Best Chinese Takeaway In East Belfast?

Last Saturday I rang Sam at the Castle Hill Chinese takeaway, 224 Upper Newtownards Road, and ordered number twenty-seven which is Chicken in Beijing Peking sauce with fried rice. It cost seven pounds including delivery.When it arrived about twenty-five minutes later, the chicken was sliced meat on top of the sauce which is healthier than the way I prefer it done: in lightly battered pieces. Still, it was good enough.

Nevertheless, I'm thinking of trying another takeaway for a change and see that there are no less than five at Ballyhackamore; namely, the Mandarin City, which still advertizes an apparently non-existant website and may be the best, however it doesn't deliver to your door; Good Fortune; the Orient; Woco; and Castle Gardens. Have I forgotten any? I've a feeling that Castle Gardens may be the only one that delivers; anyone know? I may well give them a ring later and try something...

For many years my favourite Chinese takeaway was the Knock Garden; sadly it changed hands along with my favourite meals on the menu!

Belfast In Snow

I strided outdoors gingerly at about half past eight this wintry morning in my wellington boots to feed my dear wild birds, having made bread crumbs from two slices of wholemeal bread; replenished the feeders too. My goldfinch squaddies all arrived at once, within minutes.

This was the scene on our road this morning; seldom seen like this.

Having had the usual breakfast of buttered, marmaladed, wholemeal toast and a mug of Sainsbury's Gold Label tea I have lit a blazing log fire in our living-room.

The Best Pizza?

Once a week we usually have a small pizza and garnish; today was no exception.

My current favourite pizza is a simple Margherita, made by Pizza Express. A few others come close; however, I think this one has the edge. It's surprising how an uncomplicated cheese & tomato pizza can have such an abundance of flavour. Some pizzas seem to have the texture of cardboard: they can be dry and brittle. Worse still if frozen. Not this Pizza Express one. It's soft, gooey, melt-in-your-mouth doughy.

This evening, we enjoyed one with a simple garnish of little gem lettuce, coleslaw, baby plum tomatoes with honey & mustard dressing drizzled over it.

It never fails to satisfy.

The Utilities' Road Damage

I have lost count of the innumerable times when I've reported a pothole or sunken manhole cover on the Province's roads, especially if it's a route I use regularly. It is so easy to report now online.

When I drove up to David Lloyd's every day recently I kept bumping over a sunken manhole cover on the main road so, while stopped at the traffic lights I made a point of noting the nearest house number.

Next time I was on my PC I visited the Roads Service website and told them about it. Simple. They usually email me when they've located the fault and let me know who is responsible: in this case, BT must repair the damage.

We spend millions of pounds on our roads every year, only for the utility companies to damage the surfaces with their drills and fill the holes in with invariably shoddy workmanship.

If the utility companies were heavily penalized for poor quality road repairs; or compelled to completely resurface an entire section of the road, perhaps their standards may improve.

Peter Grimes

I remembered to visit the website of the Grand Opera House, Belfast, this morning to select a ticket for the forthcoming production of Peter Grimes. It is one of three productions by Opera North, which is the national opera company based in the north of England.

I wanted a seat in the Dress Circle and, whilst booking online, was offered B31 at the furthest end; I simply clicked on the Continue Shopping button and went through the process again and again, till seat B7 appeared. This is the method I use in order to get a selection of seats, not just the first offered. Once I've chosen my seat, I just remove the others from the list and go ahead with the booking.

I checked the Castleward Opera website too and see that they are producing Cosi fan tutte this summer.

New Year's Day On The Ards Peninsula

My cousin and her family invited us to their lovely home in the middle of the Ards Peninsula in County Down this afternoon. My cousin's twin sister and her family were also there, so it was good for us all to get together, especially at this time of year.

We all got tucked in to a sumptuous feast including mushroom vol-au-vents, cocktail sausages, sausage rolls, coleslaw, wheaten bread dressed smoked- salmon canapes, egg mayonnaise, sandwiches with various fillings, chocolate roulade with cream, mince pies and brandy butter, and fresh coffee. I've a feeling I had a lot of everything! I remained a teetotaller for the evening as I was driving.

We all retired to the living-room afterwards and, relaxing by the fire, watched some classic Morecambe and Wise and a game of charades (which I'm hopeless at!).

My cousin (once removed) Michael is a finalist in the 2008 Young Drummer Of The Year competition, our sole contestant representing Northern Ireland. The final is taking place at Leamington Spa, Warwickshire on 3rd February, so I'll be keeping a keen eye on that.

It was a hugely pleasurable evening; the perfect way to finish the Christmas holidays. I treated myself to a Rusty Nail when I got home.

Junk Food Permit

A happy and peaceful New Year to everyone. Our reception rooms are back to normal again, the furniture returned to its original settings. I've packed up the tree and decorations for yet another year. It always seems rather empty when everything has been put away.

One article on the news today featured the ban on so-called Junk Food during children's programmes. Let me say immediately that I enjoy Junk Food. I relish McDonald's, Burgerking, Hawaiian burgers, Chinese and Indian takeaways etc.

In moderation, though.

The last time I enjoyed a Big Mac was last August in London, four months ago. I indulged in a Burgerking Whopper with cheese, onion rings and fries whilst in Fuerteventura just over a month ago. I usually have a takeaway meal weekly.The fourteenth Duke of Bedford adored Big Macs. His wife, the present dowager Duchess, occasionally drove to the nearest drive-through in order to buy one for His Grace. So, there's nothing at all wrong enjoying this sort of food as a treat now and again.

I think fast food companies are being made scapegoats if the Government bans Junk Food advertisements at certain times. Children will continue to eat this food anyway. I believe that the Government ought to be targeting the parents. It's parents who set the example, and obese children probably reflect the lifestyle of "couch potato" parents.

The chef, Jamie Oliver MBE, admirably endeavoured to change the culture of school meals and, to a degree, this has been partially effective; however, witness the irresponsible parents who shoved packets of chips through the school railings for their kids. These are the kind of people government must tackle. Aren't they?