The Curry’s Still Working!
Last night’s curry seems to be still working. I feel quite refreshed this morning, despite getting up at three to put some posts on this blog. In fact that is a good thing, as I always used to work through the night before I had the stroke.
Wikipedia says this on the health benefits of curry.
Some studies have shown that ingredients in curry may help to prevent certain diseases, including colon cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. A number of studies have claimed that the reaction of pain receptors to the hotter ingredients in curries leads to the body’s release of endorphins, curry is claimed to be one of the most powerful aphrodisiacs.With the complex sensory reaction to the variety of spices and flavours, a natural high is achieved that causes subsequent cravings, often followed by a desire to move on to hotter curries. Some refer to this as addiction, but other researchers contest the use of the word “addiction” in this instance.
I don’t go along with wanting stronger curries. But here are a few observations on my life.
- I was born a day after modern India and I’ve always had a psychological connection to the sub-Continent. I’ve also enjoyed my visits there.
- C and myself regularly ate curries.
- I do get a craving for going for a curry at times. Last night was one of those days.
- When I moved here I seemed to ask several people, where there was a good Indian restaurant. I was finally sorted in Boots by a combnation of an Asian pharmacist and a customer.
- I was very disappointed when Waitrose stopped making curry and rice for one. Does anybody still do them?
- The day C died, I went for a meal in one of the Indian restaurants we used.
I should say that when I have a curry out, it’s usually in a proper restaurant, where they have tablecloths and use gram flour.
Perhaps it’s just down to releasing endorphins, as is stated in the extract from Wikipedia. After all, I feel better when Ipswich win.
How To Stop Spam!
A few days ago, someone stared sending masses of spam from a Hotmail account faking them so that it appeared they came from one of my business e-mail addresses. This technique is used to try to get round spam filters. The consequence though, was that I got masses of bounces from mail systems that rejected his junk.
I reported him to abuse@hotmail.com, but all I got was a simple acknowledgement.
Then yesterday I sent the spammer a short e-mail saying.
I have a friend with connections to Mossad and that they have means of stopping spam.
A few hours afterwards and the messages stopped. He could have course just got bored or been chopped by Microsoft.
But who cares! The messages stopped.
Are The BBC’s Troubles Down To Manchester?
The BBC has now lost their Director General as reported here.
I do wonder how much the troubles at the BBC are down to the ill-thought-out move of much of the Corporation to Manchester. How many of their better managers and journalists have left, because they didn’t want or were unable to leave London?
I know that Newsnight is a London-based program, but even so just the threat of a possible move to the North was a reason to jump ship. Especially as this year, London was the media centre of the world, with this years events in the capital, like the Olympics and the Diamond Jubilee.
It is one thing to decentralise drama and factual programming, but news and probably sport should be in the capital.
It was a daft decision to move so much to Manchester.
Is Curry Good For Me?
Last night I had a good curry at the Angel Curry Centre in Chapel Market at the Angel.
My throat hasn’t been good lately, but it certainly seems to have improved after the curry.
But then it’s not just curry that does that. Marks and Spencer’s roast pork in a cider sauce has a similar calming effect. There are various articles on the web, which say curry does have good effects. like this one.
But then C and I always used to go for a curry on Monday nights, although in later years we didn’t go quite as often.
So I know one thing I’m going to do to improve my health and that is have a weekly curry.
Scotland Taxes Tobacco And Alcohol
Scotland has added extra taxes to large stores that sell tobacco and alcohol. It seems to have had the effect of getting some Sainsbury supermarkets to not sell tobacco. It’s reported here on the BBC.
Although I applaud any measure to reduce smoking, I’m not totally sure about this one. It will harm the profits of the big supermarket groups and they will react, by perhaps not investing in stores and jobs north of the border.
And of course, smokers will still get their fix, by probably buying tobacco from bootleggers and others.
I would prefer to see all tobacco sales in large supermarkets as that would perhaps make it more difficult for kids to get hold of them. After all, when did you hear of a large chain of stores selling cigarettes or alcohol to those underage.
Two Gluten-Free Eateries
I went to the Brunswick Centre Waitrose to see if I could find some Musks sausages. Unfortunately, they’ve stopped selling them.
But I did find this food stall outside.
Gluten-Free Gallettes
As I’d just had a big breakfast, I passed the stall. as I walked back to get the bus up Lamb’s Conduit Street, I saw this cafe called Danny’s.
Danny’s – Home Of The Gourmet Wrap
They have quite a lot of gluten-free items and on enquiring inside, the owner could have been coeliac.
I shall return, when my stomach is less full.
The Friendly Bus
New Buses for London get little criticism, except from those on the left, who think Boris should be running a whelk stall.
I travelled to the Angel today and wanted to get a 30, so I could go for breakfast at Carluccio’s. As I was waiting I got talking to a mother, with two young children, who were waiting for a 38. She said that her kids liked the new buses and often waited for one.
Does this mean that these buses are creating a whole new generation of bus travellers, just like the original Routemaster did in the 1960s. Let’s hope so, as we all know what is the greenest way to travel. And in cities like London, buses are often quicker from point to point.
After breakfast, whilst walking to Waitrose, a New Bus passed and I thought I’d go to the bigger shop at the Brunswick Centre. So I jumped on at the lights. After a couple of stops, several of us were sharing bus stories of our childhood with the driver/conductor.
Only New Buses for London get people talking like this.
C Would Be Laughing Loudly Today
My late wife would be laughing very loudly today at some of the legal stories in the papers.
The Times has a story about the large increase in the number of litigants-in-person and how they are clogging up the court system. They were often C’s nightmare, as they delayed cases and put up her client’s bill.
The Telegraph has a story about another couple, who’ve wasted all their savings on who has custody of their two children. C had done many cases like this, although this has a new twist in that the couple are lesbian. At least in this case, the kids seem to know what they want to do and hopefully are old and sensible enough to rise above it all.
You do get the impression, that some people shouldn’t get married and certainly shouldn’t have children.
I Want A Warm Short-Sleeved Dressing Gown
I don’t use the dish-washer, as it was virtually broken by the tenants who lived here previously, I do the small amount of washing up by hand.
The only problem is that my dressing gown has sleeves that are long and thus get wet.
So where can I can a short sleeved dressing gown?
Thinking of tenants! Were they invented by the white goods manufacturers to wreck as many domestic appliances as they can?
A Trip To Barkingside
From its Wikipedia entry Barkingside station seems to be a rather nice one. It says this.
Barkingside station is a “Grade II” listed building, marking it as a structure of architectural significance. Probably designed under the direction of W. N. Ashbee, the GER architect, it is dominated by a substantial brick building, surmounted by a cupola. The interior is notable for the fine hammerbeam roof to the ticket hall. Both platforms retain the ornate canopies with the “GER” initials still visible in the bracketry.
So I went to have a look.
There doesn’t seem to be much near to the station though and I couldn’t even get a coffee. But it is a rather charming little station. The only thing it needs to make it better is roaring coal fires in the waiting rooms.
The Anonymous Widower 