Your ViewsKeep your e-mails pouring in, it's good to know that there are lots of you out there with views and opinions. To help you work out what is what, are now little icons to help you see biscuit related themes. And now you can see at a glance which are the most contested subjects via this graph (requires Flash 6.0 plugin). Please keep your mails coming in to nicey@nicecupofteaandasitdown.com | If you like, you can use this search thingy to find stuff that matches with any of the icons you pick, or use the fantastic free text search, Yay! | Your e-Mails |
Chris Hemmings |
Mr. Nicey,
I would like to tell you a story, a true story at that, which deals with the magical properties of biscuit tins. My biscuit tin is a clear glass one with a flowery white lid (not my own choice as i'm only 17 and haven't reached the stage where i could phesably buy a bisciut tin for my own enjoyment. Obviously my own choice would have been more mettallic, but that it neither here nor there).
I have recently completed my Gold duke of edinburgh expedition in the Brecon Beacons, and after completing the long walk, stopped at my campsite, and enjoyed a nice packet of biscuits (Fox's Crinkle Crunch), a cup of tea, and a lovely sit down. However, due to lack of biscuits being avaliable on my walk (5 days), my stomach had actually shrunk to the extent that i couldn't finish the whole packet. Thusly, not wishing to waste these lovely biscuits, i decided to put the remainder of the packet in my bag, and took them home. I then found the biscuits again a few weeks later, sitting in their packet. Much to my horror, i found that they'd gone soggy! I couldn't bring myself to eat them.
Despite this, i put the biscuits into the biscuit tin anyway, and left them for a day or two, having lost all hope of ever salvaging them. I then went back to the tin, tried a biscuit, and low and behold, it was crunchy again! and delicious too! To this day i believe the biscuit tin to have truly magical biscuit healing properties. I do hope that this advantage isn't overlooked in the ongoing 'biscuit tin Vs. fancy packaging' war.
P.S. i am also a great fan of fig rolls, they are a truly superb and greatly adaptable biscuit. Suitable for almost any occasion.
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Nicey replies: Chris,
Thank you for that tale of the paranormal properties of the biscuit tin. I shouldn't be surprised if that turned up in an episode of the X files as they are really scratching around for plot lines now.
I'm sure that come your 18th birthday when you'll be able to drink in pubs and vote, you'll also be able to choose a biscuit tin of your own, should you wish. Five days with out biscuits does indeed deserve an award from the Duke of Edinburgh. |
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Richard Murkin |
There's no denying the invaluable role played by biscuit tins in extending the lifespan of a biscuit. Crunchiness is retained and so on. But they also have a drawback - prolonged proximity to other kinds of biscuit can cause an 'averaging' of flavours. This process results in all contents of the tin having a similar tastes, which each adulterated by it's neighbours. Hence the fig roll which tastes of ginger nut and so on. Biscuit eaters beware!
Rich |
Nicey replies: Yes that can be a problem, but also its part of the art of having a biscuit tin, picking harmonious biscuits that will complement each other. Its probably a bit like a biscuit form of Feng Shui, I expect. |
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James Williamson |
Hi,
I am afraid that I could not be bothered to get a picture of my biscuit tin but here's its story and an attached diagram the purpose of which will become apparent on reading.
It is a pottery tin of a similar in colour to your own but with less of the decoration and simply the word "biscuits" in delightful gold calligraphy on the side. Now, as we all know the fit of the lid in keeping biscuits fresh and crunchy is paramount and to this end my tin employed a rubber O-ring around the lid. But one fatefull day an accident lead to the moulded pottery knob being smashed from the rest of the lid! This rendered an otherwise excellent tin useless! But all was not lost I dug out a wooden knob which was surplus from the redecoration of my kitchen. Using only this a rubber O-ring, a circle of 5mm ply and 1inch a stainless countersunk screw I was able to cunningly fashion a repair to my tin.
This saved going through the emotionally draining experience of buying a new tin. Not only that but I would have probably ended up shelling out for a new tea and sugar jar as well as they were part of the same set and would not match a new biscuit tin.
I do hope this tail is worthy of your site
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Nicey replies: What a fantastic tale of biscuit tin drama, and a wonderful diagram. Worthy of a rocket science icon as well as a biscuit tin. |
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Brian Barratt |
Hello Nicey!
Oh dear me, you've twinged my conscience. We had our annual Hard Rubbish Collection, by Monash City Council, only a week ago. Being a procrastinator as well as a nice old gentleman, I haven't thrown out any of that sort of rubbish for about 20 years.
I scoured the junk room, nay, I almost emptied the junk room. I scoured the kitchen cupboards, and threw out about 15 old biscuit tins, including a most beautiful once-silvery one sent to me (full of the most delicious German spicy biscuits on edible rice paper) by a company in Nuremberg, when I worked in Zambia.
All this stuff was put out on what we call the nature strip (= grass verge, in England) the week before the collection. I watched as the kerb-crawlers came round, picking over the treasures. Two by two, all but two of those old tins were taken. Isn't it nice to think that they have not been orphaned, but are now in happy foster-homes?
Brian
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Penelope Reid |
Dear Nicey,
In response to your comments about the poxy resealable containers certain biscuits are bought in, I feel drawn to point out that this is a conspiracy, as it is virtually impossible to find a decent biscuit tin these days. Many moons ago when leaving home for the first time, the only item I truly longed for was a biscuit tin to call my own. A proper one, barrel shaped made out of metal (thats why its a tin) with an entirely useless swinging handle and little knob on the top. The only things we could find were Tupperware or poncey ceramic things that were in no way airtight enough for safe biscuit storage. Tupperware, admittedly functional, has none of the charm of a proper tin which can be passed around and is so vile to look at it can ruin a nice sit down. Also Tupperware is what old ladies store leftovers in and then leave in the fridge forever. The idea of using it for biscuits is frankly not honourable. My tinless life only ended when the grandparents shuffled off to enjoy biscuits and sit downs in a less earthly realm, allowing me to inherit theirs. I have heard talk of people clinging on to selection tins in order to preserve biscuits but as this involves buying dodgy selections which heavily feature the pink wafer it is not to be encouraged. How can we ensure the future of proper tins?
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