Walter Von Butcher – Executive Chef

Yesterday was awfully busy business wise, will post about the weekends jolly later on in the meantime I am currently very cross and in a foul mood, I’ve ruined two perfectly cooked poached eggs by placing them with toasted crumpets…..BAD MOVE….not enough crunch to much slop I should have known better, I am not worthy of my executive chef status…I have demoted myself to KP for the day.

Better wrap this one up quick before I retire to bed after sustaining several broken bones last night…more to follow.

Well Friday finally arrived and it was time to set off to London to meet some of the crazy cats I speak to on whats seems like a daily basis, headed off to Newquay Airport around 1700 to catch the 2000 flight into Stansted (What a crap hole btw) plenty of time for a swift JD in the bar sadly no business lounge at Newquay so I had to pay for it. Time to board so a quick dash over the runway to make sure I bagged the Emergency exit seats (more leg room) then it was just a case of looking mean and bad tempered for 10 minutes so nobody sat next to me (works every time) and that was it really before the dozy dolly birds had a chance to pour me a drink it was seat belts back on for landing. Instructions from driver arrived on my mobile “Please call me when you are outside the Love Juice bar” had a little chuckle at the name and that was it, bloody great firm btw so should give them a mention Herts and Essex Taxis nice motors, new galaxy it was with plenty of room, driver was a good laugh which helps and not bad value £140 Return and I booked it online and paid paypal. Got to the hotel around 2130 from memory I got the location spot on as we had direct views from all windows right over the thames it was kind of a wedding anniversary type w/end as well so I splashed out a bit and got a Grand Room keep the old girl happy. I don’t normally do 5 star because I am not that posh I would probably compare myself more to the cabby, wife on other hand fitted in nicely, maybe standing outside in my flip flops smoking a roll up wasn’t quite the impression the guy who turned up outside in his bentley wanted to give his lady friend (Hooker) even the doorman tipped me the nod as we both had a chuckle. Anyway the hotel service & staff was the best I have ever experienced, totally amazing and genuine effort by the staff to make you feel great. Was it worth the money? I guess it was actually because I want more of that lifestyle, that was friday pretty much over, ordered room service and had some overpriced sandwich’s, a bottle of bubbly and watched some tv …and finally persuaded the wife to go out on the town lol think we got in around 3ish went to some cool bars, I think this one was the best.

Saturday… Got up around 5ish left the wife asleep and went for a stroll, London reminds me of Shanghai at night but by daybreak it was peaceful, bought 4 cups of tea at temple station and set them down by some homeless guys who seemed grateful I bunged them a tenner each and wished them well for the day the outlook was sunshine I think they could sense that. Wife hates me giving money to tramps “they will only spend it on booze and drugs yada yada yada” no shit love of course they are, hardly likely to spend it on a laura ashley duvet or some net curtains for there box are they! Got back to the hotel around 7.30, a full English was £30!! £30 fecking pound, no bloody way I was paying that so after a shower and some coffee we headed into town for a suitable eating hole, I turned on my egg sensors and spotted a cafe in the distance. Pretty sure it was called Guido’s, Italian joint but they had poached eggs on the menu so the deal was done and what a bloody lovely breakfast it was to the egg yolk was deep red just how I like it.

So onto SB 2.0 I’ll be honest I only went to it to say hello to a few people not a conference fan myself, normally it’s hot, to much walking involved and the tea is crap, I was right. However I did get to meet most of the people I intended to and had a good time (I did sneak out for a 3 hour lunch in covent garden mind you) a special thanks to Lynne who put up with me for most of the day, well done to Sue&Chris and all the other speakers and to this guy Henry/Dan who I believe put the whole show together and who believes most problems in life can be attributed to George Bush which made me chuckle.

This blog post is dragging on a bit….Left SB 2.0 >walk>hotel>shower>walk>dinner>drinks>Dirty Martini>walk>hotel>sleep>walk>breakfast>shopping>wine>Lunch>Taxi>Airport>Home…. there all done.

I think that will do for now.