Tizer is one of those drinks that you really only ever read about in Robert Westall novels, it’s the sort of thing you drink if you’re a schoolboy in 1941, to refresh yourself after a wizard afternoon scrambling around bomb craters collecting interestingly-shaped shrapnel and other exciting war souvenirs.
Tizer does still exist today, though. Although I’d honestly prefer Coke and Pepsi, I will occasionally buy a can of Tizer instead as a patriotic gesture to support the all-British alternative. It helps that Tizer’s a bit cheaper, too.
Tizer’s up there with Vimto, Tango, and Dandelion & Burdock in the range of drinks that people routinely bought in the 1980s but now seem so much like products of a bygone age that I’m always pleasantly surprised they’re still around.
Devil’s Bane is also, presumably, a health drink. As any fule no, devil’s bane is another name for verbena, the plant that was definitely used to staunch the wounds of Christ.
I once encountered a product called ‘Chronic Ecstasy’, which described itself as an ‘industrially produced red wine styled drink.’ Sadly there was only a single display bottle in the window of a seemingly defunct shop on Alderney, so I can give no further report save that the picture on the label was a black and white woodcut style drawing of an industrial mill discharging runoff into a stream.
I have to assume Life Cry is much like Thunderbird or Mad Dog here in the states. Although I have to assume Devil’s Bane is a more heavily distilled beverage. In tiny print I expect it says “Nearly 75% chance you won’t go blind!”
“I’m not talking about your Bwee-Foo-Seh or Pussy-Fussy! No, I’m talking about a fine white wine like Mad Dog 20/20.” –from Robin Williams’ stand-up routines in the late 1980’s
Has Mrs Clovis talked about her vacuum not working? I looked back to the beginning of this chapter and she didn’t mention it then. Unless the vacuum hex moved to the toilet.
The misdirected hex actually occurred in Steeple Vol. 1 # 4 & 5, which was purchase-only (available from Dark Horse Comics or online at Comixology or a few other retailers). You are seeing a four-year callback about to expire.
The vacuum hex was after she had already failed to ‘rapture’, so it’s not entirely responsible. (I did not remember this, I had to re-read Steeple Vol. 1. I recommend you do the same.)
Why exactly is Maggie friends with these two brats? Apart for drinking weird drinks together they are totally annoying! Now I wonder if there’s a chance Billie will discover that her life changing vision was their work. Also, that photo is so cute. Mrs Clovis really loves Maggie a lot.
There’s also the implication that these two were mainly her friends from school that she’s reasonably distanced herself from more and more as she’s grown as a person and they have likely just not done that at all.
Does make a bit of sense when remembering Maggie’s weird family situation that is why a lot of these people are in her proximity to exert social pressures on her in the first place.
I think it’s still an open question as to whether the hex was responsible for Billie’s conversion, or whether it simply opened her doors of perception.
The vision of Satan she saw claimed Billie “was [his], and had always been [his]” – though, of course, the Lord of Lies isn’t always known to be entirely truthful!
Devil’s Bane sounds like holy water. Unless it’s a drink that causes you to experience a Devil’s baneful influence? Am I reading too much into the name, or not enough?
This Allison chappie plays a long game, does he not?
If all the issues of Steeple had come out in consecutive months, it might have been… slightly less long ha ha
I had to look up Tizer, as I had not heard of it, but I see it is nearly a century old! I shall have to try it when I next visit the UK.
But apparently Life Cry is not real, it was on a TV episode. Although there is some wag who put the label on his home brew in Stockton and is reviewing it online.
https://www.radioandtelly.co.uk/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1102327204
Tizer is one of those drinks that you really only ever read about in Robert Westall novels, it’s the sort of thing you drink if you’re a schoolboy in 1941, to refresh yourself after a wizard afternoon scrambling around bomb craters collecting interestingly-shaped shrapnel and other exciting war souvenirs.
Tizer does still exist today, though. Although I’d honestly prefer Coke and Pepsi, I will occasionally buy a can of Tizer instead as a patriotic gesture to support the all-British alternative. It helps that Tizer’s a bit cheaper, too.
It’s a sort of health drink
Yes, in much the same way that Snickers counts as a granola bar.
Tizer’s up there with Vimto, Tango, and Dandelion & Burdock in the range of drinks that people routinely bought in the 1980s but now seem so much like products of a bygone age that I’m always pleasantly surprised they’re still around.
Devil’s Bane is also, presumably, a health drink. As any fule no, devil’s bane is another name for verbena, the plant that was definitely used to staunch the wounds of Christ.
I once encountered a product called ‘Chronic Ecstasy’, which described itself as an ‘industrially produced red wine styled drink.’ Sadly there was only a single display bottle in the window of a seemingly defunct shop on Alderney, so I can give no further report save that the picture on the label was a black and white woodcut style drawing of an industrial mill discharging runoff into a stream.
I am very, very tempted to feed that last sentence of yours to an AI and see what kind of novel might be forthcoming.
I had misgivings about these witches already, but mistaking character jugs for toby jugs? I don’t even have the words…
To insult the Desmond jug like that! It is a majestic piece
I had to look this up, but extra points for perfect pedantry.
At least they’re not Brian’s toby jugs.
One mystery has now been solved – we know which is Clotilde and which Ludmilla.
I’m not sure what triggers my growing dislike for Clo and Lud more; their antipathy for Mrs. Clovis or their terrible taste in booze.
To be fair, they seem to have made the selection based on what they believe Maggie’s taste in booze to be.
Any Black Books reference is a good reference.
I have to assume Life Cry is much like Thunderbird or Mad Dog here in the states. Although I have to assume Devil’s Bane is a more heavily distilled beverage. In tiny print I expect it says “Nearly 75% chance you won’t go blind!”
“I’m not talking about your Bwee-Foo-Seh or Pussy-Fussy! No, I’m talking about a fine white wine like Mad Dog 20/20.” –from Robin Williams’ stand-up routines in the late 1980’s
Has Mrs Clovis talked about her vacuum not working? I looked back to the beginning of this chapter and she didn’t mention it then. Unless the vacuum hex moved to the toilet.
The misdirected hex actually occurred in Steeple Vol. 1 # 4 & 5, which was purchase-only (available from Dark Horse Comics or online at Comixology or a few other retailers). You are seeing a four-year callback about to expire.
I think of this callback not so much expiring as paying off. Or maybe the term is “maturing,” like an ultra-high-interest long-term savings bond.
I mean, if you like your interest payouts measured in a vicaress’ unadulterated rage…
(checks to see how Vicaress’ Unadulterated Rage is trading against the Euro)
In fact the misfired hex is what convinced Billie to change teams, no?
Combined with the doubts she already had by that point, yes.
The vacuum hex was after she had already failed to ‘rapture’, so it’s not entirely responsible. (I did not remember this, I had to re-read Steeple Vol. 1. I recommend you do the same.)
Keep your eye out for an elaborate flashback.
That curious sound you hear is an immense amount of s%@# about to hit a very small fan.
Ooo, that’s my favourite amount of s%@# to fan ratio!
I just realized who Ludmilla and Clothilde remind me of now: Tessa and Rachel
Remember when they were the main characters of Scary-Go-Round? And Shelley died in her third appearance in the comic?
The decisions of youth. Two decades on, I question them.
It resulted in the most disturbingly adorable zombie ever, so there’s that.
Why exactly is Maggie friends with these two brats? Apart for drinking weird drinks together they are totally annoying! Now I wonder if there’s a chance Billie will discover that her life changing vision was their work. Also, that photo is so cute. Mrs Clovis really loves Maggie a lot.
Never underestimate the power of geographical proximity when it comes to school friendship.
There’s also the implication that these two were mainly her friends from school that she’s reasonably distanced herself from more and more as she’s grown as a person and they have likely just not done that at all.
Does make a bit of sense when remembering Maggie’s weird family situation that is why a lot of these people are in her proximity to exert social pressures on her in the first place.
I think it’s still an open question as to whether the hex was responsible for Billie’s conversion, or whether it simply opened her doors of perception.
The vision of Satan she saw claimed Billie “was [his], and had always been [his]” – though, of course, the Lord of Lies isn’t always known to be entirely truthful!
SET UP THY POTTERS WHEEL AND PRODUCE DESMOND JUGS FORTHWITH!!
When Billie realises that she was jinxed by a spell on that vacuum cleaner – gonna be trouble!!
Ruh-roh, Reorge.
You always know you’re in for a good night when there’s a polar bear bleeding on the label!
Devil’s Bane sounds like holy water. Unless it’s a drink that causes you to experience a Devil’s baneful influence? Am I reading too much into the name, or not enough?