News

Are you an investigative reporter? Are you on the verge of untold adventures to save the world?

If so our Tintin goodies are just the thing.

The new, official 'The Adventures of Tintin' enamel mug and pocket notepad are just the thing needed for adventures galore.

Find them in our Hollywood Films section.

Go get 'em Snowy!

In these times of austerity more and more people are rediscovering the 'Blitz spirit' that saw people through some of the darkest hours in recent history.

Many people are choosing to turn hard times into a positive by working their gardens, starting allotments, keeping animals etc.

So if your other-half is discovering their green fingers, why not check out our garden section, under house and home.

Just a few pounds spent on the right kind of gift can often raise a smile!

And in the meantime: dig for victory!

[The picture shows a couple of our own rather sad looking pumpkins, ripening in the kitchen. But we know next year's will be bigger and better...]

And there's not mushroom in here.

There. That's two of the cheesiest punchlines in known history.

Now move away from the cheesy and towards the groovy with these gorgeous mushroom lights.

Why not try them as part of a centrepiece on the table at your dinner party?

Or they make a great night light alternative in the bedroom of your child (over 3 year olds only)

Just avoid the bad jokes when people oooh and aaah when they see them.

Our Keep Calm spin-offs continue to grow and grow.

Just this week we have added a Keep Corgis and Look Regal coaster (for the 2012 Royal Jubilee) to our range, and a fantastic new Union Jack Keep Calm and Carry On shopping bag.

And yet our range is due to grow even more with a group of new boxed mugs with various slogans, including Keep Calm and Drink Tea, and Keep Calm and Carry on Shopping.

These are sure to sell like hot cakes, and once they're gone that's it compadre!

You can look at all our Keep Calm goodies under the A* TRENDY LABELS section, where they have their very own sub-section, so you can fill yer boots. Just keep calm while you do it.

We have added to our ever-growing range of tin signs.

And this one got the seal of approval from our very own pet pooch.

Here he is wondering why on earth someone wouldn't want to take their dog on the train.

And if you think you know why, just don't tell him! You'll only make him cry.

We've just got a fantastic new range of coasters in.

These include new 'Keep Calm' designs wth a Christmas flavour, plus Victorian Christmas scenes and old London Christmas scenes.

Also in stock are coasters ready for next year's 2012 Royal Diamond Jubilee.

Get those trestle tables ready! And don't forget to get your bunting from FSR!

Do not run and hide! Do not quiver with fear.

All our new dinosaurs are cute n cuddly.

Just the thing for having adventures with, for cuddling up in bed with, for taking to nan's on a visit (she can tell you what dinosaurs were really like!).

Just don't leave a sausage sarnie unattended (or a salad with the Bronto!).

ROARingly good fun.

UPDATE: Thanks for everyone who ordered while we were on holiday. We caught up with all the orders after 3 days of extreme buzy business! ;-)

As always, if you have any enquiries etc. please email us: sales@fruitsaladretro.co.uk or phone: 01554 835554

Our new Beano front cover wrapping paper has three great uses:

1. The most obvious - as wrapping paper. Small or large presents look great in this thoughtfully designed paper.

2. The large single front page design makes a great poster for a child's room - or even framed for a hallway, kitchen etc.

3. The design is wonderful for covering furniture, something we've done ourselves. It really enhances a chest of drawers in a child's room.

So whatever you want it for, don't miss out on our fabolous wrapping paper.

Menaces to the fore!

The 'old school' style badges have been very popular.

We have now added two more badges to our range:

Head Chef; and

Head Gardener.

Check out all our badges in the Clothing category.

This is the fantastic new 'Andy Warhol' style Marmite gift wrap we've just got into stock.

Fabuloso!

Look out for our new Beano comic front page gift wrap too.

Both also double-up as funky posters too. Bonus!

As another football season comes to an end, it's time to reflect on the coming year.

Is your team going up? Or going down? Are they comfortable, or struggling? Have you been celebrating? Or drowning your sorrows?

A true supporter will always live on to shout another day - despite the highs and the lows - so show you love your team!

Our range of team colours, in checkered, striped and UK styles are second-to-none and at a great price.

Are you getting ready for your seaside break?

Don't forget your sandcastle flags, toys for the beach, fun things to play if it rains - there's lots you can get in advance.

Like the scouts -- be prepared!

We have been surprised at the way our Royal Wedding collectables have continued to sell, even after the wedding has been and gone.

So if you want to celebrate the event or put something collectable away, check our site.

Have a heart!

You will love this new design Cornish stripey mug with a Union Jack heart.

We also sell matching coasters.

To find them look in our Love and Kisses category.

Make your tea break a time of love.

We have a new range of coasters that will appeal as much to those who love Union Jack themed items, as it will to those wanting something a little more 'punky' and exciting.

Yes - these new neon UK coasters come in a range of different shades, meaning you can choose your favourite from pink, turqoise, purple, blue - or you can mix and match to make your dinner table, desk, office, lounge even more funky!

These wood effect coasters really look the business.

They are also available in traditional UK colours.

Find them under Yummy Food, Sweets, Drink and Gum > Drinks (slurp) > Coasters.

Don't forget your flags and bunting for the Royal Wedding.

We have all varieties of sizes to help your street, school or garden party go with a swing.

Our coasters and mugs are also proving very popular.

To find everything look in our Princess Gifts section under the History for Heroes category.

We have added lots of new lines to our range of Ugly Dolls - including new 1 foot, 7 inch and 4 inch clip-ons.

Each of these have their own distinctive look and character and are just so ugly they can't help being cute.

Check out our full range in the Ugly Doll section under A* Trendy Labels category.

Good enough to eat!

Do you fondly remember pink shrimps, cherry lips or fried eggs?

No - these are not medical complaints; rather they are just 3 of the 5 retro 80s sweet design keyrings, designed to be reminiscent of the penny chews of yesteryear.

Available individually or as a set of 5 (look in our keyrings section - under Clothing, Bags and Accessories).

Pop your keys on one of these and people will want to know you because you will exude style and panache! - and yummy sweetie goodness ;-)

Look out for our new ranges of cuddly toys in our Cuddly Animals and Furry Toys section, including some of these coloured, clinging monkeys.

With lots of additions planned, we look forward to offering high quality, fun items, some of which will be educational, some quirky and hard-to-find, and some just good old-fashioned loveable characters.

So whether you're a nan looking to introduce the grandchildren to fun items with an educational twist, or a dad looking for a huggable cuddly fun toy, look no further!

Bring history to life with this wonderful Faux Pearl choker necklace.

Modelled on the famous necklace won by Anne Boleyn, the women who was destined to be an adulterer, Queen and traitor.

The women who caused the terrible break with the Catholic Church, the woman who gave birth to Elizabeth I.

Love her or hate her, Anne Boleyn shifted history like no-one else before her.

This item is a wonderful addition to any fancy dress outfit, a perfect item to embellish any history lesson, or a simple gift for your very own princess.

To find the necklace look under Clothing, Bags & Accessories, then click on Pendants, Bracelets & Rings.

We are expecting a wide range of new official football team rubber ducks in by circa 12th February 2011.

Teams will hopefully include Arsenal, Chelsea, England (3 Lions), Man Utd., Newcastle, Rangers, Real Madrid, Tottenham, West Ham, Liverpool and Man City.

We also hope to get a wide range of officially licensed fotball team flags from a similar range of clubs.

As well as being a must for football fans (and great for their birthdays and Christmas stockings) the ducks will also be sought after by the army of rubber duck collectors out there.

Look under our House and Home > Bathtime Fun Section and our Flags > Assorted Collectors > Sports Section for these new ranges after 12/2/11.

Watch this space.

On tonight's Country File on BBC1, the Hook Norton Brewery in Oxfordshire was featured.

As the BBC's car drove past bunting was clearly visible: and it was ours!

We had sold the bunting to the Hook Norton Brewery over a year ago (we remembered the order as we have a Hook Norton Brewery beer garden umbrella which we use in the Summer).

Now if only the Beeb would give us a plug... ;-)

As well as our two designs of 5x3 feet flags, we now also have specially designed William & Kate hand held flags (18" x 12") and bunting 15m length of 18" x 12" flags.

These are already selling well and will be a must for parties, businesses, school events etc.

Then these silicone cake moulds are just the ticket!

Perfect for baking delicious cakes, and a perfect present for a loved one.

A big thanks to the folks at Modculture for their plug of our Quadrophenia exercise book:

http://www.modculture.info/2010/12/quadrophenia-exercise-book.html

We've already had quite a few visitors and customers who love 60s culture and the 70s album/film.

What's interesting is the visitors from Modculture who have bought other items from our wide range.

Look out for an exciting new batch of flags at FSR.

This one - the Celtic Nations flag- has to be one of the best designs we've had in a long while, full of culture, history etc.

But also look out for our Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast designs, plus a great Seabees flag (they're US Navy engineers), a red and white UK flag (great for sports fans) and a new special edition 'Kate and William' Royal Wedding flag.

I don't know about Seabees, but we've sure been Busy Bees at FSR.

And watch this space for lots more great items as we head into 2011.

Recycling seems to be the flavour of the day. Wherever you go in work, school, in the media etc. everyone is promoting recycling.

But sometimes it is even better to reuse something.

A classic example are our table flags. They make great backdrops to any work-desk, bedroom shelf, living room or den.

They can also be removed from their bases to make handy little hand-wavers at home when the football is on, at a public event or similar.

As this picture shows we have taken them down to the beach to use in our sandcastles. When it was time to set off for home we dusted them down, packed them up, and they were ready to use again!

As you'll see from our listings, we have a huge range of table flags from across the world, so there's plenty to chose from to brighten up your room and to take out and about.

After England's dismal showing in the South African World Cup, we weren't too surprised to see Wayne Rooney wearing a Kidwelly Black Cats top.

He was kind enough to pause doing his shopping to let us get a photo taken.

Whoever wins the World Cup Final you can show your loyalty via our great variety of size flags.

In deference to Juan (and José) our friend in Kidwelly we'll be supporting Spain, and will have large hand held Spanish flags at the ready.

But whatever the sporting event and whatever the teams involved, be assured that you can kit out your family, bar, school or club with table-top, hand-held and/or full size flags.

Take a look at this u-tube video/slide show to get a glimpse of the great range of items we sell.

Follow us on Twitter - @fruitsaladretro

We hope to run product news, item reviews and much more.

so if you enjoy tweeting, follow our account and drop us a line.

Armed Forces Day is a relatively new event in the calendar.

As with Remembrance Day it isn't about the rights and wrongs of conflict, but rather to remember the heroism of soldiers.

The Armed Forces Day flags (5 x 3 feet and 18 x 12 inch hand-wavers) are also relatively new, and money from the flags is donated to the British Forces Children's Trust.

With councils and the British Legion organising events across the UK, it's a wonderful idea to buy in these flags to add more colour to your events or to buildings, shops etc. to remind people of the event.

If you need more info feel free to contact us.

Wherever you're from and whoever you're supporting in the South African World Cup we have plenty of flags and bunting for you.

From South African hand-wavers to World Cup bunting featuring all the countries in the contest.

We have the Three Lions of Richard the Lionheart and St George on his Charger for English fans -- as well as the standard St George Cross in all sorts of sizes.

For everyone else we have flags ranging from Argentina, Germany, Australia and Ghana.

So add a bit of colour to your home, office, BBQ or party.

And if you don't see the flag you want: just ask.

Remember, postage is fixed rate so grab a load at our great prices and save even more.

This is our new rabbit Munchkins, who joins our cat, chickens and goldfish in our little menagerie.

This week our (new) garden pond saw its new frogs crawling out. less than a week before they were little tadpoles.

Munchkins is already at home and enjoys little forays around the garden and the house. He's quite a character.

This is our cat Pussykins.

Everyone who visits us comments on her as she always likes to make herself known.

Pussykins is a 'rescue cat' - we picked her up from the Cats Protection League centre on the Gower about two years ago, and we sometimes wonder about her history. Was she neglected? Was she badly treated?

We'll never know. But what we do know is that she now has a loving home where she is well cared for and given all the attention a cat could want.

So if you are thinking of buying a cat, please get a rescue cat like Pussykins.

Most of the time it is cheaper, they are usually neutered and had all their injections already, and you will help a needy cat find a good home.

There really is no need to buy from a pet shop when there are so many rescued cats waiting for housing.

So do give the CPL a call if you are looking to get a cat, because it will help break the cycle of abuse and neglect of animals (many of them bought from pet shops).

See the link to our local CPL on our links page

Everyone loves a day out.

We sure do!

One of our favourite places is Kidwelly Castle, an awe-inspiring Norman Castle built to impress and frighten the locals by their Norman overlords.

It is steeped in a history of rebellion and suppression.

Aside from a good picnic, one thing that can add a bit of fun to a visit to this or any other historic site is our knight's sword and shield set (Look under Activity Sets - Balls & Outdoor Fun)

Just grab a couple and you have an army ready to storm the castle; or even a goodie versus baddie instant battle to rock the castle to its very foundations.

Bravery is not an optional extra.

Look out for our brand new knight's pencil with topper that has the Code of Chivalry printed on it too! It's in our Stationary section.

Our new range of Ugly Dolls (look under Trendy Labels) is just the ticket.

These lush cuddly dolls are certainly ugly, but they also demand a hug and lots of love!

From huge to keyring size, there is an Ugly Doll for everyone.

Go on! Give one a home and a hug.

Our new Tea Towels are just the ticket for your kitchen!

Excellent quality, nice and thick and brightly coloured.

As they're comparatively cheap, they make an ideal small gift for friend or family.

You can even run them up the washing-line to impress the neighbours! ;-)

...Well, not quite. One cuppa can be better than another.

The sublime experience can be enhanced by a lovely mug - and we have quite a range to chose from.

Whether you are looking for something vintage, funky, groovy or old-fashioned, we have just the thing for you.

This picture was taken when one of us took a well-deserved tea break with our new Dig For Victory mug (part of a wider Dig For Victory range including the great notebook).

On seeing the beautiful site of a steaming cuppa in a truly charming mug, he picked up his camera and snapped this picture, to capture what our mug ranges are all about. |

So break out the biccies. It's surely time for another cuppa!

Our new Curious Eyes badges can make anything come to life.

See how they allow this pile of sweets to keep an eye (groan) on anyone daring to grab one.

With a pair of blue, green or brown eyes, now you too can have a spare pair of eyes to freak people out.

Put them on your hood to have eyes in the back of your head.

Put them on your laces to help see where you're going.

Put them on your computer screen to keep tabs on who messes with your work whilst you nip out for a cuppa.

There's lots of fun to be had... Curious eyes are just great fun for everyone.

Will your legions be decimated as they enter Gaul or Germania?

This handsome model is, believe it or not, a working pencil sharpener.

It is just one of the latest additions to our growing range of Roman and Greek items which range from reproduction coins, pewter figures, resin figures, lots of office/school supplies, and even a new poster and coffee mug.

We even have a new pack of Roman transfers for that bit of old fashioned fun.

Friends, Romans, countrymen: lend me your pencil!

Yes, you too can claim your part of the Imperial Glory of Rome, at home, at work or at school.

Will you be General Maximus Decimus Meridius commanding the Northern Legions against the German barbarians across the Rhine? Dare you shout "at my signal, unleash hell!" as you let loose your Roman catapult (pencil sharpener) across the office?

Our latest range of cutlery has put spots before our eyes.

Yes, we've gone truly spotty dotty and these will drive you spotty dotty too. With a range of lovely bright colour combinations, this new set of cutlery will look great on your dining table.

And look out for our Tunnocks Tea Cake Mug by designer Gillian Kyle. With a fab image of the Scottish tea-time treat it's a mug that's must for elevenses, cream teas, well any time of the day really where cakes may be involved.

Make your kitchen colourful and yummy with our cutlery and more of our mugs.

Our new range of Bath-time Buddies are quite a big hit in our household.

These are just two of the lovely little critters - Sharkie and Duckie - all of which give off a warming glow which flashes off and on.

This photo was taken by our youngest in-house photographer, and bath-time is now a daily occurrence with the Bud bath-time buddies joining our Bud rubber ducks.

Truth be told our little flashing friends are just as popular with the "grown-ups" as they are with the younger members of the household.

So, if you fancy making your bath-time special, pop by our Bathtime Fun section and get one or more of our 'Bud Bath-Time Buddies Flashers.'

What a fun present for a friend or relative too!

We are nothing but optimists at Fruit Salad Retro!

We are hopeful of a warm Summer this year. Goodness knows we are owed one.

We thought if we got these smart hand-held/desk-top ice cream fans in, it might bode well for the months ahead!

Available in three mouth-watering colours, the soft blades also make them entirely safe, whilst they are powerful enough to take the edge off a sticky, hot day.

Get yours now and who knows - maybe you will share our hot Summer! ;-)

Find the fans in our Yummy Food section - Cakes n Sweets subsection.

Our new black grenade stress-ball is a big hit.

Looking just like a WW2 classic grenade, you don't have to be a commando storming the coast of Nazi-occupied Europe to squeeze this baby.

Whether as a desk ornament, a fun executive toy or as a much-needed stress reliever in those endless seminars and boring boardroom meetings: this is a great fun item

A fun gift for that awkward-to-buy-for person.

Parc Verger (effectively Orchard Park in French), is a camp site in the Limousin, which is a bit over halfway down through France, the local city being Limoges, which is about 40 minutes drive.

The entrance to Parc Verger looks professional and welcoming thanks to the addition of 3 flags from our website: the French, EU and UK flags.

So why not add flags to your business or event to make it welcoming, professional and eye-catching?

A link to the French camp site is on our links page.

We always like to try out our new lines because it's only when we are truly happy with items that we can be sure that you too will be happy with the range of items that we sell.

It was with this in mind we got our experts to work on our new transfer packs (Castle Attack, Gladiators and Tournament).

They were an immediate hit - and this with a generation not used to the transfer packs that some of us recall from the 70s/80s.

Look under our Activity Sets section for our range of transfers - and lots of other ideas for indoors and outdoors fun.

This is just one of the four designs in our great new Cupcake Plasters.

Not only are the designs funky, but they come in a great tin which you can use as a keepsake tin.

You also get a "free prize" in each tin. We got a lovely padded sticker of a cupcake (also pictured).

Our range of plasters is fantastic - there really is something for everyone - but these cupcakes are one of our favourites.

Why not get the Cupcake Plasters for your little lady and our new Monster Plasters for your little man.

They really are great fun. They also add a nice touch of colour to your kitchen or bathroom.

Our new range of bags from Helen Rochfort are superb in every detail.

From the glorious lining, to the retro clasps: nothing is left to chance and there is no such thing as second best.

So if you want to spoil yourself or a special friend with something that is uniquely fun, retro and stylish.

The clock has been well and truly turned back!

Hands up who remembers sitting at their front room (aka the posh room) table, on a Saturday afternoon, having rushed back from the shops with your pocket money well spent.

Spread out on the table could be a pack of soldiers, a model, a new toy or two... but today you're in for a real treat.

Because today you have bought a pack of transfers!

Scribbling away with your pencil you recreate a battle or event -- perhaps from history, but usually just from your own imagination.

Well, at risk of repetition, the clock has been turned back: because we are going to be selling some rip roaring transfer sets, with a great range of colour transfers, a colour A4 scene to put them on, and a b&w picture to colour in as well as some historical information.

So watch this space. The sets are great for a rainy afternoon or even to add a litle bit of fun to a party.

Look out for a range of new Alice in Wonderland items under our Kids Retro TV & Hollywood section.

With the new Tim Burton film out in a couple of months these are sure to be popular items with friends and relatives alike and will make funky gifts and pleasant surprises!

We are pleased to announce that we will very shortly be stocking a range of handbags from Helen Rochfort, a very exciting designer of chic and retro bags.

These modern bags with a vintage twist also have a touch of the kitsch about them with styles like the Jammy Dodger bag and the Ice Cream 99 Cone -- not forgetting the stunning Willy Wonka bag which has a Wonka Bar on one side and a golden ticket on the other.

These superb quality and highly collectable bags will make for perfect presents.

We took the fantastic Parachutist in Tube -- look in Activity Sets > Balls & Outdoor Fun -- down to the sand dunes at Cefn Sidan Beach to have fun and play (look out for the New Year snow on the beach!)

Look under Activity Sets, Balls & Outdoor Fun and you'll see our great sets of boys and girls sunglasses.

Amazing fun (we used them around the Christmas Dinner table!!!) for family get-togethers, parties, fancy dress, days out...

At £9.99 for 3 these are great value.

We believe that stairs shouldn't just be to get you from A to Zzzzz, to take you to Bedfordshire or the Land of Nod.

Our brand new Rainbow Slinky make stairs fun!

Grab one (or a few!) today for hours of fun. Slinky races are just the thing to get the whole home cheering.

This fun little item s just the thing to bring a smile to the face of a friend or family member.

Yes! They can keep their little bits and bobs at work oir at home in their very own Baldwin's Wind Pills tin.

As Shakespeare wrote: "Blow wind and crack your cheeks!"

Look in our kitchen section for our range of Munchmallow items.

Ooooh.

They're good enough to eat!

We have new 8 x 5 feet flags just in: and we plan on getting more as our constant aim to spread our range of flags.

On many web-sites these sell for circa £15 so we are pleased to list them for just £10.99.

Customers had requested this size for official sites, film sets and funerals, so there is clearly a need for the larger flags.

If you can't find the 8 x 5 feet flag you need (as with any size of flag we sell) please do feel free to get in touch with your request or enquiry.

Our family joined others today, organised through Pembrey School's Eco Commitee, to walk the streets of Pembrey and collect litter.

The idea is not only to clean up the streets of Pembrey but to try and make the litter-bugs think twice before they drop their rubbish.

This picture shows most of the cleaner-uppers and the many black bags of rubbish that were collected.

What gift can help raise a smile in the most boring of situations?

What spells fun on a rainy weekend? Or when you have to wait in for a delivery? Or when stuck in the office on a mind-numbing Wednesday afternoon?

Furthermore, if buying for someone else, what can you give that doesn't eat into a pocket-money agreement, or spell out the awkwardness of a reciprocal gift?

Yes, our fun little wind-up bombs are just the thing! And they are a BIG HIT with adults and children alike!

Fun toys, funky little desk ornaments, and great to wind-up and let go to the entertainment of anyone in the vicinity!

So pop by our shop and grab a fun wind-up cartoon bomb (look in the Cops and Robbers section).

Whilst you're at it... check out our wind-up Lederhosen (a must for German ex-pats and fans of the Sound of Music) in the Saxons sub-category of the For Warriors Only section.

We are looking into getting fun wind-up gifts for the bath next. So watch this space.

This livery comes from an Avro Lancaster that was with the Royal Australian Air Force, Squadron No. 467 between October 1943 and November 1944.

Based in Waddington, Licolnshire, it carried out 49 sorties against Germany and Occupied Europe.

'Old Fred' refers to its code letter F for Freddie.

The logo incorporates both the RAF and Australian flags both of which are available to buy from our flag section.

These are just new in and perfect for all storytellers, kids parties or even just that "muuuuum, we're bored" moment!

These packs of fun temporary tattoos are just the thing to turn hands into a range of monsters.

Amuse the little monsters with some hand monsters.

Look in our Dinosaur Delinquents section for these brand new fun packs of temporary tattoos.

Our table top flags and bunting were put to good use on Yorkshire Day!

Why not use our flags and bunting to brighten up your display, stall, community event etc.?

Click the image below to see one of our little ones, with his class, at the national youth Eisteddfod (at Carmarthen) 2 years ago.

This was the first time Pembrey CP School hat entered the Eisteddfod, and all concerned were pleased to reach the finals: and chuffed to get second place nationally (in the opinion of a few ex-judges they should have won - c'est la vie).

Two years on we're still extremely thankful to all the teachers concerned, especially Mrs. Thomas.

Diolch yn fawr i chi.

We were surprised, on a recent visit to Parliament Square to bump into Nelson Mandela.

He said: "I love your website. Thanks so much for the cool Motorhead bag."

He later confirmed that he no longer head bangs, but does take the bag on official visits.

As you may have spotted at Glastonbury (in the flesh or on the TV as you danced to Madness as we did!) these flag/windsock extendable 'whips' are all the rage.

This 6 metre whip certainly caught the eye when we put it up, and we hope to soon have stock of 3, 6 and 9 metre varieties.

They come in their own wee carry case and extend telescopically, and are great for camping, festivals, the beach and anywhere else you want to be seen -- and want you or your children to find there way back to 'base.'

Of course you can fit the flag of your choice.

This is the design we are planing on putting on a new colour postcard to promote this website amongst customers, friends, family, etc.

We hope regular buyers and contacts will take a few to pass on and send out. In turn we hope this will raise the profile of our web site.

As you'll see we have gone for a bit of a "retro" look...

More news as we get it.

This is our bunting advert going in the Carmarthen Journal this coming Wednesday (22/04/09), in a section for gardens.

We hope, with the early taste of Summer we've had with the weather this week, it will make more people aware of our great range of bunting.

Here's a brief match report from Welshman (in exile!), Paul Browne:

Well, we lost 23-15 in the Daily Mail U18 Vase final at Twickenham. But the Hampton lads played their hearts out and son Morgan Browne (capt) was man of the match. What a day....

Pics attached. Great flags!

Cheers

Paul

===

Thanks Paul - we hope Morgan will choose to don the red shirt when the time comes... ;-)

Yesterday, Weds 1st April saw Hampton School U18 rugby side at Twickenham in the Daily Mail Vase U18 final.

These flags, from Fruit Salad Retro, were flown by their fans to show their support of the team in Black and Yellow.

Our 'Happy St Patrick's Day' flag featured in a local news story in today's (25/03/09) Swansea-based South Wales Evening Post.

The story was of a social evening held at Taylor's Steak House in Burry Port (a great venue with great food - try it!) to raise funds for the local Catholic Church.

The St Patrick's Day flag features in the centre of one of the pics, and in a couple of others you can just make out our table top flags (Welsh and Irish).

Our flags do make any party, social, fund-raising event look even more colourful!

We were lucky - or unlucky, depending on your viewpoint.

Despite several downfalls and flurries, the snow only settled in our part of the world last Tuesday morning, 3rd February.

So we had to make the most of it - and out came the sledge!

Hardly Scott of the Antarctic, but the wind whipped across the park and we shivered in several layers of clothes...

With more designs to follow... please do keep an eye on our site for updates and new stock.

This is the new advert due to run in the Llanelli Star from tomorrow (Thurs 5th Feb) for four weeks.

We hope it will attract local people, and especially local businesses to our great deals and great service on flags, bunting etc.

With the 6 Nations rugby just starting it's a great time - if you own a pub, club, community centre etc. - to stock up on flags of every shape and size.

Many thanks to all our customers in the build up to Christmas.

It's been a busy few weeks for us, but we appreciate all your custom in this difficult time.

We like to think our mix of fun items at affordable prices is just the thing in this climate of financial uncertainty.

If all of us ever needed a truly Merry Christmas this would be it!

This is the advert run in today's (13/11/08) Llanelli Star, which will run for 4 weeks consequtively.

We're so pleased to add a new range of china coffee mugs to our site.

The McLaggan Smith range is a by-word for quality and style.

With its great reputation and fun range of designs it fits the "vibe" of the Fruit Salad Retro site exactly.

So please pop by and check out the new designs (under the Kitchen Fun link).

With the Monopoly, historic, Cabbages & Roses, Sports and other styles and designs there'll be something there for everyone.

Welsh Rugby has always been close to our hearts at Fruit Salad Retro, as a Welsh family company you'd expect nothing else!

When we bumped into Shane Williams in Carmarthen we were overjoyed and our children had their picture taken with the Welsh sporting legend. He was an absolute gentleman!

Perhaps as our forefather Viv Huzzey was a top try-scoring wing and almost the captain of the Welsh squad (see Viv Huzzey in Wikipedia), as well as being a Welsh international baseball star , there is a chance that the Welsh Rugby Union could call on our services again... so Mr Gatland: we stand ready for the call!

Look out for our boxed advert in the Llanelli Star over the next 4 weeks.

The first advert runs on Thursday the 13th of November. So please look out for it - and feel free to point it out to friends, relatives, work colleagues. You can even run up to strangers in the street and show them it, though legally we can't be responsible for their response! ;-)

We decided to place the advert to raise our profile for the run-up to Christmas and also as a way of thanking our existing customers as we just celebrated our first year in business.

What a joy to see our own local "celebrity" Dominic Conway on BBC Wales' programme Coming Home, showing Michael Heseltine around Pembrey.

It turned out that Lord Heseltine's ancestors were lowly farm workers in Pembrey.

Some were shocked to see such a well bred, fine figure of a man walking around Pembrey and Cefn Sidan beach: but Dominic Conway says he won't let the fame go to his head!

Mr. Conway is well known to many as a teacher at Pembrey CP School, though talk of Hobnob biscuits now being de rigour in the staff room have been scoffed (not literally!) by a certain Mr. Thomas who says he draws the line at digestives.

(The headline republished here is NOT Lord Heseltine's response to Mr. Conway's tour of Pembrey).

Our Welsh bunting in use at Pembrey C.P. School.

Hard-wearing polyester it's great for internal or external use.

If you need bunting foir your school, business or event please feel free to phone us.

We will be adding more bunting to our range very soon - including 9m bunting for just £10! - so watch this space for some great designs and prices.

Mr. Donald King used 2 of our 18 x 12 inch hand held flags for his specially adapted bicycle on his sponsored ride for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

For more details visit: http://donking.blog.co.uk/

Here's what Don emailed to us afterwards:

Cycle went well apart from weather as you may have seen on blog!! Due to many situations not many pictures but enclose a couple of the bike. Flag was great as a lot of people stopped to talk and it was the flag that attracted them. Thanks again for your help.

Regards

Don

Many thanks to P. Elvin and her Scout Group who took the flags of Norfolk, East Anglia, England and the UK to an international Scout meeting at Buitenzorg, Baarn, the Netherlands this Summer.

She was kind enough to send us a photo of the flags in use.

We would like to thank all of the Long Stratton Scout Group for their impressive flag hanging skills.

Extra badges all round!