A lunchtime saviour

Nestled in the shadow of Blackfriars railway arches, is my busy-day-lunch saviour.

Flying Fish Sushi is an independent outfit that delivers freshly made sushi, dim sum and other oriental delights to central London locations. Or if, like me, you work around the South Bank area, you can pop by and collect your haul too.

The retail and office spaces under the railway arches are pretty industrial, but I’m always impressed by how the companies that inhabit them turn them into cosy, quirky spots that are full of character.  

Although Flying Fish is predominantly a takeaway, it’s still made an effort with its ‘front of house’ area so that you can pull up one of the eclectic pews and eat in too.

 


On this occasion I went for:

the pork dumplings, 

                 

Teriyaki salmon salad

                            

crab and mango 
crystal rolls  



                                         






chicken Panko

(I was hungry, okay?!)

A crunchy carrot and Chinese radish salad accompanies the dumplings and dipping sauces, wasabi and ginger are all thrown in.

If I'm forced to have a desk-based lunch, I'll order online, specify a collection time (within a 20 minute slot) and pop down to pick up a freshly made, reasonably priced, rainbow of a meal. It beats an insipid canteen sandwich hands down. 

September New Beginnings

September.  New schools, new Uni's, new jobs, new jumpers. 

It's a month for change, for new beginnings and what a perfect month it is.  Much more preferable to starting a new than January, without those feelings of overindulgence-induced guilt followed by collective sacrifice.  

The summer's drawing to a close and the Olympics and Paralympics have sparked dreams of greatness and achievement. With relatively long evenings and sunny mornings to lift the mood, there's no better time to put a bit of effort into chasing your dreams and passions.

Maybe you've finally decided to put the wheels of that business idea in motion, or maybe these are the first steps towards a healthier and happier you. 

Whatever your reasons for a new beginning, here's a little bit of motivation to help you on your way.

Regent's Park Open Air Theatre

We all know Regent's Park. The Royally commissioned, John Nash designed green space in the centre of London, with elegant white stucco terraces of houses lining its periphery.

Grand gates open onto paths laid out in concentric circles that lead to London Zoo and The Regent's Canal through rose gardens and sports fields.       

But did you know that, if you stray slightly off the beaten, circular path, you'll find an enchanting world that plays host to nightly performances of some of the most magical theatre productions ever written. 

The Regent's Park Open Air Theatre celebrated its 80th birthday this year and marked the occasion by releasing a number of tickets at the  equivalent 1932 price of 5 shillings (or 25 pence in new money).  

We were lucky enough to acquire a couple of tickets and made our way down on a somewhat overcast evening. 

Regardless of the weather, you can't help but feel that you've stepped into some kind of wonderland upon entering the grounds of the theatre. 

A lush glade with a canopy of twinkling fairy lights provides the setting for for a pre-show BBQ. 

Having filled our bellies, we made our way into the auditorium to marvel at the set of Ragtime The Musical. 

All of the theatre's sets feel as thought they're an extension of the trees and shrubbery in the park. When watching a Midsummer Night's Dream, you could easily be in that enchanted dell. 

We watched the first half as the sun set and the fireflies came out before heading to the bar for a Pimms interval. 

Although the weather turned, the actors put on a sterling performance and kept going throughout the drizzly evening. 

The audience clearly had that British Bulldog spirit too and shrugged off the rain with a waterproof poncho and a few more glasses of wine. 

The 'stage-moppers' even had to make a cameo at one point.

We all soldiered on through a performance that was so absorbing, we almost forgot about the showers. 

As the cast took their final bow, I admired the glimmering surroundings feeling like I was in the middle of a fairytale.

A beautiful summer's evening at the Open Air Theatre is a must for visitors and Londoners alike.  Do pop along and help them to celebrate 80 years of one of the most innovative theatre experiences in the capital.