Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Dear Cadbury...

This is a letter I sent to Cadbury back in 2009, long before I had a blog to vent on.  I've also included their reply.  

 
To whom it may concern,

I wish to make a complaint.

I am a long time lover of Cadbury Snack. Recently you have made the block smaller, so I don't get as much for my money, but that is not my main problem. My problem lies with the new 'shapes' of the pieces. It used to be that the pineapple was shaped like a pineapple, and the strawberry like a strawberry etc, but now it is a square with a picture of the flavour on it. I'm not totally opposed to change, especially if it is for the better, but this is NOT better!

I'm not sure if it is because the chocolate is thinner or what, but it is IMPOSSIBLE to break up the pieces without cracking the shell and ending up with the filling all over my hands. This makes it very difficult to share the snack. The only alternative is to bite off a bit at a time, and then the flavours get all mixed up. I like to eat them separately, saving the Turkish Delight for last. (While I'm here, why is it shaped like a shell and not like a turkey???)

Please can you either go back to the old snack, or adapt this new one so I can break it up and share it with my family.?

Yours Sincerely,


Jo


The next day I got this underwhelming reply...


Mrs Carrick,

Thank you for taking the time to contact us regarding our products.
Cadbury has been making great brands that people love for more than 200
years. We are committed to listening to consumers and providing products
that meet the demands and tastes of each market.

Because our Marketing Department researches products before launching to
ensure consumer acceptance, we were disappointed to receive your comments.
We have however, forwarded your comments onto our Marketing Personnel for
their consideration.

Once again, thank you for your feedback.

Kind regards
CADBURY PTY LTD


Tracey
Consumer Services


What?  No free stuff?  Not even a voucher?  For shame, Cadbury, for shame.


Sunday, December 4, 2011

All I Want For Christmas Is My Own Two Cents

Note:  If you're new here, you might want to read this earlier post for the background story...





I posted something on Facebook last week about how I wished people would stop writing things on there about Christmas, and more to the point that I wished Facebook wouldn't do the thing it has recently started doing where it tells me just how many people are talking about a particular topic.  I wrote it fairly late at night when I couldn't sleep and a billion thoughts were running through my head.  Although the topic was making me cranky, I tried to tackle it in what I thought was a lighthearted way:




It would appear that some people took it to heart.  I got comments on the post and a couple of people contacted me privately to tell me they weren't happy about it.  Apparently it is OK for other people to tell me to lighten up about it, but not OK for me to hate on Christmas.  I tried to point out the irony of the situation but got nowhere.  In the end, we agreed to disagree.  They went back to loving and I tried not to go back to hating, but it's really hard.  Christmas is bloody everywhere and it seems to have been since Easter finished.  I know this all started by one flippant post on Facebook, I know it shouldn't bother me, but I have been thinking about it a lot since then.  I've tried to work out why (apart from the obvious) very time I logged on to Facebook and saw Christmas mentioned I felt my heart rate rising and tears welling up in my eyes.  Surely I'm allowed to have a bit of a whinge about it on my own Facebook page if I want?

The thing is, I don't want to hate Christmas. I don't want to have this feeling of dread. I want to be excited about it.  In fact, I used to be excited about it.  I could barely wait for the first day of December to put up the tree.  I was the person who searched for the biggest, shiniest Christmas earrings with the most LED lights in them.  I still have them, somewhere, along with several Christmas t-shirts.  I wrapped my presents while watching the Carols by Candlelight on the TV.  I LOVED the lead up to Christmas.  If I'm honest, the actual day was usually a bit of a let down, but the lead up?  The lead up I loved.


But now? Every tree I see and every carol I hear just reminds me of what I don't have any more.








Sunday, November 27, 2011

Introducing....

... The newest residents of the Castle!!!



Ta-da!!!




Minchin


 
Bukkit



Yup, we went to get one cat and came home with two!

Nutter is NOT impressed.  Sausage is also not really happy about it, but she at least seems curious about them.  Nutter is hissing and growling and sulking.  She did the same thing when Sausage moved in, so I'm sure she'll get over it.  I'm doing my best to ignore the bad behaviour and praise the good. 

Minchin is a boy and so far has been a bit reserved, but he purrs a lot and is quite smoochy.

Bukkit is a beautiful girl and is a bit crazy.  She also has quite a purr on her and likes to snuggle up with Chyken. 

They are both about 8 weeks old and came from Ingrid's Haven.  If you're near Melbourne and in the market for a cat you should go see her.

It has been very hard to get photos of them as they don't sit still for a second, always off exploring and climbing up things.  Including people.  I already have scratches all over my arms and hands.  Please excuse the grotty state of my floors.  You just scrolled up to check them out, didn't you?  Gah!


How many cats makes a crazy cat lady?  Please tell me it is more than four....

Friday, November 25, 2011

Things I Know - Volume Ten

I know I'm linking up with Shae from Yay for Home! again.

I know I've had another week of night shift.

I know that sleeping in the daytime is goooooood.

I know that Christmas is looming ever closer.

I know that my plan to ignore it seems to be working so far.

I know I'm going to have to face it eventually.

I know I don't want to.

I know that two years has gone by so quickly and yet, so slowly at the same time.

I know today is Turducken Day for all my American friends.  I hope they are celebrating!

I know Americans should stop putting pumpkin in pies, it's a VEGETABLE, people, it belongs next to the potatoes and the Turducken.

I know I really want a turducken.

I know I have some exciting news!

I know Chyken and I have decided that two cats in the castle is not enough...

I know tomorrow is Caturday and we are going to Ingrid's Haven to get a new kitten!

I don't know which one exactly, but I know it will be a ginger one.  I love ranga cats and I'm not ashamed to show it!


I know the photo above is part of the current kitten collection at the haven.

I know I stole that photo from the website and I'm sorry about the quality.

I know they are so CUTE!

I know it will be hard to just choose one.  Perhaps we won't?

I know there will be photos of the new arrival on Twitter and Facebook, probably from the car on the way home.  Are you following so you can see them?

I know the current Castle cats, Nutter and Sausage, will probably not be impressed.

I know they will get over it.

I know that right now, on my 'lunch' break at 3am, bedtime at 730am seems a verrryyyyyy long way away.

What do you know?


Tuesday, November 22, 2011

How To - Chicken Pesto Pizza

Here is a photo of the best pizza in the world:


Do you want to know how to make the best pizza in the world?  Never fear! I am here to help!



First off, pre-heat your oven to as hot as it will go.  (Or about 250 degrees.  Whichever is hotter.)

You will need the following...

Pita bread.  I use wholemeal, but any sort is fine.  In fact, any sort of pizza base would work, but I find this is the nommiest.

* The breast meat of a roast chicken.  One breast per pizza.  (You can also just buy chicken breasts and poach them, but I think the flavour is better if it comes from a roast chook.)  Chop up the chicken into rough 1cm squares.  You can use thighs if you like, but I don't like meat that originated too close to the bone.  I'm odd like that.

* Feta cheese.  One of the chunks you can get in the deli at the supermarket.  I use low fat, but any sort will do.  Cut it into 1cm-ish squares as well.

* Baby spinach.  A big handful per pizza.

* Pesto.  I use a basil based one.  I usually use one from Costo that is about $10 for a kilogram tub, but we'd run out, so I just got this one.  It worked fine.

Grated tasty cheese.  I use the pre grated stuff cos I'm lazy.


Spread a few tablespoons of pesto on your pita bread.


Put a small amount of cheese on.  Cheese before toppings on any pizza will change your life.


Pile a heap of baby spinach on.  Don't worry if it seems too high, the other things we put on will make it calm down.

Dot your feta all over the spinach.  Sometimes I hide it a bit under the spinach too.


Then park that chicken on the top.  ALL over.  More is more.  In my opinion, the problem with proper pizza shops is they don't put enough topping on. 


Then, more cheese.  About a handful.  Spread it all over.


Bung it in the oven and turn it down to about 200 degrees.  Check the pizza after 15 minutes.  It should be done, but if you like it a little bit browner leave it in for longer.  Keep an eye on it though, cos it will burn pretty easily.


I meant to take a photo once I sliced it up, but I was too busy eating it.  Sorry.

This pizza is amazing.  I promise you will love it.  It's also pretty good cold for the lunch the next day.

Why don't you make some today?

Friday, November 18, 2011

Things I Know - Volume Nine

I know I'm linking up again with Shae at Yay for home!

I'm know also flogging with Glowless from Where's My Glow?

I know someone bestowed my first ever blog award upon me this week.

I know I will write more about that soon.

I know that this week has been pretty good.  Certainly a lot better than the last few weeks.

I know I am very glad about that and I hope it continues.

I know we have a very lazy weekend planned.

I know I'm looking forward to it.

I know I took a tonne of photos when I made 'The Best Pizza In The World' a few days ago.

I know there might be a tutorial coming your way soon.

I know that you should go and read this article.  It could have been written by me.  (It wasn't, but it could have been)

I know you should go to Liz's blog and while you are there make sure you vote for her in the Nuffnang Asia-Pacific Blog Awards.

I know we have some very cool things going on in the Castle grounds at the moment, not the least of those is this rose bush which was a housewarming present.



I know I spent several months feeling convinced this rose bush was going to die.

I know I am very glad I was wrong.

I know there are also sunflowers growing almost before our very eyes.  I hope I remember to take a photo of them on the weekend.

I know a pay increase with back pay is wonderful.

I know the tax on back pay is bullshit.

I know we are going to put the back pay to good use on a road trip to NSW just after Christmas.

I know that just when I think people are starting to understand where I'm coming from, they do something that makes me realise they actually have no idea at all.

I know I am over Christmas and it hasn't even started.

I know I do not understand the need for Christmas themed nappies. 

I know there is a baby about to be born to some of my best friends.  I hope everything goes smoothly for them.  I'm waiting by my phone for the news! Please don't buy any Christmas nappies!!!


FYBF



What do you know?

Friday, November 11, 2011

Things I Know - Volume Eight

Things I Know about John Farnham concerts.


1. I have been to a concert in almost all the tours he had done since 1988.  You might call that 'obsessed', I call it 'committed'.


2. I know that if you join the fan club, you get great seats.


3. Chandeliers are appropriate for any occasion.


4. When Mr Farnham walks on to the stage, everyone WILL stand up.


5. The man may be 60, but he still has it.  He had the entire Palais Theatre capacity crowd eating out of the palm of his hand.

6. He will make the same lame, terrible jokes every time, but he will pretend they are new and everyone will laugh at them anyway.


7. The first half, which was an 'acoustic' set, was fantastic, even if it did include a banjo.


8.  The first half had NOTHING on the second. 


9. He played the entire Whispering Jack album in the second set.  In order.  And told us anecdotes about the songs. 

10. The more bagpipers there are, the better the John Farnham concert.



11. I know he has NOT retired, and I for one am VERY glad about that.



I'm linking up with Shae from Yay for Home! for Things I Know again this week.  Click the button and see what other people know!




What do you know?
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