If I was to go back and do it all again I think i’d try my hand with carpentry or mechanics. I’ve always been envious of fixers. Along the way i’ve picked up some skills but when I have to call my mechanics I'm in awe. How does one posses such useful knowledge?
Salads:
Thai coconut curry
Rainbow rice
Smokey aubergine + tomato pasta
Soup: Chickpea madras
Sandwich: Speck ham, Asiago cheese, chilli relish + tomato
Last weekend was testing. I decided to allow myself to be a little more vacant in the mind this week. The debates in the deli have remained untamed and political but when I get to my screen my mind goes blank. However there is one lightly bitchy point I’d like to touch on, stop talking to me about Buddies. I know they’re expensive and mediocre, arguably we all are.
Salads:
Chickpea curry
Ginger + turmeric rice
Pumpkin + spinach pesto pasta
Soup: Five spiced bean + veg
Sandwich: Chorizo, Provola, Spicy peach relish + tomato
What would you prefer: A TV ad featuring a Hollywood actress and British comedian OR cheaper groceries? There’s a certain cesspit in our society that feels the need to outdo one another when it comes to any festivity life has to give. Somethings as essential as food providers blow tons of money each year on these ridiculous advertising campaigns. Who needs to be informed Christmas is coming and why is Kiera Knightly in a groceries ad?
Salads:
Black bean + aubergine
Miso + crispy shallot rice
Sausage + ham pasta
Soup: Velvet mushroom
My brother sent me a video of the queue for M&S on opening day, what has the world come to? I went to google maps street view to inspect the new addition but I happened to click on a spot that took me to the high street 17 years ago. Woolworths, Esca, Filmnight.com, Superdrug, Oddbins, the list of legends goes on. You might think Clapham’s great but you have no idea what she once was. You love Lina Stores, I preferred Madeline’s. Common might be your fav coffee house but you never knew Zig Zag. You simp for Margo’s but to me she’ll never top Fantasia.
Salads:
Chilli non carne
Spinach + herb rice
Leek, black olive + tomato pasta
Soup: Indian spiced vegetables
Sandwich: Parma ham, Pecorino, Jalapeno relish + tomato
Everyone’s talking about it, i’m sure you’re tired of the exclamation but IT’S SO COLD. I watched a Youtube documentary about the coldest town in the world to try and make myself feel better. And yes, I know there are cities where snow is sure to fall heavy each year, to so many this isn’t even cold. I arrived at work looking like a makeshift eskimo. It’s cold, it’s cold, it’s cold, it’s cold.
Salads:
Chickpea + sweet potato curry
Rainbow rice
Mushroom + tomato pasta
Soup: Leek + tomato
It’s easy to get distracted by the glitz and the glam. Yearning for materialistic items that bring instant gratification, a high rise for a short time. For me, there’s nothing more precious than a dining table, a meal, family. You can keep your fancy cars and vacant townhouses, miss me with the diamonds, pearls and tacky designer rags. I’ll take a Lasagna and glass of red, grazie.
Salads:
White bean + roast pepper
Lemon + rosemary rice
Tomato + basil pasta
Soup: Tuscan tomato
Sandwich: Garlic salami, Fontina cheese, Chilli relish + tomato
I caved, I’ve opted for the full length legging. My legs feel trapped but it’s for their own good. My spidey senses are telling me that it’s going to be an intense day. I’ll attempt to not drown myself in coffee and conversation in the hopes of retaining some energy for this evening. The Dragon and I are feasting at a friends table. Might even have a glass of wine.
Salads:
Lentil curry
Spinach + herb rice
Roast pepper pasta
Soup: Thai spiced coconut chickpea
Where has the year gone? Would the year feel longer if I was in a less intense city? It’s probably because my days are filled to the brim will deli duties. We are arguably short staffed, there are pros and cons. Pro: I’m not bored, when I share the workload the days can drag and my mind becomes preoccupied with nonsense issues. The con is that there’s little to no time to breath, but breathing is overrated. We’ll invite someone new into the sitcom next year, it’s only round the corner anyway.
Salads:
Thai spiced chickpea + squash
Miso + crispy shallot rice
Sausage + ham pasta
Soup: Sweet potato + ginger
I don’t spend as much time with you as I should. Each morning I fight with myself, I should go, but I want to stay. As the temperature drops the battle gets harder, the sky is darker, I don’t want to leave. Somehow I summon the strength each day to go, defying your arguments to remain. I will see you when I get back, my humble little bed, can’t wait to snuggle later but for now I will conquer the day ahead.
Salads:
Beetroot goulash
Carrot + dill rice
Cauliflower + cashew pesto pasta
Soup: Spiced pumpkin
Sandwich: Cumberland sausage, Cheddar, House relish + tomato
The saying goes ‘ live each day as if it’s your last’ but that’s all a bit intense. What about ‘live each day as if it will rain tomorrow’ less morbid and you just might achieve the same results. Moose and I went on an unhinged evening run in the rain yesterday. It’s due to be wet all day today, I wonder if it’ll still be Armageddon at lunch…
Salads:
Med veg lentils
Spinach + lemon rice
Sausage + ham pasta
Soup: Spiced cauliflower
I’m sure you’ve all sat round a table with friends and discussed the smart phone epidemic, it’s a discussion I listen to most days at the deli. I use my phone frequently throughout the day but i’m not attached to it by any means. What would your day look like if you went phone free? If that seems unachievable to you then i’d suggest you try it. Fill you day with something real, move away from the pixels, it could be enlightening.
Salads:
Peri peri cauliflower + split peas
Lemon + rosemary rice
Courgette, oregano + tomato pasta
Soup: Mild vegetable madras
Some tedious characters graced us with their presence yesterday. Customer facing roles are testing but there are ways of coping, you just have to find the tactics that work for you. I like to imagine I live in a sitcom, none of this is real. When an absurd individual comes into the scene you just need to improvise, we can breath when they leave the shot and we can call cut.
Salads:
Five spiced veg with black bean
Edamame + crispy shallot rice
Tomato + basil pasta
Soup: Bean + med veg
I do love a debate, especially when the opposing view is non sensical. I find that asking a person why they feel as they do is the best tactic to reaching common ground. As the opposition cracks i’m usually labelled contrary, that doesn’t deter me. I press a little more until my opponent sighs, pauses, considers and they’re met with solid eye contact, pressure, the floor is yours but i’ve put you in a hole and there’s no where to run. You can stay in that hole, and I will charge you rent.
Salads:
Moroccan spiced chickpea
Spinach + herb rice
Leek, black olive + tomato pasta
Soup: Med veg + borlotti bean
My weekend was dominated by dogs and trashy TV, superb. There is no better feeling then lazing on the sofa after a big ole walk and just chilling. No noise, no drama just the light snoring sound of the hounds. They also teach you humility. I went on a run, in the daylight (a rarity for me) turns out I was wearing my sport shorts inside out…the feeling of embarrassment lasted all of 3 seconds. One shouldn’t live a life in fear of the opinions of mere mortals, perfection is a myth.
Salads:
Mushroom cacciatore
Roast pepper rice
Smokey aubergine + tomato pasta
Soup: Velvet mushroom
Sandwich: Fennel salami, Provola, Spicy peach relish + tomato
Is it worth thinking about the future? I’m not sure when the mentality shifted but whenever I ponder about what’s ahead I can only hold the thought for a short while. Hypotheticals and predictions fly around but there’s no way to know for certain so why bother? This is why I couldn’t work in politics, everything would just go on the back burner until it’s a crisis. I don’t even know what I want for dinner this evening. The Prime Minister needs to be a meal prepper.
Salads:
Roast squash coconut curry
Korean spiced rice
Sausage + ham pasta
Soup: Mild vegetable madras
Sandwich: Milano salami, Fontina cheese, Spicy peach relish + tomato
It’s been a peaceful morning, my version of peaceful at least. I’ve typed many sentences only to delete them because I can’t orchestrate my thoughts cohesively. I think i’ll start writing my thoughts out as and when they come to me. I’ve read back some of my posts, a lot of them grate on me. Even though I write often, i’m still relatively illiterate, I need to take time and work on my words.
Salads:
Mexican beans
Herbed rice
Mushroom + tomato pasta
Soup: Broccoli, potato + chilli
Sandwich: Pastrami, Brie, Chilli relish + tomato
Happy Guy Fawkes day! 400 years later and we’re still lighting bonfires. Imagine if someone decided to light their fire under the houses of Parliament once again. Sure it would be an act of terror but i’d appreciate the someone wanting uphold the tradition to such a high standard! Joking of course. Good luck to all the furry friends that don’t understand why it sounds like bombs are going off outside and the humans are so nonchalant.
Salads:
Paneer curry
Indian spiced rice
Roast pepper + tomato pasta
Soup: Roast squash + tomato
Sandwich: Chorizo, Provola, Jalapeno relish + tomato
Easy to say that time ran away from me yesterday from start to finish and today I woke up after sun rise. Looks like it’s me against time the sequel. I would love to sit and ponder the ways of the west and the non sensical experiences of our week away but old father time is pushing me the raise the blinds and start the day. We’ll talk soon.
Salads:
Black lentil curry
Coriander + lemon rice
Rocket + walnut pesto pasta
Soup: Tuscan Tomato
Sandwich: Parma ham, Fontina cheese, Spicy peach relish + tomato
The temperature has indeed dropped, i’m still wearing shorts. As a way of coping with stress, I like to take it one day at a time. With this in mind, I will not be thinking about the intense day of travel tomorrow, it’s just another day in SW4 today. I’d like to think i’m a pretty logistically sound queen I should pass through TSA with flying colours, not sure about Mother though, who wants to place bets she’ll get frisked?
Salads:
Braised chickpeas
Roast pepper rice
Vegetable ragu pasta
Soup: Sweet potato + ginger
Sometimes it can feel as if there’s too many hours in a day, I could have done with a few additional hours yesterday. I’m sure a study has been done that would explain to me why my brain decides to wait until crunch time to execute necessary tasks. Alas, I won’t let stress and worry rule my day, i’ll wait for the blinds to go down then I will move at the speed of a whippet, with the grace of a gazelle. Now it’s been written, it must be done.
Salads:
Aubergine + black bean
Edamame + crispy shallot rice
Roast pepper pasta
Soup: Spiced chickpea