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March 02, 2004
Bus Stop Tube Start
London Bus Route 79 runs between Edgware in North West London and Alperton in West London. Along the way it calls at 5 different tube stations. One of them is Alperton itself - which is on the Piccadilly Line. The dark blue one on the tube map. Like much of the non-Central London tube lines - the underground tube trains are actually overground out here. This is real London. If, like me, you go Eastbound on the Piccadilly Line from here you will be headed into Central London - calling at yet more stations in real London, picking up real Londoners along the way - and pretty soon you will soon be underground, and passing underneath, the glamorous parts of London that many tourists find real cute - e.g. Knightsbridge, Hyde Park Corner, Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, Covent Garden etc. The famous London Underground symbol (called the "roundel") - an international icon so representative of London - has often been photographed in the backdrop of a backpacker shot at some of the glamourous locations. What better a way to show the world that "I've been to Covent Garden"? I catch the tube at Alperton. There is nothing glamorous about it. I get off at Ealing Common. There's nothing glamorous about that place either. I make my way to positively unglamorous Ealing Broadway. But in my eyes, and on my journey to and from work, they beautifully epitomise the unglamorous, gritty, "nation" that defines real London.
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Posted by jag at March 2, 2004 07:08 AM
Comments
great sunshine in those photographs...spring is on the way...hurray! Almost makes me want to skip and whistle ;-)
(I said 'almost', don't worry)
Posted by: sue at March 2, 2004 04:17 PM
Welcome Spring!
Jag - I really appreciate the way you enjoy every moment of the journey back & forth the work, while most others tend to call it a 'routine'. Way to go mate!
Posted by: Chakra at March 2, 2004 04:47 PM
Sue: yes - the signs of Spring are definitely in the air!
Chakra: Cheers to you Chakra! Life is too short for anything to be called "routine" ! :-)
Posted by: Jag at March 2, 2004 07:15 PM
I thot that underground track lines have a third rail which carries the power. But that pic which contained the tracks didnt seem to have any - in fact, it had overhead wires. Are they mainline lines?
Posted by: sat at March 3, 2004 05:22 AM
Hi Sat - yes, Ealing Broadyway has 4 main lines that run through it: 2 tubes (District and Cemtral) and 2 mainlines (Thames Trains and Heathrow Express)I took that pic whilst standing on the Central Line (tube platform) looking over to the trackside buildings which are adjacent to the Thames Trains tracks. The trains that ride these tracks are powered either by diesel or by overhead electricity. You may be able to spot in the foreground the central Line trackside electrics - which power the "third rail" that you mention. The yellow box and wire frame in the foreground is part of the electric system that powers the tube line's third rail.
Posted by: Jag at March 3, 2004 08:22 AM
Hi Jag,
You got one of the bestest blogs I have ever read, its so wondefully articulated, if you don't update it on a particular day, I actually miss it. Anyways, u don't have to take pains to do that everyday. And your blog is kind of giving me a different perspective into the world arround me. I started looking at things that goes on arround me while I am driving anywhere. Soon I need to get a small digi camera and carry it arround, just like you.
Posted by: Ramdhan Kotamaraja at March 3, 2004 02:59 PM
Hi Ramdhan - thank you so much for your flattering comment!
Start of wise philosophical statement: There is a beauty in everything around us - if you only care to look for it. I find that I have to stare at something long enough - or even right through it - to appreciate it. And if you capture it and share it - then everybody will be a little more educated.
Posted by: Jag at March 3, 2004 03:54 PM
Yes, I guess thats what is called
'Appreciating Little Things In Your Life!'
Posted by: Ramdhan Kotamaraja at March 3, 2004 07:26 PM
Does that tag read 'Vultures from Ladland' or 'Lapland'?
Is it like 'Coals from Newcastle'?
Confused of Scotland
Posted by: Vicky at March 8, 2004 09:15 PM
I think it says "Lapland". ?
But I'm equally as confused as you are!
Posted by: Jag at March 10, 2004 10:53 PM
what a great blog! I use to live in Sudbury Town then moved to Kenton. I teach at a school in Kingsbury, so found your route very familiar. I make my lamb curries pretty much the same as you do, only I dont call it anything in particular. It is great that your journey is leisurely, I am always dashing from one palce to another yet I must say driving is such a involuntary reflex action for me, that I am able to think and ponder whilst I drive. It is good to have that time by myself in my own space. Keep writing-----
Posted by: tranquility86 at March 18, 2004 09:34 PM
Hi Tranquility86 !
Thanks for your comment! And many thanks for your kind words too! If you don't mind me asking - which school do you teach at in Kingsbury?
I can imagine how driving is very much an "autopilot" thing. But I can assure you that my journey is not always leisurely! I have a view that life is what you make of it - so if it appears leisurely - it's because I try to make it look that way! :-)
I agree though - there are many ways in which to make time for yourself - and I do it by daydreaming whilst looking out of the bus/tube/train window.
Keep visiting here!
Posted by: Jag at March 18, 2004 09:48 PM
hi. i have not made lamb roganjosh but had it in a resteraunt recently and LOVED it! so i am researching the recipe to make myself. i have seen about 50 recipes online for this dish and each is different! not just technique but ingredients very considerably. should this concern me? is there an 'authentic'or 'traditional' recipe? since this is such a popular dish, are there simply many styles and variations?
thank you for your input!
Kathie
Posted by: kathie at December 15, 2004 01:29 AM
Hi Kathie - thank you for your comment. Simple answer is "no" - it shouldn't concern you - and "yes" there are so many different interpretations of this popular dish. Even I cook it differently depending on a) what mood I'm in and b) what ingredients I have around ! But basically - you need lamb (or mutton) - which should be chunky (bitesize) - and it should be cooked until tender in whatever spicy sauce you like!
Glad you enjoy it - and hope you have all the success in making it too.
Posted by: Jag at December 15, 2004 12:41 PM
My oh my, after purchasing some "Rogan Josh" curry spice at the spice market store in Chicago (because I loved the scent of it, I searched high & low for a recipe that was United States friendly. Following the base of your delightful recipe and truly appreciating the photo essay, I made the most amazing meal for my honey last night. Today I rewrote the recipe for my files and logged back on to find our the soul of Route 79.
I love your site and hope to catch up soon with your travels about.
Cheers to you on the other side there mate!
I look forward to more experiments in the kitchen with your cuisine guided by your helpful notes.
warm regards,
Kimberly
Posted by: Kimberly at January 9, 2005 07:28 PM
Hi Kimberly - thank you so much for your kind comment. I'm so glad you tried such a dish - as I am aware that in USA lamb is not a very popular meat - whereas in the rest of the world - especially UK which I can speak for - lamb (and mutton) is very, very popular. And one can use mutton (which is just older lamb) just as well since the cooking time is quite long. You may also find it much more "meaty" and cheaper if you use mutton - but I guess that assumes you can get hold of it. Most Indian/Asian meat sops should carry mutton.
Once again - many thanks for your comment - and please do visit/comment here on your return.
Posted by: Jag at January 9, 2005 08:52 PM
Wot the fuck would u know about real london, fuckin ealing broadway, iss a richmans area, come down east and SE london u want some real grime of london u mug, as for u calling it ''art'' wot the fuck would u know about it, u probebly couldent even hold a spray can u prick...
Posted by: James at January 28, 2005 10:59 AM
P.S. rogan josh is well nice, i prefur vindaloo though, safe later.
Posted by: James at January 28, 2005 11:05 AM
o yeah, if u like grimy routs, jump on the N89 from trafalgur square to slade green through new cross.
Posted by: James at January 28, 2005 11:07 AM
o yeah, if u like grimy routs, jump on the N89 from trafalgur square to slade green through new cross.
Posted by: James at January 28, 2005 11:07 AM
james jag aint claimed to b a writer u hater.
Posted by: tearone at March 2, 2005 09:27 PM
Well said tearone! :-) Safe.
Posted by: Jag at March 2, 2005 11:33 PM