Keeping trim

Feeling the need to keep in training, following the bad-back outage, a run from Clapham Junction to Waterloo. There was also a requirement to return the three, more or less new, French comic books (noticed at reference 3) to the platform library at Raynes Park. Composting them down did not seem right.

First leg, Clapham Junction to Vauxhall, where I took a comfort break. Second leg, Vauxhall to Waterloo. On the way in, down York Road, I noticed a slightly scruffy look place calling itself a Polish Kitchen. But the Bullingdon stand on the left a bit further on was full, so I pushed on to the ramp, making it a fair step back to the Kitchen. So I stopped at the All-Bar-One for one of their paellas, to find that they had changed the menu and that paellas had fallen off. I chose something chicken that was on the menu to find that was off too. At which point, I cut my losses and pushed on to the Polish Kitchen, that is to the say place at reference 2.

Just before I got there, I passed a drunk, passed out, more or less in the middle of York Road. Or perhaps a druggie, or perhaps just a worn out indigent. Luckily a lady was in attendance and a paramedic - a lady in a pickup of all things - was very nearly there. No need for me to do anything.

Big plate - kiełbasa sausage in a roll with chips, little plate and beer. Little plate came with the big plate and entitled you to a go at the salad trolley. I took beetroot (good) and a couple of small gherkins (not so good).

Beer excellent. My first pint of beer in a very long time. Or, at least, 500ml.

Sausage substantial. Much better bread than is usual in such a dish, at least in this country. With onions, the melted cheese suggested was quite unnecessary. Presumably the sausage was a relative of the ones noticed at reference 4.

A substantial and very reasonably priced snack. Along with maybe a dozen others, under one of the Eurostar arches, in a place which was clearly geared up to process much larger numbers of people.

Pushing back towards Waterloo, I found myself in the graffiti tunnel, a huge spaces under the arches given over to a dynamic display of higher grade graffiti. A bit smelly with all the fresh spray paint, but clearly the sort of place which has featured in the Guardian weekend arts supplement.

Then there was a big Brewdog operation and an even bigger Wetherspoon's. Various other eateries, then it all faded into vacant slots and concrete emptiness as one got nearer Waterloo Station. What they are pleased to call the Sidings and what they clearly hope is going to turn into another Kings Cross or London Bridge.

Caught a train to Raynes Park, along with a small party of 15 year old (?) school girls with their teacher - who confiscated the phone of one of the girls for some phone-flavoured infraction or other. Another of the girls was fooling around with a rather nice looking apple, only to leave it neatly on the floor when they left at Earlsfield. None the worse for wear as far as I could see, so gathered up.

I thought maybe a private school, so asked Bing, who on the key 'private girls school earlsfield', gave me a school in Bath at the top of the list. Next up was a private special needs school in Earlsfield for those of primary age. Barely in the frame. Decided I was not that interested and gave up on that one.

Returned the comics, taking the September number of 'drinks business' in exchange. I share a couple of snippets.

Texans and Texan bars have taking to adding salt to their beer - it seeming that salt is a good way to improve the flavour of an otherwise nondescript beer. Also a good way, I imagine, to get you to drink more of it - a trick that was already known to the author of reference 5, in which I think it appears.

And the fancy wine noticed at reference 5 looks cheap compared with a fancy whisky being released by Balvenie. A limited edition of 125 bottles at maybe £50,000 a go. But it is 50% and does come with a 14ct gold display stand. What a con! Talk about the emperor's new clothes. See reference 6.

Home to a spot of macaroni cheese and what were perhaps the first Brussel's sprouts of the season. Plus tinned peach halves.

PS 1: I dare say this whisky costs a lot to make, and a lot more to pack, distribute and market. But it is still a very expensive way to get plastered.

PS 2: viewing the above snaps in picture mode is still playing up. And the invisible 'X' (top right to exit) now seems to be absent altogether.

References

Reference 1: https://brewdog.com/.

Reference 2: https://mamuska.net/.

Reference 3: https://psmv5.blogspot.com/2024/11/schumann.html.

Reference 4: https://psmv5.blogspot.com/2024/09/lidl.html.

Reference 5: The Good Soldier Švejk - Jaroslav Hašek - 1921–1923.

Reference 6: https://psmv5.blogspot.com/2024/11/trolley-745.html. 

Reference 7: https://www.thebalvenie.com/.