I’d Like A Muse
As Christmas arrives and it will be my seventh since the death of my wife; C.
It’s obviously impossible to want her back in the same way that some divorcees want a sanitised version of their previous partner, without perhaps the violence, gambling, drinking or leaving the toilet seat up.
But I got to thinking about what I actually want and in some ways I think I’d like a muse in the way that many artists, writers and thinkers did in the past and probably do now.
C and I both had our own areas of work, but there was also a grey area, where I suggested things she might do to make perhaps a difficult case less stressful and she would criticise some of my wilder ideas, designs or flights of fantasy.
It was fun and we enjoyed life to the full. I look at the things I used to do with her that I rarely do now, as I don’t like doing them alone.A list includes going horse racing, to the theatre and I don’t go to the films as often as I used to. As to trying out good restaurants, I don’t really bother unless I’m travelling. A good meal always needs good company to make it worthwhile.
I also love going shopping with a woman, where we choose clothes for each other. I haven’t done that for some years.
What I don’t need is a cook or skivvy!
If C was my muse, then I like to think I was her consort!
Another Reason For Not Shopping At Tesco
In a few minutes time, I’m off to a lecture at the London Geological Society on Piccadilly.
I shall take a 38 bus all the way, as it stops virtually outside my house and the Society.
But I will leave myself plenty of time, as it is the time of day, when Tesco always seem to park their truck outside their convenience, or in this case inconvenience, store at Islington Green, which usually manages to delay the traffic by fifteen minutes or so.
I don’t deal with arrogant businesses like that!
No wonder the company, is a ripe one for breaking up by the vultures of the City!
Searching For Gluten-Free Cocktail Sausages
I finally tracked down some of Marks and Spencers gluten-free cocktail sausages in their store at Eastfield.
They have also opened up a new gluten-free section for chilled goods, like fish cakes.
Is This Building Too Good For A Shop?
The Ancient House is one of Ipswich’s eleven Grade 1 Listed buildings.
The Ancient House, Ipswich
But is it too good to be shop?
The tenant incidentally is Lakeland, so it must be their grandest shop.
Is Crossrail Going To Be The Shopping Line?
Crossrail seems to be a rail line that connects most of London’s Main shopping centres together. Starting from the East at Shenfield and going West, you get Romford, Ilford, Stratford/Eastfield, Moorgate, Oxford Street, Bond Street, Ealing, Slough and Reading.
You probably have to include Woolwich and Canary Wharf on the Abbey Wood branch, although Canary Wharf could be described as an important station in the basement of a shopping centre.
Even Westfield at Shepherds Bush is just a detour away from Crossrail on the Central line.
So will one of the slogans for the new line be something like.
Going shopping? Then go Crossrail!
I searched for “Shopping Crossrail and found this article in Retail Week. This is an extract.
As John Platt, managing consultant at location analyst CACI explains: “Currently no major high speed rail routes offer direct access to the heart of central London’s retail offer from the suburbs. All the major stations are on the edge of central London’s retail, meaning shoppers travelling from outside central London have to make a second trip on some form of transport.
“With stations at Tottenham Court Road and Bond Street this will not be the case with Crossrail.
So the article is optimistic that Crossrail will increase business in the retail sector.
The Best Cafe In Eastfield
Marks and Spencer’s cafes are probably best described as safe, with a boring selection of drinks and pastries, that wouldn’t annoy ladies who drink milky coffee.
But the one on the bridge at their Eastfield store is different.
It’s nice to go to a cafe with proper china and nearly all those in that area of the shopping centre use paper cups.
So it’s a no-brainer as to where I go!
It does mean that if I’m lucky, I have to put up with one of the best views in East London.
As Marks and Spencer now have an extensive range of gluten-free foods in the shop below the cafe, Stratford is an ideal place to break a journey with a pit stop for supplies
The Tyranny Of Shopping
Today’s shopping showed how sometimes, it can be a complete pain. I went up to Islington and bought this today.
The Tyranny Of Shopping
My trouble in some ways is that I’m particular in what I like.
1. Bread has to be from Marks and Spencer. Waitrose’s especially is made from cardboard.
2. Only Sainsbury sell my preferred Black Farmer sausages, which go so well in a sausage casserole I’m making.
3. Marks and Spencer doesn’t sell cannelloni beans.
4. I prepay for The Times and getting rid of the voucher can be difficult in some supermarkets.
5. Etc. etc.
So in the end, I ended up going to all of Waitrose, Sainsbury and Marks and Spencer, buying a few items in each.
At least at the Angel, the three shops are close together. In Sainsbury, all I bought was the sausages.
Last week, I went to Waitrose at Canary Wharf to try to get everything in one visit, but they didn’t have the sausages, as they’d sold out and their own gluten-fre ones are tasteless.
A Quick Shop Using A Route 114 Hackney Tram
As I was going out, I made a quick dash up to the Angel to get some food shopping.
I boarded a crowded third segment of a 114 (i.e. 3 x 38) tram and we all went in convoy up to Islington.
But the great thing, is that standing is so easy on these vehicles that run pancake flat!
After my shopping, I got another vehicle home and fifty minutes after leaving originally home, everything had been put away and I was ready to go out.
When I lived in Newmarket and could still drive, I couldn’t get anywhere near that time.
A New Take On Dumbbells
I bought these dumbbells in John Lewis, as my fitness trainer, said I needed some heavier ones.
A New Take On Dumbbells
There was only one problem and that was bringing two 4 kilo dummbells home in two flimsy plastic carriers.
A Design Crime – Why I Didn’t Buy Another Pair Of DAKs Trousers
For the last twenty-five years, I’ve had a pair of DAKs cord trousers for when I need to be smart. Last year, I bought a replacement pair and they were fine.
The original pair were still comfortable and warm and I wore them on my holiday in Iceland. I unfortunately ripped them on something, so there was only one place for them – the bin!
So I thought I’d buy another pair and went to their shop.
But what a disappointment!
They’ve been designered and now there are three buttons to do the trousers up. With my gammy hand that is a no-no! Or imagine getting taken short and wanting to disrobe quickly.
It’s almost as bad as the dreaded button-fly!
I went elsewhere!
The Anonymous Widower 