Almost Over Before It's Begun

Poor Eric, no sooner has "our" scaffolding gone up, than it was time to bring it all down again .......

..... so, as you can imagine, the mood Chez Towers has been a tad on the more sombre side today.

The little fella has been in and out, front and back since the work on our roof began and in that short time he's got to know Shane and Richard quite well, checking on their progress and listening to their romantic tales of crumbling cement that was just like sand and it's heroic replacement!

On Friday, before they left for the weekend, it'd taken him all his courage to pluck up and ask if he could possibly go up there with them, "just for five minutes" to see what it was like to work up in the skies, without the aid of oxygen or crampons ..... if he promised to wear his safety helmet and followed every hallowed instruction they gave him to the letter.

Unfortunately, they had to let him down as gently as they could as I think they've also grown very fond of him. Perhaps the packs of Hob Nobs and Wagon Wheels left at the bottom of their ladder each morning, before they arrived on site, may have had something to do with it, but sadly the answer had to be no, as neither he or they were insured for such a visit and if anything should go wrong ........... it doesn't bear thinking about. So on terra firma he has had to remain.  

This afternoon we're going to try and distract him as best we can, as we fear the sound of clanking vertical posts, braces, putlogs, transoms and toe boards might be more than poor Eric can manage ...... let alone the final goodbye!  It's been a wonderful few days, but more roofs await, at least we and especially Eric have had the pleasure of watching it all and can sleep soundly at night now knowing our roof is safe for the next few years, through storm and high water!!!  What are we like?

Following On .....

Following on from yesterdays unbridled excitement, this morning Eric was sadly not greeted by the small lorry of yore, but only the roofers actual, real life van .......

..... parked right in front of his bedroom window, which, he said, was a unbelievable honour for him.

And, while yesterday all the action was at the front of the building ........

 ...... this today it was all going on at the back, with another magnificent erection to the side of our lovely neighbour Kata's flat, another honour in Eric's eyes. He said he could only have most abject of admiration for the two gentleman aloft and on high, as it takes a brave man to venture up such scaffolding when anchored on ground as uneven and boggy as our communal back garden.  Trust us it's squelchy, very, very squelchy and soooooooo close the river bank ...... it just doesn't bear thinking about.

Needless to say, mugs of hot tea or coffee and a chocolate Hob Nob or two were proffered, almost beggingly, but politely refused as they said, they'd got a flask up there with them and anyway it was a long way down for them to collect it.  It was obvious that Eric would then offer to take it up for them, but again such a kind gesture had to be turned down because of a whole raft of health and safety regulations.

After that, the only thing that he was able to do for them was to leave the back door open, so that they could to get to their van more easily, as it's quite a trek to go round from the back to the front.  We think they'll be finished by tomorrow and then said scaffolding will come down ........ accompanied by much sighing and some quiet reflection no doubt from poor old Eric, this has been the most exciting thing to happen Chez Towers in an awfully long time, since the police raid on a flat that shall remain nameless!

Heaven Help Us All

Well, who wouldn't be absolutely in thrall when greeted by a small lorry type vehicle positively heaving with scaffolding (perhaps a slight exaggeration, but that's how it looked to young Eric) on their doorstep first thing of a morning?

And, what's more, it hadn't merely taken a wrong turn into our estate, ending up at the bottom, in our parking area by mistake, as oft happens ......

..... this lorry and it's accompanying clanking poles, planks and complicated fittings was meant for us.  We'd had an email a few weeks ago saying that work had to be done to the brickwork right at the top of the building and Darrell and I had sort of forgotten to mention it to Eric, knowing the excitement it would create!

To Eric the ensuing preparation work resulted in the most magnificent erection he'd ever seen, I might beg to differ, but what do I know? So long as it's safe and sturdy I'm happy to let them just get on.

Eric had to admit to being a trifle jealous of the people living in the flat where a plank had been put right in front of their windows, that would have been just too romantic for words for him. He said he'd be able to proffer hot steaming mugs of tea through one of the said windows, until I pointed out that as the windows open outwards that might not be such a good idea.

It goes without saying that the little fella is now frantically searching for his safety helmet and fluorescent waistcoat from our days at the Girls High School, when there was much building work going on, but hopefully, this job won't take that long, just a few missing tiles and a crack or two to fill, as far as we are aware. However, thank goodness Eric has the school run in the afternoons, so pester power and offers to hold the ladder or bring up some fresh grout will hopefully be kept to a minimum, but should there are any further developments, you, of course will be the first to know. 

Corduroy Crisps

This week, for our televisual snack of choice during our evenings of companionable TV viewing, we have mostly been partaking in ridge cut crips, which Eric calls "corduroy crisps" .........

.... due to their distinct "raised ridges (or wales) running lengthways", - many thanks to ChatGPT for this succinct description, when finding the right words failed me on this occasion.

We've gone all devil may care, as we've opted for McCoys, cheese and onion flavour, we all agreed to eat them together as a group, otherwise they can be a bit anti-social breath wise. 

We wouldn't want to make things unpleasant for any one one of us if they choose a less pungent flavour crisp, so as we all very much like the aforesaid cheese and onion, we always elect to eat our packets as a group, that way none of us notices each others honking breath, if that makes any sense? 

I know ....... what on earth are we like, if not considerate to others!!!!!!

How Could We Have Forgotten...... We've Got A Disco Inferno Loo!

We've been sooooooo unbelievably remiss, I can't believe it, we've all got so acclimatised and used to it being there that we've totally forgotten to show you Eric's best (in his opinion) Christmas present ever .......

...... to wit his disco loo attachment! I know, good grief and all that, but as I said we've got so used to it we barely notice it now!

It's motion sensitive (???!!!!), so only comes on when someone enters the bathroom, Darrell, it has to be said, isn't quite sure if it really fits his carefully curated interior design ethic, but I know he has the occasional bop when he's in there!

I hasten to add that music is not included, we just turned Darrell's phone up as far as it would go to add a little ambience while we were filming. What are we like?

Well, Hello Dolly!

Among all the treasures Eric and the ever fragrant Alice bought back from their American adventure was a pack of Dolly Parton's chocolate chip cookie mix ..........

..... it's been a bit of a busy time since then, so the pack remained unopened until Darrell found it again, exactly where he'd put it, in his baking cupboard ......

 ...... and well, it would have been rude not to finally try them out, especially on a day when we didn't have much going on chez Towers.

Sooooooo, they were duly made and baked by a very eager trio, Darrell, Alice and Eric. Let's just say, when in the oven the cookies spread a lot more than they had expected, as well as cooking a lot faster too, catching them all by surprise and perhaps browning a little more than they were supposed to. Darrell did say it might have been a slightly different outcome had he not had quite so much help, a case of too many cooks .......

...... but, on the plus side, it was a wonderful bonding experience!

That being said, once the cookies had cooled, they didn't stand a chance of lasting very long, which accounts for there not being an opportunity to do one of our usual insightful reviews.......

..... however, we all agreed to a man that Miss Parton does produce (if not make) exceeding good cookies and certainly doesn't hold back when it comes to her chocolate chips!

It's therefore most fortuitous that Eric and Alice availed themselves of not one but two packets of Dolly's cookies, so we also have Sugar Cookies to make and bake and review, we're thinking around Easter time? We shall see.......  

Addressing The Potential Elephant In The Room

Poor Eric, has been alerted to the ongoing, shocking, though not totally unexpected news re: a former prince, now only known as a Mr!

Having met the ex royal in person, at a Garden Party in the grounds of Buckingham Palace, partaking in polite conversation and warmly shaking said man's hand at their parting ....... in real life ....... back in May 2013, he (Eric not the Mr) is currently and understandably laying low and maintaining an extremely dignified silence.  

Only picture of Eric preparing for said meeting remaining 

Fortunately, all photos of said meeting disappeared through a tragic, but perhaps in hindsight, fortuitous deleting of several albums of thousands of blogged pictures on Google Photos some years ago.  

Eric's suit worn with happier memories of his beloved nephews  

school "Afternoon Tea" event

Needless to say Eric's best suit, has understandably been sent to the cleaners!

Your understanding at this most significant of times is greatly appreciated.

Mum's Monkey: Nigel’s VERY Special Day

Might As Well Leave Them Up All Year Then .......

Now, as UK tradition has it, if you so desire, it's perfectly permissible to keep your Christmas decorations up until Candlemas, to wit 2nd February ......

..... however, though we've reached the landmark (?) date of 19th February, past the aforesaid Candlemas, Valentines Day, Pancake Day and currently being in the midst of half term.......

........ it seems that there is one flat balcony on Eric's school run that doesn't seem to want to let go of the reins re: the festive season, even now!

It does still look rather lovely (lights added to inject a little extra atmosphere,  arouse emotion ....... and because our lady what does, has just learnt how to ........

...... perhaps the people within are simply hoping for a second coming of the big man himself? OMG, can you imagine the kerfuffle it would cause if that ever happened and we missed it Chez Towers?

However, I think such an event is highly unlikely, In which case, the little fella mused, if it's a mere oversight or life just got a little hectic, after all this time, they  might as well leave it all up for the rest of the year, especially when it never fails brighten Eric's day whenever he goes past, evoking wonderful memories of Christmases past, present and to come!  What is he (and they) like? 

A Truly Wonderous Magazine To Behold - to Wit, "Chippy Chat"

Oh my goodness, young Eric bought home a doozy of a magazine for our perusal after collecting our kebab tea from Rainbow Chippy the other night ......

......... well, it would have been rude not to!

Who would have thought that behind the scenes of the humble fish and chip shop it's all going on .......

....... judging by the riveting article headlines ......

...... to finding out that there are estate agents who specialise solely in the sale of said fried comestible establishments, with prices ranging from £65,000, up to £320,000, who knew?

I have to admit that Darrell and I were held in abject thrall as we studied each and every page, from Pukka pies, being the nations No. 1 pie brand to the launch of a new curry dip from Goldfish.

There are chip shop award ceremonies, grand, star studded balls, exhibitions and shows and don't even get Darrell started on the range of oils, containers and vinegar substitutes advertised!

Let's just say our eyes and minds were well and truly opened to the erstwhile unknown.  Trust us when we say, to quote Disney's Aladdin,  it's "......a whole new world", about which we were absolutely total strangers to until now, except for the eating of that is! 

We wouldn't exactly describe it as a truly romantic sphere of work, the fatty aroma with a sprinkling of vinegar sort of let's it down, but we're now tres au fait with a McWhinney's Sausage and Friars Pride, not to mention the world of possibilities of a Lady Jane potato ........ and 5th June this year being National Fish and Chip Day ...... of which, now thoroughly enlightened, we intend to fully celebrate.  What are we like?

Pancake Day, Shrove Tuesday 2026

How can it be Pancake Day already, it was only Valentines Day at the weekend while it still felt as if we'd only just got over Christmas, even though Easter eggs have been in the shops since Boxing Day!

This year there has been a little debate as to which way we should go pancake wise, the good old tradition pancake, Scotch pancakes like last year, American buttermilk, crepes or the smaller, dumpy, Dutch pancake bite type variety ......

In the end we opted for buttermilk with maple syrup, but strictly no bacon, in homage to Eric and Alice's American Adventure before Christmas  ...........

 

...... with Darrell once more at the helm, just about keeping up with the demand, as we seemed to eat them faster than he could make them. 

However, he took it all in good grace, saying that it was a wonderful sign of appreciation, but begged us to leave at least three or four for the chef before the batter ran out!

Happy, tum filled days.  Happy Pancake Day!

A Day of Love, Gratitude And Appreciation - Valentines Day 2026 ...... And Eric As You've Never Seen Him Before!!!!

Well, we had a very lovely and generally understated Valentines Day on Saturday, a day chez Les Towers, when we showed our love and appreciation for those we live with, but without all the slushy, red roses, mushy stuff! 

However, there were naturally flowers for the ever fragrant Alice, as she is our very own precious, little flower, who we all love very much as the sister none of us ever had.

For Eric who fills our lives with so much laughter, musings and of course love, there were obviously a few choice packets of Love Hearts, the undisputed national sweet of the foresaid day and confectionary de jour! 

As always, there was much appreciation, gratitude and love shown to our beloved Darrel, who never fails to keep us organised, not to mention extremely well fed .....

..... for him there was an evening off from the kitchen, as Eric and Alice had got some pizzas in, adding that they would also "prepare and cook them", well, unwrap and pop them in the oven, but still a wonderful treat and very lovely they were too (meat feast, ham and pineapple, sweet chilli chicken and hot dog), crisped to perfection.

As for me? I'm just happy when everyone else is happy, but bless them, there was a mug of my favourite Kruger chai latte accompanied with packet of my biscuits of choice, to wit chocolate covered Malted Milk to dunk for my elevenses on the side. 

It was all very emotional as you might imagine, but the undoubted highlight just had to be Eric having fun with a toy he found, left over from our Christmas festivities .....

...... you've never seen Eric like this before ....... it's an absolute first for our blog after all these years of posting all of our adventures!!!!  It's a game changer, although we can only do 5 seconds at the moment!

At the end of the day, blowpipe and ball safely put away, we gathered on the sofa with a variety of seasonal confectionary befitting the day, to watch Gladiators and Masked Singer ............. and it just don't get any better than that!  Happy days!