Eric Tries A Bit Of Reverse Psychology

With Eric feeling that there's a hedgehog waiting for him round every corner metrologically speaking and valiantly fighting off any compulsive urges of a considered purchase type nature that might threaten to overwhelm him ......

...... yesterday, the little fella decided to try a little reverse psychology, in thinking that if he did perchance "acquire" a hedgehog (or two in this instance, in the guise of a salt and pepper set), it might help break the "prickly spell" he's been under for quite a while now. So, £1 was duly spent and said cruet bought home where he prayed it would pass Darrell's exacting scrutiny as an aptly seasonal addition to our autumnal table setting!  It did, but only just! 

To be honest, I'm not that sure this approach will help spiky Eric's predicament, but who knows! However, it could have been a much worse predicament for the ever patient Darrell, if Eric had found himself haunted by clowns ........

......... as this prime specimen (£3 and still working) could have possibly proved to be the one considered purchase that sent him over the edge!!! 

Too Much Of A Temptation For Some!

The ever fragrant Alice says that whenever she's out and about on her own and she happens upon an "interesting" looking skip, she's always quite glad that Eric (much as she absolutely adores him and his company) isn't with her.

She's perfectly fine with skips that have been filled with rubble or garden waste etc., but, if like yesterday, there's one where a few "useful" looking things are being  chucked out, she knows the little fella just wouldn't be able to hold himself back from having a good, old nosey ...... 

....... and if there was anything of a tempting type nature, he'd be knocking on the door (because he knows it's illegal, re: Theft Act of 1968, to take anything from a skip) and asking, very politely, if he could possibly have it!

Alice said she just knew that the flower pots and box of wallpaper, not to mention a few choice items within, would have Eric itching and champing at the bit with visions as to what he could do with them! She knows him sooooooooo well and yes, on this occasion, we're very happy that she was alone too!

Don't Tell Darrell .....

It would seem that after at least three years of being left empty and abandoned .......

....... our much lamented, late, great Aldi store that was a lifeline during lockdown and always our final port of call on our way home, for the odd comestible or two that we didn't really want to haul through town .......

 ....... has finally been repurposed ......

...... into a lockup type facility.

Now, Eric and I are not going to say anything to Darrell, although it's only a matter of time before he too stumbles upon it himself on his travels ........

As we know the first thing he will do is phone up to see how much it would cost him per month to store his much treasured, carefully curated Easter, Halloween and Christmas decor, giving him the perfect excuse to collect even more!  Heaven help us all! Let's just hope our usually stringent budget isn't flexible or viable enough to accommodate such an extra expense in this instance .......

A Taste Of Spain - Cornetti Croccanti

With a carefree afternoon stretching ahead of us, I decided to treat the ever fragrant Alice and Eric to a taste of Spain ......

.... to wit the Cornetti Croccanti Darrell and I bought back from our Viva Espania Experience ........

...... pistachio being the viral taste trend of the moment, even though we've actually been truly obsessed by the flavour for years!

I think said treats may have got a little warm in the travelling, however fortuitously, it did not aversely spoil any of our enjoyment.

Anyway, let's just say, they did not disappoint ......

..... with their ample filling and crispy, nutty covered cornet wafer......

They went down very easily (perhaps too) and were extremely morish, yes sir, we wanted more  .........

 ........ soooooooo, my only regret was that we didn't bring a few (a dozen or so) more packets back home with us for high days, holidays and other such celebrations! Hmmmmm, perhaps a perfect excuse to return to Spain?

Dr Bacon?

Oh my goodness, following on from Friday, Eric had really thought that the Friend of Hedgehog's latest work of art was complete, but how wrong he was ......

 

....... as was discovered by the ever fragrant Alice first thing this morning ......

 

..... when it would seem that the F of H had returned to the scene of his deeds to add some more .......

..... to wit a rather rotund, upright pig, signed Dr Bacon!

Needless to say, a text message was duly sent to Eric to get up there quick.........

..... and view this latest addition ........

...... and wonder if the artist had looked round for his "missing" tin of "dove" paint upon said return, but finding it gone had to make do with something else from his arsenal of colours. Unless he/she/they knows where to claim it back from, I guess we'll never know, but perhaps Darrell had better not use it for a while yet, just in case! What is everyone like?

Possession Is Nine-Tenths Of The Law?

Just as we thought that it had been a bit tooooooooo quiet under "our" bridge .......

 ...... the "friend(s)" of Hedgehog have struck again, as Eric discovered on his way back from the school run!

To be honest, it's no huge surprise, as we'd thought something might be afoot for a a while now, as the wall appeared to have been primed with a greyish paint in some sort of artistic preparation .......

..... so obviously our hunch was right!

In Eric's, now, expert opinion, this is one of the artist's best efforts, however, he isn't too keen on the other, new, accompanying initials, veering from the usual IKH (I Know Hedgehog), which currently don't make sense.

Are those reverse J's perhaps?  

It's yet another code to keep the little fella occupied, pondering and musing upon on said school run I suppose.

But, there was more, as the artist left one of his tools of the trade behind, to wit a paint can, which Eric was initially going to pop in the near-by bin, however as he picked it up, it felt as if it was almost full, so, as he knew that there are strict rules for the safe disposal of paint, he bought it back home with him.

Well, it would be rude and uncitizen-like not to, especially as Rust-Oleum isn't the cheapest of paints to start with (£22.00) and in a shade of "Dove", might come in useful for one of Darrell's projects, IF, not claimed within three months! So if anyone knows the Friend(s) of Hedgehog, we'll be glad to return it! What are we like?

Putting Up A Tent Dans Le Jardin ...... It Was Emotional

When you find a brand new, two man tent in the Salvation Army shop in Evesham for just £8, it would have been rude not to, especially with the school holidays now upon us.

I've Got A Lovely Box Of ..........

 Now that's what ........

...... we would call .......

..... a very substantial box of most mahoosive watermelons ......

...... but, unfortunately a tad too big for the diminutive, but ever willing Eric to pick up and bring home on his way back from the school run. Any much considered purchase would have to be of a highly organised and well regimented group effort of a rolling type nature me thinks!  

I'll Name That Tune In .......

 More street music as casually stumbled upon by Eric on his many travels ........

....... this time from the main throughfare of Birmingham city centre.  We've kept it short, as it's 20 seconds you'll never see again ...... answers, as to the name of the tune, on a postcard, addressed to The Towers please! 

"Our" Bridge Has New Railings ........

Following on from last weeks latest bridge development, we now have an update as relayed by the watchful and ever vigilant Sir Eric.

At first a row of stabilized, red, rather battered and bent, barriers was put up along the ledge between the road and the footpath  .......

..... which had the little fella proclaiming that they offered very little protection to man, beast or hedgehog .....

..... when considering the size of the heavily laden lorries that thunder beneath and betwixt, as if there's no tomorrow, particularly first thing in the morning.

However, a couple of days later there was a further erection, this time, following a very thorough inspection by Eric, (to be honest, I surprised he didn't get his clipboard out)  .......

...... which he deemed to be a far more robust affair than the previous incumbent  .......

 ...... painted a bright, bright yellow, that the aforementioned lorries surely could not miss .......

...... thus offering, once again, safe passage to all pedestrians, cyclists and the odd horse/rider combo, happy days all round! 

Who Ever Knew There Was Such A Thing .......

As you may or may not know, the ever fragrant Alice is very partial to the odd mini Calippo when the weather gets hot, to help her keep cool and sufficiently hydrated.........

......  especially as a lady of such gentility and decorum, she would be absolutely mortified to find herself flush of face and sweaty of brow or top lip. 

However, Darrell, bless him, had been worrying that her delicate little hands might be in danger of getting frostbitten, taking in her frequent trips to the freezer drawer of late .......

...... so he's bought her a little present from Temu to save her beautiful, petite, digits .......

........ in the guise of, wait for it, a insulated lolly holder ......

Needless to say, Alice was absolutely thrilled with her gift, she can now suck and slurp whenever the whim or soaring temperature takes her, in a totally refined and ladylike manner, without the fear of any harm befalling her fingers. 

Who, knew there were such things?

Oh Dear ......

There's not a lot been happening under "our" bridge for quite a while now with, thankfully, the goings on with Friends of Hedgehog in abatement, however, there has been a development of another kind as spotted by Eric yesterday afternoon .....

..... and, to be honest, none of us were the least bit surprised ........

 ..... considering the size of the heavily laden lorries that pass under it each day .....

........ it really was an accident waiting to happen.

It seems that one of said lorries has totally demolished the newly painted railings beneath, that protect us pedestrians, as it leads, apart from the scrapyard to a public bridleway and footpath!  Zut alors et quelle horreur as they would say in la belle France.

Questions may need to be asked in Parliament if it's a slow political debate sort day.

As and when there are any further developments, you, naturally, will be the very first to know!