Appletiser and other bits......

Elgin, one of the areas near Cape Town is famous for apples. And even more famous for something called Appletiser and if you have never tasted this drink, you have one amazing treat in store. It is 100% pure, natural, no preservatives and no additives. It is also the best sparkling applejuice on the planet. Non-alcoholic too. It also comes in grape and pear.

I mentioned this in a comment yesterday, when Sandra asked how we dealt with childhood ailments. In South Africa, we always gave children (and adults!) Appletiser to sip and Marie biscuits to nibble, and I have been so lucky to find them here in the UK too. Sandra said she missed Appletiser, (she also grew up in SA) and so I started googling and it is there! In the States! It is sold mainly through health food outlets, I think, but there is a complete list of places to find it on the link above. It has been available in Europe and Autralasia for a good few years.

And no, I am not being paid a penny to tell you to go and try it. Appletiser does not know I exist, and we all know I am not in the States either. However, it is so good, and I know many of you prefer 100% natural goodness, so I thought I would give you the info. Let me know if you try it! (And yes, Mr Appletiser man, I would LOVE a free case delivered to my door, thankyouverymuch! You're welcome.)

While I am talking about apples, a friend of mine has a wonderful recipe for windfall cake - made with chunks of apples and sultanas. It freezes beautifully too. I will post the recipe later.

Moving on.....

I am sitting here waiting for the gasman to come back with the "thing" he needs to fix the heating. Typically, the sun is shining today, and it is marginally warmer than it has been.

The sun did not, however, shine on the British Banking System yesterday. It nearly tottered off the edge of a cliff. The government stepped in overnight to save it, and only the markets will decide if they have done enough. I said the world was in a mess. I was right. The financial world as we knew it is gone.

Thankfully, they appear to be putting measures in place to prevent banking bosses from awarding themselves those unbelievable monopoly money numbers in bonus payments. For doing such a stellar job. I really do believe the $300+million the Lehman boss paid himself should be appropriated and put back into the public purse. Seeing the public now own a good part of the banks. That would be you and me. Tax payers. Sigh.

It is now later - as in 4.30pm, and the gas man has indeed been. I have heating! And the sun is shining. He was hilarious, and kept me laughing the whole time he was here. He also serviced the boiler and while he did mention that the boiler is old and very much past its prime, he does think it will survive the winter. Hallelujah! Something works! I can think about options next year. Gooooooood boiler. I am proud of you.