January sure does drag on but the end is so close. I’ve been trying to stay chipper but the darkness is starting to make itself at home. There are so many fun excursions on the horizon but as time slows to a glacial pace, those fun times seems so far in the future. For now, the main task is keeping misery at bay.
Salads:
Thai spiced black bean
Edamame + crispy shallot rice
Mushroom ragu pasta
Soup: Roast pepper + tomato
Sandwich: Parma ham, Fontina cheese, Spicy peach relish + tomato
When I rise from slumber I check the weather. My eyes adjust to read the pixels on my screen and I see MIST. I potter to my car and I can barely hold the steering wheel, it’s so cold, the air is thick with MIST. I look across the common but I can’t see far because of the MIST. There’s a figure coming towards me, I can’t make out their face because of the MIST. I MIST the sun.
Salads:
Vegetable curry
Ginger + lemon rice
Sausage + ham pasta bake
Soup: Spiced chickpea
It was a perfectly chilled Tuesday until 3pm rolled around. I was inundated with a flurry of colourful characters that acted as a double shot of espresso to my system. This spurred me on through a groomsmen meeting with my brother and co best man, then I met up with one of my honey’s to plan a summer excursion, 9pm rolls around and it was time to chill, have some dinner, relax. Just as I was going to put my plate on the table my fingers slipped and dinner was fed to the floor. Not my best performance, I will try and do better today.
Salads:
Braised pepper + potato curry
Rainbow rice
Sausage + ham pasta
Soup: Tuscan tomato
Sandwich: Pastrami, Brie, Chilli relish + tomato
I know you mean well but I don’t take it as a compliment when you say ‘you’re actually so much better than Gail’s’. Congrats, you’ve proved you’re not deaf, dumb and blind.
Salads:
Moroccan spiced chickpeas
Sumac rice
Super greens + tomato pasta
Soup: Smokey beans + tomato
Every so often you come across a person that supports Trump. To agree with the Cheeto when you’re witnessing his antics from an outside perspective is even worse. I think we should use modern day tracking and surveillance to conscript all the Trump supporters to fight his war.
Salads:
Chilli non carne
Red pepper rice
Leek, black olive + tomato pasta
Soup: Lightly spiced chickpea
My nerve was tested yesterday. A character from a few years back re-entered the sitcom, if there was a live audience watching the show they would have booed. I can’t say this person is a Karen more like an NPC, it’s like she gets a kick out of tormenting service people. I think I handled it well but I haven’t felt hatred for a person like that in a minute.
Salads:
Mushroom cacciatore
Aleppo pepper + rosemary rice
Sausage + ham pasta
Soup: Five spiced bean
Sandwich: Spicy salami, Gorgonzola, Onion relish + tomato
Yesterday turned out to be a very special day. After 35+ years my mother became mortgage free(man). No help, just level headed money making decisions and perseverance. Along the way she provided my brother and I with everything we needed and more, she started her own business and funded some amazing adventures. I’m nothing but proud and in awe.
Salads:
Five spiced vegetables + black bean
Miso + ginger rice
Smokey aubergine pasta
Soup: Leek + potato
We decided to walk in Battersea park to warm up then we ran along the river. We trailed behind a gazelle (random woman) who set a good pace to keep up with. Suddenly the gazelle fell but in true antelopian fashion she got up bounced around, gave the all clear and we carried on. That is the mood for 2026 people, be a gazelle, and when you fall, get up and carry on!
Salads:
Med veg lentils
Spinach + herb rice
Mushroom ragu pasta
Soup: Lightly spiced vegetable madras
I walked through the common on my way home last night and took part in the game ‘dodge the runner’. It was as if I was playing a video game and I had set all the bots to run. I respect the new year, new me dedication but the common looks comedic with all the running paraphernalia. I will attempt to join the galloping crowd this evening but I have indulged in a little chain smoking, so I probably won’t reach 5k.
Salads:
Braised white beans with rosemary
Lemon + parsley rice
Roast pepper + tomato pasta
Soup: Lightly spiced carrot + chickpea
I was in Turin this weekend. Over the past year I’ve had an obsession with weekends away. Instead of spending £100 on a night out in London, I take the same budget and orchestrate 24 hours in foreign lands. Thus far the odds have been on my side and experienced some fantastic excursions. If you like logistics and planning I highly recommend.
Salads:
Winter veg chickpea curry
Lemon + rosemary rice
Sausage + ham pasta
Soup: Sweet potato + ginger
When a population grows, systems must be put in place to ensure the safety of the masses. These systems can sometimes shaft the average Joe (or Joan). Capitalists capitalise said systems to make a quick buck off of you and the majority accept as long as it provides convenience. I’d rather work a little harder and plan a little longer in an effort to not be a slave to convenience. Maybe then we could start putting the world to right.
Salads:
Cauliflower + potato curry
Lemon + ginger rice
Puttanesca pasta (no anchovy)
Soup: Tuscan tomato + borlotti beans
January sure is a shlug, but you can use the time wisely. The festive period is so intense with merriment and then we go into the most miserable month of the year. It’s been peaceful thus far but it seems there’s a few problems on the horizon. I won’t panic, just got to push through. That’s what we’re doing people, pushing through!
Salads:
Spiced sweet potato + chickpea
Herbed rice
Veggie pasta bake
Soup: Thai coconut chickpea
Sandwich: Fennel salami, Pecorino cheese, Jalapeno relish + tomato
I was so appreciative of the lack of people wishing the obligatory ‘Happy New Year’ upon our return to the grind. Lovingly, wake up and smell the tyranny. I can advocate sticking one’s head in the sand, but it’s impossible to ignore the abuse of human rights that is taking place across the world. So it’s a new year but ‘happy’ not so much.
Salads:
Thai spiced chickpea
Miso + crispy shallot rice
Roast pepper + tomato pasta
Soup: Smokey bean + tomato
We’re back. Where have we been? No where. What have been up to? Nothing. I’ve spent the last few weeks practicing the art of relaxing, this has been a tough task. How can one relax when there is nothing but mayhem beyond the threshold of ones abode? I pushed myself to explore the cafe culture that has festered in the city, mediocre, soulless and overpriced. I will miss waking up after sunrise and spending a lot of time outdoors but I’m gassed to be back, who’s ready to eat?
Salads:
Chilli non carne
Leek + dill rice
Sausage + ham pasta
Soup: Mild vegetable madras
This has been the best year i’ve had in a long time, it wasn’t even that spectacular but it was peaceful and I think that’s quite a sort after place to be. 2026 is looking juicy and I can’t wait to sink my teeth into the shenanigans on the horizon. Thank you to everyone that made this year worth living, I wish you all a peaceful festive period and a stupendous new year…apart from you Megan Barton, I hope your boiler breaks down.
I forgot how difficult puppies are. My weekend was spent consistently aggravated by the silky demon. Whenever you think you’ve had a breakthrough, they break you. Needless to say, training Moose wasn’t easy but the end product made the blood, sweat and tears (many tears) worth it. Being and Aunt/Uncle is great, because you can give them back. Let’s start the penultimate day of the year.
Salads:
Chickpea + sweet potato with mango + lime pickle dressing
Sicilian styled aubergine pasta
Soup: Lightly spiced broccoli
This weekend I will be looking after the silky demon (the brother of the silky peanut). He’s adorable, loving but he’s not the best at socialising with his own kind, i’m sure many of you can relate. I will endeavour to show this puppy that not all dogs deserve to be viciously barked at. Hopefully Moose will help me with some training but thus far he’s just staring at me as if to say ‘why do you invite these cretins into our space?’.
Menu:
Split pea + cauliflower,
Mushroom + tomato pasta
Soup: Sweet potato + ginger
I pottered into work a little bitter from the night before but the day has consisted of the sweetest string of customers. A soothing tone to heal my embittered mind. I’m expecting a few more familiar faces through the doors today, a spot of excitement to get me through the mundanity of the grind. The merriment is seeping into my skin.
Salads:
Peri peri cauliflower
Sumac rice
Cauliflower + cashew pesto pasta
Soup: Vegetable madras
I want to achieve so much in our time off but while the deli is open I can’t process the list of tasks I want to conquer. I’m relying on January dragging so I can attempt to start the year on the right foot. For now, I will let the demons whisper in the back of my mind and get on with the day to day. I will have plenty of time to break down when we’re closed.
Salads:
Winter veg chickpea curry
Lemon + turmeric rice
Tomato + basil pasta
Soup: Tuscan tomato
I like to observe, not only is it a fun pass time but it’s useful too. My observations tend to catch people off guard, like the way I remember your order, your likes, dislikes and quirks. My observations also help me greatly when I travel. Through this I managed to plan one of the most seamless weekend excursions one could experience. Venice was a wonderland, i’m itching to return to the city on water, I wish to feel that floating feeling once again.
Salads:
Beetroot goulash
Lemon + dill rice
Sausage + ham pasta
Soup: Lightly spiced vegetable
Sandwich: Fennel salami, Asiago cheese, Jalapeno relish + tomato