Southport Bound

By the time you read this (except for Mr D in Mexico, who is well ahead of us time wise), we'll be on the train heading for sunny Southport to finally meet up with our much beloved friends Seaside Karen and Pharmacy Michelle. We're sooooooooo excited, we might burst, but first we need to get in plenty of shut eye, as we've got a challenging (for us at least) four changes to make during our journey!  Needless to say, we've put Darrell in charge of sorting out all the platforms we need to be on, as he's meticulous in such things!

We think we should arrive in Southport by 2.30pm, so once we've dropped our bags off at our hotel Dukes Folly, if we've still got the strength, we're going to see if we can catch a glimpse the sea, chance a few pounds worth of 2p's in the arcade and then go in search of proper seaside fish and chips for tea, before retiring to said hotel for perhaps a cheeky cocktail or two before bed to dream of the excitement ahead.

We're all be gathering at the hotel mid morning, as it seems pretty central and if we're lucky, fingers crossed, the weather will be warm enough for us to sit outside and bathe in the glow of the glorious Southport sunshine. 

Darrell, where would we be without him, has, once our nerves have settled, organised an early afternoon tea along with a few surprise gifts as mementos of this monumental occasion and then let things play out, with friendships forged even deeper than they were before.

Soooooooooo, all we need do now is check our bags (for the umpteenth time), tickets, bookings and wallets  for what seems to be the hundredth time ...... see you on the other side!

Honing Very Important And Pertinent Southport Skills .......

Almost on the cusp of our much awaited trip to Southport to finally meet, in person, in actual real life, our beloved followers and friends Pharmacy Michelle and Seaside Karen .......

....... it has to be said that some of Eric's preparation has left even the ever fragrant Alice with a raised eyebrow and a slight shake of her head in erm ...... disbelief,  .....

..... as it seems the little fella, not wishing for his 2p dropping and pushing skills to be found wanting or for that matter called into question in Funland, the amusement arcade at the Grand Entrance to Southport pier (sadly, still closed, but set for restoration, to start sometime this year)......   

....... has taken to seriously studying the videos of "Coin Pusher" on YouTube, with full intent of honing his own pusher skills!  Heaven only help us all when he finally gets to grip with his own plastic cup full of 2p's when we get there ........ however, I doubt very much that we'll be calling for a bucket(s) to collect the deluge of coins he's imagining or bringing any gold ingots home! What is he like?

We've Got A Bargain Valley

 When Evesham gets a new shop .......

...... well, it would be rude of the little fella not to do an in-depth investigation of it's finest products!

The first thing he came across, in the first aisle was .........

...... the most magnificent wall of £1 sweet bags, a full and robust choice, he opined, that would meet the needs of even the most intense of Saturday night confectionary decisions.

Then, for Darrell, there was a whole bank of Elbow Grease products, Darrell's no questions asked, spring cleaning go to since forever.

As for the wiping section, let's just say they had a wipe for almost every sort of wiping type situation, even bums, but they, naturally, were on the more personal based shelves of the shop, although in an absolute, dire emergency, who cares what you use if it does the job, just don't tell Darrell!

Everything was all very useful, there wasn't much frippery, everything seemed very practical and non luxury orientated. There wasn't anything Eric hadn't seen before, well, except for the bra wash nets, but then, as full bodied gentlemen of a wholly male persuasion, we wouldn't have a clue about such things any way. 

So, all in all a welcome addition to the Evesham shopping experience, especially if we lose our beloved Home Bargains when they finally pull the old shopping centre down, but for now, HB continues to hold our heart!

Another Opportunity Missed - Garnier Diamond/Keratin Sleek in Manchester Picadilly Station

Unfortunately time was sadly of the essence for Darrell to get back home from Manchester .....

.... had there been more time, he would have almost certainly availed himself of joining the queue for a free consultation at a stand demonstrating Garnier Keratin Sleek in the middle of Manchester Piccadilly Station .......

..... perhaps, finally, finding a solution to his dull looking hair with its accompanying, annoying frizz would have put an extra skip in his step and sheen on his locks, especially for our upcoming Southport "meet up".  However, despite circling the set up several times (well, ten at the very least), looking as intensely interested as he could, no free samples, unfortunately, were forthcoming. Up to three days of sleek and shiny hair were not to be his, unless, he made a considered splurge himself from the Boots across the way!  It was just not meant to be he reasoned, perhaps there's another hair care range just waiting for him around the corner? What is he like? 

Manchester, Over Almost Before It's Begun?

Darrell's visit to Manchester was over almost before he'd had a chance to catch his breath .....

...... however, he really didn't want to linger for too long, no matter how tempting ......

....... because we've still got a few things to arrange for our glorious "meet up" on the horizon with our beloved Seaside Karen and Pharmacy Michelle in Southport.

So apart from the theatre and his hotel, he didn't venture far ......

...... with special thanks to Booking.Com for which questions have now been forwarded to Parliament, asking why his payment hadn't been forwarded to said hotel, resulting in him losing his coveted double bed for bunks (it's a looooooong story), which, no doubt, Eric would have loved!!!

Though Darrell normally embraces any sort of hotel experience, this time, it was sadly tarnished, especially with the thought of having to untangle the situation when he returned home, he says he's heart really wasn't in it! 

On the plus side, the Costa round the corner served a most excellent, gigantic, two handled, spiced chia to help quell his frustrations ......

...... and he found two chance Aero Pistachio bars in a nearby shop on the way .....

..... where it would have been rude not to make a considered purchase, for I'm sure a very insightful review, when we can find five minutes ............. or perhaps we could do it in Southport with SK and PM, now that really would be a first!!! 

Darrell Enjoys The Undeniable And Stupendous Talents Of Liberace and Liza Dans Manchester.

Although Darrell has long been known for his love of a good candelabra and the odd sequin, he's only recently become a humungous (I'd say, perhaps a little obsessed) fan of Liberace and Liza, two hugely multitalented entertainers, who simply popped up one day on his Facebook feed, but, believe me, from there on in he was hook, line and sinkered, never dreaming that, as they are based miles away across the pond, he'd ever get to see them perform in person  .......

Liberace & Liza – A Tribute – Hope Mill Theatre

..... so imagine the complete state of flux he was in, when he found out that they were actually coming, in real life, to the UK. Let's just say he had a full on attack of the vapours, wearing out several large paper bags trying to stabilise his breathing!! 

Once suitably composed (it took a while, believe me), but still visibly palpitating, he somehow managed to secure a front row seat for one of their shows in Manchester, and to be honest, there was no doing with him until he left on Friday morning, hotel and train tickets also secured.  

He also took a bag of the finest M & S comestibles he could muster, to drop off at the theatre for their dressing room, thinking that with such a busy itinerary they might be left wanting as to the pleasures of a few British treats, to wit the custard cream, shortbread finger, Percy Pig, chocolate digestives, walnut whip and naturally, a few packets of Marmite crisps. What is he like?

And feeling sufficiently emboldened, messaged their page to let them know he'd left them, along with a card to wish them well.

The night was, as you can imagine ...... EMOTIONAL, in capital letters.  The venue was small and intimate, with both stars swishing within an inch of him as they left the stage area. He checked the floor in the hope of finding just one dropped sequin, but it was not to be. He says, he'll never be the same! There were two, well deserved standing ovations, never has Pink Pony Club been sung with such feeling, emotion and gusto as an encore! Throughout the evening the piano playing was phenomenal, the singing absolutely out of this world, as well as leaving Darrell's poor sides aching from all the laughter.  If he could have done it all again, he said, he'd have done it in a heart beat, but this time in super slow motion so as to savour every single second.

But little did he know that that wasn't quite the end of his evening  ....... 

......... because when he got back to his hotel and checked his phone, there was a thank you message from Liberace and Liza, aka David and Jillian themselves, accompanied by a picture of them with their Percy Pigs Snouts ........

....... at that, poor Darrell didn't know where to put himself!

The previous emotions of the night and performance were now multiplied a thousand fold! Darrell may never fully recover!

On top of that Liberace and Liza will be returning to the UK in August, to "do" the whole of the Edinburgh Fringe, sadly too far and expensive (hotel wise) for Darrell (it really would cost more than our next Greek Oddity), but he's still started saving, because he's got a funny feeling in his water after that, they will be returning to these shores again and this time he's going to take all of us with him, with the proviso that we all don sequins and brush up on our Gershwin and the real Liberace and Lisa autobiographies, happy, happy days!

Photos & Video - Liberace and Liza

A Greggs Sausage Roll, Every Little Helps Now And Again

As you most probably know we are all extremely partial to the odd roule a la saucisse......

...... and Darrell, we have to say, makes a pretty mean aforementioned meaty pastry snack ......

....... however, sometimes, when we're in the zone, a bit like pancakes on Pancake Day, no matter how hard he tries, he simply can't keep up with the demand ........

...... which is why, to give the poor fella a bit of a break now and again from a well floured rolling pin and egg wash .......

...... we occasionally supplement the freezer with the odd box or two or three of Greggs sausage rolls, exclusive to Iceland (the shop not the country), especially when they are on offer, to help him out! 

Obviously,  they are not as good as Darrell's personally hand made version, but when demand is higher than usual and often unexpected, like if we decide to go on an impromptu picnic, they come a pretty close second.......

.......  and thankfully, it has to be said, that Darrell has never been one to be overly precious when it comes to shedding the comestible load now and again, as far as his sausage rolls are concerned ........

...... BUT ....... if we ever dared mention a substitute vol au vent of any shape, size or filling, we know we'd be heading for seriously troubled waters, Darrell's vol au vents are ............ sacrosanct and no one ever messes with them!  What is he like?