A Subliminal Message From Eric's Spirit Animal???

At the very start of February, the month best known for love, with Valentines Day slap bang in the middle, it seemed only natural for Eric to just happen upon this little beauty, up at the Relate shop in the run up to the big day ....... 

.... to wit a hedgehog on a heart shaped dish, an unusual representation of love perhaps, but not entirely a surprise for Eric, "It was", he said, "...more of a message of a subliminal type nature." reflecting his affinity with such creatures!!  What is he like?  

However, at £4.50 it was a little steep for his wallet, so no considered purchase was made on this occasion! 

Totally Brahms .......

 Another new year, another banner and another choice concert to muse ......

...... and ponder whether it would be something that our beloved Mr D, over in the exotic climes of Mexico, might purchase tickets for, to embrace the multiple talents of three renowned musicians, if, of course, he was passing this way!

The ever fragrant Alice, as is always her want, took all said banner in .......

....... and then tilted her head coquettishly to her shoulder, fluttering her impossibly long eyelashes  .........

..... and demurely wondered aloud whether there might also be a little Liszt included, as the two seemed to be, at times, so intrinsically linked!  What on earth is she like? 

Not So Creepy Crypt

Before travelling home from his little sorjourn dans Londres, Eric thought he might just like to light a candle in St Paul's .......

..... however, unfortunately, he didn't realise that you had to book for a quick gander or that there would actually be a full choral service in full swing going on .......

...... so, to be honest, he thought that would be it ......

...... until he spotted a small side door with stairs leading down to the enticing and romantic sounding Crypt Cafe .....

..... and well, it would have been rude not to explore the one of the iconic cathedral's inner most sanctums, wouldn't it? 

It goes without saying that this little detour did not disappoint!

With a pot of tea and a very ample slice of cherry Bakewell duly purchased and partaken with a certain amount of delicacy in such august surroundings  ...... 

....... while the heavenly sound of a full blown celestial choir, donned, no doubt, in full cassock and impossibly starched, ruffled collars, gently drifted from above, through the Cathedral's hallowed walls and vaulted ceilings  .......

 

..... which was all totally unexpected and quite surreal. It was, Eric said afterwards "A very beautiful and moving experience", one, he'll never forget, as he doubted very much, that he'd ever take tea again in such an unexpected "secret" type place, totally off the tourist grid, deciding that it had to be one of the great city's hidden charms.

He may not have lit his candle or seen the old bird woman ........ 

..... but the memory of all that beautiful wafting, crescendo-ing up and down music and said wonderfully delicious, moist tart, would probably have a much longer lasting effect on his spirit and soul than anything else St Paul's had to offer him!  What? What on earth is he like? 

Eyes On The Gherkin, But Not Of The Pickled Variety!

On leaving the Walkie Talkie Sky Garden, Eric couldn't help but take one last lingering look up at where he'd just been ..........

......... so many miles up in the sky and thinking of all those "tiny" people still up there, embracing and drinking in all it's charms as he had done.  It had been quite an experience, despite not taking as many pictures as he'd have liked.

....... and then, as he rounded the corner ......

...... he spotted yet another iconic building on the London skyline, one that he's pretty sure he'd seen with our beloved Sir Lord Baron Alan Sugar posing in front of one of it's impressive windows at the start of one series of The Apprentice.

Within seconds, the little fella was smitten with the thought of another new quest, to scale the Gherkin's heights as he's done The Shard and The Sky Garden, however, there is one small snag, there isn't a viewing platform dans le Gherkin, only a pretty expensive bar and restaurant ......

But, with our motto for 2026 being "never say never" ....... never say never, you just never know! 

On Top Of The World ......

So, today you find Eric waxing lyrical, using a little artistic licence, in the form of an apt Carpenters song ........

I quote, "Such a feeling's coming over me, there is wonder in most everything I see, not a cloud in the sky, got the sun in my eyes and I won't be surprised if it's a dream......

..... Everything I want the world to be, is now coming true especially for me and the reason is clear, it's because Lulu is here, she's the best thing to heaven that I've seen!"

So, there's nothing quite like a cheeky, impromptu trip to London to end the first month of 2026 with a bang, especially when it's Lulu who's doing the asking .......

..... scratching an unfettered itch of a long felt want by taking a cheeky, impromptu and totally unrehearsed trip up the Walkie Talkie building in London, to wit The Sky Garden.

Let's just say it was "emotional", so emotional, that for some bizarre reason all the pictures of the actual garden part have just disappeared, goodness only knows where they've gone to, but as Eric so sagely put it, the memories will always be in his head!

However, despite this hiccough (questions may need to be asked in parliament as to their whereabouts), Eric said it was too wonderful for words, to be in such exotic lush and leafy climes, hundreds of meters up in the air, while experiencing your very first Matcha Latte was a beyond words, even if he wasn't that keen on the rather earthy tasting drink, it was still part of life's rich tapestry. 

Last year Eric and Lu went up The Shard (another long felt want), however it dulls in comparison to The Sky Garden. To start with The Shard cost a bomb, where this experience was totally free (although you must book ahead) and where they felt constricted in the Shard, especially with so few seats, in the Sky Garden they could lounge leisurely on huge sofas to chill without the feeling of being rushed or take time to walk up through the palms and other botanicals  along the terraces.

In Eric's words it was soooooooooooo well worth the experience when being "On top of the world, looking down on creation!" What on earth is he like?

Late Tales Of Dunedin - One American Dream Too Far For Alice ......

Eric and Alice had put a flea market and/or a cheeky, real life garage sale or two on their list of "would like to dos" on their all American Bucket List, but as time went on and without local knowledge, they soon came to reason that they may not have been meant to be .....

..... however, while they were at Clearwater Beach an opportunity neither of them had actually thought would unveil itself, did ...... much to poor Alice's disquiet, to wit Dumpster Diving!!!! 

As they were walking from said beach, between hotels, Eric's interest was piqued when he noticed a gentleman coming from one of the hotels and throw what looked like a couple of quite nice looking cushions into an aforementioned dumpster.

Well, Eric reasoned, it would have been rude not to have a look wouldn't it? I believe, it took all of Alice's potent, womanly wiles to persuade Eric that, much as he'd oft mentioned his curiosity for dumpster diving in the past, perhaps it wasn't such a good idea while they were in foreign climes. What if, once in, he couldn't get himself back out? What it he got buried in an avalanche of discarded hotel detritus? What if she couldn't manage to pull him out herself? What if no one heard her plaintiff cries for help?  

In the end, Eric came to his senses, no matter how tempting the urge to put another tick on his American Wish List was, he couldn't put the ever fragrant Alice through the angst and anguish of even the tiniest dive. If he'd been on his own, well, that would have been an entirely different kettle of fish, he'd have probably been in there like Flynn!!!!!  What is he like?  

Mudeford Gets Interesting

As you know, whenever we're in Christchurch,  a trip to Mudeford Quay and the beach are tres de rigueur ..... 

...... and Christmas 2025 was no different, but on this occasion no seaside souvenirs were purchased, although very much admired ........

 ... however, there were some very interesting developments amongst the beach huts .....

 ...... to wit, two Saltwater saunas of a Nordic type nature  ......

..... with a choice of communal, private and guided form!  How totally romantic is that?

Although the thought of a thermal leaf whisking in super warm climes on such a cold winters day was tempting, the optional plunge in the freezing sea, no matter how bracing and invigorating afterwards, perhaps not so, even for Eric, who's usually open to most "life" experiences ....... but never say never!

Alice was quite taken by it all too ....... perhaps a little more by the very luxurious caravans adjacent the beach ....... 

...... taking careful note of the contact details she spotted.

Actually, we have stayed there before on Sun £9.50 holidays in 2010 and 2011 (when we were upgraded to the Penthouse Suite in 2011), however, I think things may have changed quite a bit since those heady days .......

 .... especially as I think it might cost us as much, if not more than a Greek Odyssey these days to stay ....... but you never know!

Tasting Saltwater Taffy For The First Time

As you know, Eric and Alice had a very wonderful day by the sea at John's Pass/ Maderia Beach on their American Adventure, finally seeing real life dolphins frolicking from the broadwalk, collecting shells and finding, not one but two holey stones, on the beach .........

........ AND visiting Zeno's World Famous Taffy Shop, where a considered pick and mix purchase was duly made.

We had thought that temptation might have gotten the better of Eric and that we'd "enjoy" said confectionary vicariously via Eric's vivid descriptions, however, Alice, it seems, had managed to persuade Eric to put a few aside to bring home for our delectation, bless her.

So, this morning, Darrell and I sat down to sample one or two and then put the rest in, what Darrell likes to call our bon bon dish.  To start with, we just couldn't get our head round the bewildering variety of flavours, can you believe that there are one hundred, ranging from Apple Pie A La Mode, Creamiscle, Egg Nog to S'mores and Watermelon, to name but a few!

To be honest  though Eric also brought back the menu card as a treasured souvenir, we just went for it, as some of the colours were subtle and very similar 

We very much liked the lemon meringue, as it was very, very lemony and the vanilla was a triumph. We did hope to find a pickle or a maple bacon, but either they didn't appeal to Eric when he was making his choices or he'd already availed himself of them!

Our overall impression is that we liked them, they were light (very much softer and lighter in texture than, say, a Chewit or Maoam) which was very pleasing, as they didn't stick to our teeth quite as much as the aforementioned, thus our fillings felt a little safer in the chowing down.  

We cannot fault the flavours, but as not too greater fans of sweets of a chewy type disposition, other than a cheeky Walkers banana split or mint éclair toffee, we relished yet another new, comestible experience, but, to be honest, we shan't be sending Eric back over the Atlantic hankering for more, enough, to quote Mary Poppins, is as good as a feast!  But, Alice and Eric, as they say when someone gets fired on The Apprentice, "Thank you for the opportunity"!

An Artifact Conundrum?

We've been trying to have a bit of a no spend January, so we've all been avoid as much consumable temptation as possible, even that of a sustainable type nature ......

...... but yesterday, being twenty one days in, Eric thought he would just have a mooch, saying that he felt he was "safe" as his resolve was strong and fully committed .....

...... and yes, those pesky hedgehogs were out, loud and proud, beckoning him! he reckoned he must have found at least one choice item in every charity shop he availed himself of.

....... but true to his conviction, no considered purchase was made!

He said he saw nothing that he wouldn't have been happy to leave behind, so well done that young man. He did say he spotted something that made him sort of think of our beloved follower Mr D in romantic Mexico, as it was obviously from exotic foreign climes, if not quite the aforementioned Mexico.

When Darrell identified it later, as, in fact, Ecuadorian .......

..... undeterred, Eric said that as Mr D was very widely travelled and knowledgeable, he'd probably visited or knew something interesting and intellectual about the country of origin from whence the plate came, so he was therefore justified in his initial associative reaction to it.  What on earth is he like??????