Where next?

As another year bows out, and a new one beckons, its time for all self-respecting cats to look forward… but the question is: where to?

If you’re in Burry Port (West Wales), on a cold grey afternoon with your boat having run aground, there is no shortage of unhelpful  advice… imploring you to be anywhere but Burry Port!

Until we speak again, if you find yourself at this time of year up shitzen creeken dim paddle… the best resolution is don’t take much notice of the plethora of advice! Happy new year to my dear reader.

P.S. But, if you are in Burry Port try out Whitford’s cafe/restaurant…

The spirit of Christmas

Don’t know about you, but all the commercial nonsense that accompanies the season (from about September onwards!) does seem to get in the way of whatever true spiritual meaning the event is supposed to hold. So much so, that you can’t see one for the other at times…

Until we speak again, have a good one… whatever it looks like.

[Acknowledgements to Jamie Charteris for the image on my favourite Christmas card this year].

Premier League unplugged [10]

It’s the return of the…

RoostersBFA

 

As Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, a former Cardiff City manager and Manchester United player returns to the Cardiff City Stadium as the temporary Manchester United manager. Most of the locals probably wished he had stayed in a Norwegian fjord for a week longer…

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Until we speak again, this Christmas will be enjoyed more by the baby-faced assassin than the cadavers of Cardiff! The less said about the final score the better [1-5].

[Acknowledgements to ‘the beer boy blogspot’ for the can image, and whatsnew2day.com for the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer photo].

Meal of the year!

Okay, so Christmas festivities are enveloping our gastronomic juices at these very moments; but for me, nothing is going to quite equal the most breathtaking of many experiences of New Orleans back in October.

Crabmeat Cheesecake… yes, you read that correctly! The Palace Cafe on Canal Street have developed a signature brunch dish for those who can’t quite make their mind up… is it going to be shellfish or a desert that will provide the best kick start to yet another day of sensory overload?

Until we speak again, why not spice up your start to the day the NOLA way!

Palace Cafe Crabmeat Cheesecake [3]

Premier League unplugged [9]

The heavens opened, as so often happens in the vicinity of Cardiff City FC. The Saints came marching in, as Southampton FC fans like to claim. But the angels today were in blue!

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Until we speak again, this particular religious experience finished Bluebirds 1 Saints 0.

Booze-free eating?

What… dining out without alcohol? Whatever next?

Take a stroll through Bold Street in Liverpool and you might just happen upon a Lebanese Carrot Juice, with a Grilled Halloumi Salad on the side (at Bakchich Restaurant), where pomegranate seeds make for a great accompaniment to the grilled halloumi…

Then again, walking 10 yards further along the same street you just might find a refreshing Moroccan Lemonade, Fresh Mint & Lime, ideally complemented by a Lamb Tagine (at Kasbah Cafe), where the lamb just falls off the bone…

Meanwhile, across the street, a breakfast cup of Lemongrass and Ginger Rooibos must surely be accompanied by a taster of Asparagus and Poached Egg but don’t forget to add the Bacon and Halloumi options; don’t worry, a smidgen of greenery and tomato provides an illusion of healthy eating (at Leaf Cafe)…

Back in Cardiff, the alcohol-deprived extravaganza may be continued with an Indian Salted Lassi amply supported by Chilli Mushrooms, Channa Batura, and Almond, Jeera & Cinamon Rice (at Vegetarian Food Studio)…

Salted Lassi

With a stroll from Penarth Road to City Road enabling a Lebanese/Turkish combo Mango Lassi to be deliciously interrupted by a Mixed Shish or Chicken Shawarma (at La Shish)…

And, if you are in the mood to search for Persia, return back along City Road, take a left into Newport Road, and a couple hundred yards on the right just off Newport Road you will find Mowlana. Here you must try the house speciality Lemon and Mint Juice… it certainly helps meet the challenge of the shared platter of a Mixed Kebab!

Until we speak again, booze-free eating is just a fabulous reason for going on tour, just so long as Juno was selecting a fine bottle of wine for the return home!

Wine stocks

Premier League unplugged [8]

First half summary of the Cardiff City FC performance went something like: “No movement off the ball, poor passing, and a lack of composure on the ball. Apart from that we are doing alright!”

Well, David Coleman wasn’t far wrong with the ultimate football cliche “it’s a game of two halves!” Despite Wolves having spent probably about 6 times as much on players as Cardiff have in the last eighteen months, they were left in a familiar pose at the end…

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Until we speak again, money isn’t everything in the moment, but it certainly helps in the longer-term, and the mighty Bluebirds achieve a third Premier League win of their season… Cardiff City 2 Wolves 1.