Errands and Eating

We are still in the throes of unpacking boxes here aboard the Swan Ronson. No matter how big or small a place you move to or from and how well prepared you think you are, there are always things you urgently need that you do not possess. In the old days, this would involve complicated errands that would see you not only having to find somewhere local that sold whatever the hell it was you wanted but also required you to navigate your way there.

When I first moved to London, nearly thirty years ago, I sent my then husband out to buy a broom. Three hours later he returned after he mysteriously managed to get on the M1 and was unable to get off until he hit Watford.

I should be grateful that he at least had a broom when he came back. I doubt I’d ever have seen him again if he had had to make a second trip.

Oscar is currently adrift somewhere, attempting to locate our nearest branch of Specsavers, because the second pair of new glasses I was forced to buy him after he lost the first pair and broke his emergency pair fell apart this afternoon. Luckily he was inside the boat when it happened and we didn’t have to stand and tragically witness the lens as it fell out of his face and sank to the bottom of the Thames. He called about ten minutes ago to say he had to get the Thames Ferry. Who actually knows if he does or not? If he isn’t back by ten tonight I will send up an emergency flare.

The absolute blessing of modern times is the internet, and much as I hate to say it, Amazon Prime. In the last twenty four hours I have ordered and received a set of coasters, an assortment of adhesive hooks, some eco friendly detergent and a toilet brush. Jason has ordered some magnets and some midge repelling netting because he’s far more adventurous than me. He’s also far more delicious to the local midge population.

We have yet to organise an internet provider, so I am currently doing something marvellous with the power of tethering. I keep forgetting that I have done this and wandering off with my phone which then untethers me and sets me adrift among the flotsam and jetsam. It’s quite annoying.

We went to try and buy some internet this morning but because we live on a boat, this makes things a lot trickier. After several hours of saying SWAN RONSON loudly and slowly whilst sketching the shape of a barge with our hands, we gave up and went for coffee and buns which thankfully are at much the same level of difficulty to procure as when you live on dry land.

I am steadily and happily eating my way around the E14 postcode. I am delighted to report that you should definitely get ramen from Ippudo. Our branch is in Canary Wharf but there are other locations available. They also do the most delicious cucumber marinated in some kind of smoky sesame sauce. I could happily eat it every day of my life. I am trying to figure out what they marinade it in so I can make my own. I probably need to test it a few more times, just to consolidate my findings.

Good coffee and a decent cinnamon bun can be bought at Notes coffee shop, which is also in Canary Wharf, although again, other locations are available. The cinnamon buns are not as good as the ones at Gails but I haven’t tracked down my local branch yet. I had two of the best sandwiches of my life from Birleys in recent weeks. There are two branches near me and I can heartily recommend them both. They also do fresh soups and have a frankly amazing looking salad bar, but so far I can only vouch for the sandwiches. More news on the gastronomic front as it comes in.

As far as supermarkets go, there is a Tesco Express round the corner which is small, eccentrically stocked and only to be used in dire emergencies. I don’t know who decides what they should put on the shelves but I think they hate people, and food. There is also a huge Waitrose five minutes walk up the road. It is so gigantic it has a wine bar and a sushi counter inside, alongside about thirty tills. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life. I’ve been in there several times already and seasoned shopper though I am, even I find it somewhat overwhelming.

Thankfully for the future of our marriage, the boat has a very small fridge and most of the space in the kitchen cupboards is taken up by my vast collection of crockery so I cannot do a Dale Winton and go hog wild in the aisles with two trolleys and my credit card no matter how tempted I am by delicious food stuffs.