Using The Right Type Of Font Can Be Quite Important.

To be honest, I've never really paid that much attention to the fonts used on shops to advertise their name or wares ...... or, for that matter, how a font could possibly affect your feelings towards something.

However, we've got a new purveyor of kebabs in town ..........

........ and it might simply be me of course, but the name and the font leaves me a little confused and in some respects, positively unsettled!

The "Craft House" bit brings to mind shops of a Hobbycraft or The Range type nature, but then, a kebab isn't something I would generally associate with any sort of genteel crafting activity???? As for the font, well, to me it just screams of the nefarious and unsavoury career choices of Sweeny Todd!   Is it me, or is something not quite gelling here?????? Perhaps we need to go in and give them a whirl? Suggestions on a postcard please.

Drained By Man Or A Force Of Nature?

Oh noooooooooo, with the excitement of his buying a dingy still very much to the fore .........

...... disaster has struck under our bridge ......

....... the lake that once was and had so much promise for summer fun and frolics has all but dried up into what can only be described as a damp squid squib,  Needless to say, poor Eric is bereft!

At the moment, where the water has gone, is very much a mystery. Perhaps the scrapyard has put in some sort of drainage system, but according to Eric, he can't see any evidence of any groundwork etc. having been done. It could also be that Network Rail have plugged the drips from above? However, with the current weather, it seems highly unlikely that said water has simply evaporated in some sort of bizarre, unseasonal and incredibly isolated heatwave????? 

Needless to say, if the once "lake" does not reappear in time for summer frivolities, questions WILL definitely need to be asked in Parliament!

Stitchface And The Nefarious Smuggling Of Fruit Pastlles!

With his beloved niece and nephew on Easter break, so no school run for a week or so, Uncle Eric decided to treat his beloved Iris and Bertie to a trip to our local, very beautiful, cinema The Regal to see Stitchface, I believe, it did not disappoint.

They arrived early, no bad thing, especially as Eric only just managed to secure the very last (extortionate) box of Maltesers, a cinema staple have as far as he, at least, is concerned.

There was also time for a cheeky Oreo milkshake and Sprite while perusing the menu and a spot of people watching .......

..... before moving to their balcony seats .......

.... barely giving any time for Eric to admire their lovely Art Deco surroundings ......

..... before their snacks arrived, to wit a margherita pizza, bacon rolls, and a very stately pot of tea for one for Eric, to help wash it all down.  

And for afters? ..... There were the aforementioned Maltesers, plus a few bits and pieces of contraband smuggled in by Eric, because really you're not supposed to take in your own treats, but with prices there at almost double that of Home Bargains, what's a doting uncle to do?!!

Goodness only knows what would have happened if he'd gotten himself patted down or asked to turn out his pockets, however, he told us later that if he had, they'd never have found them ...... where there's a will, there's away, as far as his powers of secretion are concerned,  needless to say, I didn't press him for any further information! 

Remiss Festivities!

Oh my, oh my, let's just say our Easter festivities were an absolute triumph of jubliance, we, without a shred of a doubt, "dun gud" of the very highest order ........

...... despite everything being a bit last minute due to several serious work commitments over the holiday, but we stepped up to the plate to help make memories to hopefully last a lifetime.

Darrell produced the most magnificent, off the cuff "picky, picnic" buffet type lunch, saying that one of his full on roasts could be a little overwhelming for little ones, faced with sixteen veg, roasts in abundance (to wit potatoes, parsnips and a large leg of lamb), when accompanied by Yorkshires, stuffing and gravy, etc. etc. etc! 

Party bags were lovingly filled  ..........

....... and forty eggs hidden around The Towers and dans le jardin, then found amidst much fevered excitement and laughter.

It was all perfect, down to a fevered (card) game of "Smash the Avocado" ........ except for one thing......

....... because once our guests arrived, we were soooooooooooooo in the moment, we totally forgot to take anymore pictures ........ doh, doh, doh!!!!

However, all is not lost, as Eric so succinctly put it, the squeals, giggles, smells, tastes and cuddles, along with said images will forever be indelible in his mind, to re-run whenever and wherever he wants, in far more vivid a way than a picture on a screen or printed on paper could ever touch, what is he like?

Happy Easter ........

 Wishing you all .........

...... a very happy, hoppy Easter .........

....... and that the Easter Bunny has hopped by, leaving you tons and tons of nomtastical eggs for your delectation wherever in the world you find yourselves today, particularly Seaside Karen!!!

Completely Blessed In A Totally Festive Way

Oh my goodness me, this year we have been sooooooooo unbelievably blessed of a Hello Magazine special Easter edition and festive type nature .....

...... because yesterday, completely unexpectedly, we received a wonderous parcel from our beloved follower Paula in romantic, seasidey Plymouth!

It was ....... it goes without saying .......

....... as ever, when is it not, emotional!  Within was a beautiful card to grace our festive mantle .........

....... a very special gift for Alice, that bought heavy ooooooo's of delight and though she tried to hide them, a couple of huge, dewy tears ........

....... there was a headband to keep her hair from getting in the way when she and Darrell share their ritual face mask on a Sunday evening or when she does exquisite make-up in the morning  .........

...... and two pink bows, which were immediately donned as her festive hair adornments of choice over the holiday.  She looked, as always. truly, truly scrumptious, if we might be so bold.

And, for all of us to share, there was also the most humungous bag of Cadbury Easter goodies .......

 ....... that were duly decanted into our Easter chalice of plenty, to be passed round after Easter lunch, after which, Darrell says, for him, chocolate will have to become a stranger to his lips ........ as a Greek Oddity beckons in June, as do his budgie smugglers and he doesn't want the week to turn into a Greek tragedy if they are too snug!  What on earth is he like? 

Thank you sooooooooooooo much Paula, your thoughtfulness means all the world to us, if not to Darrell's beach wear!

Bucking The Trend On Hot Cross Bun Day

As in Towers tradition, on a Good Friday, we are indulging in an elevenses with a  ample plenitude of hot cross buns, as collected from Lidl's bakery by Eric and then gently warmed in the oven and plated up by Darrell.

And..... this year we are going back to nature of a totally unfrilled type nature, with plain, honest, unadulterated buns, after being caught out too many times with the latest whim and on trend flavours, from marmite, cheese, chocolate, salted caramel, orange marmalade, to even raspberry and white chocolate, to name but a few.

There's been, in our opinion too much messing about with the humble, festive bun and we're not falling for it any more, we've gone back to basics, warmed as I said before, halved and then spread sufficiently with real life, salted butter (definitely not margarine), as simple as that.

What more could we want to start the Easter holiday off with a bang?

Proper, seasonal, comfort food, washed down with a good, strong cup of PG tips, absolutely wonderful and glorious, happy, happy days.  Sorry Mr D if such delicacies aren't available in Mexico, no doubt memories will still kick in of sticky buns you've had in the past!

We have an extra post tomorrow, Saturday, as we've been inundated with so many lovely presents this year, we haven't been able to fit everything all in!