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

Steve Window	Dear Nicey, Could you put your two penn'orth in please on an office dispute? It isn't a heated dispute - yet. As you know, Jacobs Family Circle comes in a rectangular box with 2 layers of varied biscuits, each layer of which is a repeat of the other. A colleague feels very strongly that the second layer should not be started upon until the first is done with. I think that it is fine to start the second layer as long as the first has been removed so that this is obvious. At the end of the tea break, the second layer can be made up to full from the remains of the first, as far as possible - any gaps in the second layer can be referred to in a short note (no need to be prolix) left on the top of the first layer. This avoids the surge of disappointment when a biscuit eater lifts the first layer expecting to see yummy favourite biscuits, only to be left bereft. I would welcome your views. Regards, Steve Window
	Nicey replies: What a terrific and important question, well done. I would definitely align with your colleague. In a free for all situation like an office then all the biscuits must be finished before starting the next layer. Any chipping away at this basic rule with sub-clauses will lead to anarchy. It's much better if every one knows where they stand, and that people excise some self discipline by having a biscuit that they are not madly keen on from time to time in-order to get to the new layer. Learning to eat the duller sorts of biscuits in a selection tin is an important life skill, however the really awful ones that almost nobody likes can be forcibly ditched on the one person who claims to like them in order to get things moving.
Martin Gorst	Hi Nice At the risk of being shot down in flames of derision and contempt, I'm finally sticking my head above the parapet and expressing my astonishment at finding on your estimable site no mention of two extremely toothsome treats of my close acquaintance. Made by some esoteric outfit calling themselves The Biscuit Collection, and seemingly fairly widely available in supermarkets, (local branches of Sainsbury & Aldi to name but two widely diverse extremes of the retail spectrum) the treasures to which I refer are Apple Pie Cookies and their slightly less memorable stablemate Brownie Cookies. Yes, I'm aware the unfortunate presence of the C word does them no favours with you and your many discerning contributors, but it's hard to avoid in a climate of US Cultural Imperialism and Carpet Marketing. However I truly believe these to be little gems and deserving of your attention. I'd defend their undoubted biscuity qualities before the highest court in the land. I may of course have entirely missed an extended correspondence on the matter, and I can't help an uneasy qualm arising at Adam's oblique reference to 'those bloody awful Apple and Cinnamon jobbies from Asda', but I would welcome your expert assessment of these unsung delights at some juncture. I can't imagine you'd have a problem tracking them down, but just in case the packet states that they're produced in the EC for JP Associates, St John's House, Exton, EX3 0PL. I very much look forward to the type of balanced and objective review on which your devoted readers can always rely. Yours in hopeful anticipation Martin Gorst
	Nicey replies: Hi Mart, The things Adam was referring to were something else. A small batch of experimental biscuits which were so troubling that they even made it into our book, getting a mention in the section about keeping strongly flavoured and experimental biscuits away from innocent and law abiding biscuits. They were only around for about eight months. As for the ones you mention, we have not had them yet so I'll keep a look out for them.
David Taylor	Dear Nicey, Due to assorted Buy One Get One Half Price offers on Fox's Creations and Cadburys selection I seem to have rather overindulged on the biscuit front just recently. I just thought that perhaps I could offer the consequent spare empty biscuit tins to Chris Jagusz in returning for him popping around in his nice little dress to do my ironing? Yours David Taylor
Chris Jagusz	Hello again! Have you ever discussed the problem of flavour cross contamination? There's a chap in our office who kindly offers biscuits to the needy employees and although this is usually a pleasant experience there are times when the combination of biscuits in his - I'm sorry to report - plastic container produce mutant biscuits which can taste rather bad. So this leaves me wondering whether there are any biscuits which can survive being in close company with stronger flavours and also which biscuit can keep it's own flavour intact for the longest. Ginger Nut vs Minty Viscount might be an interesting battle for although the ginger nut is strong the silver/green armor of the viscount may provide sufficient protection whilst it mounts an attack of its own. Perhaps others have recommendations of how not to mix biscuits? Chris Jagusz
	Nicey replies: Chris, First recommendation is not to keep strongly flavoured biscuits in a plastic container, as they trap flavours. The second is to keep really strong ones in their own tin possibly with other related biscuits. Either way maybe you should get a couple of tins of biscuits in for Yuletide then you'll have something decent to put biccies in come the New Year. As luck would have it I found this picture of you.
D Lawnland Esq	Dear Mr Nicey, I occasionally drop in to your site to cheer me up. What I like is its jolliness and, in a world beset by issues its refreshing to read something that is not terribly controversial (although I notice Wifey is becoming ever bolder in her views - keep an eye on that). Now, on to tea and biscuits. Our domestic situation is a little bit complicated because we enjoy both Earl Grey and ordinary. Don't get me wrong, we're not posh or anything, we down the EG in big mugs just like builders, but generally the ordinary tea is for visitors, and we either forget and serve them EG and it isn't always appreciated, or we remember and have to ask them what they want and it all becomes difficult trying to remember who wants what. I note that you are a family organisation. We, too, have rapidly-growing children and, not without a modicum of parental pride, I can say that they have all taken to tea-drinking with great enthusiasm. Not only that, but when they are in the mood, they will actually MAKE a cup of tea for me and Mum. It doesn't get much better than that on a Sunday afternoon. However, much as it pleases me to see the little ones developing their appreciation, I would like to see their appreciation of the contents of the biscuit tin developing a bit less rapidly. They are increasingly partaking of the biscuits WITHOUT the benefit of tea. In a hard-pressed economy, it can be deeply shocking to one's soul to fill a biscuit tin Saturday morning with a choice selection of Digestives, Custard Creams and Malted Milks, only to open the same tin early Sunday evening to see just a few sad crumbs. Leaves you with a gray heart. What is to be done? Can one obtain lockable biscuit tins? My wife's general philosophy in the past was to buy not-very-fancy biscuits, like Rich Tea, in order to discourage temptation. But how does that help me? Once I left the home of my own parents I was, I thought, liberated from the 2-biscuits-only rationing system of my youth. How ironic. Currently I am forced to secrete my own stash of luxury biscuits in "Dad's Cupboard", where no child must goeth. Then, of course, to scoff down Boasters in front of the TV whilst the young ones have to make do with Asda Smart Price Nice doesn't help my image as Caring Father. I think this issue requires wider debate. How are the hard-working parents and guardians of this country to implement a workable policy to regulate the flow of biscuits fairly, and without prejudice, to all members of the household? Yours faithfully D Lawnland Esq.
	Nicey replies: Yes I see the problems, although you already seem to have taken steps to address some of the issues. The core problem seems to be the rapid emptying of the biscuit barrel and premature loss of biscuits. As for palming off the younger members of staff with cheaper biscuits, don't worry about it as they only have themselves to blame for this. I would suggest simply upping your purchase of entry level biscuits. Plain shortcakes, triple packs of mixed biscuits that sort of thing (but not the really cheap ones). They'll still take a hammering but you shouldn't feel so distressed, and you should be able to keep a pack or two to replenish the barrel. By all means get some decent ones in and keep the packs in a secure location, only produce them for immediate sharing with those nice family cuppas. Unfortunately the NCOTAASD younger members of staff are still too junior to make our tea despite Wifey's frequent suggestions at 7.30am that they go and make it.
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