Friday, 31 December 2010

It's Just Coffee.

My mum's been making milky coffee for 20 years: mug o' milk, microwave, coffee and sugar to taste, sorted. Pretentious pricks calling it Latte, it's milky coffee, get over yourselves. I don't go into Starbucks and ask for milky coffee though, cos i feel a prick doing that.
Is that Homer Simpson?

Just bought a jar of Kenko for 2 quid, spoonfull of coffee, 2 sugar and its as good as it gets, for your money. Ok when I want a strong one I'll double drop, sorry old habbits, I'll take double the coffee, and ok I haven't got the syrups and shit, but it's a good cup of coffee.

Talking of syrups, I had, the best the other day, a Gingerbread Latte, OMG if that was ever suitably synthesised and in a jar on a Sainburys shelf - I'd have it.

Friday, 28 May 2010

Phat Phuc Restaurant

Tuesday, 18 May 2010

Posh Fish (Oysters) n Chips


Best Fish n Chips ...
Clapham

[Unfinished Article]

Friday, 19 March 2010

New House Tooting


In mid March I moved in with a 'family' of Chinese. The house was the nicest of the many I saw in the price range I could afford. We have a 4 Bed terrace close to all the main shops, market, rail and tube links. Of course it's a 3 bed with the front room converted to a bedroom as they all are.

My new Chinese friends are my young landlord and his wife, and his two friends. They are all lovely people. Quiet and hard working - just like me! I am fascinated with my new housemates and their way different to my own. I am not quite sure what a lot of the foods are that I see being prepared, but hope one day to understand more as we go. When I first moved in there was something different everyday. Including a terrapin appearing on the lounge sofa one day.



Just before I moved in I went round early one morning to give over the deposit and meet once more with my new landlord who was having breakfast with his wife. We talked and agreed dates etc. I noticed they were eating cornflakes, and was surprised as I had hoped to be introduced to lots of new Oriental cuisine (I have not been disappointed so far) but back then I looked upon their breakfast as nothing special, until I noticed they were eating cornflakes with chopsticks! Now that's just showing off.


Tuesday, 16 March 2010

Monument

Monument

Sunday, 7 March 2010

Wake Up To The Great Taste of Pussy


Pussy
Originally uploaded by milesgrahamuk
I couldn't believe it when I saw it, but yes, someone has come up with a drink called Pussy!

www.pussydrinks.com

As I walked to the Greyhound Bar, Streatham for my 7-4AM shift, I stopped to buy my usual energy drink. And there was some Pussy on the shelf. Well of course I couldn't pass it up!

I showed my coleagues and after we had a done the gags. One told me it is really popular in London clubs. "Bruv, got any Pussy!" they hail.

Well, I saved the juice drink for the next day and at the flat we all tried it. Lychee flavour it boasts; all natural ingredients. Coconut, tree bark, mango, and blackcurrant, ventured the feedback from our taste-buds.

Friday, 5 March 2010

Grumpy Old Man



Arthur Smith

Du Cane Court

Seen in shop in his grumpy old slippers!

Peace Protest

Outside Westminster ... TBC

Clapham, Battersea, Tate Britain, Big Ben, Westminster Protest


Du Cane Court


Du Cane Court

Clapham Common


Clapham Common


Battersea Power Station



Battersea Power Station



Battersea Power Station

Battersea

Battersea Power Station,London

Tuesday, 23 February 2010

Short Film

My flatmate Lloyd (LloydSturdy.com) had recently been attending a film study class at night school. He asked one evening if I would help him with a project. "The Project is to do a short film called Revelation. All you have to do is look moody in a series of shots. Look reluctant to accept an 'assignment'." He says. "Ok" I say, I can do that! It was a cold February night and we set out to make this film. It took just over two hours; we had a script ... well er ... a storyboard that we made on the tube on the way to the class that evening. And off we went.

Friday, 29 January 2010

Trafalgar Square at Night

Trafalgar Square at Night

Saturday, 23 January 2010

Weekend with Jill


Had a great weekend with Jill, we met at Paddington on a cold and grey morning; we walked across Hyde Park and over towards Pall Mall, warming up with a hot Salt Beef sandwich (with loads of English mustard) as we made our way to the National Gallery. Hands and halos were a talking point, photography was also another topic for discussion. I was set upon for taking shots inside the gallery and demonstrators outside were protesting their right for a free press in Iran; I sympathised.

We crossed the water and followed the Thames walk toward Monument via Tate Modern and Borough market. One was an over hyped collection of well, nothing special and the other a fantastic free art gallery. After, I had a few errands to run: getting my old LG phone unlocked and replacing my aging footwear. Five pounds and five minutes later my phone was done and on the street markets of Whitechapel my feet were very soon happy as well. In an area where Halal is so important for food, I wondered if my new shoes were special too, just knocked off Clarkes as it happened.


Evening came and after consulting TimeOut we came across theatre 503 on Battersea Park Road. Fearless New Writing was staging: Decade

At the start of the new decade, Theatre503 presents 5 days of theatre looking back at the past 10 years. Created by ten of the most dynamic voices in British theatre, each night Decade will look at every year from 2000 and ask: ‘is this what it felt like?’

Brilliant! Comedic, challenging and highly thought provoking work from a strong cast. I could go on about the performances ... but really, you had to be there.

A few doors up cocktails, and Mexican food concluded the night. A great evening out.

Sunday we walked past the Power Station and through Battersea Park, across Chelsea Bridge to South Kensington to the V&A. What Sundays were meant for. Had a great time, thank you Jill xx

Thursday, 21 January 2010

My Acer Apple McPC


My Acer Apple McPC
Originally uploaded by milesgrahamuk
My Acer Apple McPC

Why on earth do Apple give you stickers with their products; what are you supposed to do with them?

NEW FORD


NEW FORD
Originally uploaded by milesgrahamuk
Renault and Ford are working on a new small car for women. They are mixing the Clio and the Taurus, and calling it the "Clitaurus." It comes in pink, and the average male thief won't be able to find it, even if someone tells him where it is.

Monday, 18 January 2010

Get Your Gourmet Gob Round This


Gourmet Hot Fish Soup
Originally uploaded by milesgrahamuk
Gourmet Hot Fish Soup


Maybe it was the restaurants we visited or perhaps spending a day with a chef. Or maybe Mr Ramsay could have once held the very steering wheel I was behind today! What ever it was, when I finished I wanted to create something, so I stopped by Balham street market to see what inspired me. And tonight it was fish on the menu.

Gourmet Hot Fish Soup (serves 2-3)

Ingredients:
500g cod
100g broccoli
1 onion
3 cloves garlic
3 green chillies (Sainsbury's 3 hotnesses rating)
bouquet fresh thyme
600ml fish stock
lemon juice
splodge single cream
lump of coconut cream



Method:
You know, just do it in right order.
Onions, garlic, chilli [CHOP]
Water [BOIL]
Stock cubes, thyme [COOK]
Broccoli [ADD] - you get it! Simmer.
Cream, coconut, lemon juice [CHUCK IN] [STIR]

... and made Ingrid a special starter!

Pimentvert sur Tomate
(Slice of chilli on Cherry tomato!!)

Trafalgar Square, London

Sent by the agency once again to deliver for Gordon Ramsay Logistics, traffic was really bad today, Heathrow and back took 2.5hrs and the rest of the deliveries throughout the capital took an age.

Had a good day with Andy again one of GR's Chefs; who was off to the staff party tonight to see the man himself.

Nelson's Column on a grey Jan day.

More images on www.flickr.com

Monday, 11 January 2010

London Bridge


London Bridge
Originally uploaded by milesgrahamuk
Mind The Gap!

HMS Belfast


HMS Belfast
Originally uploaded by milesgrahamuk
Grey Day in the city, Belfast was well camouflaged. London Bridge very cold.

Friday, 8 January 2010

Gordon Ramsay Logistics


P080110_05.51[01]
Originally uploaded by milesgrahamuk
Jan 8th, had a day working for Gordon Ramsay Logistics.

6am and off to Heathrow, then Chelsea, Knightsbridge, Pall Mall, Claridges, Camden, Bank and nr Canary Wharf.

Great day delivering and exploring London.

More images on Flickr

Thursday, 7 January 2010

Wint & Kidd Necklace


I was looking around the Royal Exchange Building at Bank, 'Luxury Shopping': watches £2,000, cuff-links £200 etc. A necklace caught my eye. I had already been politely told by the man at Tiffany's not to photograph the jewellery. At Wint & Kidd I asked permission. The man happily took the necklace out of the window and found a good light, his colleague congratulated me on being only the second person to capture the handmade work in a good light.

I said I'd like to show it to a friend, 'A special friend?' he asked, 'Yes, an X actually, it's complicated'. He gave me a knowing look. I couldn't believe he actually thought I was going to buy it, I was dressed casually smart and he asked for my details, I paused and then gave him my email, he was moving shop soon and wanted to keep in contact with me, as he was open to offers on the price. And at that point I felt I had to inquire how much it was. 'It is handmade and has knife-edge platinum bars, connecting the diamonds. 11.86 kt in all sir. It is £22,300'. I thanked him for his time as he handed me the carefully written out quote sheet.

Tuesday, 5 January 2010

Pall Mall Cars


The cars of Pall Mall as you would expect are big and mainly German: BMW and Mercedes dominate. Also there are Bentlys and other top marques.

But the surprising new kid on the block is the G-Wiz. It is smaller that a post box, it takes up hardly any parking space. You can get two in a normal parking space unlike the 6.9 litre AMG Mercedes ooozing out over the path (inset).

It is so small, if you had a drink after work you could just put a stamp on and send it home in the post.

Buckingham House


Went to register with another agency today in Victoria, Buckingham Palace Road in fact. So after interview I wandered to have a look.

Thought I'd get a quick bite, so next cafe I saw. Six and half quid for a sarnie! At some dodgy looking cafe calling itself the Palace something or other! I thought again.

Monday, 4 January 2010

Bar Salsa

John Lewis Roof Garden

Lovley Day in the Capital Again

On the way to work for John Lewis on Oxford Street Sat 2nd Jan