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/