Romania - a remote, rural guesthouse retreat, owned by King Charles III

King Charles 3 owns a guesthouse in Romania where you can stay.

King Charles 3, official portrait (From Wikipedia.)

I have visited Romania. Romantic Romania.

Where is it? A quick reminder.

This map from Wikivoyage is the clearest and most useful.

 I found a booking form on Facebook. It asks you to pick a date before telling you the prices. A bit of sleathig around revealed an article in the New York Times and several more.

I have been to Romania, which I liked, I hiked. Although I am not keen on the bears.  Whilst I was in the country hiking with a group, the local radio stations and newspapers were reporting sightings of bears by or near tourists.

You could say the same about parts of the USA and Canada. Lovely forested places have dangerous bears. Even a friendly bear would not appeal to me.

My husband and I started in the capital city, which was where we flew in.

We then went to our groups' hiking base, in the city of Brasov. We did a walking tour of the city, passing an old synagogue. Then an afternoon trip to Dracula's castle, Bram castle.  Not remote. Surrounded by souvenir shops, restaurants, snack bars and cafes.

Off for the hiking, well signposted, but you need an umbrella because we found no toilets, except at a hotel bar at the start of one of the trails. 

Then we hired a car and drove around some of the painted monasteries.

But if you like remote wilderness, there's now the Charles III guesthouse option.The royals do like palaces and places in surroundings which are spartan and centuries old. Why? I suppose they spend so much time with crowds. And their status comes from their heritage.

I like remote places, fresh air, far vistas, natures. But I like to alternate it with civilization.

USA Mountains

If looking at this gets you wishing for something nearer home, and you are in the USA, I liked America's Blue Ridge mountain trail along the east coast. If you got tired, and wanted toiets or dinner, you drove downhill and trhere were all the joys of city and civilisation.

I also liked Lake Tahoe.

Canada

I loved Canada's Chateau Lake Louise, and Banff. Maountains all around. Reflected in lakes.

For me it's a great pleasure just to look at the remote idylls. Online. Charles 3's guesthouse, along with ice hotels, is on my maybe list.

Useful Websites

https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/article/prince-charles-romania-house-transylvania

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/01/business/king-charles-romania-guest-house.html

https://www.facebook.com/zalan.transylvaniancastle/

https://zalan.transylvaniancastle.com/?fbclid=IwAR2-PwgpIDqYLZY47_T4CcDUhJWcFRQh8qbxLls9HK2ipxntxa0WIX9xYsM

https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romania

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Have you ever been in the wrong place, on the wrong day, or at the wrong time?

 Have you ever turned up at a meeting the wrong day or time? Or turned up at the wrong meeting?

Wrong Coach In China

In China our tour bus had a sign in Chinese. How to remember which vehicle. there were only two or three large coaches. I remembered my coach. Near the car park entrance, decor like a smiely face.

When I returned, late, there were dozens of buses, and one, with a smiley face, was revving it engine about to go. I raced up and waved and tey opened the door and let me on. Relief!

However, I soon discovered I had got on the wrong coach. As we pulled out of the car park, the guide began speaking in German. I asked the guide, who was speaking German, to give me the English translation. He replied, in German, but this is a German group! I shoulted, "Stop the coach. Take me back!"

That was a long time ago. I would not make that mistake now. I photograph the coach numberplate. I take the mobile phone number of the guide - and driver. Even if he does not speak English, he can hand his phone to the tour guide. It is not good enough having just the guide's number. He might get off at lunch time and be replaced by somebody new.

Wrong Zoom Meeting

It is enough to make you want to stay home and just travel on the internet. However, even on Zoom, mistakes can occur. Yesterday I joined the wrong Zoom meeting. 

How did it happen? I had just finished the registration, when the message popped up on my screen from Whatsapp, 'Meeting on now. Clock here!' So I clicked.

 I spent two hours on a zoom meeting with a lot of strangers in another country. I was in the breakout group. And on the group photo. 

I only realised what had happened, next day, when the meeting I should have attended did not have my photo amongst the others in the large group.

A multi-person Zoom toastmasters meeting.

What is the moral? Check the date. Check the time. Check the login. Have the number of the organizer. Arrive early. Set your mobile phone's alarm.

Useful Websites

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Share_taxi

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Staying safe in foreign cars and taxis

When ordering a cab, check that you are getting into the correct vehicle. Check the number plate. Note the colour and model of the car.

If in doubt, photogrpah the vehicle, number plate and driver. Ask the driver what sort of car it is and whether he likes that model. 

If possible check the route in advance. 

I never get in a taxi if the driver doesn't know the route and destination.

In a foreign country, have a map.

Make sure you are going to the right hotel. Not one with a similar name. Not the out of town Hilton when the one which has your room booking is the city centre. A city could have several branches of the same hotel chain.

Find out if the local taxis and cabs have a cheaper shared ride system.

Some inter city taxis or sheroots chare a large taxi and set off when all the seats are filled, or enough to make it worrth the driver's while.

I like to keep you luggage beside me, so that if I had to jump out in a hurry my wheel on bag is with me, and I don't forget it.

Keep a pen and paper. Then you can write a note asking for help. Your phone may have google translate.

Install on your mobile phone the ride sharing or ordering app for a country you visit on holiday.

Carry the pin for removing your sim card in case you need to buy an overseas phone and remove the SIM card. 

Do not leave the mobile phone office until they have got your phone working.

You may need your passcode to reinstall the new SIM card.

If travelling with family or close friends, have a coded message for let's leave, we are in danger, or run for it. Supposing you are with a taxi driver who wants you to stop at his brother's shop, or his friend's bar, or at his house to meet his wife (who may have gone out shopping). How would you warn your best friend and travelling ompanion or your teenage son that this is not a good idea. You might have a phrase such as, 'Uncle will be waiting for us at the hotel.'

Useful Websites

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12446235/Arizona-woman-kidnapped-man-posing-Uber-driver-note-help.html#comments

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Tel Aviv Museum of Art - Modern Art, Monet and More Marvels

 

Tel Aviv Museum of Art. Sharot family photo. Copyright. 

The Tel Aviv Museum of Art has several buildings featuring paintings by Impressionists and names you will know, such as Monet, and Pissaro, as well as  photography, 

Sculpture is by such well known names as Rodin and Henry Moore. 

Plus a fine restaurant. 

It is in the list of the world's top 10 art museums to visit, in fact in the top 50.

When I looked at their website in September 2023 I saw that they are closed Sunday and Monday, open Tuesday to Saturday. Seniors half price, and other reductions. Check their wesite for the latest intormation.

Useful Websites

https://www.tamuseum.org.il/en/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tel_Aviv_Museum_of_Art

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Museums_in_Tel_Aviv-Yafo

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What happens when you wear a wired bra when travelling?

 My American friend Lianne told me that when she left Singapore's Changi airport for Seattle USA, in July 2023, her wired bra set off the security body scanner.

A  metal necklace, or pendant, a metal watch strap, or metal belt, can set off security bells. I have had all these.  You might be asked to remove the item, put it in a plastic box for scanning, and step trough again. This adds to the confusion and stress of travel. It may delay you. 

Unfortunately, a bra is not something you can easily remove in a hurry, in public. The Security staff solution might be to ask you to stand x shape with your arms and legs apart whilst they scan you all over, up and down, with a metal sensitive wand.

I have not had this problem recently. Nowadays, I prefer not to travel wearing a wired bra for another reason. When sleeping inflight, with my body at odd angles, I want to avoid having metal bits sticking into me or constricting me. A wirelss bra is more comfortable.

Useful Websites

https://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/flight/modern/airport-security3.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_body_scanner

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal_detector#Security_screening

https://www.quora.com/Will-a-bra-set-off-a-metal-detector

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How to land a plane in an emergency

I needed a picture of plane arm rests, but also found  a handy guide to how to land a plane if the pilot is unconscious or unwell. 

Wikihow tells you how to check that the plane is flying level. How to engage autopilot. How to contact, speak and listen, to helpers on the ground, air traffic conrollers, in the aiport control tower, starting with the word Mayday, said three times. How to identify various controls. It is a bit like driving a car, or riding a bicycle. Levers to go forward and back, rotate.  

You never know when you might need this. If everybody knows, somebody can take over in an emergency.

At very least, it provides entertainment when chatting over dinner when travelling. When not travelling, you could use the information to write a short story about a drama when travelling.

Although I cannot find any reports of a giant Jumo jet being landed by a passenger, there is a you tube video and newspaper reports about a passenger landing a small plane in Florida when the pilot fell ill. 

You need to know several things. How to right the plane if it is going down, up or turning around in circles. How to direct it down safely. How to stop it after you land.

Another story is of a child taking over.

Useful Website

https://www.wikihow.com/Land-an-Airplane-in-an-Emergency

Passenger lands plane

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/florida-passenger-lands-plane/index.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnoKuGcieNI

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See Singapore Celebration Banners In August, checking out Raffles Hotel and the tiger story

 August 9th is Singapore's national day when all the public buildings and many homes display the national flag. In previous years every home was supplied with a free goodie bag which included a hand-held flag to wave. 

At one time, if I remember rightly, which I rarely do, it was the rule that the flag was flown only on National day, and taken down the day afterwards. Nowadays the rule is that the patriotic people are allowed to fly the flag for the whole month of August, which makes the summer holiday a jolly time.

The symbols you see here are the red and white of the flag, and the head of the lion. The name Singapore comes from the word lion city. Whilst the lion is the symbol, the symbol of strength, in many countries, Singapore does not have lions roaming, although in the early years of the previous century it had tigers.

The popular story is that the last tiger in Singapore was shot under the table in Raffles hotel.

The latest version of the story, as recounted over dinner by my husband, who has worked for two decades in Singapore and now in active semi-retirement as a Singapore Permanent Resident, who likes researching everything meticulously.  He is now checking wines as a Sommelier for a club, and writing a book on Singapore railways. He told me that the tiger was not a wild tiger but had escaped from a zoo.  It was not in a public area but in an annexe and underneath in a store room.

As the popular saying goes, (I first heard it repeated to me over lunch by in England by the late Mr Edmund Rothschild), why let the truth get in the way of a good story! 

Useful Websites

https://www.rafflessingapore.com/the-raffles-stories/the-last-tiger-shot/

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When Is It Polite and Safe to Recline or decline to recline an airline seat? Lift the Arm Rest?

When the crew check seatbelts for takeoff and landing they normally ask you to bring your seats upright, and also when mealtimes.

It is a good idea when reclining to check the person behind you to see they are not leaning with their head forward or a drink in their hand. If you are about to recline for the night, you might ask if they want to visit the loo whilst your seat is still upright.

Getting out of your seat can be difficult if the seat ahead of you is reclined. the armrest on the aisle ca usually be lifted either by pressing firmly on a convex button under the arm or pushing backwards on a small lever.

Whilst hunting for pictures of seats, I found a video on You Tube, lots of copyright photos in newspapers and other places,

Interesting Websites

 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-12442567/I-RECLINE-seat-despite-howls-plus-sized-passengers-moan-Im-invading-space-says-KENNEDY-hilarious-blunt-pronouncement-flight-etiquette-dare-agree.html#comments

https://www.wikihow.com/Stop-the-Person-in-Front-of-You-from-Reclining-Seat-on-a-Plane

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Singapore Airlines Flights - feedback

 I took a 13 hour Singapore Airlines flight. Afterwards I wanted to give feedback. In the old days you filled in a form on board and wondered whether the crew would open it, read it, and destroy it if they did not like what they read. Nowadays, you can go online after landing - or even midair. 

I waited until after landing. I did not want to look like a nutter sending updates every five minutes.

I made my report as soon as possible, to be sure I had not forgotten anything.

But before I could start, I needed to logi with the flight number, date, and departure airport. Another reason to do the rport as soon as you can, whilst your details are handy.

How can you keep track? Photograph your boarding pass. Photograph your luggage tag before removing it. Note the date and time or your flight in your diary. 

Write your airline loyalty number in your diary or your vital Information Notebook/file, or email folder, or mobile phone notes.

Compliments

1 The meals were good. The O Brien ice cream was good. (Although it seemed runny around the edges.) The solid bread is a huge improvement on the old flabby buns. 

2 The inflight sandwiches were great.

3 I was glad to see the notice about the toilet basin surface being treated with antibiotic. 

4 It was useful to be reminded that the wastebin alongside the toilet can be operated by a foot pedal.

5 The music choices were great - lots of Country music.

6 The documentary films were good. I watched the discovery of Richard III in Leicester, and Amy Winehouse, and Changi prison series

Complaints

I am allergic to shellfish and the starter contained prawns. 

I had looked at the meals in advance and checked no shellfish was in the main meals. Somehow I did not see prawns in a starter. Perhaps it was not mentioned because there was no choice. I hope they will check that any shellfish in the starter is listed on the website.

I think there should be a choice of starter.

I told the crew that I was allergic. No alternative was offered. I felt the staff should have found me something, or offered something, either from another class, or a salad, or an apple, or a vegetarian sandwich, or even a glass of orange juice or tomato juice. 

I offered it to my husband, but he had had the same starter in premium economy. He also had prawns in his book the chef main dish. He shoulf not have had prawns twice in one meal. 

Suggestions

IN FLIGHT FOOD 

The system should keep a note of the fact that I am allergic to shellfish (crustaceans and molluscs), although salmon, smoked salmon, plaice and cod etc are fine for me. 

 I was not keen on the potato gnocci and would rather have had potatoes. 

I think the three meal choices should include one rice, one pasta and one potato.

Having Jacob's cracker and a piece of cheese after both meals was repetitive. The cheese was good. Maybe a different cracker and a different cheese.

IN FLIGHT FILMS 

I would like a link to all factual films. I also like true crime, murders solved, criminals caught.

FEEDBACK FORMS 

Allow two mobile numbers in this form. Having flown from one country to another, I am on a different number to the one which the system recognizes.

On this form I got stuck on the wording of the city of departure and arrival. I tried entereing what was on the boarding pass, including LHR and Changi. No luck. I tried just the city name for both. No luck. Finally my husband managed to type slowly and bring up the drop down box which turns London to London UK and  Singapore into Singapore Singapore. Maybe add the instruction, click on triangle for drop down box.

Useful Websites

https://www.singaporeair.com/feedback-form/

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Fabulous Food on Holiday, or a Food Specific Holiday? Durian Delights

 One of the joys of visiting a new country or revising a country, or just taking any holiday, is trying new food or new ways of serving familiar, favourite food. In Asia in my first week in Singapore I discovered a dessert of durian ice cream. It was the only dessert available at an oriental restaurant. I loved it!

My friend, Vera, in Singapore, told me that this year, 2023, as usual, she took a durian holiday to Malaysia. Half a dozen ladies go together.

 Unfortunately, because of the weather, their trip was too late for the start of the durian season, which was early this year. The group was able to visit only one durian destination instead of the usual five on a four night, five day holiday. 

After the group returned to Singapore, they heard that Malaysia had eneffitted from a second crop.

They went to a durian farm to try the durians.  Not durian shakes or ice cream. Fresh durian.

I don't like fresh durians. To me it is slimy, messy, with an overwhelming pungent smell. 

What I like is durian flavoured desserts, You can often buy inexpensive ice cream or mixed fruit with unidentified cubed vegetables and durian sauce, squeened on top form a bottle or dispenser. 

In previous seasons I have tried the durian lunch at Goodwod park hotel which runs March to August.

Durian has also reached restaurants in the UK.

If you missed out on the durian season, this year, plan for next year.

Useful Websites

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durian

Durian in Malaysia, trip from Singapore

https://www.easybook.com/en-sg/deals/singapore/musang-king-durian-day-tour-eu-holiday-at-tangkak

Durian In London, England, UK

https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Durian&find_loc=Londyn

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Perfect Poached Egg Cooked In Bag

 

Perfect poached egg, cooked in a bag.  Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

You buy a packet of ten bags I bought mine in the Co-op. At Baildon. West Yorkshire.

Affogato at Italian Restaurant in Yorkshire

Affogato is coffee poured over ice cream.

You get the aroma and taste o the coffee mixed with your vanilla ice cream. Most restaurants do it for you, especially coffee bars in a hurry to get a second sitting on seats. But at the restaurant in West Yorkshire, you poured your own.

Affogato at Buon Apps restaurant. Photo from a video. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

Useful Websites

https://www.buonappsotley.com/

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B & K Salt Beef

 

Kiyoto Restaurant Restroom (Ladies' Toilet)

 

Kiyoto restaurant restrooom. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

Isn't this clean and modern and charming. 

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All sorts of soy sauce

 

Soy sauce bottles with red and green tops at restaurant in London. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

This is the first time I have been presented with a choice of two sorts of soy sauce at a restaurant. One has more salt.

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Steps for mounting a horse - What I learned in Baildon, Yorkshire

 

The Malt & Shovel tavern in Baildon. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

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Chopsticks Trick - to make a disposable chopsticks rest in a restaurant or hotel or holiday self-catering suites

Using Chopsticks' Ends

 If you have been given a pair of disposable wooden chopsticks in a restaurant, look to see if they have  a groove an inch or two from the top. If so you can break off the chopsticks at this point. Use the two short pieces parallel to each other horizontally on the table as chopstick rests.

Maybe the Chinese disposable chopsticks have the carved grooved ends. The plain ones form a Japanese restaurant in the UK did not. Nonetheless, a handy trick to know.

Using The Paper Wrapper

Alternatively, fold the paper wrapper in half lengthways. Concertina it. Make a depression in the middle to hold the chopsticks in place.

When ordering a meal from a restaurant, you might ask whether they will send you disposable chopsticks.

If one of your group uses regular metal cutlery instead, save the chopsticks for next time you order take away food from your favourite restaurant.

If you have no cutlery on holiday at a hotel or suite, order a take away meal from a Chinese restaurant which sends disposable chocpsticks. You can use the chopsticks for that meal or dessert or another meal afterwards. 

Useful Websites

Breaking the end of the chopsticks

https://www.facebook.com/reel/975483730429183/?s=single_unit&__cft__[0]=AZWHi2W4hI3TuKZF7ukg3k_XK0SSk-GhWbeiA2T7byiA3sPaduTNAbsuy-lJ-wywbNZNo_LTby4P1c-6WW-pxiZWtOD8IAUybZyQlagQo25LEvnZ7sLL_wGy-MFfaFpFRBR1x9CLI6zoOER4wpxG7pgW-0e9XCf7N_ioJBumkqGvr2hG8O8tPKN7IzCzTtFUl5g&__tn__=H-R

Using the paper wrapper

https://www.instructables.com/Chopstick-Rest-From-Chopstick-Wrapper/

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The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, used in The Railway Children

The Keighley & Worth railway, Yorkshire. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

The steam trains on the railway were used in the film The Railway Children. (Americans would say movie, but since the film was British, and the railway is British, the term film is more appropriate.

The book, The Railway Children, was by E Nesbit.

The train runs several times a day. Once a day they attach the carriage which contained the director's chairs, normal armchairs in a railway carriage, seems very opulent.

The shop has lots of toys and gifts.

Useful Website

https://kwvr.co.uk/

An overview

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keighley_%26_Worth_Valley_Railway

Lots more pictures here

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Keighley_and_Worth_Valley_Railway

Caffè Concerto Cakes With Cream, Colours, Fruit

Caffè, Concerto. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

As you walk downhill from Trafalgar Square in the direction of Embankment station, and the river Thames, you pass Caffee Concerto. Their window has an enticing display of cakes and pastries including a wedding cake in white and a cone like a traffic cone of pink macaroons.

We choose an option which had more fruit and therefore a higher proportion of fruit to sugar.

Caffè, Concerto. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

Caffè,Concerto, Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross station,

macaroons

coffee

What did I like most?

The flowers on the tables were pretty. Synthetic. But pretty.

Lots of gold, on the menu. On the logo. 

What did I like least? 

More than 10% service charge. 

I would in principle change this to 10%.

Branches of the shop are all over London and abroad

UK

London 

Piccaddilly

In the Westfield Shopping Mall

The Middle East

Qatar

Useful Website

https://www.caffeconcerto.co.uk/

Unusual and Polymer Clay Jewellery From Yorkshire

 

I loved this selection of jewellery which I found in the Wick & Spritz shop.

I liked what looked like miniature pantings of a girl's face. You can see it in the left of my photo. However, the portrait of the girl shown had black hair and my hair is blonde. So instead I opted for parrots. You can see them on the left below the girl's portrait.

I certainly didn't want skulls, which you can see top left of the picture. Skulls seem amusing when you are in your teens and twenties. They are less amusing when you are over seventy and have recently been to a neighbour's funeral.

I was not mad about the quality of the metal necklace. But I reckoned I could move the pendant to another necklace of black ribbon or even cheap silver.

I checked on polymer clay. It seems to be a synthetic clay you can mould, and fire, a bit like plasticine. I am not sure about the durability and would be glad to receive your feedback.

Photo by Angela Lansbury

Behind this lady assistant, I discovered a shelf of jewellery.

 I bought clay jewellery, a pendant and a matching brooch.

Adapting ear-rings

 I could have bought ear-rings. But they were the slot through or stud type. I should have bought them to make a complete set. You can buy clip on backs to which you can attach other ear-rings. Sometimes you can stick on the decorative part, after removing the hooks or studs. Sometimes you can hook the hook through the clip-on part. If anything is ugly and showing, you can cover it with nail varnish, or sequins, or stick on or sew on tiny ribbons or fabric bows or a tiny piece of fabric cut from the him or inside seam of the garment you wear most often to make a match..

Haworth Jewellery Exhibition

I had previously seen the same or similar jewellery items on a stand at a fair in the Haworth Chapel used as an exhibition area near the Bronte Parsonage museum. We had been rushing to see the Haworth museum before it closed, and had a friend hanging around waiting for us. So I had no time to find the right design at the right price. 

However, if you are willing to buy from the web, or merely admire, or get inspiration for your own designs, you can peruse online at your leisure and see what amuses, inspires and tempts you.

Useful Websites

For the aromatic coffee candles

www.wicksandspritz.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/WicksandSpritz/

For the jewellery from the Bailden (coffee candles) shop

misshuedesigns.com

For the jewellery from the Haworth exhibition

www.rebel-aura.co.uk

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How Should You Eat A Croissant?

Tesco almond croissants. A pack of two, each croissant 310 calories. The pack of two costs £1.70 online. 

Croissants and Cutlery

 The Indians eat with their hands, which is their tradition. The French dunk their croissants in coffee, which is their tradition. (When in Rome, do as the Romans do.)

However, in the UK, in 2023, we are in post Covid-19 times. We have fears of a return of other pandemics. We have an increasingly high proportion of the population being the vulnerable elderly. 

Therefore, we should set an example to the young and old of not using fingers in communal plates. Also, we should not use fingers instead of cutlery. Why? 

Firstly, to protect ourselves from contamination. Secondly, so that we do not forget when in groups. Thirdly, to be sure we are not set a bad example. to children or grandchilden or other observers. 

Cutlery is convenient. Cutlery protects us. If in doubt, use cutlery instead of fingers.

Cutlery can also be used to cut croissants. Why?

Croissants and Calories

Croissants are highly calorific. Especially my favourite, almond-filled croissants. You can get them warm and freshly baked from Tesco Express in Hatch End, NW London, England, UK. Use a knife and fork to cut them in half, for sharing, or eating the second half at a later meal. 

If you go shopping in the evening, you sometimes see croissants reduced from one pound (sterling) each to 30 p. If you want to give me a treat, buy me an almond croissant!

Angela Lansbury

Author of Etiquette for Every Occasion.

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Kiyoto Restaurant For Sushi, Soy Sauce And Japanese Surprise in London

Kiyoto Restaurant, Hatch End, Middlesex. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

The Kiyoto sushi restaurant in Mill Hill was already a favourite of one branch of our family for a treat. Another couple have lived in the far east and eat sushi regularly as a lunchtime snack. So we were all agreed that the new restaurant branch, opened in July 2023 in Hatch End, north west London, would suit all of us. 

How do you remember the restaurant name, to look it up on public websites or in your own computer files? Kyoto is a pretty city in Japan, a former capital of the country. The word kyo (京) means capital (capital city) as in Kyoto. Kiyoto, spelled with the added vowel i,  is a boy's first name.

The restaurant menu has changed slightly this year, 2023. For those of us, like me, new to this chain, that made no difference. 

What did I like? Smiling service from two or three girls who helped us and beaming from the manager who came past to ask how everything was three times.

Which food did I like the most?  And least?

Starters - Seaweed!

Kiyoto restaurant. Seaweed. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

My seaweed starter was luminous, moist, translucent green strings. Not the crunchy dried seaweed I used to get in Chinese restaurants. This Kiyoto version is probably fresher and healthier but I have not yet acquired a taste for it. However, another member of the party loved it and finished it off. He said, "It's like cucumber."

Fortunately, the duck dumplings, soft and traingular pasta parcels with minced duck inside, a bit like ravioli, were served at the same time, enough to share. These suited me. They were my favourite and a favourite all round.

Main Courses 

The thick cut raw salmon. Pink. 

All our three set meals were on one large platter so that it looked large and appetising and suitable for sharing.

Kiyoto Japanese restaurant. Main course platter. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

Delightful Desserts

The novelty desserts. The biggest success were the oval twisted deep fried fritters - with chocolate sauce. 

Disappointing Desserts

The three ice creams were mango, which did not taste of mango, strawberry which did not taste of strawberry, and chocolate which tasted less of chocolate than the chocolate sauce.

 All three were small, one or two bite size. Not melting like the ice cream I expected. Instead, solid, and, I frown at the thought, were encased in a rubbery, tasteless covering. Japanese food is famous for having subtle tastes. However, I like teriyaki and soy. But when I was expeting melt in the mouth ice cream I was not excited by something so subtle and small and chewy. However, I didn't like yogurt the first two times I tasted it. And when I was younger I did not like tomatoes, pickles, nor olives. Who knows? One day they might be my favourite and yours. 

Even so, both desserts were a novelty for me. Satisryingly,  the chocolate sauce was a good, sweet end to the meal.

Toothpicks, unwrapped, were provided on request.

What more could they have done? 

Something sweet with the bill.

Something memorable to take home, such as a fancy shaped address card. Explaining the namee of the restaurant on the menu or in a frame on the wall. 

A glossary.

Good Toilets

The toilets are on the ground floor, which is the case everywhere in Hatch End, which suits me. Modern, bright, black and white, gleaming and clean. Spacious. With plants. And wonderful sweet-smelling hand gel and lotion in two bottles. Full marks for the toilets.

Noise Level Helps Privacy

The restaurant was echoing and noisy. That suited us because it meant our two-year-old did not cause any annoyance or distraction to other diners. We had the circular window seat which was quite private and isolated with a partition. The tables are down both sides of the long restaurant with a wide space in the middle near the front door. 

Happy Hatch End

They were busy. So was Hatch End, teeming on a Saturday night. Another pearl in the necklace of restaurants circling the high street. A short downhill walk from Hatch End station which is on the Euston line in NW London. Several of the restaurants extended with outside tables for smokers. Then, some of them encased the outide area in glass sides and roofs. The result is double size restaurants, more happy people. 

Frontage

Looking back at my photo, I see the phone number on the restaurant fascia.

The front also shows a pair of chopsticks. You are automatically given disposable chopsticks. Good to learn how to use them. Watch out for splinters. Two of our group of five got splinters in fingers. 

Lessons Learned

1 Check chopsticks for splinters

2 Check Soy Sauce for salt and thickness

Soy Suace bottles come in two colours. Green top for less salt. red top for more salt. 

When buying sushi, you might get free sachets of soy sauce. The sachets given to you might contain watery soy sauce. 

The short pour on bottles contain thicker soy sauce. 

The huge gallon type containers contain a different thickness again. 

When buying or using soy sauce, check the label. Decide if you want the more flavoursome salty soy sauce, or if your diet requires you to choose less salt for health reasons.

Useful Websites

www.kiyotosushi.co.uk

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sushi

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American Song - Jason Aldean - Try That In A Small Town (Official Music Video) - Country Music from the USA, already a classic

A song in defence of law and order and patriotism. I like Country and Western music, which has rhythm and a message, and sometimes tells a story. I can see why this was a hit.

Civil Service Club Restaurant - praise for proper, large size chips

 

Chips (short for potato chips) at the Civil Service Club, London. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

Chips and Crisps

For the benefit of any Americans reading this, in the UK, the British word chips means what you see in the picture above. What the Americans call chips or potato chips are known in the UK as crisps. The thin (potato) chips with a square cross section, about half the width of the ones in the picture, or cut even finer, can also be called French fries. 

The club is conveniently between Charing Cross train station and Embankment station. You can visit it if you are a member of the Civil Service,  a former member, or a member of an overseas club which has reciprocal arrangements.

The restaurant sections and private rooms are rented out to other clubs, such as wine tasting clubs, holding wine and dine dinners, reunions and Christmas parties and other events. 

If you order fish and chips in the Civil Service Sclub restaurant, you are likely to get proper size proper British chips like this. If in doubt ask the person taking orders and serving. If you are still confused, show pictures.

Cheese Platters

The cheese plates we ordered were served on large platters, big enough for sharing. If you, or your guests, are concerned about Covid or general hygiene, ask for extra plates and for the food to be divided, and/or supplied with serving cutlery. Also ask the guests not to touch food in communal plates with hands, but to use cutlery.

Useful Websites

https://www.civilserviceclub.org.uk/

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Preparing for fires and emergencies

What can you do to protect yourself from a fire at home, in hotels and rental accommodation and when travelling or holidaying?

At home have documents in a fireproof safe. Place documents in it! If you need documents with you, place copies in the safe so you have vital insurance policy numbers and phone numbers, house deeds showing ownership for making claims from insurance or government or gofundme for rebuilding.

The Japanese have had emergency bags by the door for years. My friend who went to live in Japan was warned to keep one by the front door.

Americans use the term 'bug out bag'. 

Why might you need it?

1 riots 

and 

2 WW3   

prepping with radiation suits and Geiger counters, 

3 Power cuts

keep a spare gas can for the camping stove  (others say keep all flammable items well away from the house, in a shed more than 30 feet away)

major power outages from storm damage can  leave you without power for a week, 

What You Can Do To Pepare

Especially in a vulnerable location every person in the house can have a small rucksack (backpack) with

 a full change of clothes 

Hooded souwester or folding raincoat and/or folding umbrella (for rain, sun, privacy as a toilet)

500ml bottled water, for drinking, another for washing

soap/shower gel/shampoo

pack of oats for breakfast - just add water later

hand towel, 

a large tin mug, 

face cloth, 

packet of pocket tissues, 

a toilet roll, 

MRE style food packs for 48 hours or tinned sardines, beans, 

frozen bread, bagels on strings around your neck, 

chocolate bars in pocket (like hiders in the UK have Kendal mint cake, basically chocolate covered sugar) and 

a small med kit, containing 

sting relief, 

bandage, 

insect repellent, 

plasters

burn relief 

Plastic ice brick

Folding, lightweight insulated food container

water filter

instant coffee sachets

travel toothbrush and paste 

soap/shampoo

wet wipes/kitchen roll

an apple and an orange and a banana or bunch of grapes to share

non flammable clothes

If you are a famula one driver/family/organizer distribute fireproof suits to homes from storage untis

if you are evacuated from your house with a few hundred others, finding shelter could be hard, take a tent. 

Shelter may be provided. However,  mobilising the Emergency Services to bring food and water can take time and you'll be glad to have your own supplies

In a tsunami you run uphill to escape rising seawater.

I was surprised to learn that in a fire you run downhill. Why/ Because heat rises. 

Useful Websites

Check out fireproof suitcases and clothes and equipment, also escape ladders

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_7010

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Side Trip From Bronte Country - Saltaire - The Innovative Planned Model Town & Public Public Park

 Sir Titus Salt was a remarkable man, a successful businessman and a visionary planner of a healthy model village, more like a small town with tow planning and leisure facilities, to accommodate his workers. He moved his industrial premises out of Bradford into the fresh air of the countryside by the river.

The river provided what was needed for his mill. 

You can see a statue of the man near the park entrance. I enjoyed reading the plaques about the history of the man and the area. 

Then notice the statues of the alpacas, a kind of  small camel with a furry coat which provided soft wool. The animals were originally used for other purposes, such as meat. But he had the idea of using the wool in his business.

The river in the middle has a weir, with wading ducks or geese. The sound of the rushing water is remarkably spoorific, like those sound effects you can buy which are supposed to help you to sleep. What a peaceful place. I could have stood indefinitely watching two canadian geese and other birds unaccountably perched on their spindly two legs in the middle of the rushing water. They were intermittently dipping their long beaks into the water. I think they were catching small fish being swept past. The perfect picnic spot, for birds.

You can walk across the pleasant park, admiring the statues, greenery, birds, water, barges, people strolling, families enjoying themselves, to his model village factory buildings which are still in use for other purposes.

Useful Websites

My other blogs include

https://comicpoemsbynutter.blogspot.com/

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