Your Views

Keep your e-mails pouring in, it's good to know that there are lots of you out there with views and opinions.

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Your e-Mails

David Blaxill Fruit Shortcake Review	Dear Nicey I was most alarmed to read your reply in the Wife's column on the subject of red telephone boxes; not because this is blatant control freakery (you did it when she was out, you fiend), but the admission that, after a nice walk, the two of you drank tea from a... flask! I have to ask the question - why? Even after being in a flask only a few moments, the divine beverage takes on a most unpleasant taste, and certainly loses at least ninety per cent of its niceness. You will probably say that any tea after a nice walk is better than no tea, and I think if you held a poll on this subject, the majority of people would agree. As a purist, however, I would reccommend a trip to a camping equipment store, where, for a reasonable expenditure, you can purchase a small gas stove and camping kettle. Very portable, and ideal for those nice country moments when only a fresh brew will hit the spot. I've got one of these in my allotment shed, it's great. I am sure there are those who will disagree with my loathing of flask tea (probably people who take lots of sugars). I was put off flasks as a child in the fifties, after watching my father brew up on a parrafin and meths primus when we went for nice picnics. He was a flask tea hater too. His tea making kit (tea bags were a thing of the future) took up half the car boot - he was a man of strong principles. I think we still had an empire in those days. Regards David PS I recently reacquainted myself with the fruit shortcake - McVities, to be precise, and jolly nice they were too. McVits didn't make a fruit shortcake in the late sixties when I worked for them, it was the preserve of UB stablemate Crawfords. I am sure they were twice the circumference of the ones you get now. But the small ones taste just as good, and calorie counters can polish off half a dozen with a clear conscience, safe in the knowledge they are only really eating three biscuits.
	Nicey replies: Remain calm David. We open the lid of our flask of piping-hot water, then pop in two tea bags. Wait a while, then use it just like a tea pot. Our milk is carried in a small glass Perrier bottle, liberated from the French this summer, which does the job very well.
Chris Bis Fruit Shortcake Review	Hello Nicey Further to this discussion as we have previously established, a few crumbs (especially from a ginger nut) can prove extremely dangerous, a few carefully laid crumbs could serve a purpose for those that wish to cause harm with biscuits… However, I find it strange that suddenly you have e mails flooding in from people that seem keen on relaying tales of biscuit related violence. I think they need a nice cup of tea and a sit down. It must be all the horrific news and war in our world that is even creeping into our daily tea and biscuit related enjoyment…What is the world coming to ? Oh and on another note, we had a discussion some time back when I asked you what you thought the most under rated biscuit was, you said a fruit shortcake. And although sceptical I cracked on with a packet just last week and I am certainly coming round to your point of view, they indeed do give way more than you ask of them. At this rate I will be trying Garibaldis again and they haven’t seen the light of day in my world for a good 30 years after a fly related comment corrupted my then young mind and created a phobia for them. You make a strong case for them in your review I am tempted, maybe its my age? Here's to revisiting biscuits from the past, and of course peace in our time. Chris Bis
	Nicey replies: The lack of a biscuits as weapons icon is becoming increasingly embarrassing. A word of caution on the Garibaldis, modern ones are a bit drier and generally less chewy than those of antiquity. Just so that you are prepared, still certainly worth a good go. Also it is almost certainly your age, it is increasingly the reason for most standpoints I have on things. Wifey and I were very lucky to attend the Oldie magazine's 200th Edition party last week, were we told off by Patricia Routledge for not being old at all, however after a mere 5 or 6 drinks it took us both 2 days to recover fully.
Amber Cooper-Davies Fruit Shortcake Review	I need to learn to drink tea, but so far i find it disgusting without sugar! (my parents say "you shouldn't drink tea with sugar") I have been told that tea-drinking is an essential part of British culture and socialising, and i'm scared that without it I may become an outcast, due to being difficult by asking for orange juice etc. woe is me! (I can make tea in a pot or with a teabag, but I really don't think that's good enough) HOW DO YOU LEARN TO DRINK TEA!?!?!?!?!?
	Nicey replies: Amber, You simply need to knuckle down and drink lots of tea. What will definitely help are some nice straight forward biscuits, nothing too fancy as you are looking for the tea to play its part in the proceedings, and not be drowned out. I would say try a few fruit shortcakes with your next cuppa and see how you get on. Also it helps if you really need your cup of tea, so I would suggest any number of physical pursuits to get your need for tea increased. Try short bursts of tidying up the house, between 15-30 minutes. This should have you screaming for a cuppa, sugar or not. If this doesn't work then you could always get a job on a building site, or in the NHS where tea drinking tends to part of the training.
Chris Bis Fruit Shortcake Review	Dear Nicey I think its important to warn people of the danger that crumbs can bring. If you bring your elbow down on one (particularly on a vinyl or pvc tablecloth) and the crumb is at the right (or indeed more accurately wrong) angle it don’t arf hurt! Worst injuries are from a ginger nut so take care! Next thing you know MVities will be getting a raft of legal actions to deal with in todays sueing culture…. what about on packet warnings? Another thing, I have a mild complaint, I,like pretty much everyone else, enjoy a really lovely cup of tea, sit down and biscuit or cake. BUT what about a cuppa with beans on toast or cheese on toast, or indeed with a lovely fry up? I mean any site that really knows its teas should cover the savoury side of tea enjoyment! Come on what do you think?Its a whole area of tea based pleasure that is simply being neglected by you and the faithful site regulars in my humble opinion. Personally I recommend ASSAM with any savoury comestibles. Warmest tea loving regards Chris Bis. PS – I do agree with your opinion that fruit shortcake does give you more than you ask of it. I still think gingers are king mind!
	Nicey replies: Maybe McVities should inject some gritty realism into their 'Crumbs' TV campaign to show people flicking crumbs about then suffering terrible elbow lesions as the lean on them. As for the role of tea with toast and fry ups we often discuss such matters, behold the might of our toast icon, which can also be accompanied by the cheese icon.
Chris Bis Fruit Shortcake Review	Dearest Nicey and Wifey I would be very keen indeed to find out what your thoughts are on the worlds most underated biscuit. A colleague of mine thinks its Lincolns. I am not keen on them personally but would eat them in an emergency I suppose. My opinion is that Rich Teas most likely fit the bill, my own lovely wife thinks their simplicity is sublime. Again they are not really my “cup of tea”…. being a raging ginger nut fanatic but I can appreciate their appeal for those people who rate dipability above all else. What do you think?
	Nicey replies: I think its the Fruit Shortcake, it really gives way more than anybody ever asks of it.
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