Good Stuff
Here is a page of a few inspirational things and innovations - buildings - ideas - places and fading memories. They are not in any order and, on the surface, not all of them appear to have a tremendous amount in common apart from the fact that in their own way they have (and still do) given pleasure one way or another. See also Heroes.
Vintage Formica Caffs
I
have a great fascination for the 'recent past'. It gives me
a certain comfort every so often to pause and look back at a
world that is gradually and determinedly fading very slowly
away. One such declining element is the 'greasy spoon' an
unglamorous name for the classic Formica cafes that once
ordained our towns throughout the UK. "The
classic Italian-run Formica cafes of the 1950s have never
been given their due - despite their manifest contribution
to the (sub)cultural life of post war Britain". Of
course not all of them were exactly salubrious but many were
quite amazing. They were a haven where you could indulge in
a real truly amazing fry up (totally banned by yours truly
today) or a much welcome good cup of coffee. Still not
convinced that we should remember these British gastronomic
havens? I agree that they take some convincing especially in
this age of organic, fat free processed food but they really
were part of our life and now our heritage.
Acclaimed by the Royal Institute of British Architects as 'sumptuous...
beautiful... breathtaking... deeply evocative...'
Click here
London
I
am not a Londoner, but I seem to have spent a tremendous
amount of my life living or working here. I like to think I
know North London quite well from the City up through Kings
Cross in towards and into my beloved Islington. London
is the largest city in Europe and, in my opinion, the most
cosmopolitan and interesting. It is both frustrating and
beautiful. Some of my favourite, unimposing bits have never
ever changed since I first started living here at the age of
18. There is no city on earth (and I have lived and passed
through many) that gives me a real feeling of personal
warmth and, strangely you might think, security. Like a good
friend or the love in my life - it makes me feel good and
always will.
Jimmy's
My
favourite restaurant at 23 Frith Street London W1D 4RR Tel:
+44 (0)20 7437 9521 (a very good basic Greek place) is still
there after all these years.
"This incredible time warp of a restaurant has now
been going for well over fifty years, in a small basement on
Frith Street, Soho". "But the décor must date from closer to
its origins than to the present day – rough white plaster, a
primitive painted mural, ancient furniture and a wall space
in a corner covered with cards (already showing three years
yellowing) to congratulate them on their fiftieth birthday."
The original owner has sadly died but the food and welcome
is still as warm and inviting as it was back in the early
70's.
Click here
Dim Sum
I am a bit of a foodie and I am a Dim
Sum fanatic.
The
Chinese call the little delicacies served at tea lunch dim
sum, which translates as "touching your heart." And that
indeed is what these small morsels do. The advantage of
sampling them at a teahouse is the great variety available.
It may take you several visits to determine your favourites.
There are steamed shrimp and pork dumplings, deep-fried egg
rolls and taro-root dumplings, green peppers with shrimp
filling, and on and on.
Dim sum is based on Cantonese
dim sum, it is all good at colour, fragrance, taste and
shape, its characteristic is that the ingredients used are
of best quality and plentiful, variety is numerous, style is
novel, tastes are various, it suits the needs of every eater
and four seasons.
Click here
Concorde
Technically
still well advanced, much loved, sexy and convenient - no! I
am not referring to yours truly but this amazing flying
machine! I shed a tear of Friday 24th October 2003 when this
splendid plane completed it's last commercial
transatlantic flight.
http://www.concorde-jet.com/index.php
Dartmoor National Park
I
am passionate about the Dartmoor and have been since I was a
child. When I was growing up and feeling the usual
frustrations of youth, I used to go up there and scream my
head off! Today, the screams have stopped but the daily
frustration of life continues and Dartmoor is still my
sanctuary and always will be when I am in the westcountry.
http://www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk/
Today
I am a man of habits, although not quite 'pipe and slippers'
yet! I love early mornings.
To
be honest, I can't start the day without knowing what's
going on - especially in these dangerous crazed-ridden
times. I am always up at about 5.00am during the week and I
nearly always listen to 'Today' from 6.00am weekdays and
7.00 Saturdays.
The
programme format is as near to perfect you can get on a live
news programme. Sometimes 'Today' drives me mad with despair
other times it fills my heart, but importantly it's
no-nonsense straight-forward approach makes it the best news
coverage of the day on any medium.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/today/
British Film
I
am a big fan of British Film both new and old. Elstree,
Ealing, Shepperton, Pinewood and the rest of the studio
names have produced some of the very best cinema. For me
Margaret Rutherford (left) epitomised the British Film
industry and a certain era, along with all the other names
that we remember and still love. She, though, was superb in
everything she ever appeared in and her work is, strangely,
just as fresh today as it was when it was in those good old
days.
Click here
Europe
So
much fuss about something so fundamental. Whether we like it
or not we are now in so far that to pull out or to stand in
the wings will be political suicide and will leave the UK
sitting alone in the cold. I have, like many in the UK, been
somewhat nervous of the EU expansionist programme. But at
the end of the day I am happy with our membership of
(although maybe not the deal with) the EU.
http://europa.eu.int/
The Simpsons
Satirical
and extremely amusing (although not always hilarious for me)
- almost the best export from those Americans. Although the
Regina Monologues were amusing with Blair and other
Brits ... very slightly patronising towards the Brits. Thing
is - you Americans just can't quite hack it can you! What is
it with you guys? You think we still wear our pin-stripes
and wonder round London tugging our forelocks mumbling 'Watcha
Guvnor"! I blame it on Mary Poppins and Dick Van Dyke
personally!
http://www.thesimpsons.com/
Jazz Music
Well,
here goes ... Just don't tell the other half, or there'll be
handbags at dawn! Okay! I admit it! I know it's not
everybody's taste - but an evening with my favourite jazz
music is better than anything I can imagine - and I really
mean that! No, really, I mean it! Suit yourself!
http://www.jazzonln.com/
