Original email
My Yorkshire Terrier, Sam, loves to have a Werthers when he finished his dinner. In fact, before I introduced him to the sweetie he was a poor eater !! Now, knowing he will get his treat if he eats his food, I have no problems. The only thing is that I have to bite it myself into small pieces and it ain't doing my molars any good !!
The reason I am writing is that I want to know why the sweets go soft once the "tube of sweets" or packet is unwrapped, even though the sweets themselves are still in their gold wrappers. The outside goes sort of gooey and the crunch is lost.
This is a bit galling for me, because I don't eat them myself and a packet lasts quite a long time and if it has lost its crunch then it is really too sticky for Sam, because he really needs to crunch it up and not have it stick to his teeth (which I may add, I clean every day !!)
My daughter has bought him one of the large clear egglike containers of Werthers for Xmas I hope they will last OK
I would be interested to know why they go "off". !!
I have just found the website and will read on.
More power to your elbow !!
Happy crunching
My response
You are in fact the second person that has said that your dog eats werthers(and I'm not sure but I think my cat likes them too - it certainly liked the butterscotch ice cream I made...).
The reason why the sweets can go soft(as far as I can work out) is that they are either exposed to moisture in the air (which means the outside goes soft but they are still edible because once you have sucked them for a bit they go all hard and crunchy again - don't ask me why) or they have melted and resolidified(in which case they are disgusting). Your problem is the first.
This depends on what wrapping they are in. The werthers that come in a bag are VERY poorly wrapped and as a consequence virtually always end up like this unless they are stored in a dry place(I know my pocket doesn't work, but if they are in the glove compartment of a car for example they still seem to be fresh). The werthers that come in a roll, such as most of the pictures on my website, are not wrapped in the golden wrappers but in a clear plastic one. These are much better wrapped but can still go 'bad' if you keep them in your pocket for several days(or go dancing at a night club with them in your pocket). If you keep them well they shouldn't go bad. There is a third way you can get werthers, and that is the way they are wrapped in pic'n'mix places (where you get to choose lots of sweets and you pay by weight). These are wrapped perfectly, and are completely air/water tight. You can also get them like this in 1kg bags as well from a wholesaler. If you plan to get through a lot of them, one of these bags might be ideal(because they keep better and they work out about 33% cheaper than the rolls).
I hope I have been of assistance(maybe I'll put an information bit about it in the site - but I have so much other stuff to add to it that I haven't got around to it yet - and it is mainly a comedy site anyhow).
More power to my elbow???
Her response
Dear Robert
Thanks for answering my queries so promptly.
Yes, you are right, "more power to your elbow" is a bit out of context, I suppose .. but what I meant was "keep up the good work .. you give a lot of pleasure to many people, and there aren't many of us who can claim that. So much effort has gone into your Werthers site .. by the way are you connected with them.. Werthers .. or what?
I saw something about "network rings" .. is that correct .. and didn't know what it meant, so sent an email to the webmaster of that "site" .. but I think you belong to it .. because you link back to it, or forward, or whatever.
How do you gainfull spend your days?
I'm not prying, just curious.
You have nothing to fear from me .. I am well into my dotage and have only had my computer a few months .. I'm a real greenhorn .. so am interested in EVERYTHING. My daughter has sorted me out with Unlimited Freeseve Time, so I can play whenever I like.
Look forward to hearing from you.
Keep sucking, chewing, crunching, or whatever.
Warm regards
My response
Although a lot of effort went into my site about a year ago(or not that much effort, but a hell of a lot considering) I haven't actually updated it since March last year or something. However I still eat a lot of werthers originals and I have a big bunch of material I've been accumulating over the last year that I could put on the site (the reason I haven't is I planned to redesign it because its web design isn't very good and it had grown a bit too big for it - and I never got around to redesigning it...)
I'm not connected with the company that makes them but I do eat a hell of a lot of them, so why, you might ask have I done a web page dedicated to a sweet? Basically it was because I was required to do a web page for a web authoring course at my college (I'm now in the first year of uni studying Computer Science at Southampton) and somebody suggested I did one on werthers originals(because I eat a lot of them) and since then it got a bit out of hand(you should see some of the presents I got for my 18th....).
The webring thing on my site is actually out of date, and should of been removed. It was actually stopped several months ago. A webring is basically a collection of sites that link to each other(normally with a similar subject), so you might have a webring of sites for a specific computer game, or a webring of comedy sites or something. I should never have really joined that webring(just I was sent a personal e-mail asking me - which is a lot better than the spam that most web-rings send to you), and I thought, why not?
If I ever get around to updating my website with all the new content and a new design, I'll send you an e-mail. Infact your e-mail might even get me working on it this weekend(but then again it might not).
Her response
What an excellent correspondent you are !!
From the web sites I have seen ... well, I think yours looks and feels good.
Some sites are SO BORING and take SO LONG to download the information .. too many pictures, flashing gizmos. etc. when all you want is THE INFORMATION.
Especially if you don't have a computer that goes like the clappers .. you just sit with your stomach muscles clenched waiting for the blue line to fill up !!
I went to find a web site for Werthers, because there is no address or anything on their sweeties ..at least there was nothing on the big plastic egg full of them that my daughter bought for the dog. AND I really think they should be made aware of the problem with the sweets.
I mean if we were having the same trouble with a more expensive product or item, we would do something about it. I can't give Sam the sticky Werthers because he doesn't seem to crunch them but almost swallows the pieces I give to him and I don't want any more than necessary to stick to his teeth. If they can do it on the picknmix selection then they can use the same wrapping for all the range. Don't you agree. How does one get in touch with them?
Also, are they aware of your website? I would jolly well think that you should be in line for some boodle ...big boodle at that .. either some sort of sponsorsip, scolarship or whatever. Large companies like Werthers generally have some sort of bursary type scholarships. Hey,Robert .. nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Hope you are having a great time at uni. There's no other life experience like it ... so my daughter tells me.
You are not too far away from Mummy Marlow.. I live in Hove ... (although I have put the flat on the market and am moving to Norwich!).. so be quick.... if you get fed up, you can always pop in here, have a big wet kiss from Sam and some home cooking.
What part of the universe are YOU from????
Have a lovely day.
My response (lost)
Her response
Hi Robert
Here's me ..an early bird and you .. burning the midnight oil..thanks for the email.
I have just found the werthers site and have written to them via their email. I have told them how wonderful you are. When I get a reply I'll let you know.
Hey, I wasn't complaining about the speed of your "site" .. I told you it was fine .... but it really is your "baby" and it would be interesting to see what you do with it now, years on with more experience. Whatever you do... it will always look good on your C.V... and top marks for originality.
Your parents must be very proud of you.
I'm hoping not to be here in Hove by the end of the year.
I only put the flat on the market last week and lots of people are coming to view it ..but no takers yet ...still the property market is very active, so it won't be long. Due to my advancement in age, I am preparing myself for the worst and am going to buy a bungalow.
I only moved to Hove from London last year .. I sold my flat to my beautiful daughter to help her get a foot on the housing ladder and I only go to places where she can get to easily and likes .. otherwise she won't come to visit !!
She adored Brighton (which is "the place to be") ... but has a best friend in Norwich .. and it is an easy journey to Liverpool Street and on to Walthamstow, where she lives.
I haven't been to Norwich for about ten years and know nothing really about it .. but you know, Robert, the sky is the sky and trees are trees, wherever you go ... one place is much like the rest .. it is ones attitude and life force that makes things happen. I have never quite understood the word "happy" and how we are all supposed to reach this state/emotion. It is something that has to come from within your one life. No one can MAKE you happy, only contribute to it .... it is a case of taking responsibility for ones own life and not blaming others for the things that happen to us.
Do you get my drift???? I know you will think me an even bigger nutter .. but I am a Nichiren Shoshu Buddhist. Have you ever met anyone who chants Nam myoho renge kyo??
It's great, because Buddhism has no doctrine and does not believe in something omnipotent, outside of you, who will solve your problems etc. It's as I've said, everything is your own responsibility. The other good thing about it is that it is a practice to turn negative into positive .... destructive into constructive .. and the central aim, like most religions or philosophies, I think .. is world peace. Buddhism says that peace and harmony have to start in the place where you are ... so it is in your own environment, with your family and friends etc...otherwise, how can one have a wider vista of world peace if you can't even create harmony in the "here and now". It is a very interesting philosophy. Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism is not like Zen, which is very ritualistic.
In fact, it is reasonably simple. Not to easy so that no effort is required, and not too difficult so it is not attainable .. just right so that you have to put some work in to do the practice. Sounds a bit like the three bears and their porridge ......not too hot, not too cold .. but just right !!
Anyway, there I go again, gabbling on. But that's the fun of all this ... you don't know who I am and I don't really know who you are .. we are aeons apart in age ... but it doesn't matter, because we can chat away and say what we like to our heart's content.. At least I can.. I am on unlimited freeserve time !!!
Have a lovely day.. Keep writing.