It sits there, looking all innocent, colourful and organic. It’s refreshing crispness, matched by its wholesome flavours. Little does it warn that during the eating of, it will disguise you chomping down on your inner cheek, trapping your tongue between molars nor somehow managing to scratch your own gum!
Never have that problem with KFC, lol.
So, let me see, I am craving …..
Oh well, I’ll just have to imagine my pastrami sandwich is all of those things …
Last Wednesday [yes, the day before the world went pouty mad] Big Sis, BIL and I got up early and headed to the train station, our destination, the big smoke, Londinium, the capitol … this years escapades involved a guided tour of the Houses of Parliament and a river cruise, plus dining at our now favourite place The Drift at Heron Tower.
We arrived without hitch or hold up and taxied to the Lord Entrance, past the growing floral tributes to the Late Jo Cox MP laid out on Parliament Square. Through the ‘airport style security’ and into the hallowed grounds. We had planned a light luncheon in the Jubilee Cafe and to get the bargain priced guide book from the shop (£5, thoroughly recommend) before perusing Westminster Hall in readiness for the tour to begin.
If you ever get the chance, grab it, I organised my tour through my MP’s office which meant it was free, but even at the ticket price of £25.50 is better value than some venues. Our guide Phillip made the walk around engaging, enthralling and amusing, bringing in all his tourees to be seen as a person of history – I was a new MP experiencing first State Opening and no hope of heck getting into House of Lords to hear the Queens Speech and how I go about getting myself seen and heard [you have to put your prayer card in the holder at the seat you choose on the benches before morning prayers], the significance of ornament . You learn of the assassination of Spencer Pervecal in 1815 at the hand of John Bellingham … which bits are victorian fake gold and which bits are stolen, well purloined, Welsh Gold …. the blue carpet and why the royals only tread in specific areas … the significance in the position of the Mace … how to become Lord/Lady and sit at cross benches … anecdotes such as Henry VIII aged 9 rode his horse into Westminster Hall; the place where Thomas Moore [Man For All Seasons] was tried, where Charles I was tried by Cromwell … how the Palace was re-jiggered following the bombing in WWII that struck the Commons …. when it became a permanent home to Parliament [prior to this it followed the Monarch on progress or from Palace to Palace] … the politics of position and the Parliamentary Post Office …. we saw copies of Hansards and how it is produced … the Parliamentary voting system and how it is more foolproof than any paper or electronic system.
It had not clocked with me that as Parliament was in recess for the continued referendum campaigning, that we would be able to go into the Commons and Lords, bonus for us! After 90 minutes and utter entertainment, we wanted to go round again. I imagine you could do so with different guides and discover something different each time.
We sauntered across Westminster Bridge and to the London Eye, the embarkation point for our 40-minute trip and were boarded quickly. The ropes let go and the engines revved we sailed down to Tower Bridge, our commentator trying his hardest to name and fact various bridges and buildings. It was over all too quickly, and we taxied back to Heron Tower for some super fabulous gorgeous tasty food {I have been lusting for their scotch egg on piccalilli since last year!
scotch egg with black pudding on piccalilli
Home and a bed by 11pm ….. 17 hours after leaving it, educated, entertained and exhausted.
Now to read the guide boo to remember all the things I forgot to mention here!
p.s. Big Sis searched, she looked, she scrutinised but she didn’t find an upside down Union Flag *phew* LOL
I am just about getting back to my usual routine after the visit with my BFF. How quickly we fall into our ways together, turning my hovel into a grown-up slumber party. It is such a change and welcome return to something so comfortable.
We watched loads of good stuff, documentaries, serials and films, like …..
I am sure I have forgotten some.
We eat good food that we cook ourselves, which makes a welcome break from my usual stews [which I am already bored of]. BFF was finishing a ripple afghan in silver birch, I become the wool unwinder so she can crochet at blurring speed [skip2-11-3in1-repeat; I’m nearly reciting that in my sleep!]. I was starting a new project [blog to come] and wanted her guru teacher mind to help me get started.
We talk, laugh, watch youtube stuff, discuss politics, newsy stuff, talk cats and their antics.
All too soon there are discussions about flight times and pick up times, and things working their way back into a suitcase. She’s coming back in 165 days, not that I am counting down.
A conversation with my BigSis today.
BS- I have a dilemma about dinner
me- oh?
BS- well I’m having belly pork and that calls for brown sauce but I’m having peas and they demand ketchup
me- true, brown sauce on peas is not right
BS-there will be chips, and onions with mushrooms done in the micro
me- Oww they call for brown sauce
BS-but there are peas!
period of silent thinking
me-easy, don’t have the peas
BS- why didn’t I think of that! Sorted, no peas.
We tackle the heavy issues of everyday life.
In a weeks time my BFF will be here for a few days respite, our days long extended girls pyjama party. The list of things to do is finally shorter than the list of things done. A few hiccups along the way [thank you Lord Sod and your side kick Major Murphy], this week has been a tad busy to get on top of everything leaving next week for those last minute emergencies that crop up.
Collapse from nervous exhaustion scheduled in five ….. four ….. three ….. two ….. one ………………………..
What has happened to salad?? When did it go from a conflagration of slicing, dicing and dressing to garden clippings???
While out in the High Street, Big Sis and I trundled into Iceland for a few make-do essentials when I decided that I would have some prawns and salad for my dinner. She grabbed a bag of salad produced by a nationally known brand name and off we went. Later I undid the bag and tipped it into my dish, it did not look the appetising delight as imagined between the freezers but we make do.
Well, that is not all together what I thought. My exact thoughts were it looks and tastes like roadside hedge trimmings. My innards concurred and the cramping sent the alarm bells ringing and my digestive system accelerated the handling of these awful stalks and leaves.
Since when did ‘salad’ [as opposed to garnish] kick out the cucumber, the celery and the radish; when were the tomato, pepper and sweetcorn banished; as for the carrot, spring onion and beetroot when were they expelled from the ensemble.
Compensation of sorts tonight .. I am having my hair cut so Nephew, Niece [well neph’s wife but i’ll always see her as niece], the four-foot ninja and bump [there is another ninja currently in the oven] along with a bucket of KFC, the orgasmic gravy and fries – yes!!
