Simon Calder’s Holiday Advice
I like Simon Calder and he gave some interesting holiday advice on BBC Breakfast this morning, when asked about the shortage of package holidays. He suggested having a few days in London, where hotel prices are cheap and many of the best attractions are free.
In fact on the 38 bus last night, I met a father and son spending a couple of days in London.
So perhaps, Simon is only stating what is happening.
The Best Restaurant For Coeliacs In The UK
For my birthday yesterday, my son took me to Arbutus in Soho for dinner with a couple of friends.
It was the usual high standard and everything was immaculate as usual.
I must have been a dozen times or so now, including twice for lunch this year and it never fails to delight with some unusual ways of cooking. Last night I had peas in a puree with roast vegetables as a starter, followed by rabbit, which was one of C’s favourites. The rabbit was accompanied with a little cottage pie in a ramekin dish, containing the vegetables and some small pieces of meat, probably from the legs of the rabbit. Now that is a simple idea for a dinner party, where the main dish is say a leg of lamb. In which case you’d use some lamb mince in the pies.
I’ve said that this is the best restaurant for coeliacs in the UK and it may well be. But there are few restaurants in the world, that do gluten-free food as well as Arbutus.
Arbutus isn’t cheap, but for a special occasion, say before seeing a show in Shaftesbury Avenue to celebrate a wedding anniversary, it must be unrivalled. C and I went a couple of times after seeing a matinee on a Saturday.
One thing they do is sell all the wines in 25ml. carafes. This cuts the cost and if you’re incompatible in terms of wine with your partner, like I am with my teetotal son, you can indulge your taste.
The restaurant is also very easy for me, as I just get a 38 bus to Chinatown and walk up Frith Street. Sadly last night Transport for London, didn’t provide one of their New Buses for London. I shall be complaining!
The Ladies Who Bus
Three retired ladies are using their Freedom Passes to travel every London bus riute from end-to-end in numerical order. The project is described here on the BBC’s web site.
And I thought I was mad visiting all the 92 football and Premier League clubs in alphabetical order.
Usain Bolt In Sclater Street, Shoreditch
I took these pictures of the painting of Usain Bolt by Jimmy C in Sclater Street, Shoreditch.
It’s very easy to get to and all you need to do is get to Shoreditch High Street station on the East London line, turn left as you come out of the station and turn right at the main road. Sclater Street is directly ahead.
You can even see the painting, from the lift lobby on the Southbound platform.
The Shard Gets Everywhere
I’m getting less and less happy with the Shard, as every picture you take, has London’s most ugly building in the background. Here’s a few pictures.
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- The Shard From A Bus In MIle End
I shall be adding to this gallery. Note that I can even see the Shard from the end of my road.
The only good thing about the Shard is that it’s better than what was there before.
I Thought London Was Empty
Various doom-mongers have said that London was empty.
I Thought London Was Empty
This Carluccio’s in Covent Garden seems to be bucking the trend. It looks like it’s standing room only!
A Big Red Taxi
This 29 bus was totally empty except for a postman going off shift and myself, as I took it away from Trafalgar Square.
A Big Red Taxi
But then it was mid afternoon. Afterwards, I went to Waitrose and Starbucks at the Angel and they were quiet too!
Even Trafalgar Square Isn’t Busy
I took this picture in Trafalgar Square today.
Even Trafalgar Square Isn’t Busy
I would have thought that it would have been busier. It could just be that most of the visitors have money and hanging round Trafalgar Square isn’t part of their itinerary.
London’s First Real Olympics
The Times points out today, that the 1908 Olympics was held in the UK, as it was supposed to have been held in Rome. But Vesuvius exploded, so the Games were moved.
Although, we held them in 1948, that was very much because we got left holding the parcel, after the Second World War, as no-one had any money. If there had been no war, London would have had the Games in 1944.
So that makes 2012, London’s first real Games!
And Now The Bouncy Bus
The Czech House is at the Angel and this bus is outside.
It is an interesting piece of engineering art by David Cerny. I like it a lot better than some of his other works.
I suspect some fans of Bristol buses will find it sacrilege.
The Anonymous Widower 