There is nothing better than a friend, unless it is a friend with chocolate.
— Linda Grayson
This blog post was inspired by a recent conversation with my friend Sophie who offered me the first chocolate from the tube she’d just bought herself.
“Would you like a Munchie?”
“It’s not quite your last Rolo but thank you!”
For anyone too young to recognise the reference, I was thinking of a long-running and much-loved TV advertising campaign from the eighties with the tagline “Do you love anyone enough to give them your last Rolo?” The original animated adverts were followed by live action ads demonstrating the unfortunate consequences of keeping Rolos to yourself. My favourites feature this couple on a train and the elephant’s revenge. I told Sophie how I once bought a tube of Rolos with the sole purpose of sending the last one to a dear friend. I made a little gift box for it and everything. It was a fun exchange and I walked away grateful for the memories as well as the Munchie. It occurred to me afterwards that chocolate has played a small but important role in many of my friendships.
Another series of classic TV advertisements featured a James Bond–style figure who risked all manner of dangers to surreptitiously deliver a box of Cadburys Milk Tray chocolates, with the tagline “And all because the lady loves Milk Tray.” I once took a box of Milk Tray to a friend, and managed to do so without scaling castle walls, hanging from cable cars, or navigating shark-infested waters.
Cadbury’s Freddo bars are a favourite of one of my best friends, Aimee. According to one article (The History of Cadbury’s Freddo Price: From 10p to 35p) “[the price of] this seemingly simple chocolate bar has become a symbol of inflation for many.” That may be true, but the cost doesn’t put me off. She’s worth it!
I remember sending a bag of Hershey’s Hugs to a friend abroad. (Hugs feature Hershey’s milk chocolate “hugged” by a white cream coating.) It was an impromptu impulse but I’m glad I acted on it because the gift meant a lot to my friend. I’ll note that American chocolate is often perceived as inferior by people here in the UK, but I feel that’s grossly unfair. I haven’t tried Hershey Hugs, but I’m partial to their iconic Kisses.
One of my dearest friends is partial to Green & Black’s organic chocolate. I enjoy putting together a selection of their variously flavoured bars for her at Christmas. Another friend loves Cadburys Dairy Milk and I used to bring a small bar for her most times we met. It became a small but valued part of our get-togethers. It’s by such gestures and routines that friendships are cemented and reinforced.
That brings to mind a friend from university days. One Christmas she sent me a box of little gifts. I don’t remember the gifts, but I do remember that she packed the box out with dozens of mini packets of Rowntree’s Jelly Tots. I was eating them for months afterwards!
High on my list of friendship confectionery is the small square of chocolate Fran saved me from her transatlantic voyage on board RMS Queen Mary 2 in 2013. The chocolate was eaten a long time ago but I keep the Cunard branded wrapper in the Traveler’s Notebook that serves as my memory journal. That little wrapper means the world to me. It serves as a keepsake of our first meeting in person in Southampton, and a token of our fourteen year mutually supportive friendship. On another occasion, Fran gifted me a box of four hand-made chocolates from Chocolats Passion French chocolaterie in Portland, Maine. They were almost too beautiful to eat. Almost.
I’ve used chocolate as the example here, but not everyone likes or can tolerate it. In the course of writing this post I’ve learned that one of my newer friends doesn’t eat chocolate. (It’s okay, Jo. If you can forgive my total lack of interest in football, I can forgive you not eating chocolate!) The confectionery itself isn’t the point. What matters is knowing a few of your friend’s likes and dislikes, the things they reach for when they want to treat themselves or deserve a little lift. Knowing, and remembering. It might be a voucher for their favorite coffee shop or store, a bath bomb or scented candle, a pack of colouring pens, or a notebook. Whatever it is, having someone pay attention to your preferences means a lot. As one friend said to me, “I will never forget this.”
If anyone’s interested, I’m easily pleased. Lindt’s Lindor truffles are probably at the top of my list but any chocolate is appreciated, the darker the better. Walnut Whips and Toblerone are great (my Dad’s favourites). Milky Bar. (Who else remembers the Milky Bar Kid TV adverts?) Chocolate covered coffee beans evoke fond memories of Caffè Nero who used to sell them in little red cardboard boxes. No Ferrero Rocher, please.
The Last Rolo
I bought Sophie a tube of Rolos to thank her for inspiring this blog post. She very kindly saved the last one for me.
“My last Rolo for my friend Marty”
Another chocolate-related friendship memory is born!
Over to You
Do you have a favourite chocolate or candy? Do you know your friend’s preferred treat? What TV adverts evoke warm memories for you? I’d love to hear your thoughts, either in the comments below or via our contact page.
Main photo by Brett Jordan at Unsplash.
No comments:
Post a Comment