The Waitrose-Go-Round
I know that sometimes I buy some odd food, as many coeliacs do, but I’m finding getting what I need seems to be getting more and more difficult.
On Friday, I went to Upper Street, Islington to get most of my shopping, but yesterday, I had to go Holloway Road, or as I say, Jones Brothers, to get some of the rest. At other times, I find myself in Bloomsbury and Eastfield.
Currently, the products I find difficult to get are the St. Helen’s Farm Goats Milk Yoghurt and the Eat Natural Breakfast Toasted Muesli with Vine Fruits. I can get the latter in Sainsbury’s next door to my usual Waitrose. I’m not sure, but they may undercut Waitrose and shoppers have been ignoring it in the more expensive store, so the computer says they shouldn’t stock it.
But it all goes to make my shopping difficult.
Observations In A Restaurant
Today, I walked to the river via the Olympic site for lunch. I ended up in a posh, but rather crowded cafe I know, which is close to Canary Wharf.
I ended being sat on a single table between two couples, who probably we’ren’t having the best of marital relations at the moment.
C, my late wife, who was a barrister specialising in family law, used to enjoy this sort of scenario. Especially in Cambridge, where a few days later they might walk into her Chambers as prospective clients. So that cause of friction was not there, as I’m not a lawyer, although, I have fathered one.
The couple on my right, were what C once described as a double helping, as they were both married to others, although they were talking about their spouses and children across the table.
She was a dumpy, but not unattractive, Far Eastern lady of about thirty and he was a rather dreary-looking man perhaps a few years older.
At one point, when she left the room, he phoned his wife to find out how his daughter was. The lawyers will enjoy both the divorces.
The couple on my left, were probably at least married to each other. He was rather plump too and she had the sort of hair, that costs a fortune and then just looks straggly and like she’s only just got out of the shower.
She first ordered a glass of white wine and then when it came, decided they would have a bottle. But when that arrived, she decided it was the wrong one and ordered another. If I’d been the waiter, I’d have crowned her with it. Her partner seemed rather embarrassed and kept quiet.
I left soon afterwards and as I paid the bill, I could feel the atmosphere. As I left, I could see everything heating up.
Carluccio’s Minestrone Soup
Carluccio’s changed their menus a week ago and added a minestrone soup to the main menu, which is on the gluten-free one without the foccaccio.
I’ve had it a couple of times and it is very good, with ham hock, green beans and lots of other vegetables in a tasty stock. It makes an excellent lunch on its own with a drink.
I should also say that this last week, Carluccio’s have had vitello tonnato as a special. As it should be their version is gluten-free. Unfortunately, I think today may well be the last day you’ll get it for some time, as they change specials weekly.
Offering Pineapple on the Tube
Coming back from Oxford Street today, I took a bus to Euston, where I picked up my supper in the Marks & Spencer there.
I had read somewhere that pineapple chunks are good when you have a dry mouth like I have, so I bought some to have with my supper and keep in the fridge to snack on.
There were signalling problems when I got to the Victoria line and by the time the train moved off it was very hot. So I took out the pineapple chunks and ate a few.
I offered them round and there were no takers.
When I got home, I then had a thought that they might react with my warfarin. They don’t.
The Solution to Smoking and Obesity
Why not allow towns to have referenda about whether they want to allow smoking and lots of unhealthy food shops?
It would be interesting to see what happened in the towns that voted to allow it after a few years.
Hopefully, they would see sense.
My old GP once exchanged with a doctor in Canada for a year, where there were lots of Native American patients, most of whom were heavy smokers. His statistics and stories about that time, would fill a large book. But sadly he’s dead now.
He was one of the better GPs, I’ve had in my life.
Allergic To Corned Beef
In the repeat of Dad’s Army this evening, Private Fraser.said that he got out of sevig in the vArmy, because he was allergic to corned beef.
This must be one of the first references to allergies in fiction.
I wonder why it was included
The Toddler On The Bus
I went into Islington on the bus yesterday to get my supper and the bus was rather empty on the lower deck, except for a guy sitting in front of me, who had a little girl about two, sitting in a buggy in front of him.
He was eating some sort of odious processed meat pie and feeding small scraps of it to the child. I thought of telling him off, but then I restrained myself, as I didn’t want a fist in my face.
No wonder children are getting unhealthier and more obese.
By the time I got off the bus, I’d just about had enpough of the smell of that pie. So let’s tax them to the hilt for the sake of all our health!
Camden Road: A Destination Station on the North London Line
Obviously stations like Stratford and Richmond are destination stations on the North London line, where there is a lot to do and are ideal places to meet a friend or someone on business. Hampstead Heath station is probably another, but it is not really an interchange.
Today, I went to buy a new jacket and found myself at Camden Road station, which is being updated by the addition of lifts. I got the jacket and then proceeded to have a coffee in the restaurant under the station called the Meribel Brasserie & Coffee House. The coffee was very good and although they didn’t specifically do gluten-free, there were a few items on the menu, that were. For instance, their breakfast menu included scrambled eggs and smoked salmon at a reasonable £7, to include some accompaniments like tomatoes and a bit of salad. I checked the dinner menu with the Russian chef and I certainly wouldn’t starve there. He knew his stuff and even knew that skate were not kosher fish.
You certainly have a better choice of gluten-free food at Camden Road station, than in the whole of Eastfield.
I also drank my coffee on a pleasant terrace in the sun watching the traffic. Unfortunately,that unusual clothes shop, Swanky Modes, which used to be opposite has now gone. C always wondered, whether they actually sold any of their way out designs.
Stations Reborn As Shopping Destinations
This was a sub-headline in The Times yesterday describing the new policy of Network Rail in transforming stations. Head of Retail at the company is quoted as saying that they want to move away from the likes of McDonalds and Burger King. As a coeliac, I say good riddance to both of them. At the two stations fully redeveloped in London, they’ve got a Leon at Kings Cross and a champagne bar and Carluccio’s in St. Pancras. Both stations have proper pubs too. Next for the treatment in London is Waterloo, with Euston and Birmingham to follow. Both of the latter are terrible.
The Head of Retail also talked about removing the stranglehold of W H Smith, a shop of last resort if ever there was one. A French company, Relay, has been invited to open in Cannon Street.
Stations can’t be improved fast enough, as far as I’m concerned.
A Good Week for Coeliacs
On Tuesday in the Budget, George Osborne introduced a tax on hot takeaway food. Am I bothered? As a coeliac, who can’t eat any gluten, of course not, as most that will be taxed, would cost me a fortune in toilet paper, if I ate it!
Then today, the Government proposes a minimum price for alcohol. As coeliacs can only drink good quality wine, cider and spirits, I doubt many will be upset!
The Anonymous Widower 