Tunnocks

Back in the nineties, when I first discovered Tunnocks Caramel Wafers, I was won over instantly. The thinness of the chocolate was made up for by the glorious chewiness of the wafer. Then later I found there was a sibling: the intriguing Caramel Log with its roasted coconut coating.

Today, for the first time in ages, I thought I'd treat myself to a pack of wafers, and I can't hide my disappointment: they taste like bleach.

Every Little Helps

I was somewhat gobsmacked when I walked into Tesco in Aston this afternoon. Almost the first thing you see when you walk in is this Darussalam book display. I wasn't sure whether to get my daughter "I Can Wear Hijab Anywhere!" or "Thank You O Allah!"

It was certainly a surprise in the wake of the recent "Please Don't Label Me" billboard campaign. Maybe the billboards should've said "Please Don't Marinade Me".

You can even buy an amazing "laptob" (sic) - a "specious gift for children" (sic again), "very useful for incarcerated persons" (sic!) - trapped in the prison of their tiny minds, no doubt.

No "Hell: Pits of Punishment" though :-( "Full of faith-building information ... A wonderful introduction for impressionable young minds." Maybe if I asked the store manager he could get some in?

I wonder how many UK schools have books like these in their libraries or, god forbid, in their classrooms?

DIY checkouts

Over on the BBC website, a surprisingly long article about such a banal subject. How many words can it take to say "You either like them or you don't"?

I found them a bit tricky to use at first, but I think I've mastered them now!

Christmas at Aldi

☼ Lots of nice Christmassy things at Aldi, including their mini-stollens and Baklava selection (both £1.99). Of course I'd prefer my baklava fresh out of a baking tray, but, as you can see, the Aldi version is popular enough!

Bargain Stock

☼ Having seen them on eBay and on the Web, I popped over to Bargain Stock on Hockley Hill. Slightly disappointing in that they're out of stock on quite a lot of items (most of which won't be restocked) but the guy was very helpful in helping me find what I wanted.

He also showed me round the rest of the place, and apart from the usual electrical stuff he's got quite a large supply of early-years equipment, so your nursery or school should take a look!

Message to America

Can we start a campaign to ban crap American products from the UK? I saw these in Aldi today, reminding me of a paradoxical fact: American junk food gives junk food a bad name. Pringles are just about acceptable, but "ranch" dressing, Oreos and those pathetic little bagel things that are coated in some disgusting "flavouring" - don't import them and don't licence them. Just don't bother - they're rubbish.

A new scam carpark

When I went to Sheepcote Street last night to pick Marti up from the Brasshouse Centre, I saw a sight that gave me flashbacks: a car on the back of a truck in the new carpark across the street. Straight away I could see what was going on: this was a scam carpark (scampark for short) and some poor shmuck was watching their car being towed away to god knows where, where it would be held hostage till he coughs up £350+.



I still don't understand why between them the council, the chamber of commerce, trading standards, MPs, the police and the courts can't put a stop to this extortion. In the meantime, be warned: if a carpark's got little notices up like this one, be sure they'll find any excuse to tow your car away. Scamparks are traps: they lure you in with the "promise" of cheap parking, but they make their money from the ridiculous fines that our even more ridiculous legal system lets them get away with imposing.