No Saturday Night Thunder For Eric!

I tell you what, it seems an age since Eric has spotted a wrestling poster adorning any available empty space it's possible to plaster a flyer to in Evesham!

I suppose, in a way, it's quite reassuring and comforting to know that as sure as eggs is eggs, the circle of life is still turning and after a short break, the ring has returned for a new season of fevered bouts! 

However, it has to be said that this current poster seems to be lacking an awful lot of its usual characters, Mr Topham Hat is still very much in evidence, but the other gentleman appears to be a rather characterless stranger, unless Eric is mistaken (though he very rarely is in such matters of keen observation).  Perhaps he simply hasn't found the right persona just yet or a costume to match or fit?

As for the "Debut of the Duchess", well, we only really know one Duchess over in California, but we doubt very much that this is her thing ...... "prize" or no! 

Needless to say, with such short notice Eric will not be in attendance, although he says it's the posters rather than the actual entertainment that really capture his interest. However, our beloved and tres delicate niece does have a deep seated and enthusiastic interest in the sport (inherited, no doubt, from her father TtS)  and as such has secured her seat for the AEW Wrestling at Wembley in the summer. Whether Eric will be able to slip in with her is debateable, however, he'll certainly be on hand, as he was last year, to help her make a banner to wave in the crowd. heaven help us ............ what is she like? 

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!

Festive Easter Tranklements A-Plenty Despite Our Reining In A Little!

This year, Chez Towers, as we've said before, isn't going the whole, full hog in regards to our Easter décor ......

........ but, it would still look very remiss and incredibly rude not to make some effort to make the Easter Bunny feel at home, when he, hopefully, comes calling to drop of a few choice, chocolate eggs for us, fingers crossed .......

........ soooooooo, the ever fragrant one and Eric have been doing a bit of crafting to help deck the halls, where it would appear that the humble carrot has become somewhat of our festive "love language". 

Never before have a bunch of faux, aforesaid carrots been so artistically arranged, after much creative and festive debate and despite Eric, at one point, becoming alarmingly stuck to the table, but the end results, after passing Darrell's strict and stringent, eye for detail was declared "tres par excellence and a triumphant triumph of root vegetable form!???

Then continuing the theme, just before the hour goes forward on 29th, we're embracing the evenings in the full glow of the carrot candles Eric found in Home Bargains (99p reduced from £1.49), which were obviously duly purchased.

I have to admit they are really different and certainly evoke the spirit of Easter, plus a couple of other things!  

And finally, where would Easter be without a gay abundance of fresh cut daffodils and tulips .......

..... especially when displayed so beautifully in Darrell's prized, charity shop, tulip vase. When he picked it up he was over the moon, knowing exactly what it was, as one of his long felt wants, with an very envious lady remarking how unusual it was, if he'd seen it a second or two later he's pretty sure she'd have easily nabbed it before him!

Anyway, we think we're pretty Easter ready now ....... so all that's left to say is bring on those warmed hot cross buns!

Eric Spends His Pocket Money ....... Again!!!

Remember the other day when I mentioned that young Eric was pondering ways of taking full advantage of our large puddle, what is under the bridge, up the road?

Well, let's just say he sorted out all his small change in neat piles to make sure he had enough and then put in an online order ......

Let me tell you, the tension and excitement dans Les Towers while he waited for his delivery was both unbelievably palpable and tangible, in equal measures.  

We all thought he might be in danger of bursting, even though we didn't actually have a clue as to what he'd ordered.

And then, when it arrived, I just don't know how we hadn't guessed what he was up to ...... he'd only gone and got himself a dingy!  Unfortunately, he'd forgotten to order any oars, so for now he is using his extra long arms to help propel himself  through the water, what is he like?

It goes without saying that he's extremely chuffed with himself, saying that although he doesn't want to wish his life away, he can't wait for the hot summer days when he'll have hours of paddling enjoyment in the shade, lying resplendent before him ........

....... adding that the bridge itself also gives a very satisfying echo when he feels compelled to whoop in delight! Heaven help us all.  I suppose I should just be grateful that he didn't order himself a jet ski or an aqualung!!!!!  Oh lordie, what have I gone and said now!???

We Accept The Malteser Mini Bunny Challenge.

We are soooooooooo glad we didn't launch with rambunctious, festive abandon into our milk chocolate Malteser Mini Bunnies sent last week from our beloved Pharmacy Michelle ........

...... because she's sent us yet another wonderful package ........

...... containing a copy of  her local freebie, "Make The Most of Sefton" (more of that in another post) for our delectation PLUS two new packets of mini bunnies, in the guise of white chocolate, that boast of being "full of crunchy, creamy delight".........

..... and the other of a popcorn type flavour, nom, nom, nom, nom, nom!

The gauntlet has been well and truly thrown down and we willingly accept the challenge for the honour of Chez Towers. We'll "taste test" all three varieties, to compare, contrast, review and finally score each one on our world famous Richter Scale of Noms.  Well, it would be rude not to, wouldn't it?

However, in order to do this fairly, under stringent, scientific conditions, we've decided to do it a week or so after the big day, in order to allow our palates to cleanse professionally, especially after, hopefully, a Bank Holiday of full bodied and robust chocolate overload! But yes, Pharmacy Michelle, we are well up to the challenge!