocolate Hob Nob or two were proffered, almost beggingly, but politely refused as they said, they'd got a flask up there with them and anyway it was a long way down for them to collect it.  It was obvious that Eric would then offer to take it up for them, but again such a kind gesture had to be turned down because of a whole raft of health and safety regulations.

After that, the only thing that he was able to do for them was to leave the back door open, so that they could to get to their van more easily, as it's quite a trek to go round from the back to the front.  We think they'll be finished by tomorrow and then said scaffolding will come down ........ accompanied by much sighing and some quiet reflection no doubt from poor old Eric, this has been the most exciting thing to happen Chez Towers in an awfully long time, since the police raid on a flat that shall remain nameless!

Heaven Help Us All

Well, who wouldn't be absolutely in thrall when greeted by a small lorry type vehicle positively heaving with scaffolding (perhaps a slight exaggeration, but that's how it looked to young Eric) on their doorstep first thing of a morning?

And, what's more, it hadn't merely taken a wrong turn into our estate, ending up at the bottom, in our parking area by mistake, as oft happens ......

..... this lorry and it's accompanying clanking poles, planks and complicated fittings was meant for us.  We'd had an email a few weeks ago saying that work had to be done to the brickwork right at the top of the building and Darrell and I had sort of forgotten to mention it to Eric, knowing the excitement it would create!

To Eric the ensuing preparation work resulted in the most magnificent erection he'd ever seen, I might beg to differ, but what do I know? So long as it's safe and sturdy I'm happy to let them just get on.

Eric had to admit to being a trifle jealous of the people living in the flat where a plank had been put right in front of their windows, that would have been just too romantic for words for him. He said he'd be able to proffer hot steaming mugs of tea through one of the said windows, until I pointed out that as the windows open outwards that might not be such a good idea.

It goes without saying that the little fella is now frantically searching for his safety helmet and fluorescent waistcoat from our days at the Girls High School, when there was much building work going on, but hopefully, this job won't take that long, just a few missing tiles and a crack or two to fill, as far as we are aware. However, thank goodness Eric has the school run in the afternoons, so pester power and offers to hold the ladder or bring up some fresh grout will hopefully be kept to a minimum, but should there are any further developments, you, of course will be the first to know. 

Corduroy Crisps

This week, for our televisual snack of choice during our evenings of companionable TV viewing, we have mostly been partaking in ridge cut crips, which Eric calls "corduroy crisps" .........

.... due to their distinct "raised ridges (or wales) running lengthways", - many thanks to ChatGPT for this succinct description, when finding the right words failed me on this occasion.

We've gone all devil may care, as we've opted for McCoys, cheese and onion flavour, we all agreed to eat them together as a group, otherwise they can be a bit anti-social breath wise. 

We wouldn't want to make things unpleasant for any one one of us if they choose a less pungent flavour crisp, so as we all very much like the aforesaid cheese and onion, we always elect to eat our packets as a group, that way none of us notices each others honking breath, if that makes any sense? 

I know ....... what on earth are we like, if not considerate to others!!!!!!