Posted in October 2008

Dorchester - Too Much Hardy and a Dreadful Pasty

Source: Kim Mutton
Tuesday 28th October 2008, 11:30am

I know not if the Celtic Kitchen, Dorchester normally offer a 'Turkey, Stuffing & Cranberry Pasty' or if this too was a festive ploy but what an attrocious pasty!

A trip across the border to Dorchester, Dorset - Is it really part of the South West?

Travel in the South West

Between the months April and September undertaking most journies in the South West are not taken lightly - the tourist traffic along with their trailing cravans slow down almost all main roads bar the few excellent dual carriageways.

The Bentley once again was out of action following an incident with a confusing road sign so the only alternative was to trawl the Marsh Barton Estate looking for cheap car hire. Its only when you look car hire firms are like the white van phenomenum - they're everywhere!

Cheap Motoring - Car Hire for under £20 per day

We secured a great Car Hire deal and topped up with fuel. After 20 miles drive and we're over the border in Dorset.

Anyone who saw the recent BBC TV adaptation of the period drama Tess of the Durbervilles may like me consider the programme to reflect the harsh reality of life in Dorset and I have to say it was with some trepidation that we crossed the county divide and entered Hardy counrty.

Dorchester however is a delightful town albeit a little heavy on the Hardy references and an unlikey location for a Tutankhamun exhibition

My brother (a man with dubious munching credentials) suggested that we take in a snack at The Celtic Kitchen as he'd previously enjoyed their pasties.

Christmas Shopping - Perfumes and a Festive Pasty

The Celtic Kitchen nestles in an olde worlde alley - Antelope Walk amongst florists, a perfume shop, chocolatier and a delicatessen. For the last week in October Antelpoe Walk was pleasingly free of Christmas decoration - although both the perfume shop and the florist had already introduced glitter and shiny foil into their wiondow displays. The deli had a selection of tempting food hampers - traditional gift baskets with luxury food and drinks - clearly aiming to target the Christmas hamper market.

I know not if the Celtic Kitchen, Dorchester normally offer a 'Turkey, Stuffing & Cranberry Pasty' or if this too was a festive ploy but what an attrocious pasty! It "felt" good - fresh oven baked crust however the filling was disappointing to say the least. No Turkey, No shlurpy gravy just a wad of soggy cheap stuffing with an incongrous dollop of cranberry sauce.

Blowing off after a nasty pasty

Half an hour after eating this plop both my brother and I began to suffer chronic indigestion which gave rise to the following novelty fundraising idea for this years BBC Children in Need Appeal.

Let the wind free where 'er you may be...

Church or Chapel

Let it Rattle

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Get Fit the Wii Way - Wii Fit

Source: Kim Mutton
Friday 17th October 2008, 4:01pm

As Marjorie Dawes of Fat fighters would no doubt agree - I've been putting on the pounds....

After getting my blood pressure checked during blood pressure testing week it was apparant that once again I'd been letting myself go. Too many pasties and flagons of scrumpy were taking their toll and with full intentions of baring all in some winter sun in the not too distant future I must now strive to get in shape.

Now in these times of deepening credit crunch the prospect of paying a joining fee and subscription to a Gym isn't attractive. The recent article ways to beat the credit crunch suggested cancelling Gym membership and taking up more exercise - but with no membership to cancel I have to look elsewhere - what about Wii Fit someone suggested?

Nintendo Wii Fit Lower Blood Pressure with Wii Fit

I read recently that even serious healthcare professionals are saying that they would rather see counch potatoes up and making fools of themselvse playing wii fit than stuffing the faces with chips and pizza watching The Bill.

The more cynical will probably enjoy this wii fit funny video which questions why are people spending money on something that encourages them to stay in and do simple repetetive movements?

Looking for Cheap Wii Games -

keep fit the wii way

Thrift being my middle name I decided to try to find a bargain wii fit game. I checked out the market's toys and games section but it seems the wii fit is in great demand with many shops out of stock - and its still three months to Christmas!

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Banks Crunch Time

Source: Kim Mutton
Friday 3rd October 2008, 1:40pm

How bad is your bank?

Grab your money now

The percieved credit crunch is making people question the worth of their bank.

This damning post made the accusation that NatWest Bank failed to give customer satisfaction and offered "Another Way" - join another bank.

Crap Bank Stories

Everyone must have a tale to tell how they well let down by their bank. This one invloves the strictly online bank Smile and was featured in the recent edition of Land Rover Magazine.

Online banking is a godsend for many of us with busy lives (so many pasties to munch, so much rubbish to pollute the internet with) however when it fails it really lets itself down.

Cheques are deposited into Smile via envelopes either posted or at the Post Office counter. Only on close inspection the message "no cash or foreign cheques"can be read.

When I contacted Smile to tell them that a US Dollar cheque had been paid in I was told that it was as good as toast -

Lack of professional training

It seems that the monkeys opening the deposit envelopes have no instruction as to what to do should anything other than a uk cheque be found- presumably any ready folded slips effortlessly into pockets and "dirty" foreign cheques float into the bin. I was required to request a replacement cheque while they shrugged shoulders.

image thanks to showbiz comics

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