Free Gift!

Wilson has prepared a small gift for all his friends who are making and enjoying his secret Ant Gin recipe! He says that this bottle label will give a sense of professionalism to the brew, and 'increase the enjoyabilityness' of it.  

Having tasted his Ant Gin, I think its 'enjoyabilityness' could be increased only by something to take the taste away, though of course I would never tell him that.

TOP SECRET!

Okay, here it is: Wilson's secret recipe for Ant Gin.

Half-fill the empty wine bottle with ants. (This is the hardest part, as the ants never want to go in.) Then add sugar until the ants are covered. Finally fill the bottle with gin and seal tightly. Add the gin quickly, or the ants will have eaten all the sugar, which would spoil the drink.

Once the bottle is tightly sealed, shake it then leave it to mellow and age in a cool dark place. You should wait at least half an hour, more if possible — wait at least until the have ants stopped swimming about.

Serve in a warmed glass, or add it to your cooking if you like! Delicious…

Please remember that Wilson's mum, Mrs Vermilingua, must NEVER find out he has shared this recipe!

Wilson's secret is shared...

Wilson is coming under a lot of pressure to reveal his top-secret recipe for Ant Gin. Many people expected to find it in his new book, Wilson Vermilingua's Big Book of Free Stuff, and were disappointed to find that it wasn't, so he has reconsidered and agreed to share the recipe.

You will need:

   Fresh ants

   Gin

   Sugar

Gather the ingredients (or as Wilson likes to call them, 'ingrediANTs') together with a funnel and an empty wine bottle, and he will reveal the method tomorrow.

Not a word to Wilson's mum, Mrs Vermilingua, though!

Wilson receives some complaints

Wilson's book, the Wilson Vermilingua's Big Book of Free Stuff*, has been very well received, but some readers have expressed disappointment that it didn't contain his recipe for Ant Gin. 

I asked him about this, and he explained  that, 'Ant Gin is prepared from a secret recipe handed down to me by my mum, Mrs Vermilingua. It is my inheritance and my birthright. I shall never, never reveal it!'

*Still available as a free download from ISSUU:  http://tinyurl.com/d4hh6bb

Wilson's exciting tale

On the journey home, Wilson tells Antony and Tiny Toy all about the caves. The tour was good, but Wilson's telling of it makes it sound even more exciting… especially the part about the tour guide banging his head on a stalactite and losing his memory, so that Wilson had to guide everyone to safety. 

I confess I don't remember that bit.

Hot coffee!

Wilson finally bids farewell to Chiselhurst Caves and we head off to the gift shop and restaurant for hot coffee and a bun.

Hommage aux Charlie Watts

In the 60s and 70s the caves were often used for rock concerts by iconic acts such as The Who, The Stones, Jimi Hendrix and Led Zep. Rock gigs are no longer allowed there, but to commemorate the caves' recent history there is still a guitar and drum kit on what once served as the stage. 

One of Wilson's all-time heros is Charlie Watts… so guess who couldn't resist having a go?

Welcome to our new readers from Russia!

Добро пожаловать к нашим новым читателям от России!

The tour begins...

At first Wilson stayed close to my side, but after a little while I had to keep warning him not to wander off on his own. 

The tour guide kept cautioning us that if anyone got left behind in the 22 miles of unlit caves they might never find their way back to the surface…

Welcome to our new readers from Russia!
Добро пожаловать к нашим новым читателям от России!

Darkness...

Wilson grew apprehensive when he learned that most of the caves are unlit, but was excited to find that he would have his own paraffin-powered hurricane lamp, spending several minutes choosing the 'best' one. 

I hope he doesn't singe his fur! I'm now certain we did the right thing by leaving Antony and his Tiny Toy outside…

Descending to the depths...

Before entering the cave complex we had discussed whether to bring Antony and his tiny toy with us. W agreed that it was probably a bit scary for them, so they're sitting in the car outside. With the radio on for company. Obviously.

Here you can see Wilson making his way down from the Ticket Office down to the tunnel entrance. He assumed that this featureless concrete corridor was in fact part of the tunnels, admiring the beautiful symmetry of the walls and the general creepyness of it. 

Fellow tunnel enthusiasts might like to recall Wilson's visit to the famous Tar Tunnel in Ironbridge last year:

http://antwars2.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/a-dream-comes-true.html

http://antwars2.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/inside-tunnel.html

Hello Germany!

Wilson says 'hello' to all his blog readers in Germany! 

He also says, 'Gefallen, um Sie zu treffen!' which I'm really hoping isn't rude...

A treat for Wilson

I am very proud of Wilson for finishing his book so, knowing how he loves caves, I'm taking him to Chiselhurst Caves in Kent as a treat. 

Here is a picture of him at the entrance – he is very excited! 

For myself, I'm just hoping that it's warmer in the caves than it is out here...

Free Gift!

Honestly, I never thought I'd see this day, but Wilson's book is FINISHED! 

He's uploaded it to ISSUU, and you can read it online or download your own copy right here:

http://issuu.com/friendlydragon/docs/big_book_of_free_stuff_4issuu

We'd both love to know what you think of it! 

Wilson is very brave...

Last night's Dr Who was a little more scary than Wilson had anticipated. 

Antony and his little toy couldn't take it, hiding their faces under a cushion, while Wilson watched bravely from behind the sofa. 

Wilson is 200 per cent confident...

Wilson's book is now coming on apace! He says that he is 'completely 200 per cent confident' that it will be finished in time to publish next week. 

He has also assured me that it will be 'well epic!'

Writers' Block

No progress on Wilson's book yesterday or so far today as he tells me he is suffering from Writers' Block. 

Recovering from Writers' Block seems to involve a lot of thinking (ie sleeping) and brain hydration (ie ant gin). 

I hope he gets on with his book soon, as I know you're going to love it. Possibly.

I love it when a plan comes together...

Fond as I am of Wilson, I could never describe him as being good at finishing things. His short career is littered with failed business ventures and uncompleted projects; however, I think one of his enterprises is about to reach fruition!

It's far too cold to go outside today, so W has returned to a long-term project of his, and he assures me that it is almost complete: The Wilson Vermilingua OBE Big Book of Free Stuff.

He has given me his personal assurance that it will be completed in 'a few days' and when it is released it will 'shake the publishing world to its foundations!' His words, of course, not mine. 

However, I have to admit that it's looking good, and when it's finally issued you will receive a free copy! Something to look forward to during the never-ending sub-zero Spring days, then…

CHECK THIS OUT! 

March has been a very busy month for Wilson Vermilingua OBE!

I've just uploaded the fifteenth monthly volume of Ant Wars II: March 2013 so you can catch up on anything you've missed.

Please tell all your friends, as it is Wilson's stated ambition for his life story to be, as he puts it, "As Popular as Easter Eggs!"  

You can download it or read it online at:

http://issuu.com/friendlydragon/docs/ant_wars_ii_march_2013

You can now SUBSCRIBE to Wilson's blog by email!

The BLOG is right here: http://antwars2.blogspot.co.uk/

You can TRANSLATE Wilson's blog into other languages!

You can COMMENT on Wilson's blog — and he'd love to hear from you!

Photographs of the lovely WILSON are by Tamanduagirl at 

http://www.livingwithanteaters.com/ and are used by kind permission.

A Brilliant Easter

Today the sun is shining! It's still very cold, but Wilson is in the garden with all his little friends, soaking up the rays! 

When I took a coat, a scarf and pair of gloves out to him (all of which he declined) he mentioned that he'd had a brilliant Easter, what with Dr Who, a Boat Race victory for Oxford and finally a surfeit of chocolate! 

Late breakfast

Wilson and I stayed up way too late last night, watching a programme about Michael Jackson on BBC4. As a result, we both slept very late this morning. On the plus side, it's now too late for W to April Fool me… as long as he follows April 1st etiquette, anyway.

He's in the kitchen now, finishing up his eggs for breakfast. I don't know whether so much chocolate is healthy for an anteater, but he insists that cocoa is a bean, so chocolate is one of his five-a-day.

W wanted to bring sTony in to eat his egg, but I made him stay in the garden; I won't allow sTony into the house because he's too scary for little Antony, who's only just getting over Doctor Who.

Double Summer Time

British Summer Time started this morning! Unfortunately Wilson forgot that he'd put all the clocks forward by an hour last weekend, and did so again last night... with the result that it was barely light when he started his Easter Egg Hunt this morning. 

I'm not certain about his Easter Bonnet, but he chose it himself.

Now he's settling down in front of the tv in preparation for the University Boat Race this afternoon. It's a busy day for him!