A Hot Summer At Last!

Let us hope that the Meteorological Office is correct in its prediction that we shall enjoy a fine summer.

Free Sample

Tesco's building-site store at Knocknagoney, Belfast, was giving away free samples yesterday, viz. Nestlé Oat Cheerios. They were in mini, 30g cereal packets.

When we got home, the Dowager remarked about the 50p off voucher at the back of the packet.

I have eaten them this morning and, I can say, I'm nonplussed about them! They are perfectly acceptable; just not sufficiently tasty to persuade me to change from my current cereals.

About the voucher: on closer inspection I noticed "ROI Only" on it, and what we had misread as 50p Off really said 50c - Euro cents - Off. I felt swindled! Presumably the big cereal manufacturers all have strong connections with the Irish Republic. Tesco, it is thought, are not doing so well there during the Recession; I expect they're attempting to get rid of these surplus free samples in Northern Ireland. I have no idea.

Nestlé UK holds a royal warrant and there is no evidence of this on Nestlé's mini Cheerio packet. There is, however, a UK phone number (as well as the Eire one).

No matter. We shan't be buying the Cheerios again at any rate. Still, I appreciated their gesture of a free sample.

By Appointment

I have added a new category, or label, to my blog: By Appointment To The Right Honourable The Earl Of Belmont.

The warrants may be approved or removed at any time.

I'll start the proverbial ball rolling by the first Entry: Wilkin Tomato Sauce, purveyors of tomato sauce to the Right Honourable the Earl of Belmont.

A week ago I decided to try Heinz tomato ketchup, highly rated by many. Frankly, I was disappointed. I am no connoisseur of ketchups; however, I do know what I like.

Wilkin ketchup has a richer taste; is thicker and less viscous than Heinz; and it has more substance to it as well. I shall retain the Heinz ketchup in the fridge for culinary purposes.

I am aware that there are many other ketchups on the market, so I welcome nominations.

Botanical Trail

I parked at the Stranmillis Road, Belfast, this morning, adjacent to the Botanic Gardens. I strolled up to the Ulster Museum, still obscured by hoarding though, I understand, due to open this summer.

Continuing along University Road, I passed the Sir William Whitla Hall and the foundation stone caught my eye. It was laid by Lord Londonderry seventy years ago. They have his lordship's post-nominal letters in the wrong order, too: the MVO precedes PC!

I walked on to Shaftesbury Square and made a right turn on to Botanic Avenue. At the far end I passed Molly's Yard restaurant and bar. The depiction of the headless black dog is still visible at the entrance. I think they could make the sign of the headless dog a feature. A painted, wooden pub sign could hang on a wooden post outside the door with a black, headless dog. It would add even more character to Molly's.

From Molly's, I ambled further along the Avenue till I passed a side entrance to the Botanic Gardens; and spotted an original stone plaque emblazoned Royal Botanic Gardens. Someone has craftily obscured the adjective with plants.

Eventually I came full-circle, noticing four wood-pigeons and a squirrel in the Gardens.

Triumphant Allen

Hearty congratulations and expectations to Mark Allen from the town of Antrim. He was the underdog in his snooker match against the reigning world champion, Ronnie O'Sullivan; and he has just gained a place in the quarter-finals of the world snooker championship, having beaten O'Sullivan by 13 frames to 11.

This has been a most wonderful achievement, so far; I have a feeling that Mark Allen's career winnings will rise by a great deal.

Apethorpe Hall

I viewed a new series on BBC Two last night called English Heritage, the first part entitled A Very Grand Design. It was about the future of the largely, though not entirely, restored Apethorpe Hall, a very large, rambling, historic Jacobean pile in Northamptonshire.

I love these sorts of programmes. I find them irresistible. One thing was clear, though: English Heritage (EH), which has spent millions of pounds worth of taxpayers' money, is somewhat desperate to recoup their investment forthwith, if not within the next few years. The programme focused on EH's head honcho, Simon Thurley, striding round Apethorpe, seeing what required to be done in order to make it saleable.

The sale has a number of snags attached; viz, that the new owner, preferably a sympathetic billionaire, is prepared to accept strict planning restrictions; that the sale includes a mere fifty acres; and that there is an enormous clump of Leylandii trees beside the front ornamental gates, thus restricting the fine prospect. The Hall must open its doors to the general public 28 days a year, too.

About the acreage: a very large house like Apethorpe would have been surrounded by a vast landed estate of 20-30,000 acres a hundred years ago, generating plenty of income for the owner. Fifty acres is actually small; sizeable enough for formal gardens, not shooting parties or hunts. I expect a billionaire would have preferred an estate of a thousand acres or so, at least.

As for the Leylandii, the former occupier, the Lord Brassey of Apethorpe, owns the trees and seems to be intent on retaining them as a sort of bargaining chip with a future owner, should they be prepared to pay his lordship sufficient funds to have the unsightly trees felled.

I look forward to the next episode.

Gurkha Maltreatment

The Gurkhas have devoted nearly two hundred years of loyal service to the Crown and United Kingdom. The list of recipients of the Victoria Cross is lengthy.

As a matter of honour and respect, I feel that we ought to treat the Gurkhas with considerable esteem. They have fought and died for our Nation.

A number of Gurkhas wish to settle in the United Kingdom and make it their home. They are most welcome to settle in Northern Ireland, as far as I am concerned.

However, the wretched, rotten government currently in power denies them their wishes. This government turns a blind eye to illegal immigrants, many of whom live here freely; incidentally, how many illegal immigrants are estimated to reside in the UK?

This government has encouraged an Open House policy, regarding immigrants, since they came to office. How many immigrants with no connection to the United Kingdom live here now? And what have they done to earn citizenship?

Yet the Gurkhas and their families are, apparently, denied entry. If they are to be allowed to settle, they have several proverbial hurdles to jump over first.

Shame on you, Mr Brown.