Jamie Beckwith
@terriblezodin.bsky.social
One half of the team behind The Terrible Zodin fanzine, Yes Virginia, This is a Podcast and Black Archive: A Christmas Carol
http://doctorwhottz.blogspot.com
https://m.soundcloud.com/user-420543381/sets/yes-virginia-this-is-a-podcast
http://doctorwhottz.blogspot.com
https://m.soundcloud.com/user-420543381/sets/yes-virginia-this-is-a-podcast
I forgot to reply to you and say this made me snortle for a good while
November 22, 2025 at 10:37 AM
I forgot to reply to you and say this made me snortle for a good while
“They should call these Frosted Crack Fancies! Wow the cream, the texture, smaller is better, this just melt in your mouth, it’s an absolute taste sensation a mosaic of flavour! I’m seeing colours I’ve never seen before! Can I give it 5.1?”
November 22, 2025 at 10:25 AM
“They should call these Frosted Crack Fancies! Wow the cream, the texture, smaller is better, this just melt in your mouth, it’s an absolute taste sensation a mosaic of flavour! I’m seeing colours I’ve never seen before! Can I give it 5.1?”
Bonus! Mr Kipling’s Frosted Fancies taste test by David who’d never had one before! No methodology, I therefore record verbatim his reaction as follows:
November 22, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Bonus! Mr Kipling’s Frosted Fancies taste test by David who’d never had one before! No methodology, I therefore record verbatim his reaction as follows:
Overall rating: I’d give this a solid 4. Leslie concurred. David in complete disregard for the system gave it 3.8 which therefore means those of you who want sliding scale decimals have got your wish as this averages out to a 3.9!
November 22, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Overall rating: I’d give this a solid 4. Leslie concurred. David in complete disregard for the system gave it 3.8 which therefore means those of you who want sliding scale decimals have got your wish as this averages out to a 3.9!
Consistency: Overall pretty solid, not too much crumbling until your very last bite.
November 22, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Consistency: Overall pretty solid, not too much crumbling until your very last bite.
Flavour: Not very boozy and quite a citrusy flavour. Not too sweet, very pleasant. David noted it’s not as zesty as he would like.
November 22, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Flavour: Not very boozy and quite a citrusy flavour. Not too sweet, very pleasant. David noted it’s not as zesty as he would like.
Pastry to Fruit ratio: Pretty generous, not much of a gap inside and as already covered some sauce already oozing out.
November 22, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Pastry to Fruit ratio: Pretty generous, not much of a gap inside and as already covered some sauce already oozing out.
Pastry texture: Thick, firm, almost crispy (in a good way) and not too sweet.
November 22, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Pastry texture: Thick, firm, almost crispy (in a good way) and not too sweet.
David also went on to do something I don’t normally cover which is the branding. We’ve not tried to Tesco’s ones yet but David noted Sainsbury’s has a significantly bigger box and lots of appealing text describing the mince pies whereas he felt the Tesco box was quite plain
November 22, 2025 at 10:22 AM
David also went on to do something I don’t normally cover which is the branding. We’ve not tried to Tesco’s ones yet but David noted Sainsbury’s has a significantly bigger box and lots of appealing text describing the mince pies whereas he felt the Tesco box was quite plain
Appearance: Snowflake motif topping with a light dusting of icing sugar. The mince is oozing out slightly as you can see from the photos which suggests a generous filling but which David felt was factory sloppiness.
November 22, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Appearance: Snowflake motif topping with a light dusting of icing sugar. The mince is oozing out slightly as you can see from the photos which suggests a generous filling but which David felt was factory sloppiness.
On the flip side however I do encourage everyone to buy at least one box of “By Sainsbury’s” (including free from) in December as every penny will be donated to Comic Relief
Right on with the show.
Right on with the show.
November 22, 2025 at 10:21 AM
On the flip side however I do encourage everyone to buy at least one box of “By Sainsbury’s” (including free from) in December as every penny will be donated to Comic Relief
Right on with the show.
Right on with the show.
And Leslie and David join in the taste test and they’re not employed by Sainsbury’s or in retail so you can trust this to be impartial.
November 22, 2025 at 10:20 AM
And Leslie and David join in the taste test and they’re not employed by Sainsbury’s or in retail so you can trust this to be impartial.
I see you know your Christmas crackers
November 20, 2025 at 9:42 PM
I see you know your Christmas crackers
Overall rating: Don’t say I don’t take feedback, last year there was a whole debate about decimal points so here we go. 4.5 to reflect the fact that if I give it 5 I preclude anything being better but they’re really good that a 4 didn’t seem right. This is democracy manifest!
November 20, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Overall rating: Don’t say I don’t take feedback, last year there was a whole debate about decimal points so here we go. 4.5 to reflect the fact that if I give it 5 I preclude anything being better but they’re really good that a 4 didn’t seem right. This is democracy manifest!
Flavour: Rich, fruity and a boozy punch, this is how a good mince pie should taste
Consistency: Holds well, with very little crumbling
Consistency: Holds well, with very little crumbling
November 20, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Flavour: Rich, fruity and a boozy punch, this is how a good mince pie should taste
Consistency: Holds well, with very little crumbling
Consistency: Holds well, with very little crumbling
Appearance: Christmas Star pattern embossed on the lid with a very light dusting of icing sugar
Pastry texture: Smooth, firm and buttery
Pastry to Fruit ratio: Very generous indeed, not quite full to the brim, but no scrimping here
Pastry texture: Smooth, firm and buttery
Pastry to Fruit ratio: Very generous indeed, not quite full to the brim, but no scrimping here
November 20, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Appearance: Christmas Star pattern embossed on the lid with a very light dusting of icing sugar
Pastry texture: Smooth, firm and buttery
Pastry to Fruit ratio: Very generous indeed, not quite full to the brim, but no scrimping here
Pastry texture: Smooth, firm and buttery
Pastry to Fruit ratio: Very generous indeed, not quite full to the brim, but no scrimping here
New technology in narratives are always intriguing to revisit decades later when said technology is now so embedded in our culture. Heck I’m writing this on a phone connected to the internet and there this devices primary use, I barely ever use it to actually call someone!
November 20, 2025 at 8:20 AM
New technology in narratives are always intriguing to revisit decades later when said technology is now so embedded in our culture. Heck I’m writing this on a phone connected to the internet and there this devices primary use, I barely ever use it to actually call someone!
If it was written now even though it was only somebody who had called the number once (the recipient of the call sold VHS recorders!) it would have been saved with a name and GPS tracking would have avoided the looking through maps to see which roads ran by a railway
November 20, 2025 at 8:19 AM
If it was written now even though it was only somebody who had called the number once (the recipient of the call sold VHS recorders!) it would have been saved with a name and GPS tracking would have avoided the looking through maps to see which roads ran by a railway
I remember watching this on original broadcast (including the final line) which is a testament to how intriguing it was the time
November 20, 2025 at 8:17 AM
I remember watching this on original broadcast (including the final line) which is a testament to how intriguing it was the time
This episode stands out as different as officer must try to piece together clues in real time over a mobile phone connection which is slowly deteriorating as the battery runs out. In 1997 this would have been quite a novel concept as mobile phone use was in its infancy
November 20, 2025 at 8:16 AM
This episode stands out as different as officer must try to piece together clues in real time over a mobile phone connection which is slowly deteriorating as the battery runs out. In 1997 this would have been quite a novel concept as mobile phone use was in its infancy
The two women are fine. Monroe praises their quick thinking to hit redial but the wife reveals it must’ve been an accident when the phone fell to the floor during the initial struggle. She reveals it wouldn’t have occurred to her to use the phone… “I only really have it for emergencies” 🤣
November 20, 2025 at 8:14 AM
The two women are fine. Monroe praises their quick thinking to hit redial but the wife reveals it must’ve been an accident when the phone fell to the floor during the initial struggle. She reveals it wouldn’t have occurred to her to use the phone… “I only really have it for emergencies” 🤣
Two of the robbers are duly captured but the third had a knife and a brief hostage situation ensues until he is persuaded to surrender
November 20, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Two of the robbers are duly captured but the third had a knife and a brief hostage situation ensues until he is persuaded to surrender
Taking no chances now Insp Monroe has a police car go by sirens blaring, sure enough they hear it over the phone so know they’re in the right place. They track down the bookie who persuades Monroe he’ll act as bait and lead the would be robbers into an ambush
November 20, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Taking no chances now Insp Monroe has a police car go by sirens blaring, sure enough they hear it over the phone so know they’re in the right place. They track down the bookie who persuades Monroe he’ll act as bait and lead the would be robbers into an ambush