I Should Cocoa

Where does that rejoinder "I should cocoa" (meaning "I should jolly well think so") come from? Anyway, after all the snow-capped topiary and frozen brussel sprout stalks I thought we could all do with a heart warming mug of hot cocoa. And what better than a big spoonful out of this splendid tin. Except of course we can't buy it like this now, mores the pity. I must admit I am tempted to buy some Bournville and decant it, (there's still some Rowntree's lurking at the bottom), but there are enough raised eyebrows surrounding me at the moment as it is. But just look at this 1950's design. The repeat patterns in cream and brown on a burnt orange, backing-up the characterful hand-drawn script. And the two exquisite line drawings of the cup and saucer and the very pretty girl glancing at us as she takes the cocoa pot (looking like one of those you once got in Boots' cafes) on its tray to a waiting table. How did I come by it? Well, a little boy of our aquaintance in the mid 1970's was always gazing up at the shelves of our cottage, and when he realised we weren't a grocer's shop he scooted off down the village street to his grandma's and lifted this from the back of her pantry shelf. "I thought you'd like this" he said. Oh yes.