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| Xa Naylor |
Don't know if anybody you know might be interested but it seems we found a grave for the founders of Meredith & Drew (founded 1835 & apparently joined with United Biscuits in 1967)…
Regards
Xa Naylor (Mrs)
Service Development Officer
City of London Cemetery & Crematorium |
| Nicey replies: That is quite interesting, we know very little about Meredith & Drew apart from what you mention and that they had several Royal Appointments including Queen Victoria. Other companies that merged with or formed UB all brought ready established brands to the portfolio where as Meredith and Drew don't seem to be remembered in this way. |
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Fraser Driver
Breakaway Review |
Dear Nicey,
Vic Ockmore is spot-on when he identifies the (fairly) recent phenomenon of Coconut taste being found in the mighty Breakaway biscuit, though I have no idea when or why this came about. As your review states the Breakaway used to have an oaty Digestive at it's heart and it was this, combined with an enrobement of real chocolate (yes - real, not that pretend gunk like you get on Waggonwheels and Clubs!) that made this superb biscuit a firm favourite with me. I (unlike yourself-it would seem) have no problem with Coconut and it's use in biscuit manufacture, but in this case I strongly believe they have got it wrong. There was nowt wrong with the original so why mess with it?
Though not as good as it once was, it's still a decent biccy and yes I too mourn the passing of the foil wrap - lets face it the good old Kit-Kat hasn't been the same since it received the same treatment, has it?
Coincidentally, in the early Eighties both the Breakaway and Kit-Kat had the same 'hidden chocolate bonus potential' that so many of us enjoyed, and it was this reason - as much as any other that caused me to eat so many of the things.
The trick in those days, was to do a bit of light 'brass-rubbing' of the foil on the underside of said item, to try and determine if it was solid chocolate or not - (both biscuits had only a thin layer of chocolate at their base so any biscuit or wafer enclosed was easily identifiable). Now I know what you are thinking and the answer is No - I didn't spend my formative years fondling confectionary in the local shops ! (well - no more than your average snotty-nosed kid with a few pennies burning a hole in his pocket) - I was lucky. After leaving school I worked for a few years in the catering industry and therefore had unlimited access to the things before they were put out on display for sale or in vending machines. So I would like to take this opportunity to formally apologise to all those people who's only hope of brightening their day lay in the chance discovery of the odd 'rogue' Kit-Kat - folks you didn't stand a chance - I got in there first !...Sorry...
Anyway Nicey, great web site - great subject - can't believe I've only just found it (many thanks to MSN). I spent hours yesterday reading all the reviews etc.. trouble is - what on earth do you tell the missus you've been doing till 2 in the morning when you crawl into bed ? - reading about tea and biscuits on the internet ? . . . no - I don't think she believed me either !!
cheers
Fraser (jollygoodfellow) Driver |
| Nicey replies: Fortunately my Wife is very understanding and broadminded about the whole tea biscuits and the internet thing.
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| Richard Clegg |
In your review dated Sunday 29th June 2003 you said
I feel possibly like that bloke Doug McClure played in the 'Land that Time Forgot' when the Pterodactyl is going for him.
I feel that you should correct this since it was a Rhamphorynchus and the film was "At the Earth's Core". Curiously, in the original Edgar Rice Burroughs novel it was a Pterodactyl. I don't recall there being a notable Pterodactyl attack in "Land that Time Forgot" (though there may have been) but it was definitely "At the Earth's Core" which heavily featured airborne Pterosaur attacks from mesmerising winged reptiles.
(Notable line "You cannot mesmerise me, I'm English" from Peter Cushing). |
| Nicey replies: No it was the "Land That Time Forgot", I saw it lots of times including once at the pictures in Bridgend. its the one with the Submarine and evolving cavemen and Susan Penhaligon who my mate Rick fancied. It wasn't a Rhamphorhynchus because we know all about them as one of the younger members of staff is specifically frightened by a scary picture of one in their dinosaur books and it has special pointy teeth. Also they were way to small too carry off the cave man to its nest, like it did in the film.
"At The Earths Core" wasn't a patch on "The Land That Time Forgot" the former being very far fetched where as the later could have happened just like that. |
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| Phil Musselwhite |
Hello Nicey and Wifey and younger Members of Staff
Thanks for all the sterling work on the site (and, of course, the book).
Further to Samantha Carr's earlier message and your response about Biscuit Designers, It's great to see they exist. They always have in my mind at least. I'm an accountant by profession, but used to tell people that I was a biscuit designer on meeting them at parties. It meant that they didn't run away. I used to see how long it took before I was rumbled; usually ages. People wanted to believe that it's possible making a living from such a worthy endeavour. I am glad that I now know it is.
Cheers
Phil
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| Nicey replies: We have heard of blokes using that "I'm a biscuit designer" line more than once, and would offer this simple advice to impressionable young ladies. Unless you are specifically after picking up an accountant, when a bloke at a party tells you he is a biscuit designer ask to see his schematics and designs for new biscuits. If he makes a sketch of a jammy dodger on the back of a fag packet consider how much you want a relationship with somebody who is almost certainly better at sums than you are. |
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| Alexandra Jenks |
Dear Nicey,
My brother in law used to drink mugs of custard (laced with several sugars) as you or I would drink a cup of tea. I am the only person around who finds this habit absolutely stomach churningly disgusting. He who shall remain nameless used to drink these gooey cups of custard about 7 times a day, made from Birds Instant Custard and hot water...
In response to one of your other emails, when I was kid I also liked to eat raw
Angel Delight
Trifle Sponges
Nesquick
Jelly Cubes
Vegetable Stock Powder...very salty if I remember!
Anyway I'm now off to eat the raw contents of my store cupboard. mmmm
Alex |
| Nicey replies: Yes we have received quite a few emails from people now owning up to drinking dilute instant custard. Perhaps vending machines should switch from soup to custard. |
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