Do We Really Need More Subways?
It has been announced today, that Subway is to open a large number of new outlets and create a lot of jobs.
The jobs are welcome, but do we really need all these sandwich shops selling obesity?
As a coeliac the answer is an overwhelming no, as they have no gluten-free products. But then we’re all going to pick up the bill for the obesity through the NHS.
One of the biggest problems too is that they might create a lot of jobs, but how many small places will be put out of business, thus adding to the jobless pile.
We should tax all fast food shops on the calories of the average order.
That would fix them! Hopefully, by restructuring the product ine.
I particular hate Subway for two other reasons; they are always throwing junk mail through my letter box, despite a prohibition notice and lots of pavements are blocked by their salesmen handing out flyers.
Do we really want to import the United States’s worst export; obesity?
An Insult In My Recycling Bin
Thursday is recycyling day and I didn’t bother to get my recycling bin in. So someone put a present in it.
An Insult In My Recycling Bin
It was a half-eaten steak pie. Is this a deliberate insult as obviously the junk food isn’t gluten-free? They could have put it in my wheelie bin for general rubbish, as that was actually next to the other bin. But they would have had to lift the lid!
If we assume it wasn’t a deliberate insult, it just goes to show that those eating junk food have few manners and feel it is their right to throw the remains anywhere.
It’s a pity that the pie didn’t have a name on it, as I would have someone to sue, if I felt the effort worthwhile.
Accessing Medical Records On Line
The government is thinking of allowing this.
I’m all for it!
At my previous doctor’s surgery, I was allowed to read my then paper notes with impunity and often did with the nurse when she gave me my B12 injection every couple of months or so. I found the free access very useful, but unfortunately my notes for the first twenty years of my life have been lost and they might have been very helpful in sorting out my various allergies in addition to the coeliac disease.
Over the last few years, I’ve often posted medical details and results of any tests, such as those for cholesterol, in this blog, so I can access them easily, if I need them.
Last summer, when I had the stroke in Hong Kong, some of what I had posted proved a help to the doctors and possibly hastened my recovery. It certainly cut down the number of blood tests.
So, the government’s proposal to put all our medical notes on line is to me a very positive step towards providing better health care. We should also be allowed to add our own comments and observations. For instance, I’ve just had a tooth extracted and that should be added, as should my supervised experiments with Keppra.
Will I Look Like This If I Eat Beautiful?
I took this picture at the Angel in Islington.
Eat Beautiful
So if when the restaurant opens and I eat there, will I get to look like one of these lovelies?
Checking the web site of the company, itsu, it would appear they are being honest about allergies.
Reading the menu though, I doubt it will increase my 30 inch waist much. It’s been that ever since I left University and the doctor in Hong Kong, thought that my core strength helped me survive the stroke. I’m beginning to doubt that, as I think the stroke wasn’t as bad as it was painted at the time and they gave me the super-duper clot-busting drip in time.
Starbucks Stop Gluten-Free Sandwiches I Like
Starbucks are my reserve, if I get hungry. They had a very acceptable chicken sandwich.
But they’ve now replaced it with one of cheese and coleslaw.
I hate coleslaw, so when I was offered it, it went down badly with me and I left the shop hungry.
I also like meat and fish and the number of cheese sandwiches I’ve eaten in sixty-four years is probably less than half a dozen.
The Non-Availability of M&S Sandwiches
Travelling if you are a coeliac has always been difficult and now, if you are leaving London it is a lot easier, as you can get very good sandwiches at the M&S Simply Food stores in the capital.
But despite what it says on the M & S website, sandwiches are not available in any station outside the South East. The only station, where I’ve found them is Cambridge, but as the city doesn’t feature on my itinerary, that isn’t much help, especially, as I know the city well and can get proper meals in several places there.
I also got the impression from a couple of stores, like Swansea and Exeter, that there isn’t much demand for the sandwiches outside London. Incidentally, I’ve only found sandwiches at three stores outside London and the South East. Manchester and Liverpool had two and Meadowhall had one.
I only ask one thing of M&S. Let’s have the web site in-line with the stores. For instance, I was told in one place, by the manager of a station store, which was a franchise, that he would not be stocking the sandwiches. But the website says otherwise.
Cough Sweets
AS a child, I used to have the occasional bag of cough candy twists? Are the still available? And are they still made with proper sugar? It just seems that since the takeover of Cadbury by Kraft, a lot of their brands seem to be disappearing. I haven’t seen any mint imperials in months for a start. Or Halls menthlyptus either!
Let’s face it, Kraft’s most famous product, Cheese Slices, is something, that no-one with any sense of quality about food would ever eat.
On the subject of sweets though, I don’t even eat much chocolate these days. Things like small Green and Blacks bars don’t seem to be around anymore!
92 Clubs – Day 37 – Swansea
This was one that I thought would be simple. Just a return on a Sunday to one of the furthest clubs from London; Swansea.
But I knew there would be problems because of engineering works on both the Underground and the trains to South Wales. So I decided to start early and just took a Super Off Peak Return to Swansea, having booked a seat on the 08:00 from Paddington. I had elected to take my chances about getting a seat on the return journey. But I thought I’d have a reasonable chance, as the train started its return journey in Swansea and I knew there was an unreserved coach.
So it should have worked out well and mostly it did.
Because there was no Underground trains to Paddington, I had to take a couple of buses. Which wasn’t too much of a hardship, but the journey wasn’t as easy as it would have been on say a Monday.
When I got to Paddington, Marks and Spencer wasn’t yet open, so I couldn’t buy any sandwiches for the trip. As they are the only place to buy any gluten-free food in stations and there is nothing on the trains, I would have to wait until Swansea.
The journey was uneventful except that it took just over four hours instead of just under three. This was because it had to go via Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway, rather than straight through, because of the engineering works.
On arriving in Swansea, I walked straight to the Liberty stadium in about half-an-hour. There were no signposts for either walkers or drivers until you could see the stadium.
Swansea share the ground with the rugby club; The Ospreys, as you can see from the picture.
The Liberty Stadium, Swansea
I think I caught the remains of a car boot sale, so I thought I’d get back to the city centre and try and locate some food.
I did get a bus, but of course I had to pay for it, as English bus passes are not valid in Wales. Are we a United Kingdom or not? I don’t mind paying incidentally and feel that a UK wide scheme with perhaps a small charge outside your home are, would be the fairest way to do it.
But I couldn’t find any food. Marks & Spencer told me, that they had no gluten-free sandwiches, although they do stock them. but they are not the best of sellers! In the end I get some EatNakd bars from Holland and Barrett. They may be nice, but coffee and chocolate bars isn’t the best diet, even if it is gluten-free!
So I got back to the station and took the 14:00 train home. Paddington was in chaos because of the Underground engineering works, so it was buses to Oxford Street and then the Central line and another bus to Islington for supper in Carluccio’s.
All I say is roll on CrossRail, as this will make getting to Paddington so much easier; engineering works or not!
As an aside, I took this picture of the stadium from the train from London.
The Liberty Stadium from the London Train
It strikes me that this is a ground that could benefit from its own station.
It was a day though that showed me the problems of travelling as a coeliac unless you plan ahead and take your lunch with you!
92 Clubs – Day 25 – A Day Off
This was an enforced day off for two reasons.
I needed to have by three-monthly B12 injection for my coeliac disease. I also took the advantage of a free flu jab. I don’t want a dose of that to add to my problems do I?
My trusty Nokia 6310i also seemed to have packed up and I needed to get a replacement. However on looking at the new phones, I decided that they had no features I needed. And they cost a fortune!
So I took a train to the depths of Enfield Lock to see Tonik, the company behind the web site, nokia6310i.co.uk. All went well except for the fact that some wag had turned the signed round to the Innova Science Park, where they are based, and I ended up at a locked school instead.
A Mispointing Signpost in Enfield Lock
The Innova Science Park is actually in the direction of Brimsdown and the school is where the sign says the Science Park is.
I then left my wallet in their offices, which meant a return trip to retrieve it.
92 Clubs – Day 19 – Leeds, Leicester, Leyton Orient
I took the early 5:50 train out of Kings Cross an got to Leeds on time. But that was the start of my problems, as i couldn’t find anybody to ask about a buss to the Leeds ground at Elland Road and then when I found out how, I couldn’t use my free bus pass until 9:30. So that is what Welcome to Yorkshire means.
So I had breakfast in Carluccio’s and finally got to the stadium at Leeds about eleven.
Outside Elland Road, Leeds
It was another bus back to the centre and then on my way to Leicester.
Leicester had little information at the station, but I as it was a nice afternoon, I was able to walk to the ground on a signposted route, that seemed to rather go missing after the Rugby stadium. But I did find it.
Leicester City's Stadium
Despite there being a match later, it was all surprisingly deserted, as the picture shows. I had hoped to get a bus back to the station, but the stop I found had virtually no route information, so I used the most reliable transport I had to hand; my legs.
I arrived at St. Pancras and after coming home it was on to Leyton Orient.
Brisbane Road Stadium
Leyton Orient must be one of the more unusual grounds, in that it has blocks of flats at the four corners of the ground.
It is not a bad place to watch football either. Friendly too!
The Anonymous Widower 