The joys of commuting in London (it's all in the subtle detail)

Commuting sucks. Being stuffed under a stranger's armpit in sweltering heat whilst the tannoy crackles with another delay platitude is not fun. Racing down stairs, around corners and cramming onto a train so you're not late for that very important meeting, to only watch the train carriage close and pull out of the station. To be kicked out from a malfunctioning train into the pouring rain on a winter evening. We've all been there.

But there is still something quietly adorable about the spider web of train tracks that provides London with commuter lifeblood. You don't believe me, do you? In fact if you're in London you're probably reading this now after getting on at 'your' door, hopefully getting a seat and watching the countryside slowly turn to city towers as you head towards your 9-5.

Why Doctor Who?

What is it about Doctor Who that has captured the imagination of the world for 50 years (with a wee break in the middle)? Is it the space travel, the up-to-the-moment special effects, the scary monsters, the friendships, the pretty, fiery travelling companions or the exotic travel destinations that are literally out of this world? Is it because the Sci-Fi series is embued with a childlike curiosity, optimism, and love for adventure?



For me in addition to all of the above,  I think it's also the quintessential British humour dappled throughout the episodes. From Peter Davison's leek button hole (the fifth Doctor) to Donna Noble's cracking one liners (travelling companion to the tenth Doctor).

"Rose: If you're an alien, why do you sound like you come from the north?

The Doctor: Lots of planets have a north."

 

 

From what I gather, people are either lovers or haters or Doctor Who - much like Harry Potter.

Many of their adventures revolve around London. Practically and logistically it makes sense with the BBC studios being here for many years, but as London is on of the coolest cities in the world, it also makes sense. Who wouldn't want an adventure here? (refer to blog name if confussled).

There are many sets around the UK as well though;

Follow LondonKiwiEmma Dr Who Travel on Pinterest

They have dreamed up some amazing worlds, settings and scenarios over the years it's impossible to pick a favourite. I've tried. One question that haunts me is, if you're faced with the option to travel where ever, when ever you wanted go, how do you pick?

What time period and destination would you travel forward or back to given the chance?

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Fish (Fingers and) Custard - Doctor Who Foodie-In-Training

As an alien, (I never thought I'd start anything with words like that) the Doctor has a slightly different taste palate to us humans.

Whenever the Doctor regenerates to a new persona because he's hurt beyond repair, (or I suspect possibly sick of his wardrobe) to a new version of himself and new actor, it's a complex business taking a lot of effort and energy, as you can imagine. It's no surprise then when the Eleventh Doctor (Matt Smith) wakes up after his regeneration ravenous and politely rampages through the contents of Amelia Pond's fridge, settling on Fish Fingers and Custard for his first dinner of choice in his new visage..

I do many things for this blog, and based on extensive tasting I can personally vouch for the complexities of flavour found in 'Fish Custard' (or for my American readers, Fish Sticks and Pudding). The golden crumb of the fish finger perfectly complimenting the soft cod inside, but when you pair it with warm custard, a whole new taste sensation implodes. It's certainly more complex than our boring Sweet vs Savoury Palates, and you almost get a hint of... hahaha, who am I kidding - even I couldn't eat that.

As an aside, I do wonder how the travelling companions digestive systems cope with all the extraterrestrial fare, but that is a question that may never be answered.

 

Matt Smith cheated on set - he ate breaded coconut cakes, dipping them into the warm custard. I've seen a few sweet recipes around t'internet but I would rather roll with a savoury recipe, more suited to the ethos of the thing. And, why does a custard have to be sweet? The definition of a custard is "a dish consisting of milk, eggs, flavoring, and sometimes sugar, boiled or baked until set." Chefs such as Heston Blumenthal take something modern and twists it back to their origins, for instance many of the Georgian ice creams were more often that not savoury - it's only our modern palates that think they are more suited to sweet.

In many ways the Hollandaise complements the Fish much like squeezing lemon on a freshly fried piece of Cod from the chippie, dipped in in Mayonnaise and it's blimmen delish.

Who says you shouldn't play with your food?

Fish Custard

 

 

Aka Blender Hollandaise 'Custard' This isn't an original recipe, but a tried and tested quick and foolproof one I found on Simply Recipes.

Homemade Fish Fingers:

1/2 cup flour

Salt and Pepper to taste

2 eggs

1 TBS milk

4 fresh Cod or Haddock fillets

1 cup of panko breadcrumbs

(Optional: Frying oil)

• Cut fish into 1 inch thick strips. 
• Combine the flour, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Beat the eggs with the milk in another bowl. Mix the breadcrumbs and coconut in a third shallow bowl. 
• Coat each fish piece in seasoned flour, dip in the eggs mixture and then roll in the panko breadcrumbs. Set aside until ready to cook.
• Either, Grill under a hot grill until golden on a non-stick surface - no oil needed - or Heat 1/2 inch of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. In small batches, fry the fish sticks until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate.

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Doctor Who - the Museum and Shop

Look away now if you're not a Sci-Fi fan (you might like to see Mr Kiwi feels about living with a Kiwi geek). I've never read any Doctor Who books - with the TV series being so captivating I've never really felt the need to.

 

I have however graced a Doctor Who Museum. Will that do instead? Museums are hallowed places full of learning much like books. Just think of it as a living book.

 

 

The first ever Doctor Who Episode "An Unearthly Child" was filmed in the East End of London, so it's a nice echo that the shop & museum are here too. One rainy Saturday afternoon (the same one we discovered the Cockney Cash Machines and attended the Blogger Afternoon Tea - totally unrelated but a fantastic day) we hopped on the miraculously working tube and ventured to Gallifrey Upton Park for a morning of who-licious-ness. (Sorry.)

(Being a good prepared stupid blogger, I didn't take my camera.

Thank you RunawayKiwi you are a legend.)

The shop was set up by two dedicated Whovians in 1984, and is a treasure trove of memorabilia and things you never thought could possibly exist. The front of the building is a shop filled with every piece of Kit you could want. Tom Baker Scarf? Done. Sonic Screwdriver TV Remote? Done. K9 Christmas Tree Decorations? But of course. It's almost a consumer temple itself to the weird and wonderful.

 

 

Much like the TARDIS, the shop is much bigger than it seems, and also contains a Museum, full of actual props, costumes and memorabilia. It's a treasure trove for Whovians (and part of the £3 entry fee goes towards a charity. This means you're worshipping at the temple of Who for a good cause.)

There are also life size Daleks. Do I need to say anymore?

I loved wandering through, marvelling at everything - even Mr Kiwi loved it as we ran across the Maggots, a baddie that made him cower behind the couch as a kid.

('scuse the retro tint, a) I couldn't resist b)the light was horrendous)

Directions? Turn left (here).

 

 

Well - kinda! For further better directions and essential info the website is here. They don't know who I am, or why I'm writing this, just sharing the love.

 

So, what do you think are the best Doctor Who Monsters? An old or a new one?

And Daleks can now fly. Thoughts?

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Doctor Who - 50 years and still going strong

Everyone has "their" Doctor. Whether a fan or not, even us barbarians all the way over in New Zealand aren't exempt knowing who the Doctor is that defined their growing up years (with the exception of the over 70 year olds of course). Currently holding the Guinness World Record as the longest-running science fiction television show in the world first screening on the BBC in 1963, Doctor Who holds a dear place in many peoples hearts (and those who don't like it were probably scared of the pretty advanced-for-the-time monsters).

 

It's an incredible run, and this Saturday is the show's 50th anniversary.

 

(FYI for the non-fans: The lead character, simply known as "the Doctor" is a Time Lord - an extraterrestrial from the planet Gallifrey, who travels through time and space in an internally vast time machine called the TARDIS which appears relatively small when seen from the outside, but is in fact very large on the inside.

 

The Doctor flits about the universe, usually with a companion having adventures, saving the universe and fighting baddies. There have been successive generations of actors playing the character, explained by the act of the Doctor being able to regenerate (much like the Buddhist reincarnation).)

 

 

Please let me introduce the ‘Time and Relative Dimension in Space’ or better known as the one and only TARDIS, a machine used for travelling through time and space. It's also a brilliant 'alternative' Tourist attraction for Sci-fi loving fans. Ok, so maybe it's not expressly for escaping the Monday blues, but it would work perfectly!

 

Thankfully if you are a Who-vian, you don't have to travel to Gallifrey or the ends of time to find a TARDIS, as there is one conveniently parked outside Earl's Court tube station. Neat and very random, huh? It's another of the things I love about London, you really don't know what to expect next.

The directions are really easy: Take a District or Picadilly Line Train to Earl’s Court Station. Exit the station (take the Earl's Court Road exit), immediately turn right, walk about 10 feet and it's on your left, between you and the Road. You can't get inside, unless you know the Doctor, or an incredible special effects team but it's still awesome.

I've also heard rumours of other TARDIS sightings over London - at Winston Churchill’s Britain At War Experience, Tooley Street; Television Centre, Wood Lane (probably now moved to the BBC's new headquarters in Manchester) and of all places, Hendon Police Training College where it can be glimpsed from Northern Line trains. 

Oops, there it goes again! 

 

 

Who is your Doctor? And a possibly separate question - who is your favourite?

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Friday figments and fotos

My blogging week was full of a small bloke who wears spectacles and waves a wand. I did warn you...

 

Exploring the sets 

 

Cookbooks 

 

Harry Potter Cheat: Butterbeer Recipes (Simple & From Scratch)

 

 Universal Studios, Florida.

 

 

My normal life week though has been full of Malaysian feasting, Art Deco spotting, afternoon teas, champagne quaffing, lovely Venetian sweet treats, cake eating and Kiwi chatting. It's not even Friday yet!

 

How is your weekend shaping up?

Did you like the random theme?

 

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A genuine TARDIS: London Living

Monday blues. Everyone wants to turn back the clock, and make it 4.30pm on a Friday afternoon again. Well, the writers of Doctor Who came up with a very creative solution - a blue 1960s London public phone box, originally used to contact the police re-purposed as a time machine on Doctor Who. Who'd a-thunk it? (Sorry for the pun).

Please let me introduce the ‘Time and Relative Dimension in Space’ or better known as the one and only TARDIS, a machine used for travelling through time and space. It's also a brilliant 'alternative' Tourist attraction for Sci-fi loving fans. Ok, so maybe it's not expressly for escaping the Monday blues, but it would work perfectly!

 

Currently holding the Guinness World Record as the longest-running science fiction television show in the world first screening on the BBC in 1963, Doctor Who holds a dear place in many peoples hearts (and those who don't like it were probably scared of the pretty advanced-for-the-time monsters).

 

The lead character, simply known as "the Doctor" is a Time Lord - an extraterrestrial from the planet Gallifrey, who travels through time and space in an internally vast time machine called the TARDIS which appears relatively small when seen from the outside, but is in fact very large on the inside.

The Eleventh Doctor and his assistant Credit.

The Doctor flits about the universe, usually with a companion having adventures, saving the universe and fighting baddies. There have been successive generations of actors playing the character, explained by the act of the Doctor being able to regenerate (much like the Bhuddist reincarnation).

Most people have a favourite Doctor, normally the one they grew up with - I have two - Tom Baker '74-'81 and (somewhat controversially) Christopher Ecclestone '05. (For further information, more than I thought was possible, check out here).

I have such fond memories of Doctor Who; the mad adventures, the travelling and exploration. My hubby does also - mostly of Daleks peered at from behind the safety of the sofa. We've been enjoying the new series' too - some great new monsters, and re-invention of the baddies. Favourite new episodes include Blink, Bad Wolf/Parting of the Ways and World War Three. Christmas day with our UK family you'll find all the kids in the house (including big ones like me) and the cat gathered round the TV breathlessly awaiting the Christmas special.

Thankfully if you are a Who-vian, you don't have to travel to Gallifrey or the ends of time to find a TARDIS, as there is one conveniently parked outside Earl's Court tube station. Neat and very random, huh? It's another of the things I love about London, you really don't know what to expect next.

The directions are really easy: Take a District or Picadilly Line Train to Earl’s Court Station. Exit the station (take the Earl's Court Road exit), immediately turn right, walk about 10 feet and it's on your left, between you and the Road. You can't get inside, unless you know the Doctor, or an incredible special effects team but it's still awesome.

 

I've also heard rumours of other TARDIS sightings over London - at Winston Churchill’s Britain At War Experience, Tooley Street; Television Centre, Wood Lane (probably now moved to the BBC's new headquarters in Manchester) and of all places, Hendon Police Training College where it can be glimpsed from Northern Line trains. 

 

Oops, there it goes again! 

 

Beam me up! No, wait...

 

Are you a Doctor Who fan? Who is your favourite Doctor,  companion and Monster?