Day 1234 I'm content in my own company

Take in the wet weather and the cool breeze because there’s another scorcher incoming. I have another week of DIY planned and this week is going to be a big one. There’s no point in trying to maintain a social life while I have this itch to scratch. I have and endless and ever growing list of tasks to accomplish. Hopefully I can rid myself of this need for change by the time winter returns. I can then hermit indoors and enjoy the fruits of my summer fling.

Salads:

Med veg lentils

Spinach + herb rice

Sausage + ham pasta

Soup: Broccoli, chilli + potato

Day 1233 Your national anthem was written by and Englishman

Today feels like a better day than yesterday. My brain was producing nothing but white noise. I still managed to have a relatively productive day but my body shut down at 9pm. The vibes on this day have been immaculate, sunshine, laughter, birthday bunting and puppies. Noice. Oh, and happy independence day to the land of the free. Here’s hoping your government might grant that grace to others.

Salads:

Thai chickpea

Panzanella

Courgette, tomato + spring green pasta

Soup: Chilled gazpacho

Day 1232 Excuse me while I look into the distance

All I want to do is sit at my desk, chain smoke and think. I love thinking, i’m also partial to a spot of daydreaming but unfortunately this all occurs in my head so I don’t look overtly busy which means I get interrupted when engaging in this pastime. We all need a good think every now and again, a check in with the council of the mind. We have much to talk about.

Salads:

Thai spiced chickpea + sweet potato

Miso + ginger rice

Cauliflower + cashew pesto pasta

Soup: Chilled gazpacho

Day 1231 You can't stand the heat yet you stay in the kitchen

Seeing people in tracksuits yesterday solidified the idea in my head that this world will burn and we are the cause, the only chance of saving the world is eradicating the people. How intense a thought for a Wednesday read. Hey ho, lets just enjoy the good times. Blame it on the rain will soundtrack my day.

Salads:

Mexican beans

Sweet chilli rice

Baked veggie pasta

Sandwich: Chorizo, Pecorino, jalapeno relish + tomato

Day 1230 I don't read good

You’d think I don’t read back what I’ve written before I post, I do. But I wrote it, so I know what I’m trying to say. I write with such haste some mornings that I look over my spelling, grammar and yesterday I fully left out words. Anyway I barely have GCSE’s so who cares. It’s hot, let’s get on with it. Also I tried our Gazpacho yesterday after assuming for many years it wasn’t for me, It was delicious.

Salads:

Many beans with herb dressing

Roast squash ragu pasta

Croutoned mushroom salad with manchego dressing

Soup: Chilled gazpacho

Day 1229 You can look but you can't touch

If the BBC didn’t report so heavily on KNEECAP they wouldn’t get so much traction and their message wouldn’t be heard by the masses. I’ve heard of Bob Vylan have you? You probably have now that he started a chant at Glasto that most news networks are running as their main story. We’re aware of these atrocities that are taking place world because of reporters, be it BBC or independent. You can’t report ‘neutrally’ about a genocide and expect no one to take a stance.

Salads:

Chickpea, beetroot + dill

Sausage + ham pasta

Panzanella

Soup: Chilled Gazpacho

Sandwich: Cooked ham, Taleggio cheese, Chilli relish + tomato

Day 1228 To be social is a skill

And we’ve made it to Friday, well done everyone. My DIY hyper fixation is still at the forefront of my mind but this weekend I will have to pacify these thoughts as i’m heading to Cambridge. I will put my best foot forward and attempt to be social outside the confines of the deli. There’ll be plenty of time to panic about that on the drive there. For now, I will think of nothing but sandwiches.

Salads:

Roast squash + black bean with Korean dressing

Tomato, courgette + basil pasta

Herbed lentil salad

Soup: Chilled gazpacho

Day 1227 Maybe the rock is but a mere pebble

I must admit, sometimes I like to talk in riddles. I enjoy stringing together various thoughts that allude to the comings and goings of the daily deli dilemmas. A reader who deems themself wise for reading in between the lines has requested I censor my cryptic contemplations. Perhaps they forget that I write for an audience larger then themselves. Is it my fault that you read my words and assign them to your own short comings? Impossible. How could a heathen like me rile a rock like you.

Salads:

Chickpea + sweet potato with mango lime pickle dressing

Fattoush

Potato salad with tahini dressing

Leek + chilli broccoli pasta

Soup: Chilled Gazpacho

Day 1226 Are you capable of seeing the other side?

Debating is not for the faint hearted. One must remain respectful to the opposing view, even if they spit venom. My intension when entering a debate is not to change your mind, I’m just intrigued about your state of mind. As long as your standpoint or lifestyle doesn’t cause pain and suffering to others you’re completely within your right to live as you please. Instead of being offended by the other side of the coin you could just enjoy the view.

Salads:

Peri peri cauliflower + cauliflower

Rice salad

Sausage + ham pasta

Soup: Gazpacho

Day 1225 Are you scales accurately calibrated?

When making a big decision you should always weigh out the pros and cons, simple. But what if you don’t know all the pros and all the cons? What if you’re in a state of delirium or surrounded by advisors who have ulterior motives? What if your predictions on the future events are wrong and you find yourself having to make a new big decision on a matter you didn’t foresee when weighing out your initial pros and cons?

Salads:

Braised chickpea + smokey aubergine

Lemon + rosemary rice

Mushroom + tomato pasta

Soup: Chilled gazpacho

Sandwich: Roast beef, Cheddar, Dill pickles, Mustard + tomato

Day 1224 Monday madness

It’s been a whirlwind of a morning, Nelly’s back and there’s so much to catch up on. My weekend consisted mainly of DIY tasks that I have bestowed upon myself. Self inflicted stress is always the hardest to digest. I think I much prefer being agony aunt to the issues of others. It’s like taking care of someone’s dog (or child) the stress levels can only go so high, there’s the sweet relief of knowing you get to relinquish the responsibility at some point.

Salads:

Braised green lentils

Carrot + dill rice

Broccoli + pea pasta

Soup: sweet potato + ginger

Sandwich: Chorizo, Chilli pecorino, Chilli relish + tomato

Day 1223 Hyper Friday

I’m hyper fixated at the moment. Mother tried explaining this to me as if I wasn’t already aware, silly Mother. All I can think about is DIY. While you stand there and contemplate your sandwich order I am imaging how i’m going to organise my weekend so I can achieve as much as possible. Logistics, efficiency, oft, turns me on. So take your time, I can wait.

Salads:

Chickpea + sweet potato with lime pickle dressing

Roast pepper, tomato + basil pasta

Soup: Gazpacho

Day 1222 I think we're the lucky ones

London is such an intense city, it’s easy to feel as if you’re drowning. Imagine if you lived in a country that could get bombed mercilessly and you watch media outlets around the world discuss whether the attacks are justifiable or not. But you live here in your overpriced rental property scrolling through footage of carnage in other lands feeling grateful that the only thing shafting you is a greedy landlord rather than a genocidal foreign government.

Salads:

Chickpea + sweet potato with pickled dressing

Spinach + herb rice

Cauliflower + cashew pesto pasta

Panzanella

Soup: Chilled Gazpacho

Sandwich: Milano salami, Chilli pecorino, Spicy peach relish + tomato

Day 1221 Do you prefer shivering or sweating?

It’s been nothing but peaceful this morning. I love this weather. I can’t say i’m fully taking advantage of it but i’m enjoying the little things. Waking up to blue skies is probably the biggest joy that summer brings. I hop out of bed with joy rather than cocooning myself in my duvet trying to convince myself that it’s not time to wake up yet.

Salads:

Aubergine + black lentil curry

Coconut + sweet chilli rice

Pasta salad with salted ricotta

Soup: Chilled gazpacho

Day 1220 Stop putting your silver in my nest

Humans love to accumulate stuff. Hoarding isn’t just a human trait, it occurs in other species too, like birds. Some sapiens accumulate items well beyond their needs, this is when it becomes a problem, many don’t see it as such. It becomes a real issue when one human likes to collect and another in the household enjoys a space with less items. It becomes truly aggravating when said hoarder doesn’t reside in the house where their shite is stored, stealing space and peace of mind from another. If you were a magpie maybe i’d excuse this behaviour, but you’re not.

Salads:

Thai coconut curry with roast squash

Crispy shallot + tofu rice

Spring greens, tomato + basil pasta

Sandwich: Parma ham, Manchego cheese, Jalapeno relish + tomato

Soup: Chilled gazpacho

Day 1219 Seller Sunday

Yes i’ve been in the sun and I got kissed by the rays, more like smothered. I was doing up wheeler dealer at a car boot and it was quite enjoyable as a Sunday past time. Good thing I had fun because I still have a ton stuff to shift. Now it’s Monday morning, one must realign the mind and put the brain into deli mode. Here’s to a productive week ahead.

Salads:

Mexican beans

Lemon + chilli rice

Sausage + ham pasta

Soup: Chilled Gazpacho

Day 1218 Batties for all

It’s Friday the 13th, i’m about to crush the day and the bad omen that looms over it. The forecast is looking toasty so my hot date and I are planning a little trip to Madeira to soak it in. The mini Madeira in Waterloo that is. Happy Friday my people, I hope the day treats you nicely.

Update: That was one of the busiest breakfast shifts we’ve ever had, come sooner rather than later cause it’s gonna go!

Salads:

Chickpea + sweet potato with mango lime pickle dressing

Mushroom + tomato pasta

Panzanella

Soup: Gazpacho

Day 1217 Better days

Today feels like a much better day than yesterday. We’ve been inundated with pre orders which means my mind can think of nothing but sandwiches. I’ve been looking at juicy cross sections all morning and it’s put me in a right good mood. Agony aunt became agonising yesterday it felt me in an irritable mood, nothing that a spliff and nap combo couldn’t fix.

Salads:

Five spiced mung bean

Edamame + crispy shallot rice

Roast squash ragu pasta

Sandwich: Spicy salami, Gorgonzola cheese, Onion relish + Tomato

Day 1216 Peace and harmony

The morning has completely run away from me. It’s been agony aunt central this morning, imagine receiving life advice from a barista. Not to put myself down or anything but when people start offloading heavy thoughts and life’s tribulations I sometimes find myself in an internal monologue. ‘Don’t send them away with an existential crisis’ so I listen, adlib where necessary and hope my ears receive peace soon.

Salads:

Chickpea + sweet potato curry

Ginger + turmeric rice

Sausage + ham pasta

Soup: Tuscan tomato

Day 1215 Riddle me this

Chappell Roan’s Red Wine Supernova played on the radio. They removed the word ‘stoner’, why? It’s always confused me how society demonises marijuana. If you let 100 stoners and 100 alcoholics do what they do best, I guarantee that one group would cause less chaos and anarchy than the other. Let’s be honest Clapham High Street and all it’s atrocities on a Saturday night are not caused by stoners. Strange.

Salads:

Thai coconut curry with squash + black bean

Spinach + herb rice

Roast pepper + tomato pasta

Soup: Leek, dill + potato

Sandwich: Fennel salami, Pecorino cheese, spicy peach relish + tomato