A Most Excellent Find And Present For Lulu

Without sounding overly modest, sometimes we even astound ourselves with our "on point" charity shop shopping spottage.  

Our beloved Lulu has been musing for quite a while now whether a coffee machine in her bedroom for lazy Sunday mornings would be a good idea, saving on going downstairs to make a coffee/tea and then taking it back to bed ........

...... but such things cost money and ever prudent, she was wary of making an expensive mistake.  

However, we'd not really given it all that much thought, but the idea must still have got stuck somewhere in our communal subliminal psyche, because when Darrell and Alice were mooching in the Salvation Army shop up town, they gasped in unison when they both spied the display table, where the most perfect machine was standing proud and resplendent, marked up for the very princely sum of £6 (pat tested). Well, it was a no brainer and at that price, certainly worth a punt (the receipt kept safe, just in case).

A box of coffee pods was duly purchased (from Iceland, as the Salvation Army don't usually sell food stuffs) and excitedly and expectantly bought home.  Unfortunately, on testing, the pod drawer was well and truly jammed, but a quick flick through YouTube and the problem was quickly remedied, it was an old stuck pod, but after that, all was well!  A pertinently timed find, soooooooooo Happy Birthday Lulu ....... and if you find you don't get on with it, we'd be interested!  Happy, happy days! 

What To Do - Eric Has A Quandary

Poor Eric had a quandary yesterday, in as much as, what to do when you come across an erection of a scaffolding type nature smack bang on the pavement you were hitherto blithely walking along?

Do you just carry on, passing under it, but with your hands on your head protecting it from any possible random falling object(s) ............

......... perhaps wishing you'd worn your safety helmet ........

........ although normally absolutely unnecessary for trips into town, for a cheeky mooch!

Or, do you leave said pavement to walk a matter of yards in the road ...... but doing so backwards, so you're facing any oncoming traffic fully in the eye? 

Or, do you simply just cross the road .......

....... and then cross back again as soon as the "hazard" has been averted to continue on your journey?  Answers on a postcard please .......

Keeping Things Green

Oh my goodness, poor Derek had a spot of confusion while he was out and about with Eric the other day .....

....... for some bizarre reason on seeing this sign, his mind immediately raced to thoughts of Kermit The Frog and wondering what could have possibly gone wrong with his colour and how he could personally get him green again, while at the same time keeping him hygienic ????????

Needless to say, Eric quickly put him right as best he could, assuring Derek that this was all about promoting environmental sustainability and absolutely nothing to do with the Kermit the Frog, who was safe and sound with Miss Piggy and still very much of a green type colour.

And, yes, caterpillars, green grapes, grass and leaves and green Skittles were safe too.  Life with Derek is certainly going to be very interesting, he ponders and muses just as much as Eric, but on a whole different plain! 

Does Derek Dare?

We've quickly learned that "our" Derek has a very healthy appetite, he is the ying to Darrell's culinary yang, where seconds are now de rigueur and leftover recipes  somewhat redundant these days.

However, he isn't, in any way, greedy, simply appreciative and thankful of a meat and two veg regime with the occasional pudding, if there is one, this we've put down to his days on the road looking for his long lost "family", bless him.

So, when he saw this banner outside the local Churchill retirement complex, up the road, naturally, his curiosity was piqued as he's also very fond of eating alfresco.

He first mission was to first establish where said "patio" might be .......

...... and then ascertain whether this was a strictly by invitation event or a simply rock up as you are casual type affair? 

I've suggested that he might just about get away with it, if he was careful to stay on the periphery of things and not draw attention to himself by the amount of picnic comestibles on his plate, (less is more), but, as this was most probably an attempt at luring potential residents in (at exorbitant prices may I add), should he be pounced upon by someone official looking with a clipboard, he should apologise profusely, saying he was just passing and hadn't realised, looking around him, that he was obviously far too young to be even considered as a prospective investor, but, would tell his nan ........ and then sidle way as subtly as possible, taking his plate with him!  What are we like? 

Evesham Is Getting Another Barber Shop

You may remember, the other week, Alice pondering about what had happened to the Black Store, that was really yellow, after finding it had all been boarded up .......

...... well, yesterday, while on the school run, young Eric was able to solve the mystery for us ......

..... the Black (yellow) Store is being transformed into yet another barber shop! That will make eight in this one street alone, with Diamond Scissors being Young Master Bertie's gentleman's coiffeur de choix!

Needless to say, inside was a hive of activity, with iconic barbers chairs, cable reels and stepladders akimbo!

 According to Eric, who always takes a keen interest in such things, it wasn't exactly the neatest of work spaces ........

..... but to be honest, the only question on all our minds is what will said barbers be called once it is finished. Will it include black or yellow, or will the outside undergo a transformation too.  As and when we find out, you, naturally, will be the very first to know! 

On Friday, along with many millions of others across the country ..........

....... we received the wildfire alert from the government.

To be honest, living where we do, we had grown increasingly aware of how dry the bank must have become after so many weeks without a single drop of water and in turn, how vulnerable it and The Towers could be after such a prolonged series of heatwaves.

So, we, lead naturally, by Darrell, sprang into action, should we have to evacuate in a matter of seconds .......

....... we've packed all our absolute essential essentials (plus clean pants) and put  them right next to the front door to just grab and go if the unthinkable should, heaven forbid, happen ........

It's a truly awful thought, but you know us, we would never want to be found wanting!

Present Buyers Extraordinaire

Let's just say, we've always prided ourselves in finding the "perfect", insightful gifts for our loved ones .......

....... and Lulu's birthday is no exception, in fact, this year we think we've excelled ourselves ....

..... as a collector of the retro "Eternal Beau", she's going to be absolutely thrilled with this rare, limited edition, royal wedding plate........

........ sourced, after hours of searching and waiting for one to pop up on eBay and where, fortunately, we didn't get all consumed in a fierce bidding battle! 

What are we like?

Moving With The Times

Yesterday, Darrell decided embrace one of the new ways of doing things, entering  unknown territories of a technological type nature by ordering his lunch sat sitting at a table with his phone. Darrell will be the first to admit to being quite old fashioned about such things, much preferring the personal touch when ordering a meal, especially when wanting to ask questions about the ingredients in a certain dish etc., but realises he has to move with the times. 

I can report that the boy "dun gud", a very generous, sausage sandwich on posh bread and a mug of tea were duly delivered to said table all within about five minutes ......

....... to one very happy and satisfied bunny, with another hi tech skill under his belt, what is he like? 

United In Disappointment - Areo Milky Bar

What better way to bond than over a confectionary review ....... which came to pass after Darrell bought home a very ample block of Areo Milky Bar from Home Bargains in town, well, it was a no brainer for Eric and Derek .......

...... especially as Derek is quite the confectionary aficionado (more proof of as yet unproved kinship?).

There was a palpable and tangible excitement thronging the lounge as they perused the packaging, both proclaiming a particular fondest on the iconic Milky Bar brand ......

...... now in chunky, bubbly form, what wasn't there to like?

However, disappoint was just around the corner!  It wasn't good.  That rich, creamy, comforting, very distinctive, unique Milky Bar flavour was barely detectable, being completely overpowered by a sweetness so overwhelming that the review was over before it had even begun.

It was a sweetness that lingered, they really, really, didn't like it and Darrell, Alice and I have to agree, after dipping in too and giving our three-happnies worth. We know we all share an extraordinary sweet tooth, but this was too sweet for any of us to enjoy to its fullest.  Darrell says he'll try and make some white chocolate and raspberry muffins with what was left, which, to be honest, was quite a sizable chunk.

So, all incredibly disappointing, especially for Derek's first ever review. Sorry Areo, not a good colab!  An unfortunate and resounding nul minus one hundred points on our world famous Richter Scale of Noms!

Hmmmm, A Mystery For Us To Ponder Upon

Hmmmm, we all can't help wondering what has happened to the Black Shop (as featured here a couple of months ago) on Eric's school run, that, to be honest was actually more yellow than black, but that's by the by.

It has to be said that the shops shelves made Darrell's bounteous and at times overflowing food cupboard look as if we were planning for the second coming, being only about three inches deep and with just a handful of very cheap products on each!

Anyway, one minute it was there and now it's gone, all boarded up with no possible way in.

It's all very mysterious, we suspect, perhaps something of a nefarious type nature may have been afoot, but then, what do we know, perhaps the proprietors, seeing as it's a premises of some age are just replacing the windows and it'll be back in action touts suite after a quick word with Everest or Safestyle!

At this stage it's possibly a little too early for questions to be asked in Parliament .......

...... but as and when we find out more, be rest assured, you will be the first to know! 

Eric Finds A .......... Free Pond ......

The summer months really are the season of goodwill to all men, as it proffers up a plenitude of kerb side freebies .......

....... which is why yesterday Eric was beside himself with excitement, swiftly followed by instant regret, when he stumbled upon, no less than ........ a free pond! 

Now, if we'd actually got our own garden instead of a communal affair (that only Kata and we actually use), trust me, he'd have nabbed it ......

 ....... as he has it on very good authority that having a wild pond to swim in dans ones jardin is very much de rigueur and tres en trend at the moment!

Somehow I don't think that this would go down too well with one or two of our neighbours and I'm sorry, if I felt a frog or other such water bound creature touch me as I swam, I would almost certainly disturb the peace with my screaming like a big girls blouse, kerb side treasure or not!!

A Spur Of the Moment Splurge

It has to be said that we don't often splurge on a scratch card, but yesterday when out and about with his beloved niece and nephew, Eric suddenly had a funny sort of feeling in his water that he should chance his luck.

He said Iris could choose the type of card and then let Bertie scratch it when they go back home.

Let's just say that the excitement that thronged Snake Mountain was palpable, if not just a bit tangible to boot, as young Master Bertie rubbed away with his 10p coin. 

Then, amidst a much incredulity, checking once, twice, thrice, then four times, they found they'd won the heady sum of £4 by having two matching watches! 

There followed much debate as to how to use said winnings when Eric went to collect it. In the end they decided to put it safely in the Dawlish holiday fund .........

........ to change into two pots of 2p's at the arcade, giving Iris and Bertie £2 each, then they'd have a competition to see if anyone could increase their allotted sum by  even more!  

Oh my goodness, heaven help us all!