Did My Protest Work?
It is being reported that Starbucks are now going to pay more Corporation Tax.
Since the storm broke, I’ve not used a large chain of coffee shops, although I have popped into Carluccio’s for the odd cappuccino.
I wonder how many other people have adopted a similar boycott?
It’ll be interesting to see the accounts of the chains as they emerge!
On a related point, I was talking to an American a few days ago, and they didn’t like the way Starbucks behaved on the other side of the pond.
Carluccio’s Or Starbucks?
This is a decision, I have to make every Monday morning at the Angel.
Normally, if I want a coffee early in the morning, as I’m off to the shops, I go to the cafe opposite.
But on Monday they are shut and I also generally go to the Angel to get my provisions for the first few days of the week.
So do I go to Carluccio’s or Starbucks for my pre-shopping coffee, whilst I work out what to buy.
For some time, I’ve gone to Starbucks, as it’s close to Waitrose, but recently, I’ve started to use the Carluccio’s a little further away.
Could this be because of all the publicity about Starbucks tax position in the UK?
After all, their coffee is only ten pence more, you get a comfortable seat and friendly staff, the queues are minimal and if you need to use the medical comforts, they are clean and excellent.
It will be interesting to see, how many people change their coffee habits!
A Problem For A Jewish Coeliac
Now I’m not Jewish, although I’m suspicious that my coeliac disease comes from an Ashkenazi Jewish line from my great-great-great-grandfather who came over to work in the fur-trade at the start of the nineteenth century.
I do like to have eggs for breakfast and if I cook them at home, I will generally have them with beans and bacon. Today, though, I was on the way to IKEA via the Angel, so I popped into Carluccio’s. Usually, in such a situation, I have eggs florentine with a portion of pancetta. The pancetta is a great way to mop up the sauce and the yolk from the poached eggs.
I suppose if you are Jewish, you could accept the offer of Scottish gluten-free oatcakes. The oatcakes are fine, but they are a bit hearty for breakfast.
Please Can I Come In?
I took this picture outside Carluccio’s in Upper Street.
Please Can I Come In?
At least they provide a proper place to which to tie a dog
Carluccio’s Christmas Menu
When you are a coeliac in a group at an office or other place of work, you are often the only one and when Christmas comes, it is a source of tension and often unhappiness about where you have the Christmas lunch.
Carluccio’s this year have come up with a Christmas menu, that has a choice of turkey, sausage and lentils, cod, steak or two risottos. Only the turkey is not gluten-free. This is the menu for my local restaurant in Islington.
I think they’ve come up with a Christmas menu for everybody.
Carluccio’s Winter Warmer
It was a bit damp and cold in Brighton yesterday and it made me get back on the soup.
Carluccio’s Winter Warmer
Their minestrone soup is gluten-free, if you have oatcakes instead of bread and really warms you up.
It’s almost a complete lunch in itself.
To Brighton via Cable Car And A Lot More
And a few other things too!
I had plenty of time yesterday to get to the Ipswich match at Brighton, so I thought, I’d see how many different forms of transport I could use.
1. A 21 Bus to Bank
I started the simple way by getting on this 21 bus to take me to Bank station for the DLR.
A 21 Bus To Bank
It didn’t actually go to Bank, as southbound buses have to take a detour at Moorgate because of Crossrail.
2. Docklands Light Railway to Royal Victoria Docks
I then took the DLR to Royal Victoria Dock station for the cable-car.
DLR Train At Bank
I did take a pause at Limehouse station to take pictures of the Hydraulic Accumulator Tower.
3. Emirates Air-Line To North Greenwich
I’d actually come this way to give me a good title to the post. But, as I had a gondola to myself, I was able to take good pictures of the Crossrail site at Limmo.
The Crossrail Site On The Limmo Peninsular
Work seems to be proceeding at speed and hopefully Elizabeth and Victoria will be dropped in the big hole soon.
4. Jubilee Line To Canada Water
This was the point, I realised I hadn’t got an SD card in the camera, so I purchased one by the O2.
Jubilee Line At Canada Water
At least the Jubilee line was working properly.
5.Lift To The Overground
This might seem like blatant cheating to get my count up. It is!
Lift To The Overground
Although it was a nice clean lift!
6. Overground To West Croydon
Those who know London’s transport system can argue that I should have taken the Jubilee line to London Bridge station and got a train from there. But hey! That would not be fun.
Arriving At West Croydon
But even the Overground takes you to wrong station at Croydon for Brighton. But at least, West Croydon station now has a quick exit to the tram.
7. Tram To East Croydon
At least when you’re going West to East in Croydon, the Tramlink is simple.
Tram at East Croydon
In fact, if say I’m coming from Brighton to my home, I will probably go direct to the London terminus. But going south, I tend to take the Overground from close by my house and then the tram to East Croydon station, as I did here.
8. Train To Brighton
I bought my first ticket of the day. a senior return to Brighton for £11.70.
My Train To Brighton Arrives
I arrived in Brighton on time.
I then walked down the hill to Carluccio’s for an early supper.
Paying Small Amounts In Restaurants
Yesterday, I was in Carluccio’s in St. Pancras waiting for my train north, when I realised I was running things a bit close.
I had only had a coffee, so I knew it would only be a couple of quid, but I hadn’t had the bill yet.
I was tempted to leave a tenner, with my business card on top and leave, returning when I got back from the north.
But I didn’t as the bill arrived and I paid it in the normal manner.
In some European countries, the bill is always left, so that if you have to go and are paying cash, you can just leave the money and go.
Certainly in some restaurants and cafes, where people might have to leave quickly, it wouldn’t be a bad idea.
The Clock At Waterloo Has Got More Comfortable
The balcony at Waterloo station is now more of less complete and there are now some wonderful places to meet people high up in the station. That’s if you have anybody to meet!
I was in Carluccios, which as you can see from the photo, has quite a few seats looking down on the concourse.
in 1962, the BBC showed an episode of Comedy Playhouse, called Sealed With A Loving Kiss. Wikipedia describes the comedy thus.
Arnold, played by Ronald Fraser, and Freda, played by Avril Elgar, have been having a relationship by correspondence and when they meet for the first time they discover neither has been totally truthful.
They meet for the first time under the clock at Waterloo. Or it could have been Victoria! Now they would meet in one of the cafes upstairs. Although today, there seemed to be large numbers of people underneath the clock. Including one proper gentleman with flowers.
The First English Beans Of The Summer
Today I bought the first English beans of the summer. From Suffolk of course! I used them to cook fish with beans and peas.
I used Carluccio’s lemon olive oil again and it gives a subtle lemon flavour to the fish.
The Anonymous Widower 