the race is on for the christmas number 1...

 

"Grandma, we love you, Grandma, we do..."

If you love Grandma too, then get down your local Age Concern shop and grab a copy of the innocent Big Knit choir single for yourself/your gran/the whole family.It's for charity after all.

You can see all of the behind the scenes footage when you click this link or download a copy here on iTunes.

We really want this to get to Number 1 so that we can raise as much money as possible for Age Concern and Help the Aged. So download or buy your copy NOW.

a few firsts

There have been quite a few firsts in Fruit Towers this past week or so.

Firstly, there was no cake in the kitchen for two days straight.

Then Eddie was given a tub of Baconnaise for this birthday

 
Yes. That's right. Bacon flavoured mayonnaise.

It was the first time a falafel bap from the sandwich man was livened up with some bacon spread.

You can also get bacon salt, bacon popcorn and bacon flavoured envelopes.

 

So that's three more firsts to look forward to.

And finally, Rachel made me a personalised salmon en croute for dinner.

 

No one has ever made my name out of puff pastry before and I can happily report that it was delicious.

je t'aime

This happy lady is called Claire.

 
Claire is from France but is currently studying in the UK.

Claire is looking so happy because she can now not only get her hands on every single recipe we make whenever she likes but she can also enjoy our veg pots.

She likes to eat them twice a week, on Mondays and Wednesdays.

So if you're due round for tea on either of those nights, you know what's on the menu

kevin spacey's impressions

Here's something for Friday afternoon. Our friend Ben says that Kevin Spacey is good at impressions. And it is true.

oh christmas tree, oh christmas tree...

Christmas is coming, woop woop.

Christmas cards, mince pies, fairy lights, pressies, baubles and duh duh de duh the beloved Christmas tree. The centre piece to your lounge, the twinkling lights, tinsel, the smell, candy canes, carpet covered in needles. Everybody loves a Christmas tree, decorating its teardrop shape to the sound of Bing Crosby, sipping mulled wine, trying to figure out where on earth you put the fairy from last year, chestnuts roasting on an open fire etc etc.

The Jardine family have created a wonderful and joyous video of their very own innocent tree dressing.

Well done for an amazing film, great production, acting and special effects.

remember remember the cheese of november

Back in November, Other Paul and Emilie hosted a Guy Fawkes themed Cheese Club

 

It was all inspired by this ditty

Remember, remember the Fifth of November,

The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,

I see no reason

Why the Gunpowder Treason

Should ever be forgot.

Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, t'was his intent

To blow up the King and Parli'ment.

Three-score barrels of powder below

To prove old England's overthrow;

By God's providence he was catch'd (or by God's mercy*)

With a dark lantern and burning match.

Holloa boys, holloa boys, let the bells ring. (Holla*)

Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!

And what should we do with him? Burn him!

A penny loaf to feed the Pope

A farthing o' cheese to choke him.

Apint of (Fentimans ginger) beer to rinse it down.

A fagot of sticks to burn him.

Burn him in a tub of tar.

Burn him like a blazing star.

Burn his body from his head.

Then we'll say ol' Pope is dead.

Hip hip hoorah!

Hip hip hoorah hoorah!

Okay, so it's now December, there was more than a farthing's worth of cheese, the beer was Fentimans' finest and no fagot sticks or tubs of tar were involved.

But it was still an explosive contest of cheesy conspirators worth reporting.

 

The tenuously linked cheesy contenders were:

A smoked Wensleydale from Yorkshire - Because Guy Fawkes was born in York on 13th April 1570

An aged Machego from La Mancha region of Spain - Fawkes spent ten years fighting for the Spanish Catholic cause as a soldier where he gained considerable expertise with explosives...

A Maastdam from Holland - Mr. Fawkes also spent quite a lot of his time fighting with the Spanish against the Dutch Revolt.

An English Camembert - Representing the King and all the English aristocracy that Guy and his Gunpowder Plot pals tried to blow up

A Gorgozola Picante - Ever so slightly spiced and thus a little bit fiery. Bonfire Night in a cheese basically.

 
 

Controversially yet historically accurate, it was the camembert that came out tops.

It joins the other winners in the Cheese Off 2009 which takes place next week. 

We'll let you know which cheese reigns victorious right here.

hamsters, dogs, cats and brilliant hats

We asked you what you use your hats and warmers for once purchased from le Sainsbury's.

We really have had some beauties, including babies donning warmers for head bands and grown women, yes grown women, using the little hats as ear muffs.

We really thought we had seen it all. Then these arrived.

Oh my.

Ronan the hamster looks dashing in his hat and the pink really sets off his eyes.

Smudge the cat looks irresistable in his very "en vogue" snood. Wouldn't you agree?

And, as for these two cheeky chappies or chapesses, there really are very few words to describe their wooly look.

 

Very professional modeling. Stern, rigid, alert.

You can vote for your favourite animal snap by leaving a comment to the blog, the winner will receive a case of smoothies.

Eeek/woof/meow for now.

magnets for sale

Does the fact that we've found a whole load of our kids' magnets on eBay mean that

a) they are a coveted thing, as precious in some households as the ownership of the remote control

 

Or

b) that people are swimming in them?

We're going with the former.

If you're missing a few letters, you should have a little look here

And if you want fancy bidding for the 42 magnet set picture, then you better get a wriggle on.
  

join the wave

This Saturday, a giant blue wave will hit Parliament Square at 3pm. 

  
Well actually, first it will assemble around Grosvenor Square at midday and then march through London in support of a safe climate future for all.

Ahead of the UN climate summit in Copenhagen next week, The Wave has been organised by the Stop Climate Change Coalition in support of action on climate change.


It all culminates in the big march on Saturday and tens of thousands of people are going to be there, all dressed in perhaps this link will show you more.

Go the blues.

final hat of the week

Teapots, swans, pigs and lots of bobbles - this year's Hat of the Week has been a rollercoaster ride and make no mistake.

This week marks the final week of the contest. Next week, the winners of the last few weeks will go hat-to-hat in the 2009 Hat Off where one hat will reign supreme.

Last week, Beardface whupped Monsterface by 59 votes.

So for the last HOTW 2009, here are this week's contenders.

In Cupid's Corner are the Hats of Love knitted by Tracey P of Catford.

 

And over in the the Corner of Fuzz are the Fluffies as knitted by Marian H from the Priddys Purlers of Alverstoke (and lovingly named by Gurdeep).

Okay, so there are no corners. And no wool will be pulled. And yes, there is no mini woollen ring where these hats eschew their little capes and do battle.

But despite all that, only one of these trios can win the final HOTW. Fluffies versus Lovehearts. You decide.

To vote, click here.