north st. deli

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Day 1206 Not in my world

The phrase ‘that’s just the way the world works’ has made many appearances in my discussions over the past few weeks. It’s starting to grate on me greatly. The statement only works when speaking about a natural disaster. For example, if a volcano erupts due to the collision tectonic plates ‘that’s just the way the world works’. However, if you use this statement to brush over the injustice you find in every crevice of our society you’d be an unimaginative fool. Less we forget, society is a man made product with many design flaws that can be changed.

Salads:

Med veg lentils

Spinach + herb rice

Mushroom + tomato pasta

Soup: Carrot, ginger + miso

Sandwich: Chorizo, Fontina, Chilli relish + tomato

Day 1205 What did you say?

For some unknown reason, one my ear drums has decided to take a few days off. My hearing has been playing tricks of me, maybe it’s my body telling me to calm down and have a little more time with my own thoughts. Great, apart from the fact that I can barely hear when someone makes an attempt at humour and I have to ask them to repeat the punchline. I sense a tedious day ahead.

Salads:

Tuscan beans

Smoked paprika + sweetcorn rice

Sausage + ham pasta

Soup: Indian spiced tomato

Day 1204 I'll hold my applause for now

Here’s a weird thought that circled my brain today. When a woman announces she’s pregnant the normal response is congratulations, I find this strange. What are we congratulating? You don’t know what the child will become. You’d like to imagine your spawn will be an asset to society, a positive addition to the community but you could be birthing the next dictator, scammer or knob who parks their lime bike in the middle of the pavement.

Salads:

Moroccan spiced chickpea

Preserved lemon rice

Smokey aubergine + tomato pasta

Soup: Lightly spiced red lentil

Sandwich: Garlic salami, Manchego cheese, Spicy peach relish + tomato

Day 1203 Sun now, shade later

Shining start to the morning, the community is on top form. The day is sure to become more grey as I will be having a well overdue meeting with my property manger this afternoon. I use the term manager loosely, the meeting is to underline that nothing is being managed. Sure to be a lot fun.

Salads:

Thai coconut curry with roast squash

Lemongrass + ginger rice

Cauliflower + cashew pesto pasta

Soup: Tomato + roast pepper

Day 1202 Wet wet wet

I asked for rain and Daddy Dio delivered. I hope we’re all feeling suitably moist on the wet Wednesday! It took me while to get to my desk today, I need to knuckle down and sort through a bit of admin but the shop floor has been too entertaining so the desk work will have to wait until after hours. I’m going to take part in a meeting tomorrow to discuss our awful property management, proper adult antics, Megan Barton would be so proud.

Salads:

Curries split peas with aubergine

Rainbow rice

Sausage + ham pasta

Soup: Roast pepper + oregano

Sandwich: Fennel salami, Provola, Chilli relish + tomato

Day 1201 Blame it on the rain

The ground is starting to get really dry, where are the April showers? I know we’re all loving the sunshine but think of the crops, without a little moisture there will be severe repercussions! I’d also like a little rain to fall so that my napping habit can be excused. It’s easier to excuse being a hermit when the weather isn’t pretty. Alas, the weather man is reporting clear skies, I think the dark clouds are just hovering above me.

Salads:

Borlotti bean + roast peppers

Spinach + herb rice

Courgette, tomato + chive pasta

Soup: Spiced sweet potato

Day 1200 The vision of Europe

What a Eurovision it was. The tension during the voting was palpable, I wasn’t surprised but I was disappointed. It would have been interesting to watch them win though. It would be like North Korea putting on a show about love, freedom and equality. The world is a strange place. We seemingly work so hard here to try and safeguard children but we don’t mind that they are being obliterated elsewhere. How bizarre.

Salads:

Black bean + sweet potato curry

Lemon, ginger + herb rice

Mushroom + tomato pasta

Soup: Tuscan tomato

Sandwich: Speck ham, Fontina cheese, Jalapeno relish + tomato

Day 1199 Now that's what I call a Friday

What a start to the day! It’s all been a little to docile for my liking this week. I’ve been suffering from unreasonable boredom but that won’t be a problem today. The sun’s out, the huns are out, the day is moving along at a brisk pace that I can get on board with. A little birdy exclaimed that I should be grateful that I don’t have a pile of shite to deal with. This is subjective, i’m just to comfortable with my shite, I’m a seasoned pro when it comes to shovelling shite.

Salads:

Med veg lentils

Red pepper rice

Roast vegetable ragu pasta

Soup: Mild vegetable madras

Day 1198 Waiting for inspiration to hit

I’m in a state of irrational discontent. I could give you 100 reasons as to why my mind is irritated but in the same breath I could throw those feelings to the wind and accept that life has lulls. I’m sure something on the horizon will inspire me to be a bit more upbeat. For now, I feel like Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh.

Salads:

Thai spiced chickpea

Aromatic rice

Roast pepper + tomato pasta

Soup: Spinach + pea

Sandwich: Pastrami beef, Provola piccante, Chilli relish + tomato

Day 1197 Leave room for silence

I spoke myself into a comatose state yesterday, no wonder I don’t feel social on the weekend. I always try and stay on top of my habits in the hopes that they don’t fester into bad practice. I feel as though talking can become a bad habit, a way of filling the vacant space. In reality we need that quiet time to recalibrate, without it, you risk going into a state of delirium.

Salads:

Mushroom cacciatore

Lemon + parsley rice

Tomato + basil pasta

Soup: Spinach, pea + potato

Day 1196 That 1.8% makes a difference

I was greeted this morning with a delivery of whole milk. I sigh, what will the yummy mummies drink now? They’re already having to put up with a semi situation when entering the lair, now the have to face…oh God I can’t believe i’m uttering the words…full fat. Crisis. Luckily my milk man realised his error and returned with the semi I desired. Crisis averted.

Salads:

Black bean + aubergine in black bean sauce

Kimchi rice

Sausage + ham pasta

Soup: Indian spiced tomato

Sandwich: Speck ham, Provola cheese, spicy peach relish + tomato

Day 1195 Google is a liar

On your marks, get set, let’s start the week. The sun is shining, the responsibilities haven’t set in yet, we’re feeling good. I’ve been trying to save some coins but I decided to allot myself dinner out on Friday. Bab al-Yemen in the Fulham area. 4.9 rating with over 3,000 reviews. It was so mid and disappointing but a vital lesson was learned, the internet really do be lying.

Salads:

Cauliflower + chickpea curry

Edamame + crispy shallot rice

Broccoli, chilli + garlic pasta

Soup: Sriracha spiced chickpea + spinach

Day 1194 Saturday blues

It’s been a good morning, I haven’t given much thought to weekend plans. I spend most Saturdays decompressing from the heavy conversations I subject myself to during the week. While many arrange to meet with friends and unpack their lives, share a beverage and end up in a bar talking nonsense to a person they’ll probably never see again. I like to dig myself a pit, sit in it and fester. Hopefully my mind plays ball and i’ll enjoy some sun. Probably going to go with the dark pit option though.

Salads:

Thai spiced coconut curry

Lime leaf + ginger rice

Courgette, tomato + basil pasta

Sandwich: Cumberland sausage, Cheddar, onion relish, mustard + tomato

Day 1193 Witness the stiffness

The moment my body came out of slumber this morning I could feel it. The burn. Not the one some of you contract after a Saturday night on the lash (ya nasty). The burn you feel the second day after popping some healthy squats. I feel like the Tinman, I have to gear myself up to conquer a singular step. Why must exercise be such a painful affair?

Salads:

Mexican beans

Aromatic rice salad

Sausage + ham ragu pasta

Soup: Lightly spiced squash + ginger

Day 1192 Sandwich fever

I’m feeling a little stiff this morning but I get to zone out on the sandwich section so the day will fly by. I wrote that sentence first thing this morning, and boy was I right. I’m now frantically tapping away at my keys because the morning did indeed fly by, now we go straight into the hump day rush. Tidy.

Salads:

Moroccan spiced chickpea

Lemon + dill rice

Smokey aubergine + tomato pasta

Soup: Tuscan tomato

Sandwich: Chorizo, Provola, Chilli relish + tomato

Day 1191 At peace in my own world

My long weekend consisted of a lot of Moose time. The idea of facing humans today is giving me the jitters. It’s easy to have a conversation with an animal, they’re such good listeners and they don’t judge. Time to pull my socks up and face the music, it was a lovely weekend in my bubble but now I must return to reality. Sucks.

Salads:

Med veg lentil

Spinach + herb rice

Roast squash + rosemary pasta

Soup: Sweet potato + ginger

Day 1190 The cash machines need to rest too

What a beautiful day it was, a perfect low key birthday. Mother produced an absolute feast, ridiculously delicious. Her cheffing skills never cease to amaze me. I’m in a state of content this morning, arranging what I want to get up to this bank holiday weekend. Problems don’t seem so problematic in the sun. Thank you to the banks for needing a day off…

Salads:

Aubergine + black bean in black bean sauce

Rice salad

Mushroom + tomato pasta

Potato salad

Soup: Chilled gazpacho

Sandwich: Spicy salami, Gorgonzola, Onion relish + tomato

Day 1189 Another rotation around the sun completed

27 years ago my mother had to have me induced because I was too comfortable inside of her womb. I’ve been fiercely attached to her ever since. Unfortunately you don’t get to choose your parents, luckily the woman that birthed me is one of the most formidable humans you’ll ever meet. Shout out to her for putting in such a shift. I know she did a great job because i’m f**king awesome (and my brother is pretty cool too).

Salads:

Chickpea + sweet potato with mango + lime pickle

Sumac + lemon rice

Tomato + basil pasta

Sausage + ham pasta bake

Soup: Chilled Gazpacho

Day 1188 Hot topics on a hump day

My sandwich lady and I went for a delicious dinner at Caravela in Battersea last night. Good portions, Mediterranean flavours, personable staff, what a treat for a Tuesday night! Now it’s hump day and though it hasn’t been too busy, conversation has been vast and intense. I wonder what the experience is like for a deli novice, you come in wanting a simple cappuccino from an independent and you get thrown into a debate about trans rights or you’re shown the anatomy of a squid, so versatile.

Salads:

Black lentil curry

Coconut rice

Sausage + ham pasta

Soup: Chilled Gazpacho

Sandwich: Napoli salami, Provola cheese, Spicy peach relish + tomato

Day 1187 Tedious Ted Talks

Ergh sometimes I hate having to live with my mind, why must I over complicate things? I could sit in a silent room and tire myself out with all the voices that roll around in my skull. When a problem arises I’d say i’m quite good at sorting it out, no fuss. However, when it comes to small matters, getting myself from A to B, the forum of hypotheticals all have to have their say before I come to a decision.

Salads:

Roast pepper + white bean

Lemon + dill rice

Mushroom ragu pasta

Soup: Chilled gazpacho