Ello, ello, ello.

We’ve been on the beat with a bobby again – Yorkshire bobby turned author, Mike Pannett, that is. Regular readers might have read about Mike here before as we’ve been working with him for a good while now – he’s even been in to do a private reading for the Fondant Fancies, our very own workplace WI.

This time we’ve been touring the country with Mike to spread the word about his latest book, Not On My Patch Lad, which is filled with tales from his days policing North Yorkshire. Not only that but we’re in it too – Mike was so appreciative of our help with his last book that he’s thanked us in the new one. We’re very honoured.

Mike spent many years down south working for the Metropolitan Police before eventually heading back to his home county, but far from finding a more peaceful life, he quickly discovered that policing the dales was no picnic. His books draw on his many experiences, both warmly funny and deadly serious, and make for a riveting read.

So with Little Urn in tow to ensure there was plenty of tea to go round, we’ve been meeting people at supermarkets and bookshops, giving them a chance to meet the man himself and even pick up a signed copy of his book. And we had a great time doing it too!

If you missed the tour and would love a signed copy of Mike’s book, we’ve got some good news for you. We’ve got ten signed first-edition copies of Not On My Patch Lad to give away. For chance to win, email our Liz with the answer to the following question by Wednesday 15th September.

Which police force did Mike serve in prior to joining North Yorkshire police?

Good luck everyone – and don’t forget to include your contact details!

For competition T&Cs click here.

Allow us to explain. The 75 year old in question is actually the De La Warr Pavilion in East Sussex, a great event and exhibition space you might remember reading about on our blog a few months ago.

Following their successful Wallace & Gromit weekend last Christmas we jumped at the chance to help them celebrate their 75th anniversary this Bank Holiday weekend – so we’re sending loads of tea and cake to help their tea party go with a swing.

As well as inviting people to come and help them recreate this vintage group photo shown above (which originally appeared in the Daily Mirror in 1936) there will also be street-party dancing with tunes from DJ Nikki Beatnik, parkour displays from Urban Shadows and loads more entertaining stuff. To find out more about the event, click here.

To say thanks for providing tea party goodies, the DLWP folk have given us 5 pairs of these great 75th anniversary mugs to give away. For a chance to win, just email your contact details to our Liz with the subject line ‘Mugs’ by 12pm on Wednesday 25th August.

For competition T&Cs click here.

As well as supplying various Womens Institutes with tea for 20 years and working with lots of them to do good things around the world like planting trees, we also have our own workplace WI – the Fondant Fancies.

Ladies from all around our business get together several times a year to meet, chat and do something interesting, whether that’s learning how to salsa or mastering the art of basic car maintenance!

Recently they had a visit from a Yorkshire bobby. And before you say it, no, they hadn’t been up to  mischief (at least as far as we know). The bobby in question was Mike Pannett, local policeman turned author.

Following a turn on the BBC’s Country Cops, Mike’s written a collection of amusing tales from his time spent policing in North Yorkshire. We supported him on his tour of the nation’s bookshops earlier this year so he was more than happy to treat our Fondant Fancies to a reading from his book ‘You’re coming with me lad‘. This special visit was followed by a Q&A session and a book-signing too.

To celebrate the forthcoming publication of Mike’s new book ‘Not on my patch lad’, we’re giving away ten signed copies of ‘You’re coming with me lad’. For a chance to win, just email your contact details to our Liz with the subject line ‘Fondant Fancies’.

It’s giveaway time on the blog once again. Not only that, but it’s giveaway time for the Baby Show… again! This time we’re offering pairs of tickets to the Baby Show, the UK’s biggest event dedicated to babies and pregnancy. Taking place at the Birmingham NEC from Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd May, it’s great for anyone who’s expecting or already has little ones.

Yorkshire Tea decaf is a big hit with mums who want to cut down on caffeine but don’t want to settle for a second-rate cup of tea, so we’ll be there spreading the word and giving out free samples, alongside many of the best baby and parenting brands.

The event promises to be a fantastic shopping experience where you can test out the latest products for little ones, and take the opportunity to speak to expert midwives, nursery nurses and, of course, fellow mums and dads. February’s show in London featured TV presenter and mum Tess Daly, baby expert Miriam Stoppard, nutrition expert Annabel Karmel, breast-feeding guru Clare Byam-Cook and others all taking to the stage to share their collective wisdom, so these shows are not to be missed!

For a chance to win a pair of tickets to the show, just send an email titled ‘Baby Show’ to our Sam with the answer to the following question:

What colour is the stripe on a box of Yorkshire Tea Decaf?

The Baby Show 2010 takes place at NEC, Birmingham, (21-23 May) and at London’s Earls Court, London (22 – 24 October). Tickets are available now and can be ordered from www.thebabyshow.co.uk

It’s time for another ticket giveaway! This time we’ve teamed up with the organisers of the Bristol Women’s Show, an event dedicated entirely to women. They say: “Over 70 exhibitors will be on hand to offer advice on everything from botox and fillers to starting your own business. It’s a great place to try out the latest health and beauty products and shop for those all important handbags and accessories. Come along to get inspired, be pampered and shop ’til you drop!”

The event takes place at Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol and we’ve got five pairs of tickets to give away. To enter the draw just send an email with ‘Bristol’ as the subject to liz.earl@bettysandtaylors.co.uk before midday on Friday 9th April.

Good luck!

Terms & Conditions: There are five main prizes, each consisting of a free pair of  tickets to the Bristol Women’s Show at Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol on Sunday 18th April. Travel is not provided. No applications from agents, third parties, organised groups or applications automatically generated by computer will be accepted. Closing time and date for entries for the prize draw is 12pm, 9th April 2010. The prize winners will be drawn at random under independent supervision on 12/04/10 from all entries received before this date. Taylors of Harrogate will notify the prize winners by email by 2pm, 12/04/10 to arrange collection of tickets from the venue. Entrants must be UK residents aged 18 or over. Personal contact details will only be kept on file by Taylors of Harrogate and will not be passed on to any third parties. In the event of non-acceptance if the prize winner is not contactable, Taylors of Harrogate reserves the right to reallocate the prize awarded to the next randomly drawn entry. No purchase is necessary to enter the free prize draw. You can only be entered into the free prize draw once. Multiple registrations will only result in one entry into the prize draw. Taylors of Harrogate will not accept responsibility for the loss of entries through technical fault, transmission delay or incomplete entries. Names and counties of the prize winners will be available if required by interested party sending a stamped addressed envelope to Yorkshire Tea, Taylors of Harrogate, Pagoda House, Plumpton Park, Harrogate, HG2 7LD. Employees and their families of Taylors of Harrogate, its agents or anyone professionally connected with the promotion are not eligible to enter. No alternative cash prize will be offered. By entering this promotion all participants will be deemed to have accepted and be bound by the terms and conditions. The right to amend, withdraw or terminate any aspect of this prize draw without prior notice is reserved if factors beyond the Promoter’s control require them to do so. The decision of the Promoter is final and binding in all matters. Correspondence will not be entered into. Promoter: Taylors of Harrogate, Plumpton Park, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG2 7LD

Would you like a chance to win a pair of tickets to London’s Country Living Fair? We’ve got five pairs of any-day tickets to give away, plus a pair of tickets for any day except Saturday for five runners-up. To enter the draw just send an email with ‘Wellies’ as the subject to liz.earl@bettysandtaylors.co.uk before midday on Monday 15th March.

The Country Living Fair is a showcase of specially selected independent British designers and small producers, running from 24th to 28th March at the Business Design Centre in Islington. Not only is it a great place to shop for everything from traditional furnishings and accessories to handmade crafts and fine foods, but we’ll be there too! For the third year running we’re bringing a little bit of Yorkshire to the capital by welcoming visitors to our spring tea room where they can enjoy a proper Yorkshire teatime. Hope to see you there.

Good luck!

Terms & Conditions: There are five main prizes, each consisting of a free pair of any-day tickets to the Country Living Fair at the Business Design Centre in Islington, London, from 24th-28th March. There are also five runner-up prizes, each consisting of a free pair of tickets to the fair on any day except Saturday. Travel is not provided. No applications from agents, third parties, organised groups or applications automatically generated by computer will be accepted. Closing time and date for entries for the prize draw is 12pm, 15th March 2010. The prize winners will be drawn at random under independent supervision on 17/03/10 from all entries received before this date. Taylors of Harrogate will notify the prize winners by email by 2pm, 17/03/10 to arrange collection of tickets from the venue. Entrants must be UK residents aged 18 or over. Personal contact details will only be kept on file by Taylors of Harrogate and will not be passed on to any third parties. In the event of non-acceptance if the prize winner is not contactable, Taylors of Harrogate reserves the right to reallocate the prize awarded to the next randomly drawn entry. No purchase is necessary to enter the free prize draw. You can only be entered into the free prize draw once. Multiple registrations will only result in one entry into the prize draw. Taylors of Harrogate will not accept responsibility for the loss of entries through technical fault, transmission delay or incomplete entries. Names and counties of the prize winners will be available if required by interested party sending a stamped addressed envelope to Yorkshire Tea, Taylors of Harrogate, Pagoda House, Plumpton Park, Harrogate, HG2 7LD. Employees and their families of Taylors of Harrogate, its agents or anyone professionally connected with the promotion are not eligible to enter. No alternative cash prize will be offered. By entering this promotion all participants will be deemed to have accepted and be bound by the terms and conditions. The right to amend, withdraw or terminate any aspect of this prize draw without prior notice is reserved if factors beyond the Promoter’s control require them to do so. The decision of the Promoter is final and binding in all matters. Correspondence will not be entered into. Promoter: Taylors of Harrogate, Plumpton Park, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG2 7LD

Barking mad about dogs? Well, thanks to our friends at the Wallace & Gromit Foundation and the Kennel Club we’ve got a giveaway that’s not to be sniffed at – we’re offering one lucky Yorkshire Tea fan four one-day tickets to the world’s largest dog show, Crufts 2010.

This classic celebration of all things canine takes place from 11th to 14th March at the Birmingham NEC, and don’t worry, the prize includes an all important but not quite so exciting car parking pass too.

To enter the draw just send an email with ‘Woof’ as the subject to liz.earl@bettysandtaylors.co.uk before midday on Friday 5th March.

PS – While you’re there, don’t forget to visit the Wallace & Gromit Children’s Foundation in hall 5 at stand 21!

Terms & Conditions The prize is a free pair of tickets to Crufts – the world’s largest dog show.  Held at the NEC Birmingham, 11th – 14th March. The tickets have been kindly donated by The Kennel Club. Travel is not provided. No applications from agents, third parties, organised groups or applications automatically generated by computer will be accepted. Closing time and date for entries for the prize draw is 12pm, 5th March 2010. The prize winners will be drawn at random under independent supervision on 08/03/10 from all entries received before this date. Taylors of Harrogate will notify the prize winners by email by 2pm, 08/03/10 to arrange collection of tickets from the venue. Entrants must be UK residents aged 18 or over. Personal contact details will only be kept on file by Taylors of Harrogate and will not be passed on to any third parties. In the event of non-acceptance if the prize winner is not contactable, Taylors of Harrogate reserves the right to reallocate the prize awarded to the next randomly drawn entry. No purchase is necessary to enter the free prize draw. You can only be entered into the free prize draw once. Multiple registrations will only result in one entry into the prize draw. Taylors of Harrogate will not accept responsibility for the loss of entries through technical fault, transmission delay or incomplete entries. Names and counties of the prize winners will be available if required by interested party sending a stamped addressed envelope to Yorkshire Tea, Taylors of Harrogate, Pagoda House, Plumpton Park, Harrogate, HG2 7LD. Employees and their families of Taylors of Harrogate, its agents or anyone professionally connected with the promotion are not eligible to enter. No alternative cash prize will be offered. By entering this promotion all participants will be deemed to have accepted and be bound by the terms and conditions. The right to amend, withdraw or terminate any aspect of this prize draw without prior notice is reserved if factors beyond the Promoter’s control require them to do so. The decision of the Promoter is final and binding in all matters. Correspondence will not be entered into. Promoter: Taylors of Harrogate, Plumpton Park, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG2 7LD