The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 6,800 times in 2014. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 6 trips to carry that many people.
Six Sun journalists have been charged with conspiracy in a public office. The sting of the charge is that cash payments were paid to public officials, including a nurse at the Broadmoor asylum, in exchange for stories.
Arguing for the Defence, Oliver Blunt QC said that his client Mr Dudman had questioned why certain members of the police in the Soham investigation were given money for information.
However there were no cash payments made without editor Rebekah Wade’s approval.
Mr Dudman has denied three charges of conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office.
The trial continues.
I thought that I would give you some more information on one of my favourite places in New Malden.
The Place is the nicest coffee shop in New Malden to relax and chill in. Aside from here there is a Costa a little further down the road.
Recently I had the sweet potato cake (pictured below) and a vanilla latte.
![IMG_0530[1]](https://i0.wp.com/robinjapan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/img_05301.jpg?ssl=1)
I asked the manager who made the cakes for the shop and she told me that a Japanese lady makes the cakes but she wouldn’t tell me her name. I guess you have to protect your sources and such information needs to be closely guarded. Whoever it is, the cake I had was absolutely delicious. The sweet potato makes for a very light cake ingredient and the cake tasted sweet but not cloying. I would describe it as being closer to what might be called gateaux, with very light sponge and a very fine biscuit crumb topping. The quality is very high for a cafe, or anywhere else for that matter.
I have tried the Green tea cake before, but wanted to show the picture below because I couldn’t resist the holly decorations. It’s really nice to see the Christmas symbols being used so inventively.
I went back recently to try the Chestnut cake and whilst it was an exceptional sponge cake interwoven with layers of cream, it didn’t have a very strong taste.
The manager suggested that I try the vanilla latte, which I did. Its normally made with two shots but customers can ask for one if that is too strong for them. I don’t think they charge extra for any additional shots like in some places.
The attention to detail is very impressive and nothing has been overlooked. The logo is particularly impressive and looks classy on the takeaway cups. I would love to see some slightly more interesting cups and mugs being used for the coffee but that is my only real quibble with the Place. I really like the use of wood on the shop front, the counter and behind the entrance. Even the clock incorporates a similar feel.
I would describe the all-Korean staff as exceptionally pleasant and efficient.
The Place is open Monday to Saturday from 8:30 to 18:00.
These photos show the moment when two terrified cafe workers managed to escape from the cafe where they had been held hostage for several hours by a lone Islamic fundamentalist.
Hostage takings are sadly all too common and almost impossible to resolve with out endangering life in the process. The police who eventually entered the cafe managed to release most of the terrified hostages who were still held but tragically two were killed in the gunfire and the hostage taker was also killed. He was named as Man Haron Monis, an Iranian refugee who was known to the police in relation to dozens of sexual assault charges. It is not yet known who shot who and whether the hostages were killed by police bullets or were fired at by the gunman. There is a sense of relief that the loss of life was not greater however. The siege is a sad reminder of how deadly and unexpected acts of terrorism can be.
The world premiere of Jiang Wen’s gangster film “Gone With The Bullets” has been postponed due to censorship problems, according to a statement published on the official WeChat social media account of the film’s Chinese producers.
Reportedly, there have already been some adjustments made, such as changing some prostitute characters into less morally suspect dancing girls, and altering some words related to social issues of the time.
The film is a follow-up, though not exactly a sequel, to the phenomenally successful Let the Bullets Fly. The film stars actresses Shu Qi and Zhou Yun, as well as actor Ge You.
Here I will discuss a few of my favourite places to buy food and drink in the town.
Head to K-Mart (71-73 High St) first for a well stocked selection of Korean goods. Stock up on big bags of rice and buy some pre-packaged noodles which are very cheap and tasty. Also get your sliced beef for barbecued bulgogi and sliced pork belly from the chiller cabinets. Whilst here purchase some Soju, the drink that Koreans drink at dinner, on nights out and when they want to get drunk. I also like the Ghana chocolate which is smooth and very creamy.
Near to K-Mart is Jin Mi which sells sushi and has a buffet where you can purchase hot food to take away.
Seoul Plaza has a large site on the high street and another by the Fountain roundabout. Purchase portions of bibimbap ingredients (2.50) and freshly made pickled vegetables, as well as fish cakes and marinated squid.
Above, a selection of products available in the K-mart stores. The meat and fish are always packaged and presented very cleanly and neatly. Oxtail may not be popular on British dinner tables but is eaten a lot by Koreans along with brisket (feather steak).
And note the many varieties of canned cold coffee on sale.
Thanks to the kind people of K-mart who allowed me to take photographs of the shop displays.
Take a tour with Rob Ruckus as he shows you some of his favourite sites in the heart of London’s Little Seoul.
I have been living in New Malden for over a year now and I never get bored of trying out the many local Korean businesses that line the high street. You can get to New Malden by train from London Waterloo in twenty minutes and all of the places listed below are within 5 minutes of the train station.
First stop is The Place coffee shop. They serve excellent Monmouth coffee here. Price £1.95 for an Americano. They also do home made cakes and cookies. My favourite is the Green Tea cake. When you pay for your coffee they give you a remote control device like a pager which beeps when your coffee’s ready so you don’t have to wait at the counter. I always find it very friendly and welcoming here.
The green tea cake is incredibly light and delicate, like the cake at the Monocle cafe. Price: £2.90 per slice.
The Place, New Malden High Street.
Yami Restaurant
My favourite high street Korean restaurant. Go at lunch and you can order a filling meal for £5 with tea and complimentary bowls of appetisers called Banyan, which the waiters bring before your main dish comes out. The waiters are usually happy to refill the bowls at least once. Recommended: Bibimbap (steamed rice with a variety of vegetables in a stone pot) and the rib of beef soup. Most weekends the restaurant has a queue waiting outside for lunch and dinner.
Some of the food at Yami, including the beef soup, served in the traditional earthenware dolsot bowls; the complimentary dishes of banyan; and the Tteokkbokki (rice sticks and fishcakes in spicy tomato sauce).
Yami Restaurant, 69 High Street, New Malden.
Sing Sing – Young Star Karaoke Bar
I couldn’t leave out somewhere to go for the evening. There are two options for karaoke in New Malden; Sing Sing and Han over the road. I chose this place because it has a more authentic Korean atmosphere and a younger and livelier crowd. Its accessed through a narrow alley just passed the station. The front bar has a few seats and a pool table and doesn’t look very inviting. In the main room its a lot bigger and there are several private rooms for karaoke.
Buy a bottle of Soju, officially the world’s most popular spirit after Psy’s endorsement of the brand. The barman told me that Koreans drink it all the time as they don’t have a wine drinking culture. Its usually either 19% or 21% in volume but will get you drunk fast if you shoot it. Or you can pour it into your beer, as I did. Whatever, it’s a nice drink and feels very warming. Gan bei!
Sing Sing Karaoke Bar, 5A Coombe Rd New Malden KT3 4PX.
Next time, I will show you some places to buy groceries, eat barbecue and get your haircut.
