Tag: culture

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Blog Music

Northern Soul Orchestrated

This week I’ve been to see the Northern Soul Orchestrated Tour at the Royal Festival Hall in London.

Northern Soul really is the bop that just won’t drop. It’s a subculture that developed in nightclubs across the North of England in the 1960s and 70s. DJs played mostly lesser known singles and B-sides by American soul musicians that had been put out by Motown, Chess, Vee-Jay and other independent labels.

It was uplifting music, with soulful lyrics that celebrated the joy and elation to be found in everyday experiences. It resonated with northern working class life, and tapped into the Mod scene that was also prominent at the time.

Clubs like the Blackpool Mecca, Manchester’s Twisted Wheel and the Wigan Casino soon assumed legendary status on the Northern Soul scene, staging all-nighters where afficionados could forget their cares by dancing Saturday night away into Sunday morning.

The scene has never really gone away since, with the music influencing numerous others over the years, from Dexy’s Midnight Runners to Amy Winehouse and Fatboy Slim, to name a few.

The current wave of popularity began last year, when the Proms Season at the Royal Albert Hall in London held a special Northern Soul event, bringing together some fabulously talented soul singers, a rhythm and blues band and the BBC Orchestra.

The performances celebrated and breathed new life into a roster of Northern Soul classics, with orchestral arrangements by Joe Duddell and Fiona Brice. Songs included Hold Back the Night (by The Trammps), Out on the Floor (Dobie Gray), and Tainted Love (Gloria Jones), amongst others. The event was so successful it has now been taken out on the road on the Northern Soul Orchestrated Tour.

Which is how Northern Soul came to be at the Royal Festival Hall. All the hits were here, with beautiful strings, euphoric trombones, booming, passion-filled vocals and sparkling xylophones. It’s the equivalent of taking those old scratchy vinyl 7-inches and B-sides you once loved playing on a mono turntable, and hearing them afresh, performed live and completely digitally remastered.

The Night, originally by Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons, was received rapturously by the audience, as was There’s a Ghost in My House (by R. Dean Taylor). Punters were invited to dance in the aisles, and plenty obliged, many sporting 60s fashions, Small Faces haircuts, Harrington jackets and Fred Perry T-shirts.

I liked hearing Sliced Tomatoes, an instrumental originally performed by Just Brothers, now instantly recognisable as the guitar track sampled by Fatboy Slim in Rockafeller Skank.

Host and curator, Stuart Maconie, from 6 Music, introduced the 3 before 8 – the 3 tracks that signalled the ending of the all-nighter at Wigan Casino back in the day as 8am approached. I have to say, as a sleepy head who values a good night’s kip, a dancing all-nighter would have been my worst nightmare. I once tried a horror film all-nighter, having to leave to go home to bed, practically falling asleep after only the second movie, and forgoing a 1960s Peter Cushing classic (which is saying something) in the process.

So the Wigan Casino all-nighter would not have been for me – I’d have been tucked up nice and toasty in bed, well before the first round of pep pills was being handed out.

Thankfully, this show finished on the right side of midnight, allowing ample time to get to nearby Waterloo Station and then home. There was a real buzz of elation as everyone filed out of the arena.

There are so many tracks I could choose to add to the ADK Playlist, but I will settle on this one, which opened the show and typifies the Northern Soul sound. This is The M.V.P.s with Turnin’ My Heartbeat Up.

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Blog Mains Recipes

Giant Filled Yorkshire Pudding

What to eat on a visit to South Yorkshire? Why, Yorkshire Pudding, of course!

No sooner am I back in the UK, than I am off on my travels again. This time it is a trip with my brother, Jim, to the World Snooker Championships at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.

We have been a number of times over the years, and I always enjoy it. Sheffield is a great city, with a special festival atmosphere for the spring fortnight each year when the snooker is here.

The World Snooker is an established fixture in the UK sporting calendar, with every frame being televised live by the BBC as the drama unfolds over 15 days. Holding the sport’s premier competition and season finale in a working theatre is an inspired decision. Each year the tournament throws up tension, twists and turns befitting a venue named after Arthur Miller’s classic 1953 play.

This is an intimate setting to watch professional sport, with the spectators close to the players and action. The house lights go down, and the silence descends when a match is under way, as the world’s top players try to outsmart each other in a game of great skill and strategy.

On the night before we travelled up to Sheffield, Jim served up for me the Giant Filled Yorkshire Pudding shown in my main photo at the top of the post. It is filled with a roast chicken and sausage dinner, which was delicious. I’m pleased to say he agreed to share his recipe for posting here on A Different Kitchen.

Servings

This will make 1 giant pudding, suitable for 1 adult. Simply multiply the ingredients up to make more for each guest.

Timings

10 mins to make the batter, which should be left to rest for 30 mins to 24 hrs. Then 10 mins to heat the oven and 25 mins to roast.

You Will Need

  • 1 large egg
  • 35g plain flour
  • 50ml whole milk
  • 1 tbsp oil

Method

  1. Crack the egg into a jug and sieve in the flour.
  2. Whisk until smooth, while gradually adding in the milk. At this stage, add salt, pepper and herbs if you wish.
  3. Leave for at least 30 mins but no more than 24 hours to use. Normal room temperature is fine, but if it’s hot or if in any doubt, place in the fridge.
  4. Heat an oven to 210C (230C if not a fan oven). Drizzle the oil into a 20cm diameter roasting tin.
  5. Place the roasting tin in the oven when up to temp, for 10 mins to get it nice and hot. Then pour in the batter – it will spread out across the bottom of the tin. Place back in the oven for 25 mins. Do not open the door during this period, or it will collapse!
  6. After 25 mins, check that the pudding has a good brown colour around the edges (which will have magically climbed up the sides of the tin to the rim!) and feels firm and dry.
  7. When ready, take from the oven. Top up with the filling of your choice and serve.

Customise it!

Jim’s giant pudding is filled with sausages, roast chicken pieces, roast potatoes, carrots, peas and gravy. You can use other fillings – a spicy curry might be nice. Just be wary of putting in a filling that is too liquidy, or it will soak and soften the pastry. In my photo of Jim’s, you will note that the gravy is used sparingly and is poured over the other ingredients first, rather than straight on to the pudding.

The World Snooker is now approaching the latter stages, with the Final taking place over 35 frames this coming Sunday and Monday. We won’t be in the Crucible for that, but will be at home, glued to the action on TV. If you plan to watch also, then why not treat yourself to a Giant Filled Yorkshire Pudding, like we did ? You won’t regret it.

Choice for the ADK playlist this time comes from those famous sons of Sheffield, the Arctic Monkeys. This is from their 2022 album The Car – the beautifully orchestrated Mr Schwarz.

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Blog Mains

G’day Melbourne

This week we’ve been enjoying the food and cafe culture in Melbourne, having flown here from the Sunshine Coast for the next stage of our travel around Australia.

Coffee is a central part of the Melburnian way of life – the many, many independent coffee shops across the city doing a busy trade every morning.

The regular fix for me on this trip has been a creamy hot latte. The main photo above shows the barista at work while I waited for my drink to be made at a cafe in the Glenferrie district.

We’ve also been sampling some modern Australian cuisine at a restaurant called Mister Sandrino in Hawthorn. This pairing of locally made chorizo and lima beans, with a fresh parsley pesto-like dressing, tasted great.

On the same menu, we chose the classic Aussie fish, barramundi. It came with a crispy, edible skin, which I liked, and found interesting as I usually just discard the skin on a fillet of fish. Served also with slices of crispy pancetta and a pea puree, it complimented the soft, just-cooked flakiness of the tasty fish.

Another imaginative combination I liked was this creamy buffalo mozzarella, with dusting of pistachio crumb, served with figs and salad leaves.

I find it very inspiring to see how innovative chefs from other cultures come up with new ways of cooking and pairing ingredients. You never know – you may see some of these ideas reflected in future creations from the ADK kitchen!

While on a theme of taking a fresh look at things, here’s a photo I took one evening of the Melbourne city skyline, from high up above the banks of the Yarra River.

Time to feature an indie band from Melbourne whose raw sound I’ve come to like. This is Drunk Mums with New Australia.

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Mains Recipes

Soup-erbowl

This weekend’s incoming batch of seasonal veg from our local community farm had winter soup written all over it. I’m talking hearty and wholesome here, with pearl barley and lentils, giving a good portion of protein and fibre. Included in the box was even a handful of fresh herbs – parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme, would you believe. Well, hey – I feel a song coming on!

For the benefit of any millennials, that’s a reference to a line in a Simon & Garfunkel song, Scarborough Fair – check it out.

Which brings me to another great American institution that’s been around for over half a century. Yes, it’s Superbowl weekend – Superbowl LVIII to be precise (that’s 58 to you and me – why does the NFL insist on using roman numerals?).

The pinnacle of the American Football season is a match-up between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers. It’s a repeat of the 2020 game, when the Chiefs emerged victorious. My prediction is that the Chiefs will be taking home the trophy once again – Patrick Mahomes and co just seem to have the experience and the ability to do what it takes when it comes to the postseason play-offs.

Food is always a key part of enjoying the Superbowl, and each year I aim to come up with a healthy(ish) snack to have with the game. There will definitely be some Smoked Paprika Popcorn on the table, when the game kicks off at around 11.30pm UK time.

It’s always fun seeing what extravaganza they have lined up for the Half Time Show. This year the game is taking place in Las Vegas, which is where U2 have been performing their residency at the Sphere. Seeing as Bono and the lads are in town, I did hope they might be popping down to the stadium to treat the audience to a few numbers. Usher is this year’s headliner, however. I understand he’s trailed that he may bring along a special guest, so….you never know?

Anyway, where was I? Back to the homemade soup, which I shall be enjoying this Soup-erbowl weekend.

Servings

4 adult servings.

Timings

The pearl barley/lentil mix needs soaking overnight, then boiling/simmering for 45 mins. Making the soup is then about another 30 mins.

You Will Need

  • 100g pearl barley/lentil/split pea mix
  • 500ml water
  • 1 onion
  • 2 celery sticks
  • 2-3 carrots
  • 1 parsnip
  • 500ml veg stock
  • handful of parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme (or whatever fresh herbs you have!)

Method

  1. Soak the pearl barley mix overnight in the cold water.
  2. The next morning, pour the water away and rinse the pearl barley mix under cold running water. Place in a saucepan and cover with water, Bring to the boil for around 10 mins, then reduce to a simmer for another 35 mins. Switch off and drain.
  3. Using the same, empty saucepan, heat a little oil and throw in the chopped onion, celery, carrots and parsnip. Stir and let the veg soften in the heat.
  4. Pour in the veg stock and bring to the boil. Reduce to a simmer, and tear in the herbs. Season with salt and pepper.
  5. After 10 mins, blitz about half of the soup with a handheld blender. Alternatively, transfer half to a food processor with blade fitted, blitz and return it to the pan. This will give the soup a nice consistency, while still having chunks of veg in there.
  6. Add in the cooked pearl barley mix and simmer for another 10 mins. Switch off, and the soup is ready to serve.

Customise It!

Any other winter root veg will go well – swede, celeriac, potatoes for example. Add in a leek or two. Just make sure you don’t mess with the parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme (only kidding, use whatever fresh herbs are to hand).

Just imagine what a brilliant Half Time Show Simon & Garfunkel could have put on. As far as I know, they never did one, however, and it’s unlikely to happen now. Unless they do an Abba, and have avatars, perhaps? All that classic Americana would go down a storm with the Superbowl audience. We can but dream. Here they are with one of their best: Mrs Robinson.

Enjoy Usher; enjoy the Superbowl, everyone.

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Blog Snacks

Waterfront

Next stop on our motorhome tour of Scotland is Falkirk, to see the giant horse statues known as the Kelpies. And what a beautiful and impressive sight they are! Standing 30m tall, they tower over the many visitors from far and wide who rock up every day to see them.

The Kelpies can be found alongside the Forth and Clyde Canal, which for many years was key to Scotland’s industrial revolution. Joining the River Clyde with the Firth of Forth, it was in its day the main route by which goods could be transported from Glasgow on the west coast to Grangemouth on the east coast, and from there on to new markets in the Baltic and Russia. Strong, heavy set horses, known as kelpies were central to the operation. Led along the canal towpath by hand, they would haul the goods-laden boats behind them, making their way towards the coastal ports.

The Canal fell into disuse in the 1930s and was shut in the 1960s, rendered obsolete by the newer forms of transport of road and rail. However, in 2001 it was reopened, and is now mainly for leisure and recreational use, with new businesses and hospitality outlets popping up in its vicinity. The creation of artist Andy Scott, the Kelpies followed in 2013.

Another impressive sight is the Falkirk Wheel, an engineering wonder that opened in 2001, connecting the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal, even though the canals are on completely different levels.

It does this by picking up a boat from the lower canal (the Forth and Clyde) and rotating 180 degrees to release it on to the upper canal (the Union). In this way, it enables uninterrupted travel by water from Glasgow to Edinburgh.

The Wheel is also now a major tourist attraction for the area. Together, it’s all a great example of technology, art and culture driving economic regeneration in a post-industrial landscape.

We returned after dark to see the Kelpies illuminated. We weren’t disappointed.

The coloured lights are constantly changing, and the horses are visible from miles around.

Foody highlight on this part of our trip was the Selkirk Bannock. I have featured this before on A Different Kitchen, when it was given to us as a gift from a friend who had visited the Scottish Borders area, from whence it comes (read much more about this traditional Scottish delicacy on my original post here). I have been looking out for it as I was keen to taste some while away on this trip – on its home turf, so to speak.

A rich tea loaf, packed with fruit, I had it served here toasted with melting butter and jam, alongside a pot of tea. Perfect for elevenses or a refined afternoon tea. Delicious!

Continuing the recent chain of Scottish bands featured on the ADK Playlist, here is a great track by Glasgow’s Simple Minds, that might just also have been inspired by the historic local setting of the Forth and Clyde Canal. This is Waterfront.

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Blog

Two Worlds Collide

London is a stimulating place to spend a few days, as I did this past weekend. The place seems to be constantly evolving, and there is always something new to discover. I usually find it a dynamic and cosmopolitan environment where I can indulge my interests in food, music, heritage and culture. Well, this weekend was certainly that.

The main reason for our visit was to see Inspiral Carpets in concert (more of which in a moment).

While in London, we took the opportunity to visit Greenwich. A green oasis of parkland on the South Bank, it is also very, very old – full of symbols of empire and bastions of British sea power from centuries past. Greenwich Palace was the home of Henry VIII in the 16th Century, the site subsequently becoming the training college for officers of the Royal Navy.

The Cutty Sark, 19th Century sailing ship on old colonial trade routes, is now here resting in dry dock, and open to public visit. Like many of Britain’s institutions at the moment, the Royal Museums Greenwich are wrestling with how to most appropriately acknowledge and learn from their historic links to colonialism and the international slave trade. That’s a debate I expect will continue for some time to come.

And when you climb the hill to the 18th Century Royal Observatory (famous for being the home of global time zoning and Greenwich Mean Time) the old and new worlds become starkly apparent. As my main photo at the top of the post shows, looking out across the National Maritime Museum, these ancient symbols of British power and wealth are now dwarved by the 21st Century equivalent – the gleaming towers of Canary Wharf and the financial district.

Amidst these contrasting scenes, the daily life of Londoners goes on. These picnickers are enjoying the sunshine and fresh air. And we joined them.

Housed in an ornate, grand arcade, Greenwich Market is a real foodie delight. Although I am not vegan, I was particularly struck by the colour and invention on display at the Vegan Garden stall, as my photo below shows.

I couldn’t resist a slice of chocolate, pear and almond cake, which was delicious with an americano, see below.

The undoubted high point of this wide and varied culture fest, though, was seeing the Inspirals live at one of London’s iconic music venues, the O2 Shepherds Bush Empire. 90 minutes filled with one classic track after another, my favourite aspect being the Doors-esque Farfisa Organ lines played faultlessly by Clint Boon.

For the diehard afficionados, here is a setlist rescued from the stage at the end of the gig (and in case you’re wondering, no, those aren’t my fingernails).

The band have recently released a compilation of all 24 singles, with a selection of remixes. I could honestly have chosen any of them for the ADK Playlist. After a stimulating and hugely enjoyable few days, I will settle on this one, which seems to resonate with some of the themes in this post: Two Worlds Collide.

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Blog

By Royal Appointment?

I must share with you, dear readers, an amazing letter I’ve received in the post this morning.

My excitement rose when I saw the postmark bearing the words Buckingham Palace. It turns out to be a handwritten letter from none other than the Queen Consort, probably still better known to most as Camilla (of Parker-Bowles fame). It goes like this:

Hi Kevin,

Hope you’re keeping well, mate. As you’re probably aware, we have a bit of a do coming up next month, with the Coronation. There’s lots still to organise, including the Afternoon Tea for all the family after the main service – I like to think of it as a bit of a knees-up.

Anyways, the Boss himself has put me in charge of sorting out the nosh. I love following A Different Kitchen, and wondered if I could ask you to bake us a few cakes?

A Dundee Fruit Cake would go down well with the Balmoral set, and you can’t go wrong with choco brownies as far as all the kids are concerned lol. Numbers aren’t final yet – we still don’t know if Harry and the missus will be attending.

Let me know what you can do for us. Keep up the good work, and why not post a few more tracks from the Arctic Monkeys – I’m a big fan.

Cheers,
Camilla

Goodness me! I need your help here, readers. This is my biggest gig since I started the blog, so do please let me have your thoughts by way of comments below, on what I should offer to bake.

In the meantime, here’s a classic track from The Who for the ADK Playlist – Won’t Get Fooled Again.

Categories
Blog Music

Eat Sleep Blog Repeat

It’s been a hectic few days since my last post, getting away from the kitchen for a few great meals and trips out with friends and family. More about this in future posts!

However, the highlight, that I will focus on in this post, has been attending a great concert by Fatboy Slim (alias DJ Norman Cook) on the final night of his UK Tour.

I used to be wary of big arena shows by so-called superstar DJs, tending to think it isn’t live music, but just someone standing on a stage playing their records. My perception changed a few years ago, however, the first time I went to see Fatboy Slim live.

This weekend’s performance also did not disappoint. He puts on a great show – a true feast for both the eyes and the ears, with crazy and inventive big screen videos, sync-ed to an everchanging mash-up mix, comprising snippets from his own best tracks and samples taken from a whole range of musical genres. The result is quite unique, to be experienced to be believed.

His most famous tracks feature in some shape or form. However, they are never performed straight as fans might recognise them from the records. Part of the fun is spotting a bassline, a beat, a lyric, a chorus etc from his impressive back catalogue, that is being interwoven with other samples, to produce something entirely new and fresh.

The words from Praise You featured twice, though never with the familar, catchy piano line from the record. The Rockafeller Skank is mixed over some Chubby Checker and the guitar riff from the Stones’ Satisfaction, yet still finds the crowd singing along with the Right About Now, Funk Soul Brother chorus. Macy Gray’s chorus is transmitted as giant subtitles during Demons.

Weapon of Choice is accompanied by a big screen excerpt from the famous video shot in a hotel elevator lobby. This time, however, Hollywood actor Christopher Walken is flanked by two skeletal avatars, dancing in co-ordination with his every step.

One track is founded on the isolated, thumping beat of Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s Relax, as the walls of the arena are being pounded by laser beams.

You never quite know who is going to turn up next on the big screen, often for their spoken words to be integrated into a track – examples here included Bill Murray and Barack Obama.

I have included a few of the photos I took, and hope I have conveyed what a fun, varied, high energy and inventive show this was.

I’ll settle on one track for the ADK Spotify Playlist. For this one, Norm mouthed the spoken word introduction up close to the camera, relayed on the big screen framed by the outline of an old-fashioned TV set.

A Wonderful Night!

If you get the chance to see Fatboy Slim live, I can’t recommend it enough.

Categories
Blog Drinks

Paint Me Down (Under)

I want to share with you some of the great art in public places I’ve come across in Australia.

For reasons I can’t quite explain, my experiencing of art is inextricably connected with the consumption of coffee and pastries. Visit to a gallery? Sooner or later my wristwatch will be telling me it’s time to visit the coffee shop. Walking on a public art trail? I guarantee at some point there will be a minor detour to take in that nice, funky looking cafe over there. More about Australia’s cafe culture in a moment – let’s first take a look at some of the art.

I’ll start with the art deco entrance to Luna Park, Sydney’s retro amusement park that dates back to 1935, shown in my main photo above. It is a joy to behold – the huge grinning face is visible all the way from the other side of Sydney Harbour, getting progressively larger as you approach it on the ferry. If you look closely you will see visitors walking through the mouth to enter the amusement park, giving a sense of its vast scale.

My next photo below was taken at the graffiti wall which lines the promenade at Sydney’s famous Bondi Beach – a place where chic boutiques and upmarket cafes co-exist with the bohemian grunge of the local surfing community. Our visit here soon led to a visit to one such cafe (see, what did I tell you), from which we enjoyed the free entertainment provided by the surfers. This was easily the best surfing I have ever seen – well-poised riders catching a wave for a good 10 – 15 seconds before diving neatly into the water, then doing it all again.

Back in Melbourne, Hosier Lane is known as Spraycan Alley, making it a popular tourist attraction – see below. It is positioned in the Lanes and Arcades quarter chock full of fiercely independent cafes. A visit to at least one of these is inevitable (for me, that is) when in this part of town.

Indigenous art influences are strong wherever we go. The tall three-legged, two headed Angel (by artist Deborah Halpern) is situated in Birrarung Marr, the public park that stretches out along the River Yarra from Federation Square to the home of the Tennis Open.

Again in Melbourne, the whole of the ground floor of the Ian Potter Centre (free to enter) is given over to indigenous people’s art. The paint used is generally derived from rocks, minerals and clay, giving it an earthy feel, and a colour palette based around an ochre spectrum. The abstract designs and patterns evoke the meditational nature of the aboriginal philosophy known as the Dreaming. My photo below is an example, by artist Willie Gudabi.

And so to the world of coffee and pastry that I associate with these images. Cafe culture is big in Australia. They are nearly all independents – you will only very occasionally see a Starbucks or other chain. Baristas take their work very seriously, and the making of a hot drink has itself been elevated to something of an art form. I can honestly say I have never had a bad cup of coffee since arriving in Australia.

At first the coffee menus were like a different language, but I now understand my way around them. There is no such thing as an americano – it is a long black and, if you want it white, you ask for a small jug of milk (specifying whether it should be hot or cold, and dairy, oat or other) on the side. A batch brew is a filter coffee, and a cold drip is an iced version – usually a latte served over ice cubes and, in some places, a scoop of ice cream.

Cappucino and flat whites are as you would find in the UK but, surprisingly, decaff is nowhere to be found on the menus. Seemingly this is because the serious coffee aficionados do not consider it to be a credible option. While there is no doubt that Australia makes great coffee, I do think this is one area where the approach is a little out of step with modern times.

So boil the kettle, or fire up your espresso machine, and fetch a nice coffee while enjoying these images. Which one is your favourite and why? Please feel free to leave a message in the comments section below, if you like.

The title of this post has probably given away the latest track I’ve chosen for the ADK Playlist. Paint Me Down is not one of Spandau Ballet’s biggest hits, but I have always really liked Martin Kemp’s bass line, which kicks in right at the start and stays prominent thoughout. Take it away, lads..

Categories
Blog

Hala Doha

This week I’ve arrived in the Middle East with my two sons, on my way to spending the winter months in Australia.

Doha, in Qatar, is a real mixture of the old and the new. My main photo shows the old – represented by a traditional wooden dhow boat used for pearl diving when the place was just a small coastal village – alongside the modern day skyscrapers of West Bay. The discovery of oil – and enough supplies of it for the next 200 years – has brought significant wealth and transformed the place out of all recognition.

My search to discover the local cuisine has led to a variety of cafes and restaurants specialising in food mainly from other parts of Asia. As the city has grown, it seems that people have travelled here to work, bringing their own tastes and styles of cooking with them. Consequently, many restaurants have sprouted up to use their skills and satisfy their appetites.

These next photos show a banquet we enjoyed in a Korean Restaurant. The appetiser comprises pickled root veg, kimchi (fermented cabbage and veg) and spiced cubes of tofu.

There are four dishes in the mains: pieces of chicken coated in spicy batter and deep fried; spiced tofu and beef in a doubenjiang (chilli bean) sauce, with a mound of steamed rice; bibimbap, which is fine sliced, marinaded (bulgogi) beef served with fried egg, veg and rice; and chicken and veg in sweet soy sauce.

The mix of tastes was amazing. I especially liked the variety of things they do with tofu – the complimentary starter was a bowl of soup with cubes of tofu in. In fact, the restaurant was actually called The Tofu House, in the Al Mansoura district where we are staying. This has given me lots of ideas for when I am next back in the ADK Kitchen, though that won’t be until well into 2023!

It was also very reasonably priced – 140 QAR for three, which works out about £10 per head. It is certainly possible to eat well and inexpensively in Qatar.

It’s an interesting time to be in Qatar, as the country is hosting the Football World Cup. There are people here from all over the world, making it easy to chat to friendly visitors from Canada, Japan, Egypt, Uganda, India and many, many more, as well as locals, particularly on the excellent, state of the art public transport system. It shows the power of international sport to bring people together and overcome any language or cultural barriers.

Choice of music for the ADK playlist is something from my listening on the way out here with Qatar Airways – Little Fluffy Clouds from The Orb reminds me of a comfortable and enjoyable 6 hour flight!