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 |
Nick Ovel |
Good Afternoon!
Jim Urpeth asks if there are any other biscuits named after philosophers, would it be stretching the definition of philosopher too far to include Newton (Isaac and fig)?
Keep up the good work!
Nick |
Nicey replies: Yep, I think we had him down as a mathematician. Perhaps some up and coming modern day Philosopher can change his/her name by deed poll to 'Jam-Ring'. Perhaps Mr Urpeth himself could oblige, 'Jim Jam-Ring' is lovely cheerful sort of a name isn't? |
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Andrew Hewkin |
Hi Nicey, I wonder if any of your readers can shed light on the current output of the former Symbol Biscuits factory in Blackpool. I gather it is part of the Burtons empire, at least that's what it says here
But which biscuits are actually produced there nowadays.
The surrounding streets used to smell heavenly when I cycled along Devonshire Road as a young Sandgrown'un (that's what they call us Blackpool folk)
Kindest regards to you and Mrs Nicey, |
Nicey replies: Yes we will throw that open to the world at large.
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Smarthound
Wagon Wheel Review |
Keith Andrews remembered:
"Wagon Wheels, they're a treat for me [wagon wheels!]
They're the biggest biscuit, you ever did see! [wagon wheels!]
... .... ..... .... ... ... .... .... .
The biscuit thrill to beat the band!"
The line that Keith is missing from the Wagon Wheels theme is "Marshmallow filled, they taste so grand"... which is something of a scurrilous claim nowadays because they taste pretty iffy compared to their former glory. They have a stale and artificial flavour and there is no way on Earth that they are the same size as they used to be. And Jammie Dodgers are stale-tasting parodies of their former selves, too. How I wish I'd had the foresight, as a Wagon Wheel munching ten-year-old, to start a small biscuit museum so I could shame the manufacturers of today into admitting their corner-cutting by showing them tangible proof. Come to think of it, after thirty years they would probably taste much like their current incarnation. Now, here's a sort-of-related question; anyone remember Rondellos? They were big biscuits too, perhaps not quite as big as a Wagon Wheel, probably only four or six in a package...
Hound |
Nicey replies: Actually I don't think the taste of Wagonwheels has really changed at all, I think your own personal tastes have evolved / matured. I do think Jammy Dodgers have changed quite a bit with today's biscuit being a much softer bake. We have an entry for Rondellos in our missing in action section, which is looking a tad empty so I'll add in your comments. |
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Adam Christmas |
Dear Nicey,
I was prompted to remember this by your poll. I always refuse to call herbal tea 'tea'. Surely a drink must contain tea leaves to qualify for the moniker. What's your view? I think they should be called "herbal tea-like drink infusion", so those expecting actual tea from the misleading label will not be disappointed again. I can see why this might not catch on though...
Adam. |
Nicey replies: Oh quite. I mean coffee doesn't get all this grief does it? Occasionally chicory or something tries to get involved, but it does have completely random things like stinging nettles, stinky old camomile, rose-hips or blackcurrant leaves passing themselves off as it. If I was tea I would be very indignant, and demand that they only assume the title of "herbal infusion", and use a different shelf entirely in the supermarket.
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Keith O'Kane |
Dear Nicey and the Wife,
Like many people across the country, I am partial to a spot of marmalade on my toast at breakfast. For me, the thing that sets marmalade apart from jam and gives it its appeal is the inclusion of the pieces of orange zest, the bigger the better.
Imagine my surprise when, just last week, my wife brought home some Golden Shred Shredless marmalade (surely an oxymoron), stating that she "doesn't like the bits". In the same shopping trip she also bought some fresh orange juice "with juicy bits".
Women, will we ever understand them???
Keith O'Kane |
Nicey replies: Kieth,
I think this allows me to utilise the seldom seen Jam and Fruit icons |
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