Squash and Mr Kiplings, "so 70s"

[ManagementPlan]

This has been said by my boss twice in the last week or so.

We provide tea, coffee and squash for staff refreshments and we get through quite a lot of squash, especially in summer. On signing off the purchase boss said "who even drinks squash these days, it's so 1970s".

Then a colleague had arranged a small spread for a meeting including some Mr Kiplings cakes. Boss said " 'Sally' still thinks it's the 70s."

Apart from been quite sneery, are those things so obsolete? They obviously still sell if you look at supermarket shelves. I think what's actually happened is my boss has become middle class since the 70s, so these are things she remembers from her childhood, but wouldn't buy now, whereas families from her original background (as most of our colleagues are) are still happily using them.

I might tell her that if she says it again 😆

I don't tend to buy cakes and nor did DM or DMil so I can't speak about Mr.Kipling but I was a child in the 70s and drank a lot of squash.My DSes both drink squash regularly.

Not what you're asking I know but I'd be overjoyed if I went to a meeting and there were French Fancies, Country Slices or a Cherry Bakewell there.

I'd love to know what the boss thinks should be provided - probably tiny brownies or those giant cookies which are big beyond all sense.

I drink squash myself as a change from tea or coffee - better than a fizzy drink and not too keen on water .

Everyone I know gave squash to their DC .

And I'm currently having a Mr Kipling cake phase - not eaten them for years until recently though.

Loads of adults like access to cold drinks as well as hot, and plenty aren't a fan of plain water, especially tapwater in some places (the tapwater where I live is rank, and contrary to the advice often given, actually tastes far worse if taken out and left to stand in the fridge). Perhaps if she's willing to sign off on something probably pricier like free access to bottled Coke and 7Up, or water dispensers with nice-tasting bottled water, people wouldn't drink squash at work. As it is, it sounds like a cost-effective way of keeping the workforce hydrated and happy.

I buy it because it's a lot less weight to lug back from the shop than the equivalent quantity of drinks in fizzy pop or bottled water form, and cheaper, and because I don't like my tap water. Also Brita filters make tapwater taste almost exactly the same but with added pencils.

Next time buy lovely cordial, fresh juice, and macarons- and see what he thinks of the bill!

We get through a lot of squash, certainly in the summer. And hot blackcurrant in the winter. He sounds an unpleasant sneery person. Just leave him out of the cake count as everyone I know loves Mr Kipling.

DP gets through umpteen bottle of squash a week. And plenty of Mr kipling cakes. He's 39

Lots of people drink squash (despite mumsnet members generally equating it to giving your kids crystal meth)

😂😂

What do people drink if they don’t drink squash!

Your boss sounds like he’s trying to act cool and young but is failing miserably.

I am a 90s baby and will drink squash every day.
I also bloody love Mr.Kipling.

I need to know what he’d put out instead.

I’ve not really come across adults who drink squash so I think that’s a bit odd.

mr Kipling is surely 80’s and kids parties. I mean eat and drink what you like but I’d be surprised to be offered stuff like this in an office!

Only on mumsnet would people agree that squash and Mr Kiplings are a thing of the past.

Or weird that an adult would drink squash 🤣

I was born in the 70s (just!) and yes we drank loads of squash, I don’t remember many Mr Kiplings at home, I think I thought they were quite posh actually 😂

These days I still love squash and until recently drank it fairly often (robinsons apple and black currant or ‘your purple juice drink as DH calls it) but have had to switch to plain water as DD has cottoned onto it and I don’t want to give it to her. I don’t buy mr kiplings but certainly wouldn’t say no to one on offer!

How weird , squash is a normal drink , how can you define it as 70s.

You must have been brought up in a nice area; individual Mr Kipling thingies were way too fancy and expensive for the 80s/90s kids' parties I went to As far as sweet stuff went it was jelly and ice cream, with a slice of the birthday cake to go home with. Mr Kipling was more something that would be a treat for after tea. Probably round your grandparents'.

We have squash because dp likes it (I hadn't drink it in 25 years until I met him) I don't buy shop cakes though - either buy from the monthly farmers market or bake them (mostly because that way we rarely have cake, too lazy!) I do buy donuts on the beach though about monthly

Or perhaps you mean the 80s, but also and separately, kids' parties.

I'm sure they would go down well at a kids' party. But I've definitely seen them be a continued presence for several decades in more or less the same market segment — a box of little cakes for a bit of a treat, affordable for most but not something most people would eat every day.

Was that when they first came out (as in mass produced squash and cakes) so boss associates it with then, but they've never actually gone away?

I've never understood why people are sneery about food or drink perceived as 70s. Either tasted good or it didn't.

(Black Forest gateau anyone?)

I love squash. We drink it here as a treat, rather than fizzy drinks as even fizzy water is bad for teeth and bones.
Mr Kipling mini Battenburgs are regularly eaten here too.

I think it’s quite “70s” of everyone on here to assume that the boss is a man, when the op called her “she” and “her”.

It's probably very 1970s of me but I doubt any man has ever held strong views on squash or Mr Kipling 😆

How can squash be dated? It's completely normal to have squash

Two (including me) said "she", four (I think) said "he", probably influenced by previous posters saying "he", as they'd read "he" more recently in short posts by previous posters, whereas the OP only specified the sex deep in the final paragraph of a fairly long post. Not surprising the most recent thing would stick compared to a passing reference in the OP.

Vimto here.

Mr Kipling cakes are grim.

If Boss doesn't like the food and drink, Boss can bloody well organise it next time.
I personally love Mr Kipling cakes and squash, my whole life is a paean to the 70s - wonderfully naff era!