Latte My Arse!

I was walking around Glasgow yesterday and my stroll took me into the neighbourhood of Govan. Govan is an area of the 'old school' Glasgow, made famous by it's shipbuilding history and has a very much 'no nonsense' outlook. I popped into an authentic 1930's Italian cafe complete with art deco facade for a coffee. You should have seen the proprietor's face when I asked for 'A large Latte to go please'.....

He looked at me with a look almost resembling contempt and said 'All our coffees have milk...Latte just means milk. What the hell is a latte? You just want milk?'

After I'd stopped laughing at him, we had a good old chinwag about coffee and how the smoking ban has been disastrous for him particularly with the local bingo hall closing too. The coffee was unsurprisingly excellent and at 75p, was 1/4 the price I pay at my local Starbucks. I really should make more effort to eat and drink from small independent places more often.

Starbucks Offer and Sore Leg

Yesterday was an interesting day for me. I ended up walking with a walking stick after crossing the road at Glassford Street and a bus accelerated towards me. I ran towards the kerb but felt something tearing in my left calf. So, off to 'Boots' for some deep heat, a surgical stocking, some ibuprofen and a walking stick. The walking stick is very cool! Folds down into a small belt mounted carrier. I headed off to Starbucks for a therapeutic coffee and Chocolate cake. The Breakfast of Champions! Well anyway, the young lady at the cash desk suggested I opened a Starbucks card with a minimum £2 deposit for a free mug and free coffee! So I did. This was a great deal because I do use these cards anyway and one more won't go amiss. The Mug was worth £5 and the Coffee £4, so a really great deal. Almost took the pain in my leg away.

I also went to Clarks shoes and bought a pair of the most comfortable shoes almost identical to the 'polyveldts' of the 1970's. Although frankly they are ghastly looking, they are the most comfortable shoes and I've been meaning to get a pair for ages. The modern versions are called 'Minster Moors', but they look exactly the same as those brothel creepers from the 70's. Brilliantly comfortable, even with a torn calf muscle!

Glasgow Goldfish Go Green

I joined an online forum to discuss my new Goldfish and biorb aquarium. After my first post the comments predictably were critical of the fish I've stocked. Wrong everything really, with a helpful suggestion to dump them in a pond. I'll sort something out. Anyway. I decided yesterday to change the Orb lighting from a 10 Watt Halogen to an L.E.D substitute. The L.E.D one consumes 1.2 Watt but gives out the equivalent of 20 watt Halogen. The L.E.D one should last 50,000 hours against the Halogens 2,000 hours life expectancy. Bottom line is it uses 1/8th the power, lasts 25 times longer, Is twice as bright and gives a 'sharper' light. I've posted the Halogen next to the L.E.D. I Like the L.E.D but personal taste will be a factor here.

Molly's Mediteranian Medley

Greek salad, or horiatiki, is a rough country salad of juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumber, sliced red onion, green pepper, crumbly feta cheese and plump kalamata olives. Serve this delightful combination as a side dish or as a light meal with some crusty bread.

3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 clove garlic—minced (crushed)

Finely cut fresh herbs
Freshly ground black pepper, and extra for garnish
3 tomatoes—cut into wedges
¼ red onion—sliced into rings
½ cucumber—sliced into thick half-moons
½ green pepper
4 oz (120g) feta cheese—cut into small cubes
16 kalamata olives

PLACE the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, pepper and oregano in a small jar with a screw-top lid and shake to combine. PLACE the salad ingredients in a large bowl. POUR the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine just before serving. Garnish with a little freshly ground black pepper.

Let Glasgow Flourish

Here's the bird that never flew
Here's the tree that never grew
Here's the bell that never rang
Here's the fish that never swam

The coat of arms of the City of Glasgow incorporates a number of symbols and emblems associated with the life of Glasgow's patron saint St Mungo. The emblems represent miracles supposed to have been performed by St Mungo. Walking around Glasgow City Centre, the coat of arms can be seen all over, most commonly in buildings built around the turn of the 19th century. Here are a few pictures I took on a recent walk around my neighbourhood. I'm particularly fond of the modern interpretations like the sculptured one seen in the greenhouse of the Peoples Palace, and the design seen around the gates to Glasgow green.

Coincedentaly, the polychromatic brick building which is the old Templeton carpet factory was built in 1892 by William Leiper whos tombstone caught my eye a few weeks ago at Sighthill cemetary.

Coffee Frother Upgrade

Well, like most coffee drinkers I enjoy a frothy latte and cappuccino, but disaster stuck today! My frother broke down. Coffee got in the motor. It was struggling with the large coffee cup I use anyway so I decided to modify and upgrade. First to go was the motor itself. Replaced with a much more powerful one. The puny spring frother was beefed up using steel rod and a larger spring. Initial tests were encouraging but final 'tweaking' may be required!

Ciggy Butts and Chewing Gum

Glasgow City council have started a vigorous campaign to try to do something about the chronic litter problem in Glasgow. Glaswegians often seem complete litter bugs, not caring at all about the mess and impression that litter creates. I had an idea of an alternative way of stopping the behaviour. Propagation of the Urban Legend that criminals are actively looking for identifiable gum and cigarettes to 'plant' at crime scenes to put DNA evidence of the offence on the gum/cigarette discarder should the net close in on the criminal. A new version of the old defence by incriminating another. Perhaps it could make some people think twice before discarding their waste.

Brompton compact folding bike

Tax Free Cycling!

The government has introduced a scheme to encourage people to cycle to work on the basis that it promotes health both to the person and to the environment. For once I agree. Seems like a great idea. The idea is you technically 'lease' a bike from a finance company for a year saving VAT and tax. At the end of the year, you buy the bicycle for a 'token' 5% of cost (Fair Market Value). It's taken directly from your wage before deductions, so it's a scheme the employer has to sign up to also. The Great thing is you can buy any bicycle you want and will work out at just over half price. It gives you the opportunity to buy one that you might have not before thinking the cost was excessive. Well bottom line is - I've signed up! I'm going to get a Brompton Folding Bicycle. These are the 'Rolls Royce' of folding bikes, and a real 'statement' to being both green and a real trendy person! Here are a couple of images of one, folded and unfolded.