On the Sofa: Shopping, Films & Horlicks

An eclectic 'basket' chat today......while I wait for the Horlicks to cool before I try it for the first time. Some recent purchases, a late Christmas, memories of 'Blue Peter', how I'm entertaining myself......and then the taste test.
Please be kind and respectful when you share comments and opinions.
Living a simple life......and finding joy in each day.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'Buy me a coffee'......please ignore it if you have no money.......please give a little if you enjoy the videos and want to help the channel to continue... buymeacoffee.c...
Address: Vivi's Kitchen Garden, PO Box 81305, London, SE26 9FY
My on-line shop is at: viviskitchenga...
My blog: viviskitchenga...
I'm on Facebook: / viviskitchengarden
Instagram: / vivigregory
For one off money stuff: www.paypal.me/...

[@survivor1442]

I always remember each Christmas they made a hanging decoration with metal clothes hangers with tinsel and ‘Real’ candles … couldn’t do that now 😳🔥😅

[@WhatVivididnext]

Gosh, no! 😂

[@suegreen940]

Yes, me too. It always meant Christmas was coming ❤

[@marilyn9155]

Keep the stoneware jug as a present to yourself, Vivi, it brings you joy! Good you had a successful shopping trip. Whew! Glad the card finally arrived!! You are most welcome. Love your enthusiasm about the books .. What a charming story, Il Postino is. I’m glad you’re taking time for yourself…stay warm ! ❄️❄️💨💨 Love, Marilyn xx ❤

[@WhatVivididnext]

I loved receiving your card, such a lovely make! 😊

[@charlotterydz6343]

Makes it even more special being delayed ☺️ opening a lovely handmade card during the long dark January, with beautiful colours that now are not so far away in the form of Springtime 🌷must have felt lovely for Vivi 💕

[@marilyn9155]

@ Ah , thank you, charlotte. The long , bleak winter days have seen me Indoors , doing many crafts , I must say . I even completed my very first ( very) mini quilt. I love fabric. ❤️xx

[@WhatVivididnext]

@ It did. 😊

[@charlotterydz6343]

@@marilyn9155 that sounds like a nice way to have spent the winter time 🧶 🪡 I gave macrame a go end of last year, which once I got the hang of it really enjoyed 💕

[@lisafenn4238]

Vivi I was so glad to see a video from you today. Things have not been good for me and my anxiety has been dreadful, so it was nice to sit and watch you as I ate my dinner. I remember Blue Peter ' with a pair of Vals old knickers!' lol. Wonderful memories of days before things in my life got bad. Sending my love xxxxx

[@heatherjameson5090]

Noooo not ridiculous Vivi, I cry at commercials, books, music, you name it I blub. It means we have a lovely soft caring side. Good video - thanks - you. :0)

[@WhatVivididnext]

Thank you lovely. 😊

[@janegoodfellow1529]

Vouchers are an underrated but WONDERFUL gift, and ensure that the recipient gets exactly what they want or need 🎁 How kind and thoughtful of this person.

[@WhatVivididnext]

Such a lovely gift.....and an even more fabulous surprise coming so late (yay for my PO box working now). 😊

[@debbieframpton3857]

I live in the states and Shop Kroger I buy a lot of gift cards many of those come with an extra 200 bonus points towards gas some of those I use others I give for gifts. My daughters are 43 and 47 they prefer the gift cards so they can buy what they want

[@dd7521]

I vividly remember the elephant they brought into the studio... and what it did on the floor. As children we thought it was hilarious.😁

[@WhatVivididnext]

I was too young for that one but have seen it on clip shows.....soooo funny! 😂

[@isobelsmith6999]

That could've been me, talking about bowls and jugs! However, I've gradually culled mine, to just my very favourites, and they take up the whole of the top shelf of my old kitchen dresser. Soooo pleasing to see every day, and to always have a useful vessel on hand 😊

[@kerrybyers257]

OMGoodyGoodness!The Thunderbirds! Haven’t thought of them for decades! So creative and quintessential MCM entertainment. Wiki fact: Gerry Anderson had the puppets incinerated after the show ended. ☹️ And David Attenborough is a venerable 98!! turning 99 on 8 May. Cheers to Sir David!

[@JennyGunston-uh5og]

When my children were young we lived opposite a training centre for guide dogs. They used to take our milk bottle tops over there.

[@WhatVivididnext]

Oh how lovely...did you see them out and about? 😊

[@JennyGunston-uh5og]

@@WhatVivididnextoh yes they walked them up and down the road, including barriers. Not easy to negotiate with a double buggy

[@janegoodfellow1529]

Was that in Leamington Spa Jenny? I grew up there, and saw the puppers all the time. Still do now, when I visit.

[@JennyGunston-uh5og]

@@janegoodfellow1529no in Wokingham in Berkshire. No longer there.

[@lulucly]

Thanks for the visit - always enjoyable!

[@WhatVivididnext]

Thank you lovely. 😊

[@Briardie]

I love your dvd choices Vivi and you sharing your memories and reviews. I would love it as a regular feature. I am starting to collect dvds of favourite films too. Analogue is getting fashionable once again. Yippee.

[@WhatVivididnext]

Yay for being fashionable again......everything comes back eventually. 😉

[@janegoodfellow1529]

I don't know how you manage to come up with such interesting, helpful content so regularly and reliably ❤ You make it look easy but a lot of hard work must go into it 👏

[@WhatVivididnext]

Thank you lovely.....yes, it's hard work....but I hope it always feels easy to watch. 😊

[@janegoodfellow1529]

Always ​@@WhatVivididnext❤

[@AK-gh6cp]

Oh Vivi, you often bring a smile to my face when I watch your videos, but today I need to comment about the joy you have brought me. As you likely know, Canada is a very funny mishmash of standard UK English and US English. We tend toward including most of the Us and many of the Ss instead of zeds, and tend toward certain expressions. Well... we tend toward saying zero instead of naught for 0. That said, I am a scientist in a very quantitative field, and in mathematics and science we often say things like "T naught" (for T_0 initial temperature at t = 0, for example). Until you said it in this video, I had never heard the 2000s being referred to as the "the naughties". I just love this SO much, and am going to adopt it. I hope it catches over here across the pond. Thanks for the glimmer, and greetings from Canada. :-)

[@WhatVivididnext]

Awww, thanks lovely...it brings me so much pleasure to think my videos make folk smile. 😊

[@AK-gh6cp]

@@WhatVivididnext Yes, it is important to know that what you do makes a difference. :) - Anna

[@suegreen940]

I remember the advent candle decoration they made from tinsel and coat hangers on blue Peter, they'd light a candle in the 4 weeks leading up to Christmas 😊

[@WhatVivididnext]

I was always amazed the whole thing didn't go up in flames! 😉

[@dinglehopperdaydreamer9882]

There's nothing lovelier than a jug on the table or window sill filled with daffodils or sunflowers, or sweet peas from the garden it just brings joy. I have a few jugs too Vivi I love em x

[@WhatVivididnext]

Absolutely! Especially at this time of year when time outside is cut short by grotty weather. 😊

[@dinglehopperdaydreamer9882]

@@WhatVivididnext definitely. I'm going to watch the postman x

[@aileengasson3541]

Well done on a 4 hour "jaunt" Vivi. I spent about 3 hours out with my daughter, part of which was having a very lovely lunch, and I was feeling it the next day. It was so nice, made even more so that I ran into a cousin I hadn't seen for about 6 years or so. The Blue Peter collecting I remember was when they asked for old cutlery, and always had to say to make sure to check with their parents that it was surplus to requirements. I always had visions of mums and dads going to lay the table to find all their cutlery gone! We were always amazed at how they got the cats to stay on their laps (although they often didn't) and decided they must have had velcro on their paws.🤣🤣 I'm with you on the Horlicks, as well as jug collections - although I have decluttered mine down to about 5.

[@WhatVivididnext]

Aww, how lovely to have that time with your daughter AND the bumping into a cousin. 😊 Hahahaha......I wonder if there were ever any cases of parents scratching their heads over missing cutlery...... 😉

[@AlisonGreenValleyCrone]

Blue Peter had my stamp collection and I remember the one where they collected old keys. Back in those days days a lot of people still smoked and empty matchboxes were treasured to make furniture for dolls

[@WhatVivididnext]

I loved making furniture from match-boxes! My grandparents didn't smoke but always had match boxes for their fires......they'd save them up for us kids to keep us quiet on rainy days. 😊

[@SuperNorini]

I have a dvd player which I really only use for yoga but I'm thinking of reverting to checking out the charity shops now. Limited tv channels tend to leave watching rubbish or switching off..... Beautiful films make beautiful impressions on our memories and hearts. Poor Massimo ❤ Xxx

[@WhatVivididnext]

Exactly. I'm thoroughly enjoying curling up with some great films....and the charity shops seem to have loads!

[@lollys9041]

Hi Vivi, yes loved Blue Peter. Peter Purvis, John Noakes and Valerie Singleton and also Leslie Judd. I remember sending in bottle tops and stamps as I recall. I think the tortoise was called Fred. I also remember Percy Thrower used to show us gardening occasionally. You have sent me off on a tangent Vivi…although now I dislike zoos I used to love Animal Magic with Johnny Morris and his wonderful voices. Happy days.😻❤️🙏

[@WhatVivididnext]

Awwww, lovely Percy Thrower......the nations Granddad at the time. I loved Animal Magic too. 😁

[@detree930]

oooh i remember Blue Peter ! The first life boat appeal was in 1966 and since then viewers have funded an amazing 28 !! life boats . Think that they stopped around 2016 but not sure on that . Thanks for the trip down memory lane x

[@WhatVivididnext]

Wow, 28, that's fantastic...bravo BP and all their viewers. 😊

[@kathymc1863]

Sounds like I would’ve loved watching Blue Peter Vivi 😊

[@charlotterydz6343]

It was such a big part of my childhood, didn’t realise it at the time, but now thinking back on all the things I did because of Blue Peter, Bring and Buys, sponsored walks/ swims, gardening, projects, arts learned so much about so many different things 💙

[@Glory3823]

nice old English Blue Jug ❤ i have a Jug i sure you might like❤its a french Jug Gold with lovely flowers its pretty ❤i was thinking of giving it to a charity Shop ❤

[@MoonSpinners]

Omg Vivi, this made me laugh AND cry today. I laughed at the Blue Peter memories I’m the John Noakes and Shep era and collected those blooming milk bottle tops like a maniac, they were everywhere 😂 and I cried at you mentioning Il Postino because Massimo dying so soon after filming reminds me of Dermot Morgan dying one day after filming the final series of Father Ted. Absolutely tragic. And I laughed again at your face when trying the Horlicks 😂 (sorry) 🤗

[@WhatVivididnext]

Aww, yes, Father Ted makes me weep buckets too. 😢

[@juliesykes6121]

I remember Blue Peter made an advent candle holder out of coat hangers and tinsel

[@WhatVivididnext]

How did the whole thing not go up in flames?!! 😉

[@charlotterydz6343]

😂 that’s so 60s!!!

[@beverley1539]

Hiya. Vivi, Thankyou for the visit. Honestly when you tasted the Horlicks and said I don’t like it I was saying it along with you lol. We just got hit with a ton of snow ❄☃here in Southern Ontario Canada in the past few days. I was out doing errands in my wee car and ended up doing the fishtail skid as I hit black ice that was covered by snowdrift the wind 🌬pushing me closer to a pretty decent drop off saying to myself hang on you got this! Whew had to pull over as the adrenaline was a pumping. Unfortunately 2 other cars just minutes away not so lucky. Anywhoo just sharing a moment. When you tear up think many of us here do also. Take care enjoy your videos.🐝🇨🇦

[@WhatVivididnext]

Crikey! I'm glad you got out of the skid OK.....scary. Time to hunker down and enjoy some indoor pursuits for a while! Take care. X

[@Glory3823]

Blue peter did a time capsual they put in the BBC Garden

[@WhatVivididnext]

I remember. 😊

[@Briardie]

When they put it in the garden I remember thinking how old I would be when it was dug up again. I was so disappointed when the day finally came to retrieve it. Water had got in and ruined so much of what had been put in it 🙁

[@ShirleyBonner-Jones]

Summer drink.. Iced water with strawberry and cucumber and sprig of minty infused I love it

[@joannelandriault7715]

WHSmith was in Canada from 1950 to 1989. I remember visiting one as a teenager and they sold stationary and books. If I ever get back to the UK I would love to visit one again! Thanks for the chat Vivi. 🌟❤️

[@WhatVivididnext]

Sadly loads of them are closing here.....the business is focussing more on their 'travel' shops so a lot of the lovely stationery bits have disappeared. 😢

[@grumpy_poo]

I loved Horlicks , haven't seen it for years but no the 'flavoured' stuff.... I know that malt smell too my Aunt lived in Burton on Trent and the smell of brewery lingered everywhere....😄

[@WhatVivididnext]

It can be a very pungent whiff! 😉

[@beeoperanto6930]

🤣hi Vivi , i am sitting on my lounge floor surrounded by cardboard and sticky tape making a life size horse head puppet, am using recycled materials . which i.m making for up coming festivals for my story telling tent .when you started talking about blue peter, am sure the start of my making skills was from that programme, my poor dad had no socks for work has i used them up trying to make a clanger they showed, my mum wouldn't buy me sticky back plastic because it was expensive so each time b/peter used sticky back plastic ,i would go in the kitchen giving my poor mum the look! lol. and i remember sending in milk bottle tops for the land rover to go to Africa, i was in awe of the land rover ,that i met my second husband because his land rover was parked by his digs, and before i met him i would hug his land rover before going out with my then boyfriend, we still have it, John Noakes open our school swimming pool and i wanted to be Valerie Singleton when i grow up because i dreamed she lived in a white house in London with the Siamese cat , you have made my evening laughing at these memories

[@WhatVivididnext]

Awww, lovely memories! And yay for your puppet making....still using those Blue Peter skills! We never had Fairy washing up liquid or sticky back plastic in the house either.....far too expensive......but we made do with what we had and it was always fun. 😊

[@janemcmullen9575]

Great video - thank you! A recent episode of Call the Midwife featured the Blue Peter keys appeal & Dr Turner’s children accidentally posted off his car keys & he had to dash to the postbox to ask the postman to retrieve them. I was sad when the Blue Peter annuals stopped being published.

[@WhatVivididnext]

Oh what fun that they referenced it in CtM. 😊 I used to love the annuals too....we never got them....but my best friend did. ❤️

[@charlotterydz6343]

The annuals!!!!! I’d get one for Christmas every year. One of my favourite gifts, such a fun thing for a youngster. Sad they stopped them, I guess there’s more onliney/ appy stuff now?? 😔

[@ShirleyBonner-Jones]

We love pottery tthow down too. Especially that celeb one. And the infectious joy they all had

[@Janlcoyne]

I wonder if I can find it in the US? Vivi, you will receive the Christmas card/gift I got for you in December when you get to your new place 😊!

[@lindafoster4628]

When you talk about malt extract, reminds me of when l was at school, my mum always gave us a spoonful every day, l loved it,

[@WhatVivididnext]

Me too! 😊

[@KarenBowers4]

I love Law and Order, I watch it all the time. I'm with you Vivi I love most kitchen pottery.

[@WhatVivididnext]

Oooooh, what is it about kitchen pottery?! 😊

[@KarenBowers4]

@ I think it’s like you said not only pretty but useful

[@Kight213]

Sir David Attenborough is 98 years young. Bless him. My hubby loves Olvatine but I can’t even stand the smell. I just so enjoy your videos. Thank you.

[@WhatVivididnext]

Thank you so much lovely. 😊

[@mandymaxwell3249]

Thankyou as always my lovely xx

[@WhatVivididnext]

Awww, and thank YOU too. 😊

[@debbiealston6584]

Blue Peter - Yay! One of my prized possessions is my Blue Peter competition winners badge ( and certificate) from their 1979 Gorgeous Grub competition where they put many of the winning recipients a book. My badge got me into many places free!

[@WhatVivididnext]

Woohooooo! I'm jealous! 😁

[@charlotterydz6343]

Well done 👏 Yes I remember that you’d get free entry to places with one too, such a great prize 💙

[@gillianmeehan3206]

I'm the proud owner of a Blue Peter badge that I was honoured with in 1960's. I made a gonk or similar and sent it in. My dear husband still comments that 'this isn't Blue Peter you know' when I make daft suggestions to fix something with sticky tape or brass fastener. It's generally something like the car or the boiler etc.

[@WhatVivididnext]

Yay for having a badge!!! Brilliant (I'm jealous!)!. 😊

[@StevieWeevie66]

I've got into silent movies. All the best ones are on KZbin. Lillian Gish, Mary Pickford, etc. 1917 was the earliest made that I watched! Magical

[@WhatVivididnext]

How fab! 😊

[@Prettypages71]

Big sis! … I love Digest Tea and Holicks .. 😮😊❤😅

[@WhatVivididnext]

😉

[@janegoodfellow1529]

I don't think I've ever drunk either ovaltine or horlicks. In our household our hot, comforting drink of choice was Bournvita which was delicious!

[@Glory3823]

And christmas decks from metal coat Hangers 😂❤

[@Briardie]

"And here's one I prepared earlier!"

[@DonnaLatty-kh6db]

GM watching this on Sun.2nd yes I watched and loved Law and Order

[@WhatVivididnext]

Mornin' lovely. 😊

[@isobelsmith6999]

I love blackbirds *and* lino cuts, and now I love Rachel Appleby's artwork!

[@WhatVivididnext]

Such a lovely card......I'll definitely be keeping an eye open for her work now. 😊

[@charlotterydz6343]

Her work is beautiful 😍

[@charlotterydz6343]

@@WhatVivididnext 🥰

[@sophiawolthof1238]

👍👍👍

[@Glory3823]

used to watch Blue Peter 😂and Magpie ❤cracker Jack 😂❤

[@Briardie]

Blue Peter was my favourite on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Tuesdays was Animal Magic day with Zoo Keeper Johnny Morris with Dotty the Ring Tailed Lemur, she sat on his shoulder eating grapes. And Johnny often had Terry Nutkins on the show talking about Gemini the abandoned Sea lion pup that he rescued. You can still see clips on youtube. Johnny Morris was an unsung hero. They dont make children's tv like they used to.

[@WhatVivididnext]

@@Briardie Oh I LOVED Animal Magic! ❤❤

[@NaturallyLibby]

I have joined a pottery class since Sept 2024 I absolutely love it. This term I am making a rhubarb forcing pot. Its the highlight of my week. ❤

[@WhatVivididnext]

Oh how fabulous!!! I love crafts for the fact that we can produce beautiful objects that are thoroughly practical too. Have fun. 😊

[@sandragardener9713]

Vivi ... Thanks for the reminder of the film Il Postino....love, love, love the film. I have on my bookshelf the Harvill Press edition of the Pablo Neruda poems that were included in the movie Il Postino. I think they are due another read on this wintery February weekend.

[@WhatVivididnext]

Yes, definitely worth another read. ❤️

[@cherylgerrans2429]

Hi Viv do you remember, it started with the line it's Friday it's 5.oclock it's crack a jack. Used to watch that as a kid.

[@WhatVivididnext]

Yes, such fun. 😊

[@kathleensmith6200]

I got a box of Twinning teas in December, just for fun. It has multiple varieties in it. There are some that are really bad. My favorite tea is plain black or Earl Grey.

[@WhatVivididnext]

I'm glad to have had this box to try......now on the hunt for a box just of the strawberry ones.....so good!

[@kathleensmith6200]

@@WhatVivididnext I don't think it is the same one, no strawberry flavors in mine ) :

[@susanlamb7431]

Beautiful il postino film!

[@WhatVivididnext]

Sooooo beautiful. ❤️

[@GeraldineRowe]

Love, love, love Belleville Rendezvous!

[@WhatVivididnext]

I am SO excited to see it again. 😁

[@milda0820]

💖💖💖

[@angeladavies1665]

My mother gave us Ovaltine in the 50's. I buy Horlicks every winter. Sometimes I drink it in summer if I have trouble sleeping. Sleeping problems comes with age unfortunately 🙄 ❤

[@ErnieCG]

Lovely vivi

[@WhatVivididnext]

Thank you Caroline. 😊

[@maryphillips864]

I believe Blue Peter started in the 1958 with Christopher Trace and Leila Williams. Leila left and Valerie Singleton took over... I remember Valerie, John Noakes and Peter Purves, my era 😊

[@WhatVivididnext]

Awww, my era was Lesley Judd not Valerie. I loved it. 😊

[@isobelsmith6999]

I'm so glad you had such a successful shopping trip. I love looking at the items in your shop, but I think the postage to Australia would probably be exorbitant 🤔 I should check, though!

[@isobelsmith6999]

Oh yes, crazy! 😱

[@WhatVivididnext]

Ugh, yes, so expensive to post.....sadly the postage cost is out of my hands. 😢

[@janefoster7126]

I remember Blue Peter being for the middle class kids, not us council estate kids. I always found it a bit posh 😁 We watched Magpie on ITV, not Blue Peter on BBC. Our TV was tuned to ITV most of the time.

[@dd7521]

I remember wanting a Fairy Liquid bottle for the projects they made, but we never had the posh stuff. 😁

[@WhatVivididnext]

I was a council estate kid too....ours was always BBC so I never saw Magpie. 😉

[@Misstree62]

Is it the artificial sweetener in the Horlicks?

[@WhatVivididnext]

Possibly....though I think it's mainly the malt taste....

[@ShirleyBonner-Jones]

16th October 1958 was the first episode of blue Peter

[@ellieb3930]

I have to know - does Horlicks still leave a gluggy mess in the bottom of the mug, or have they improved the formula? That gluggy mess in the bottom used to make me feel queasy when I was washing my mother's mug 🤢

[@WhatVivididnext]

Hahaha.....I hear you. I didn't actually notice as I didn't finish it. Yuk. 😉

[@pwhitley44]

That's ok Viv. I can't abide vegemite!

[@lollys9041]

RNLI Littlehampton Vivi. 😻❤️🙏

[@WhatVivididnext]

Yay! 😊

[@tommeltje1]

Jugs!.. I have a lot..🤫

[@jowilson5168]

Those instant sachets of ovaltine and horlicks (and hot chocolate too) bear no relation to the product I remember as a child. I loved ovaltine made with hot milk( whole milk, not skimmed or semi skimmed) and not a sweetener in sight apart from good old sugar. Yet another product that has been ' improved' in recent years- and ruined in the process. Bah humbug !!

[@kathrynhall4775]

🩷🩷🩷

[@theresepazell7875]

I rather Nestles Chocolate better.Cant stand the other..ugh. Take care. Rainning here.

[@Glory3823]

😂like me no like spear mint never liked Chewing Gum never saw the point of it 😂😂❤❤ does your Chewing gum loose its flavour on the Bedroom over night 😂😂😂😂😂 ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ you should get the original Horlicks not that instant rubbish the original Holicks with full cream milk same with olverteen❤

[@WhatVivididnext]

I'll pass! 😉

[@Glory3823]

@@WhatVivididnextguess u mean Holicks ❤❤👍

[@Lindsay-n4r]

on the bed POST overnight

[@Glory3823]

😂never heard of either film😊 the last film i saw was in 2018 the Film Mary Magdalene🤍🤍🤍🕊

[@sophiawolthof1238]

👍👍👍