I have since last writing, been with the Little Zionist (The Blonde) to Scotland (in the snow with the pup), and to Murren Switzerland, (eating Chinese food overlooking the spectacular mountains of the Swiss Alps). I have also been to Berlin (as a guest of the German Foreign Ministry to discuss the nexus between security and development, served strudels and pie and puddings by the bucket load every day for free), Krakow, Warsaw, and Prague by sleeper train (staying in five star hotels such as the Sheraton Warsaw Concierge Level, and Andels Hotel in Prague), and also visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau death camps with my parents. I also went on a Costa Victoria boat I found, with the Little Zionist, Greanna, Nictoria, parents, and Rob’n'Alice-from-Newcastle. I flew with the little zionist on BA to Rome and went straight by train to Civitavechia where we stayed in Hotel Traiano. We met everyone else the next day and popped off to Catania, Sicily (gothic, brooding, volcanic), Tunis (I bought a sweet honey syrup coated fried bread in a dirty market, which was a triumph), Gabes (Gateway to Sahara and camel trip with the little zionist taking a coke from a desert Arab only to throw it on the sand and force me to pay for what she thought was a free desert mirage), Tripoli, Libya (lots of pictures of Ghadaffi, old Souks, African former slaves and refugees, and a dinner of Libyan chicken with cous cous while the Mohomadans were unable to eat owing to Ramadan), and La Valletta, Malta (searing heat and beautiful bay from where I bought crisps, fizzy pop, and three dairy fruit and nut chocolates). On the boat much free pizza was eaten, and ice water with lemon.
Yesterday I was invited to a special Benefactors’ lunch buffet at the College of St. John the Evangelist. Here is the menu for that meal which was partaken:
Sushi
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Vegetarian sausage rolls
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Cape gooseberry and smoked duck on tortilla crisps
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Spicy Prawn bouchees*
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Plum cherry tomato and buffalo mozzarella on sticks
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Chicken tikka on mini poppadums
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Stilton and paprika straws
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Salmon and lemon fish cakes
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Apricot, bacon and sausage on sticks*
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Polenta crostini with blue cheese and balsamic vinegar
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Ogen melon wrapped in air cured ham*
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Chicken teriyake on sticks
Glazed orange tart
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Fruit Kebabs (these were also had on several occasions aboard the excellent Costa Victoria at the midnight buffet from whence I went on my way rejoicing)
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Eclairs
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Scones
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Fruit cake
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Fresh fruit
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Coffee and tea.
*Denotes inability to nosh given Hebrew laws of Kashrut
NB- The May Bumps 2007 Report will follow soon. Much drama as always, that has taken four months to sink in.