Deaf Ears and Stocking Fillers

This week's email is just full of stocking fillers, many of them have, at best, a tenuous connection with cookware or food and many are difficult to see why we're stocking them at all. But it's then that you may surmise that either I couldn't resist "it" or Em and Jeanne couldn't resist "it" because, horror of horrors, I allowed them to choose 6 products this year (as a treat to them) and so I didn't have to do it and somehow 6 turned into 15 new products, such were my instructions summarily ignored with their total lack of boundaries and unbridled enthusiasm. So here they are having twisted me round their collective little finger(s). 

But before I launch into that, I'm really delighted to say that we have at last managed to sort out the donations for B@titude and Marie Curie, that we've received in memory of Babette. In the end the total came to a very impressive £5500. So, yesterday afternoon each charity had £2750 credited to their accounts. I got an immediate and very grateful reply from Jenny at B@titude and I believe we've had a similar reaction from Marie Curie as well. If you were one of the people who donated to these very worthwhile causes then may I thank you very much indeed for your generosity and for your recognition of Babette and how well she related to people. I think she would have been astonished by the amount donated and very touched by the love shown in her memory.

Credit Card Tool
I'm going to start with an old favourite, Wild and Wolf's Credit Card Tool. It is, as you've probably anticipated, credit card in size and made out of a pretty substantial piece of steel 2.18mm thick (I just measured it with my "Digital Callipers", a modern version of a "Vernier Gauge" that I love, but real engineers scoff at) in case you're interested, with an expensive feeling finish, like anodised aluminium. But since you cant anodise steel maybe its zinc plating...I don't know, but it looks good and feels tough! This tool lists no less than 15 uses, most of which I can believe, such as Screwdriver, Bottle Opener, two Files, Saw, 5 sizes of Spanner/Wrench, Ruler etc although the Phone Stand had us stumped for a while.... Great little present for £10 and presented in a lovely tin! 

IQ Test Puzzles
For £4.50 you get a pack of carded questions which are obviously for brains much bigger then mine. For example one question was "I have two children who aren't both boys. How probable is it that they are both girls" Well, the first time I read it, I misread it, and the second time, I decided that I really needed to get on and write this email.... £8.00 worth of fun or irritation. 

Santa Claus modelling kit
Now here's something that's right up my street. A little trio of different coloured plasticines to make a model of Santa, and it even has instructions on how the make him and create a pink colour for his face from the red and white plasticine provided. Clever £5.00

Brainbox Football
Football, after I left school never engaged my interest again, so I can't answer even the simplest question in this game. But I'm aware that won't be the case for you or someone dear to you. So as it is so popular a game, I thought I'd throw this in. I think it's a quiz about football! £5.00 

Cookery Book
The title of the next item, a cookery book, is imaginatively called "The Mafia Just Moved in Next Door and They're Dropping Round for Dinner Cookbook"...Easy Italian Recipes. I think there's not a lot more to say. 66 pages of Italian Recipes, fit for a king, the Mafiosi or just your family. £7.00. 

Office Pranks and Jokes
This comprises a box of 50 cards, each with a daft prank on it. Having read a few I wouldn't give it to anyone who is liable to use any of them. Might be good for amusing a youngster still at school... or someone who wants to get sacked? £8.50

Potato Zapper
This is as old as the hills, or at least as old as me, and maybe my father before me. We called it a Spud Gun and my friend Tim Morris and I had hours of fund shoving the barrel into a spud supplied by one or other of our mothers for the purpose of firing pellets of Spud at each other or anyone else who hoved into sight. Hours of harmless fun. £6.99 

Herb Multi Tool
Now this is actually a serious bit of kit. It has a stripper which we've used for fresh Thyme and Rosemary and doubtless there are other aromatics that you can use it for. It is also a Bottle Opener and I've just noticed that there's even a lemon Zester on the side. A useful tool addition to many a kitchen. Yours for £7.00 

Mini Pull Light
We've done this little gem, a mini LED bulb battery driven, for years and at £3.00 it sells like crazy. Do they get used? No idea.

Which reminds me of my favourite joke.

What do you call a Deer with no eyes?
No idea!

Now for my other favourite joke

What do you call a Deer with no eyes and no legs?
Still no idea!

If that didn't bring the house down then.... ? Ok I'll be charitable, you and I have a different sense of humour! My children might well agree with you if you didn't find it hysterical, so you won't be completely alone....not completely.

Ok I'm about out of time now so I'll just list a few other items that may tickle your fancy:  

1.  Guitar Handles Pizza Cutter £15.00 

2.  Brain Athlete a book of code breaking puzzles £8.00 

3.  Bar Compass Cocktail recipes. Recipes that you can dial up. £13.50 

4.  Password Keeper. A credit card size book for keeping your passwords in. £4.00 

5.  A Biro that you can then erase what's been written. £2.50

There are lots more of this type of stocking filler on our shelves, some of it useful, some of it quirky, some of it borderline....! 

That's it for this week, I trust you have a pleasant and peaceful weekend.

 Kind regards,

 Andrew

 Andrew Bluett-Duncan Director