Benjamin Zephaniah, Haruki Murakami and a White Horse

Hello all!!

I am very lucky. As I work in a school, I am lucky to have half term and two week breaks every few months. The job is rewarding but very, very stressful at times, and believe me, by the time it comes to half term, we are more than ready to take a break and forget the children, the teaching, the arguments, the noise,...

And so in preparation to the upcoming two week break I have armed myself with some seriously interesting reads. From next week I will be spending most of my days filling an arts application to the British Arts Council and another one to a Theatre Festival in Manchester. I find these things difficult to do and it will take a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get them right. But hopefully at the end of that, I will have receive money to fund the performance I am working on immigration in the UK.

First book on my coffee table is Pointing the Finger about Islam and Muslims in the British media. It is very rare that Muslims receive a positive treatment in the newspapers here (across the board; even the left wing press has its suspicious moments). This is a collection of essays about the press's misrepresentation of Muslims in the West, that in my view contribute to the ever growing Islamophobia. I stumbled upon this book in my local library and I can't wait to start reading it and using it as part of my research for the performance:

Next on the list is Refugee Boy by Benjamin Zephaniah. In this country he is more known for his poetry than his prose. This book is about a refugee boy coming from Ethiopia to England, running away from war. Not easy when you are left without parents in a strange land where you don't know anybody. Again, this will feed right into my research for the performance on life of people fleeing their country and looking for safety in strange lands where politicians decide your faith and want to send you back to war zone:

Then I have Haruki Murakami's Sputnik Sweetheart. I read this book years ago, but I need something that I know is good and will cheer me up. Of course, it is not a happy book, (it is Murakami after all), but I know I will enjoy the writing and the story. I rarely re read books, but this one is an exception.

So, my next two weeks are sorted. It won't exactly be a holiday as I will be working every day, but I will be doing something I love and am interested in.

What book is on your coffee table? A novel, a book of poems, or something political you can get your teeth into?

I leave you with this:

Random? Sure. But random is good, right?

Have a wonderfully random and happy rest of the week.

Red xx

Lately

Hello all!!

Lately:

1. daffodils for me
2. cake stand to display my jewellery
3. mushrooms in the window
4. pom poms in the air
5. me

Have a colourful Sunday.

Red xx

The Fish Club

Hello all!!

I have to admit I am not the biggest fan of fish. I do, however eat it and prepare it, say once a week, but if I am in a restaurant, I will never order it. I'll always go for something else.
So, it is a bit unusual for me to go to a fish restaurant, where they only serve fish and nothing else on the menu. I have now been twice to The Fish Club and I will be going back again. And that comes from a non fish lover. So, it must be good, right?

The Fish Club uses only fresh line caught fish from sustainable waters, delivered daily from fishermen based in Mersea island and Poole Dorset. The restaurant was voted to be one of the best restaurants out of 50, by Time Out in 2011.
So, if you happen to be in London, check their website and make sure that you go. You will not be disappointed.

http://www.thefishclub.com/aim.html 


So, here are a few pictures from my dining at The Fish Club:

 Battered haddock:

Prawn and chorizo kebab. Unbelievably good:

For me, grilled coley. I've also had battered coley, but I have to say, my preference is grilled fish. So heatly, so good, my mouth waters just looking at this picture:

 
As side dishes, chips of course (and sweet potato too because it is just too good):

And as refreshments, local ale. Brewed on the river Wandle, in Wandsworth. And it was delicious. It went down a treat:

 

One of the pleasures in life is food, and in particular when you're sharing it with people you love. The Fish Club in Clapham Common today was full of children having lunch with their mums (it is mother's day here in the UK today). Unfortunately, I wasn't lucky to take my mum out today, but it was the next best thing; I was celebrating a special anniversary with two people I love very much.

Here is to healthy food, good beverage and most of all to great company. Bon appetit!!

Red xx

 

A Different View

Hello all!!

Hope this month has started well for you and the weather is getting better wherever you are. London is still very cold, but at least it is sunny and days are longer.

I've been taking lots of pictures and not only outside on the streets of London. Some are from the cosy corner of my sofa. I am looking at my new flowers and new shoes:

And then, delicious feasts every day:  

Although it is nice and warm inside, I still ventured out and took a few snaps:

Even though winter is still here, blossom is slowly coming out. Spring is coming:

Have a happy week everyone.

Red xx