A Bounty Of Discarded Treasure?

Well, it has to be said that the summer didn't produce the whole plethora of left out treasure Eric had at first anticipated, perhaps it was sooooooooo unbelievably hot that people just hadn't got the heart or sheer energy to sort out their unwanted items for others delectation. 

However, with the temperature now being much more manageable, Eric hasn't been too disappointed so far, in one day he managed to "stumble" across a very respectable and comfortable looking dining chair, sat sitting at the bottom of the "killer" hill in and out of town. Now if that was left there, it could offer much comfort and respite to those struggling up and down said hill, especially when laden with enormous bags of shopping! 

Then, there was this coffee table near the church without a (as of yet) spire, unfortunately, it was in Eric's expert opinion, not of the best quality, it was quite warped and chipped and not as appealing as the aforesaid "respite" chair, so no great temptation there to plunder.

And finally, and most unusually, a pair of children's boots, the type with handles on either side to heave up and on, something Eric has always quite fancied.  Usually, if something originally comes in a pair Eric only tends to find one, so to the right sized person, this could indeed be a most fortuitous find, especially when, at this time of year, we are more prone to heavier type rain and the prospect of jumping in puddles should the mood so take you!  A most excellent day "wombling", with the extra bonus of Eric not actually heaving anything home behind him! 

We're Not Turning Yet ......

Following Darrell's little debacle contemplating the price of lamb the other day, he decided to take himself off to the vegan market in town yesterday morning to see if there were any comestible alternatives we might embrace ........

The market was a little disappointing in size, but undeterred Darrell was still determined to do his "market research"

His first observation was that there were more cake venders than anything ........ 

...... but they were a tad on the expensive side, tempting and delicious as they looked, £6.50 for a small pot of cheesecake and £4.50 for a single donut,  crammed to the rafters with vegan substitutes though they may be, he couldn't really justify making a purchase, especially considering the wonderful cakes he makes from scratch himself anyway.  He also wasn't tempted by the vegan hot dogs made in every guise imaginable or the cheese that looked like something Alice would buy in Lush!

However, he did make two considered purchases, to wit three wonderful looking onion bhaji's, something we absolutely crave since moving to Evesham, usually only getting our "fix" when we return to the homeland  for family high days and holidays where they are abundant

On the other hand, he'd never ever seen an apple crumble samosa before, even in Wolverhampton, but on this occasion he passed ............

...... because he'd got his beady eye on a "very berry crumble top pie" that he thought would go down a treat for our pudding later on in the day and save him getting one of his own out of the freezer .......  nevertheless, for all this glorious foody adventure, we all still remain very much strangers to the porkless pork pie ......... 

Eric's Nomination For Next Years Tree Of The Year

A while back our beloved No. 1 Fan, Jan the Fan sent us a link to vote for our favouritist tree a la Vote for your Tree of the Year 2026 - Woodland Trust.  We voted unanimously for the Culmstock Yew for growing in a place against all adversity ........

...... however, after waiting for his train at Worcester Foregate Street Station, Eric has a nomination of his own for 2027 ........

...... again, a tree, a breed as of yet unidentified ........

...... growing and seeming to thrive against all odds in the middle of two exceedingly busy mainline tracks ........

...... courageous, proud, fearless, resplendent and totally unapologetic .......
 

Eric has decided to name said tree, Cassius and he's mission now is to find out how to get Cassius on the list for next years Woodland Trust competition!  What is he like?  

We Try Wotsits Bag Of Bones

Well, it wouldn't be October, the spookiest, creepiest month of the year, without our sampling some kind of seasonal type comestibles would it?

So, today Darrell and I, for your delectation have decided to try out Wotsits Bag of Bones, before proffering them to everyone else at home, during our televisual viewing of an evening 

First of all we were quite impressed with the bags ample plenitude of savouries for just £1.50, there was more than enough to go around for two evenings worth of nomming  ...... 

...... and we were able to create a reasonable and pleasing, if not atomically correct skeleton, if we used what we think are actually hands for feet! 

They were light, baked, so not too greasy and melted in your mouth. Said bones were suitably "really" cheesy, but you know us, with regards to cheese, you can always, always ramp the cheese up! 

It was perhaps a little odd chomping, nonchalantly, into a full skeleton ribcage, but would we recommend them? Yes, certainly, we liked them very much and would buy them again, as we much prefer just a good, old, plain cheese flavour as opposed to the more fanciful pickled onion (excepting Monster Munch of course)  or those eye watering, hot chilli ones that seem to be tres en trend at the moment.

So, our score on our world famous Richter scale of noms?  Ten out of ten bats hanging upside down in the belfry, plus an additional bubbling cauldron to Wotsits for keeping things tasty but simple! 

Tis The Season ........

Tis the season for the using of  .......

....... pertinent and appropriately flavoured household cleaning products this autumn dans Les Towers!!!!  What are we like, if not always on trend!

The Flipping Price Of Lamb!

With the summer holidays now seeming like a life time away, Darrell thought he might revive a few Greek memories by preparing a traditional lamb kleftiko to warm our hearts and fill our bellies for this weeks Sunday lunch .......

....... however, after a bit of a giddy swoon on seeing the price of two, small lamb shanks, he decided that perhaps he ought to find a less expensive cut of meat other than lamb for our delectation that he could possibly adapt.

He was, it has to be said, genuinely crestfallen upon his return ....... even if he had been looking in Waitrose!

He's also made a very serious note, in red ink and circled, on our calendar, to remind him that there's a "plant based market" next weekend, in town, that he now fully intends to explore, trying a few samples, should they be proffered, if only to research our gastronomic options in the future .......

........seriously contemplating the idea of a full and varied nut rissole combo replacing our beloved Sunday roast before the year is out!  What is he like?

A Flavoured Candle Too Far

This has to be a joke yes?  Even for Eric with all his avant-garde tastes and ever open mind, this was one candle whiff/flavour too far ....... although, he did say, after a very robust inhale, it didn't really smell all that ketchupy! 

Needless to say, however, on this occasion, no considered purchase was made by Eric in B & M today.

Now, if they bought out a Marmite candle we might be talking, if only as a conversation piece!