22 June 2005
Monkey me
I really am the proverbial monkey.
This morning I left the house and halfway down the road realised that I'd forgotten my mobile phone.
So back up the road, up the stairs and picked up my mobile phone which was plugged in in the bedroom.
Back downstairs, out the door, and... no bus pass - which was in my hand the first time I left the house. So, then I'm searching frantically through bag, getting later by the second, and finally go back into the house and back up to the bedroom.
And there it was - on the bed. I'd literally seen my phone and just dropped my bus pass to pick up the phone. Like a monkey seeing something better than what it has in its hand. Or a small child. Sigh...
This morning I left the house and halfway down the road realised that I'd forgotten my mobile phone.
So back up the road, up the stairs and picked up my mobile phone which was plugged in in the bedroom.
Back downstairs, out the door, and... no bus pass - which was in my hand the first time I left the house. So, then I'm searching frantically through bag, getting later by the second, and finally go back into the house and back up to the bedroom.
And there it was - on the bed. I'd literally seen my phone and just dropped my bus pass to pick up the phone. Like a monkey seeing something better than what it has in its hand. Or a small child. Sigh...
19 June 2005
Taste of London
It really is blinking hot today. I gave up on the gym idea and headed straight for foodie land this morning.
Great herds of people were heading in streams towards Cumberland Green in Regents Park, but fortunately, it wasn't that full on arrival. Got through the gates, grabbed my free magazine, pen, Martini and entered some competitions.
Taste of London operates a strange crown payment system, where you buy books of vouchers (minimum £10) and for your pennies you get 20 crowns. Most everything has to be paid for in crowns. No refunds are available for unused crowns, so by the end of your stay, you're almost driven to tout them to passersby, because almost nothing costs 1 crown, so you have to make sure what you buy adds up to 20 crowns. Surely a sneaky ruse by the organisers to make money off the odd unspent 50p crown here and there.
First thing, before getting acclimatised, am accosted by Bottlegreen Elderflower woman offering elderflower sorbet for 1 crown. Hurrah - that's where I can spend future lone crowns. I buy one as the sun is already beating out like we're in the middle of the Maldives or something.
Went round all the restaurant stalls trying to figure out how to spend my precious crowns. First thing was to strike off the list anything that I might eat usually - sushi, curry, Chinese, pizza, pasta etc. That leaves places like Novelli, Rhodes, posh fusion and French. Next thing is to rubberneck and see who gives out the biggest portions. Made the monumental mistake of getting seared scallops in a sweetpea purée from Novelli - £4.00 for one singular scallop. Pshaw!... is all I have to say. A scallop can be only so good - and no scallop is £4.00 good in my opinion. I doubt I will be trying Novelli on the Park in a hurry.
Smarting at the stinginess of Novelli, I headed to Roka where I had seen some scrumptious lamb cutlets off the robata (Japanese grill thing) with chilli and cucumber dressing. Two lovely chargrilled succulent cutlets for the princely sum of £5.00. Yum, yum. Meaty, tasty and altogether much more satisfying. Will definitely think of eating there in the future.
Next, feeling thirsty but almost out of crowns. So have to fork out another £10.00. Not a good deal to go to the show on your own. Good thing I didn't have to pay entrance, or I definitely wouldn't have gone at all.
So, the trick is, how to spend remaining crowns. Nahm has grilled squid with green chilli salt - but most importantly has big portions. So another £4.00 on large bowl of squid. Prop myself up on a stool in the shade outside the Bluebird. Turned out to be a spot of luck.
The chef from the Bluebird starts giving out free food (salt marsh lamb, bacon stew with parsley and new potatoes), champagne and water (as people are beginning to keel over). Now this is more like it. A small crowd forms outside and some organiser chappie comments on how busy they are. The chef (who is quite funny) has no qualms in saying it's because they're giving it away. He keeps making comments about the posh restaurant next door (which is Club Gascon).
Club Gascon, btw, is a French slow cooking type establishment. I have always fancied going there as they do lovely cassoulet and the like (from what I've heard). They had cassoulet on the menu at the fair, but 10 crowns for a diddy portion put me off.
Anyway, after my bounty from Bluebird, I'm off to Sketch for the patisserie. A bag of French macaroons, leaves me with just enough crowns for Elderflower pressé and get a free sorbet thrown in. Hurrah!
All in all, things got better, but it really is a cheek that most people pay entry and then have to pay again for food. There should definitely be more taster sessions.
Anyway, pleasant way to spend Sunday and try out some food from swish restaurants I wouldn't normally go to. Didn't bother watching any of the demonstrations or listening to the lame entertainment (why do they even bother putting it on)as just wanted to eat food.
Now at home, munching macaroons and pondering upon what's for dinner.
Great herds of people were heading in streams towards Cumberland Green in Regents Park, but fortunately, it wasn't that full on arrival. Got through the gates, grabbed my free magazine, pen, Martini and entered some competitions.
Taste of London operates a strange crown payment system, where you buy books of vouchers (minimum £10) and for your pennies you get 20 crowns. Most everything has to be paid for in crowns. No refunds are available for unused crowns, so by the end of your stay, you're almost driven to tout them to passersby, because almost nothing costs 1 crown, so you have to make sure what you buy adds up to 20 crowns. Surely a sneaky ruse by the organisers to make money off the odd unspent 50p crown here and there.
First thing, before getting acclimatised, am accosted by Bottlegreen Elderflower woman offering elderflower sorbet for 1 crown. Hurrah - that's where I can spend future lone crowns. I buy one as the sun is already beating out like we're in the middle of the Maldives or something.
Went round all the restaurant stalls trying to figure out how to spend my precious crowns. First thing was to strike off the list anything that I might eat usually - sushi, curry, Chinese, pizza, pasta etc. That leaves places like Novelli, Rhodes, posh fusion and French. Next thing is to rubberneck and see who gives out the biggest portions. Made the monumental mistake of getting seared scallops in a sweetpea purée from Novelli - £4.00 for one singular scallop. Pshaw!... is all I have to say. A scallop can be only so good - and no scallop is £4.00 good in my opinion. I doubt I will be trying Novelli on the Park in a hurry.
Smarting at the stinginess of Novelli, I headed to Roka where I had seen some scrumptious lamb cutlets off the robata (Japanese grill thing) with chilli and cucumber dressing. Two lovely chargrilled succulent cutlets for the princely sum of £5.00. Yum, yum. Meaty, tasty and altogether much more satisfying. Will definitely think of eating there in the future.
Next, feeling thirsty but almost out of crowns. So have to fork out another £10.00. Not a good deal to go to the show on your own. Good thing I didn't have to pay entrance, or I definitely wouldn't have gone at all.
So, the trick is, how to spend remaining crowns. Nahm has grilled squid with green chilli salt - but most importantly has big portions. So another £4.00 on large bowl of squid. Prop myself up on a stool in the shade outside the Bluebird. Turned out to be a spot of luck.
The chef from the Bluebird starts giving out free food (salt marsh lamb, bacon stew with parsley and new potatoes), champagne and water (as people are beginning to keel over). Now this is more like it. A small crowd forms outside and some organiser chappie comments on how busy they are. The chef (who is quite funny) has no qualms in saying it's because they're giving it away. He keeps making comments about the posh restaurant next door (which is Club Gascon).
Club Gascon, btw, is a French slow cooking type establishment. I have always fancied going there as they do lovely cassoulet and the like (from what I've heard). They had cassoulet on the menu at the fair, but 10 crowns for a diddy portion put me off.
Anyway, after my bounty from Bluebird, I'm off to Sketch for the patisserie. A bag of French macaroons, leaves me with just enough crowns for Elderflower pressé and get a free sorbet thrown in. Hurrah!
All in all, things got better, but it really is a cheek that most people pay entry and then have to pay again for food. There should definitely be more taster sessions.
Anyway, pleasant way to spend Sunday and try out some food from swish restaurants I wouldn't normally go to. Didn't bother watching any of the demonstrations or listening to the lame entertainment (why do they even bother putting it on)as just wanted to eat food.
Now at home, munching macaroons and pondering upon what's for dinner.
Labels: food, restaurants
Phew!
What a scorcher!... as they say. It's suddenly become summer after weeks of rain and damp and general non-hotness. Everyone is gasping for air like little stranded fish.
I notice on the new bendy buses, there are air-conditioners in the driver's cab but nowt for the paying passengers. Funny that.
Off to Taste of London today to sample much tasty food. After a sweaty session at the gym. I'm astounded by my goodness.
BB's birthday spaghetti and meatballs were an unmitigated success. After five hours of slaving over a hot stove I fashioned the most tasty, chunky and scrumptious meatballs with oregano and tomato sauce. Hats off to John Pawson's recipe (modified).
We watched Sideways the other day. It is very funny. Took a while to get into, but some excellent setpieces. It's made me want to go down the road and try out the new wine shop that has wine tastings down the road. And I don't really like wine that much.
Batman Begins next on the agenda.
I notice on the new bendy buses, there are air-conditioners in the driver's cab but nowt for the paying passengers. Funny that.
Off to Taste of London today to sample much tasty food. After a sweaty session at the gym. I'm astounded by my goodness.
BB's birthday spaghetti and meatballs were an unmitigated success. After five hours of slaving over a hot stove I fashioned the most tasty, chunky and scrumptious meatballs with oregano and tomato sauce. Hats off to John Pawson's recipe (modified).
We watched Sideways the other day. It is very funny. Took a while to get into, but some excellent setpieces. It's made me want to go down the road and try out the new wine shop that has wine tastings down the road. And I don't really like wine that much.
Batman Begins next on the agenda.
Labels: food, transport, weather
11 June 2005
Quiet weekend
Gee whiz! Glad to be home and just pottering about. Two weeks since I posted anything. Shows how I've esconced myself thoroughly back at work, temping at the old familiar places. It's also been a whirlwind of social activity - well mainly going out for post-work drinks for birthdays, leaving dos, barmitzvahs etc. (Well, not the last one).
Got an acting job at last - doing a voiceover for a new computer game. Just two hours work but pays pretty well. Hope it's a good game. I play a Chinese journalist with a strong HK accent (surprise, surprise).
Also, possibly, another voiceover in the pipeline for a company in Burbank, California. It's for a theme park on Lantau Island in Ngong Ping, which is going to be about Buddha and Buddhism. I'll be telling stories about his life and teachings. Hope I get it - should be fun. It'll probably be done by hook-up via ISDN, but it would be cool to go to California.
Nothing much to rant about. Have been trying to do Sudoku - the "new" puzzle craze that seems to have hit the UK. It's great! The interminable hour bus journey to and from work just whizzes by when my brain is being scrambled.
But boy am I am glad that today I'm not driving out to see cousin's extensions, hoiking halfway across London to birthday parties and forking out £15.00 to park in an NCP because they'd covered up all the Pay and Display machines and parking meters in town and so forth. Just dance class today. Hurray!
Got an acting job at last - doing a voiceover for a new computer game. Just two hours work but pays pretty well. Hope it's a good game. I play a Chinese journalist with a strong HK accent (surprise, surprise).
Also, possibly, another voiceover in the pipeline for a company in Burbank, California. It's for a theme park on Lantau Island in Ngong Ping, which is going to be about Buddha and Buddhism. I'll be telling stories about his life and teachings. Hope I get it - should be fun. It'll probably be done by hook-up via ISDN, but it would be cool to go to California.
Nothing much to rant about. Have been trying to do Sudoku - the "new" puzzle craze that seems to have hit the UK. It's great! The interminable hour bus journey to and from work just whizzes by when my brain is being scrambled.
But boy am I am glad that today I'm not driving out to see cousin's extensions, hoiking halfway across London to birthday parties and forking out £15.00 to park in an NCP because they'd covered up all the Pay and Display machines and parking meters in town and so forth. Just dance class today. Hurray!
Labels: acting
