Safeway + Risotto + Darts + Suits

To further prove the theory that I have absolutely nothing to talk about please read the following paragraphs:
Today Fiona and I went shopping at our local Safeway, This is our weekly ritual (well it ends up being every 4-5 days because we eat so much food) and it’s this strange supermarket that is in the middle of some kind of government housing estate. Safeway seems pretty rare over here and its a pretty dodgy little place, most of the supermarkets here are small 7-11 type places that don’t sell many things and at inflated prices, Safeway is at least a half decent size. Mostly the mini-supermarkets (technical term: off-licenses) are by the Sainsbury’s company and they are like the UK version of 7-11 but much better. They have really good quality instant food (pastry, fruit, sandwiches, soup) and pretty expansious supermarket range, they should replace the crap 7-11’s in Australia, but keep the slurpees and the good bloke behind the counter at south rd. It’s bloody wierd though coming from Thailand where a 7-11 is located at least once in every three shops, I haven’t seen a single one in UK. I’ve been looking for one really hard, help me. Anyway, long story not so short, we are spending a lot of money on supermarket food, about $100+, but we’re kept well fed and less at risk to homesickness because of it.

Didnt think it was possible to write a paragraph about supermarkets did you? I’m in the business of proving people wrong. Like this for instance. The next paragraph deals with my cooking of risotto last night. A whole paragraph dedicated to Risotto, I can hear the shouts of “no way!?” from here. Anyway, i’m pretty excited because I cooked my first ever risotto (how the hell do you spell that word) last night. For the record the gastronomical delight consisted of chicken, sweet potato, mushrooms and tomato, I was scared that I had buggered it and the rice was destined to stay hard but despite a burnt layer at the bottom the risotto was delicious. Wish i took a photo. You want a photo don’t you. Credit to Jamie Oliver whose recipe I copied, i’m actually enjoying cooking, bit of healthy competition for mum.

Tonight i’m off to the Walkabout pub which is an Australian pub in London. I got all homesick watching Young Einstein on cable (what a soundtrack) so i’ve decided to join Jase, who’s down their with some mates, to enjoy a Tooheys Extra Dry and some darts, bet it’s full of Poms. Speaking of darts, Fi and I are addicted to the darts and celebrity poker which is constantly on cable. Why do the Poms enjoy sports so much that require they be in a pub and barely have to leave their bar stool?

I got a 15 second news spot on the Australian cricket series tonight, they basically showed Australians getting out despite Ponting 200+ and Gilchrist 100+, idiots. They actually think they will win the Ashes, idiots. We have applied for tickets to Lords to watch the first ashes test, but it is all sold out and we should have tried to arrange tickets earlier, idiots! Lobbying Fi currently to let us stay in Europe longer to watch an Ashes test. Devestated that i’ll miss the Tsunami appeal one-dayer in Melbourne, the teams look amazing, Great to see all the efforts towards raising money for the asian crisis, good to know we have the ability to occupy our thoughts on something other than war and terrorism. People who hate cricket can resume reading here –>

So the onslaught of public holidays have subsided in the city, the streets were again filled with suits and a billion coffee shops that we previously thought were uninhabited rows of shops. Very cold over here at the moment. Miss you all, speak to you soon with even more amazing stories.

Comments:

Sarah (January 11th, 2005 at 4:41 am)
You really think you’re going to compile this into a travel book when you get home, don’t you punk! I thought I was the resident travel writer around these parts. Scott is currently reading your inspiration - Sean & somebody-or-other’s trip around Australia? Hates it. He struggles with the whole reading thing. Just wants to go and do it instead of reading about it. Probably why he still hasn’t managed to get through a whole entry from your diary. Not that I blame him. You talk some real crap, bro.

Campbell (January 12th, 2005 at 4:10 am)
Little Sister, no need to state the obvious, i know i talk crap. The book you mention is far from inspiration, in fact you read it first and recommended it to me, I tossed it back to you after reading it in disgust. Scott, I pray you are not reading Sarah’s entire collection, too much Jean Paul Satre and associated philosphical crap or FACE magazines. You can’t buy cool Sarah! Thanks must be given however for breaking the comments deadlock for this story, wonderful to know that someone still loves me. xx

Ross (January 12th, 2005 at 7:49 am)
Wasn’t it nice when Sarah was on holidays with no access to the internet??!!—I like the boring travelogue stories and look forward to you branching out beyond Safeway

Sarah (January 13th, 2005 at 12:45 am)
Well it was a real delight seeing you on Tuesday night too, Ross. Not that I want to make this a forum for family fights.