Strangers No Longer

Yesterday, Eric decided to go all experimental with his beloved niece and nephew by treating them to lunch in a cafe, that even after ten odd years in Evesham we remain all total strangers to.

Ten years and never once have we ventured over the threshold, what on earth are we like? However, Eric had perused the menu a little while ago and thought the food proffered and the prices looked pretty good, especially when our little ones are not so little anymore and have ever increasing appetites.

 Let's just say, despite the wait, Butler's did not disappoint!

Inside it was ambient, fresh, bright, ordered and exceptionally clean, with no tables waiting to be cleared, a bit of a bete noire for the little fella. It had a mature, as well as family vibe, so they immediately felt very comfortable and at home. 

Their drinks seemed to arrive in seconds, with Eric loving his little tray, that made his feel, he said, quite sophisticated of a well presented, cup of tea type nature. 

As for the food, poor old Berts was a little overwhelmed by his cheese and ham baguette, it was mahoooosive. Thank goodness Eric had held back on his own order, as he was then luckily, able to assist the poor boy.  Eric reckoned they must have gotten through a whole packet of ham and half a pound of cheese between them, not to mention a full on salad.

As for Iris, queen of the all day breakfast, she didn't need quite so much help ......

..... although Eric reasoned it wouldn't hurt to have a little nibble round the edges, "for future reference" you understand! 

Would they return? Most definitely yes, as they all left the table feeling mightily satisfied, despite only ordering two full meals between them. The atmosphere, table spacing, service and facilities, which Bertie described as "..... giving a very high level of privacy" (????),  bless his little cotton socks, were all perfect ........

...... which then got Eric to thinking as to what other hitherto gems remain as of yet undiscovered in town that might need a cheeky visit, with perhaps even a bit of a series to help fill the looming summer holidays!  We shall see ........... 

Domestos Power 5 Rim Block - 3 pk. Unicorn Edition - Magic Unicorn

Oh my goodness me, as you all know Darrell likes to maintain the most exemplary of bathroom and en-suite facilities chez Les Towers and as such, is always on the look out for new products to not only keep these rigorous standards up, but elevate them even further if he can, not wishing for our smallest rooms to ever be found wanting.

So, imagine the unbridled excitement when he came back from a cheeky troll round B M Bargains brandishing a three pack Domestos, special Unicorn Edition, five rim toilet block, trust me, he was like a dog that had found two bones,  a rubber ball and a very large stick!

There really wasn't any doing with him until one had been attached to each of our rims .........

........ flushed with pride at the thrill and thought of having a real life, magical, rainbow cascade following our every ablution!

£2.75 very well spent, me thinks.  Darrell's only regret? Not getting another two packs as they are bound to sell out fast, especially now we've sort of set a trend, as just one pack is currently selling on eBay for £9.35! I have a spooky. late great Derek Acorah (RIP), physic sense that the little fella will be tasked with a very important mission tomorrow, where failure will not be an option! What on earth are we like?

Domestos Power 5 Rim Block Unicorn Edition 3pk - Magic Unicorn | Cleaning | B&M

Pharmacy Michelle Sends A Mystery Caller Our Way.

Oh my goodness, we have to be honest, we had a rather odd message from our beloved friend Pharmacy Michelle the other day, saying that she'd had a knock on her front door and when she'd answered it she was greeted by a little fella who could have been Eric's double, but with a more plaintive expression and impossibly sad eyes (that we suspect have seen some things) .......

He told her that he'd come across our "Southport Meet Up" post and had a spooky sort of a feeling that we all might be connected in some way, particularly Eric????

Michelle went on to say that after seeing such an expectant, beseeching and tired looking face, she just had to ask him in, especially as he did have a familiarity about him that she couldn't quite place. However, after three large mugs of hot, sweet tea and a chocolate digestive or two (well, a good half packet to be truthful), she was none the wiser and all that she could think to help him was to message us and then, with our permission, send him in our direction, hoping that we might be able to assist him. It might take him a while to get to us, but he is on his way.  

Whether we'll be able to help Derek, we're not too sure, but we do rather like a good Scooby Doo mystery to untangle, so, as and when he arrives, chez nous, you, of course, will be the very first to know!! 

A Bit Scratchy On The Bum If Wearing Shorts?

There a bijoux, summer set up outside one of the houses in Tom the Scientists row that couldn't fail to catch Eric's decerning eye and curious mind  .......

..... not the most salubrious of placements, but as this is a relatively new development dans le neighbourhood, perhaps a screen, of a decorative/protective type nature is also in hand and the geraniums have time to pick up.

But I digress ......

..... it was the grassy knoll stools that really piqued Eric's fancy and interest .......

 .... and yes, he couldn't just resist having a cheeky little feel to see if said grass was in fact real or of the faux persuasion.

Unfortunately, thought it did look extremely realistic, on tactile inspection it was rough and prickly, not best, Eric thought, for placing your derriere on while wearing shorts, because apart from being slightly uncomfortable, it could also lead to the development of an unsightly rash, never a good thing to lay bare in the summer months when more exposive clothing is de rigueur!  What on earth is he like? 

Lidl Pulls Out All The Summer Stops

I think Darrell is greatly regretting asking Eric to pick up the latest Lidl leaflet on his way back from the school run ........

..... as it's the holiday Sport and Leisure edition ...... heaven help us!

Let's just say that the pester power, as you can imagine, has now ramped up to a completely different scale, with the ice bath pool being the subject of great fascination, mainly because of the picture and musing as to how the gentleman has positioned himself in such a small looking receptacle.  I've told Eric it's probably all Ai, the head added after! 

I agree, our very own pool would be pretty wonderful, especially on the really hot summer days .......

..... with an additional water slide, various food shaped inflatables and a whole arsenal of Nerf super soakers!  

Unfortunately we've had to rein the little fella's overwhelming enthusiasm in, I think questions might be asked in Parliament and this time not from our quarter .......

....... not to mention reports to the Noise Abatement Society and the Water Conservation Board to name but a few!

As for the inflatable kayak, that would save Eric at least forty minutes by paddling across the river straight over to the marina, rather than walking to Bertie's school?  I'm afraid it's another no, not with the current level of canal boats tootling up and down. Eric is just too precious to us to even countenance the thought of such a treacherous journey, so we've told him we'll double his after school ice-cream money to make up for his disappointment!   What are we like? 

Sir Tom Jones - Alice's Unbridled Passion.

It has to be said that underneath her incredibly demure demeanour, it would seem that the ever fragrant Alice has, unbelievably, the heart of a raging cougar ........

....... as unbeknownst to us .........

....... she's some how kept her unrequited ardour for the octogenarian Mr Sir My Lord Tom Jones under wraps......... 

....... until now .....

.... and wow, who knew what overpowering and all consuming passion she held within her tiny, beating heart for him!!

Sooooooo, when she found out that said Mr Jones was appearing at Gloucester Rugby Stadium, not that far from us, she went all weak knee-ed and while I managed to catch her, Darrell had to rush over to give her a quick blast of his smelling salts.

However, once sufficiently composed, she begged a totally bemused Eric to  accompany her to the concert if she could get tickets. 

Now, not being a great aficionado of the esteemed gentleman or his genre, but hopelessly devoted to our beloved Alice, how could he refuse those fluttering eyelashes, beseeching eyes and feminine wiles, he was like a deer/rabbit caught in the proverbial headlights!

Oh Alice, after you promised!

Yes, of course, he would be delighted to escort her, BUT, after Darrell and I filled him in a little re: as to the certain allure Mr Jones has for the ladies, there was one VERY strict proviso, there was to be no waving or unabandoned and unfettered chucking any of those lady garments that he personally preferred to remain strangers to!!!!!

Well, the big day came over the weekend and despite their seats being beyond disappointing, despite the cost (questions are presently being asked in Parliament, trust us!), the experience was still totally embraced, even Eric surprised himself with his own gusto! As he so succinctly put it, Mr Jones has a most excellent set of pipes, even if he doesn't move around that much.

Eric said that poor Alice was soooooooo beside herself, she even turned down his very generous offer of a no expense spared, helping of expensive pick n mix, which, trust us, is unheard of, but she explained that she was so excited she could hardly swallow a thing, other than a few sips of cold water and that was hard enough.

In the end, like everyone else in their block, they did move onto the pitch to get a closer look (shame on whoever organised and sold the seats without checking the view first and/or could have mentioned restricted viewing on the website).

However, nothing could diminish Alice's love for the man himself ....... she's as infatuated as ever, he did not leave her wanting (musically)!

She might not have been able to give him a real "kiss" in the flesh, as it were, but let's just say she had a cheeky little peck of his poster on their way out.  What on earth is she like? Happy, happy days, except for perhaps the much mentioned awful view! 

The End OF An Era - Last School Run On This Particular Route

Today's one of those days, where we know we need to give the little fella a lot of extra space. It's not the last school run by any means, it's just the end of the school run as he/we know it, but perhaps the most challenging emotionally .........

..... knowing that young master Bertie is moving onto pastures new, that entails the wearing of a blazer and carrying a geometry set in a tin. Eric has been through it before with Iris (who is moving up to senior school in September too) two years ago. Goodness only knows where the time has gone ...... and, bless her black school socks, she has certainly blazed a trail for her brother.   

So, it's going to be a journey of goodbyes, going on to the new. Perhaps Bertie won't want such an all encompassing hug from his beloved uncle when he comes out the gate from September, embracing a more discrete ruffle of his hair instead, but meaning just as much.  

There'll be no more nipping in, on route, to the only corner shop in Evesham ........

....... for a cheeky Slush Pup or Calippo on hot days as they never have enough time to join the queue for at the ice cream van outside school.

And as for Bertie selecting a cake for Iris's after school nibble from Lidl (on more normal temperatured days) on their way to her meeting point .......

.......  well, Bert's has certainly become the master of the self check out .........

....... and the proud swipe of Eric's bank card, but from September ......... Eric will have to do it on his own.

I can't tell you how much Eric is going to miss those "man to man" talks they shared on the way to meet Iris. It was their very special time, again where has that time gone? All those chats about electric and hybrid cars, computers and more recently airplanes, particulaly the Airbus A380 ......... 

........ realising, that during those two years, Bertie slipping his hand into Eric's just because, have become fewer and far between, ........ 

But on, as I said to the new ........ 

...... because I'm filling up myself right now, we'll park this here for the next little while, because in front of us now lies a glorious summer holiday, with so many adventures ahead, the thought of new beginnings, perhaps should be relegated to the dim and distant future .......