Friday Puzzle

London- living in the eye of a storm, you either sink or swim

London: Speed; one million miles per hour.  Work; at least forty five hours per week.  Play; minimum. Stress; maximum.  So what makes us Londoners love this city so much?  Why do we put ourselves out there on a “high alert, oh my God I am about to convulse” level for the majority of the week, queuing for the train, queuing for for the bus, queuing for the super market, even if we want to go to the loo, we have to queue up at the cash point to take out a tenner, to buy some gum, to get some change, to then queue for the change machine, get two ten pence pieces and a twenty, to queue through the toilet barrier and eventually get to the blasted place!!!!  Perhaps it’s that machine gun feeling we get when we are commuting home and are packed like sardines on the train whilst our face is glued on a b.o smothered arm pit and our right hand is shoved against someone’s crotch.  London is wonderful! I hear you cry, London is great! It is, I agree! But why? Why do we remain committed to  a city that draws from us such vast senses of hatred and stress, who’s pavements ruin our stilettos, who’s rain frizzes our hair?  The answer my dear readers is given to you forthwith; Londres, Londino, Londinion is also a magnificent city that refuses to conform, Dickensian in one blink and minimalist in another.  Transvestites and lady boys socialising with Sloaneys and  toffs.  That is why we love London.  Anything goes.  You don’t need to worry about what you are wearing or how you speak, where you go or what you do as all and sundry thoroughly accept, love and admire anything that is quirky and embrace imperfection as a sign of  idiosyncratic excellence.  London is like a Benetton advert, all creeds and colours side by side in a unified waltz to the cinema or a jaunt to the theatre.  On one end of the road is “Maroush”  for a shwarma and a kofta, on the other is “Mango Tree” for phad thai and tom yum soup.  A cauldron of infinite choice, by the river or by the green, old school uniforms or East London grunge.  That is why we love this city and why every arm pit sniffing, crotch touching, stuffy tube delay is worth hating, so that you can feel and experience the love of  a city like no other.

Recipe Day!!!!

Quick Dinner for those Notting Hill Busy Mummies Amongst You:

Tarragon and Tomato Stuffed Salmon

Ingredients

2 salad onions, finely chopped
½ x 20g pack tarragon
2 x 500g packs prime salmon fillets, skinned
3 tbsp sun-dried tomato paste
150g Frescopronti Italian Sun Drenched Tomatoes (from the chiller) or Waitrose Cook’s Ingredients Sunkissed Tomatoes, drained, plus 2 tbsp of the oil
100g Waitrose Half-Fat Mayonnaise
75g Greek Yogurt
25g pack curly parsely, chopped

Method

1. Prepare and light the barbecue. Pull the tarragon leaves from the stalks and roughly chop the leaves. Lay one salmon fillet, skinned side up, on the surface and spread with the tomato paste. Scatter with the tomatoes and tarragon. Season and position the second fillet on top, skinned side down, with the thick edge of one fillet against the thin edge of the other, to create an even thickness. Tie the salmon at 3cm intervals with kitchen string to hold the pieces together. Chill until required.
2. Meanwhile, beat the mayonnaise with the yogurt, parsley, salad onions and some seasoning, then spoon into a small serving dish. Chill until required.
3. Brush the top of the salmon with a little oil and position, oiled side down, on the barbecue over a gentle heat. Cook for 10-15 minutes until the lower fillet has turned opaque. Brush the top fillet with the remaining oil and carefully turn the salmon to cook the bottom fillet. (To check the salmon is cooked through, pierce a thick area of the upper fillet with a knife.) Transfer to a board and cut across into thick slices, removing the string. Serve with the flavoured mayonnaise.

Recipe Courtesy of www.waitrose.com

The Westbourne Pub- “The place to be” in Notting Hill

The Westbourne pub opened three years ago has become “the place to go” on a Friday for anyone craving a good old beverage after a hard days work or simply to enjoy a good atmosphere with plenty of young professionals and, let’s not forget, a plethora of male and female eye candy. Good banter, drinking and beauties aside, it was also awarded a place in the 2004 edition of the Michelin Guide having acquired a fabulous reputation for its tasty fare, ranging from rock oysters to pot roasted pheasant with bacon, shallots and oyster mushrooms. Fresh and vibrant in the summer and cosy and inviting in the winter, you simply cannot go wrong with this pub.

Contact details are listed below:

The Westbourne
101 Westbourne Park Villas
London W2 5ED
0207 221 1332

Energy Performance Certificates – A Must For Landlords

Property Of The Week

A contemporary and newly refurbished studio in a private gated courtyard. With wood floors throughout and neutral decor the property consists of a separate eat-in fully-fitted kitchen, limestone finished bathroom and large studio room with pull-down murphy bed. The flat is furnished with modern styled items. Located around the corner from Kensington Church Street, Duke’s Lane Chambers has a multitude of shops, cafes and boutiques on its doorstep. High Street Kensington (Circle & District Line) is the closest tube station. 

Home Features 
•Central Heating 
•Dishwasher 
•Hardwood Floors 
•High Ceilings 
•Microwave 
•Washer/Dryer 

Community Features 
•Courtyard

Autumn in Notting Hill- A Lovers Paradise

As I was walking to the office this morning the chilly air hit my face and gave me the first icy bite on my lips… autumn I thought…..golden skies, warm rustic tones and wintry woollen garments touching the skin for the first time in months.  What an ideal period to start thinking about the forthcoming weeks and, if you are single, finding someone to warm your heart and share a romantic stroll thorough the leaf strewn parks of London.  It is by no coincidence that the romantic comedy “Notting Hill” was set in this area.  Walking to work, I noticed the picturesque buildings with each individual home and shop exuding a little personality of its own.  From mansionesque, white dolls houses to higgledy piggledy cottages, it is reminiscent of wandering through a fairy tale land, lined with trees and numerous little coffee shops to hide  in and steal a kiss.

Holland Park, which is just around the corner, is ideal for hiding.  The ivied arch way can act as a lover’s tunnel through which one can walk and walk whilst exchanging longing glances in to the others eyes.  What is he thinking?  What is SHE thinking?  Well, you can hide away in one of the many little coffee shops and after a mug of warm hot chocolate find out all there is to know about Mr or Mrs Right. ..And if you haven’t found them yet, believe me there are MANY choices here in Notting Hill.  Yes, that is another thing I noticed whilst waltzing on my honey hazed, conquer coloured love walk to work this morning.  There are lots of lovely chaps and lasses here.

So, I said to myself, with wonderful architecture, pretty coffee shops, lovely faces and romantic nests I shall definitely be moving here soon and hopefully finding a heart warming, autumn red set of lips to kiss.

Property Of The Week

Located moments from Hyde Park and within easy reach of London’s West End this charming studio flat offers bright living in a well maintained period conversion. The property comprises studio room, open-plan kitchen and fully tiled shower room. Craven Hill is located moments from local amenities while the restaurants, shops and bars of Queensway and Whiteleys shopping and cinema complex are close by. Lancaster Gate (Central Line) is the nearest underground station while British Rail services and the Heathrow Express are accessible via Paddington Station (District, Circle, Bakerloo and Hammersmith and City lines).

Friday Word Puzzle

***Property of the Week***

A stunning contemporary house fully equipped for modern living.

If you are looking for some more space then this North Kensington House is definitely for you;

“A one-of-a-kind interior designed house in North Kensington. Meticulousy designed throughout this property comprises; on the ground floor a large reception with open fireplace, guest cloakroom, laundry room and a fully-fitted kitchen opening onto a private patio; the 4th bedroom / study on the half landing, on the first floor the Master suite with walk-in wardrobe and en-suite bathroom; a second bathroom on the next half landing; on the second floor a large guest bedroom and a 3rd double bedroom; topped with stairs leading onto a private rooftop terrace. Fitted with beautiful wood floors throughout, no expense has been spared, providing a characterful house that house all the mod-cons you would ever need; in addition to the expected the property is fully alarmed, CCTV ready and mood-lit throughout. Being a short walk from Portobello Road, the hub-bub on offer from the famous market and its surrounding amenities are at your finger tips. Ladbroke Grove (Hammersmith & City Line) is the closest tube station. Resident Parking available.”

For futher details on this property; CLICK HERE.

Be the first to view this beautiful property; get on the phone and ring Notting Hill Properties now at 020 7792 1199