By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions. We in turn value your personal details in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Please log in or register. Registered visitors get fewer ads.
Living now in West Norfolk, I don't often get the chance to experience what QPR dish up these days. My record of not seeing a win since QPR beat Norwich 2-1 on Ollie's return means I am somewhat of an albatross to them.
Saturday was the 17th game that I have watched the R's - either at the Bush or Peterborough or Norwich - since a win, so I travelled down from Kings Lynn expecting the worst. The last game I saw QPR was last April, when they were 2-0 up against Leeds and just managed to hang on for a draw.
I met up with my brother and his two mates in Shepherds Bush just after midday before Saturday's game against Ipswich, hoping that my luck would change,
I can't believe just how much the Bush has changed since the days when we used to roll up to pay three bob entrance and a tanner for a programme to watch Brian Bedford, Mark Lazarus, Rodney and the juniors. No TV Centre, no White City Stadium, no TA drill hall. All very nouveau riche now, high rise plush apartments, craft beer at £6 plus a pop, with tourist trap shops around Westfield.
We decided to have an early lunch there. We turned down trendy burger and pizza joints and went for Mandaloun, https://www.mandaloun.com - a Lebanese restaurant that seemed pretty empty, but they had a board outside that was advertising a special deal on two course lunches for £14.50.
We sat down and were given menus but there was no sign of the special lunches offer. The main courses alone started at £20!! The manager said that the special two course price was a lunchtime Monday - Friday only offer. My brother went outside and brought the sign in and pointed out that there was no mention of Monday to Friday on the board, so we were leaving.
The manager chased after us and said he would do the deal for us. He did. and he also added some pastries and dips free of charge "for the confusion." With a beer, a mixed grill and a dessert, the bill landed up just over £20 a head. Fantastic food. Never had Lebanese food before but it was just brilliant, so tasty and well presented.
I couldn't believe the day would continue in that vein, which proved to be the case, this was confirmed with a soft goal at 3:02 and it was a steady roll downhill afterwards. I was one of the few in the Paddocks who stayed to the bitter end.
I caught the 18:30 LNER train from Kings Cross which arrived in Peterborough at 19:20, the same time the LNER train left in the other direction with the knifer on board. Because of the incident at Huntingdon, First XL cancelled buses to Kings Lynn till 21:40 so I got home just after 23:15.
So, the day ended as expected - a few delights - a few disasters - and the usual headless chicken display from the R's. I'm not surprised there was a silent walk out, it's what we've come to expect.
I feel like I'm living in an alternative universe, where the memories of past glories and efforts aren't matched by the end result of today's teams. Are QPR now an AI team? They're playing without any plan B or any desire to entertain.
Just as well we had the mixed grill on Saturday, it's almost worth the pain when you get a meal that good - and a performance that bad afterwards. I shan't be going to watch the R's for some time, maybe the game at Carrow Road, but that is another ground with bad memories.
Why do we bother Fawlty??
[Post edited 3 Nov 14:00]
Why does it feel like R'SWiPe is still on the books? Yer Couldn't Make It Up.Well Done Me!
15
My experience last Saturday on 09:48 - Nov 3 with 5053 views
Been to the Mandaloun before and it was all very nice until we got to dessert. I always like to try something different and thought I'd give Lebanese Cheesecake a go. DON'T It was literally that, cheese and cake. If you think cheese on toast and replace the toast with a layer of sponge, that was it. Melted cheese on sponge. Daughter thought it was very funny.
0
My experience last Saturday on 10:08 - Nov 3 with 4904 views
It is strange walking around parts of White City now. Still find it odd seeing obviously not football passengers get off the train for a lovely day at Westfield. There’s always Bloemfontein Road and most of Uxbridge Road if you want that urban, grimy vibe.
0
My experience last Saturday on 10:38 - Nov 3 with 4750 views
I live in the middle east and whenever we go out with Arab friends , whether Iraqi, Syrian, Egyptian, wherever, it's Lebanese food all the way. Love it. And great cuisine for socializing, with all the sharing plates.
@Brian, early request for Lebanese Friday music theme?...
My experience last Saturday on 18:43 - Nov 3 by FDC
Another big shout out for Lebanese food here.
I live in the middle east and whenever we go out with Arab friends , whether Iraqi, Syrian, Egyptian, wherever, it's Lebanese food all the way. Love it. And great cuisine for socializing, with all the sharing plates.
@Brian, early request for Lebanese Friday music theme?...
[Post edited 3 Nov 19:36]
Ditto habibi.
I first sampled the pleasures of Lebanese food in that culinary bullseye that is Greenford in the early-80s (grew up with a lad from Beirut). Jump at any opportunity to tuck in since and I often find Lebanese food anywhere in the world travels well if you know what I mean.
I absolutely binged on it during my three years in Doha. However, as with all these things, one of my best friends is Lebanese and no matter how good you think a restaurant is, when that woman cooks at home...that falafel gets knocked right out the ball park every time.
'Always In Motion' by John Honney available on amazon.co.uk
My experience last Saturday on 10:08 - Nov 3 by robith
I'm mostly just astonished someone can get to 2025 and not have had Lebanese food!
Your life is going to be different from now on
I can. But there aren't too many Lebanese restaurants in rural France. Might have to concoct something from Otalengo.
"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the Earth all one's lifetime." (Mark Twain)
Find me on twitter @derbyhoop and now on Bluesky
0
My experience last Saturday on 19:56 - Nov 3 with 3927 views
Chiming in from LA (Dodgers world champs and LAFC going all trembley over Son) to say there is a great chain of 3/4 Lebanese places in LA County called Cafe X2O. Food very good and hookahs (stop it) at every other table. I go to the one in Monrovia which is not only the capital of Liberia but a town in the San Gabriel Valley east of LA.
As someone who grew up a mile and a half from the ground, think Westfields is tremendous, however touristy it is. Real improvement on the quality of life for the area.
LAranger
0
My experience last Saturday on 21:18 - Nov 3 with 3802 views
Ahh lads this is some thread... was out in Saudi for a good many years and love Arabic food
Ful... for breakfast to the lamb grab in the evening it is fantastic. Not sure about the rest of the middle East but in Riyadh back in the 00s before they fell out you would get the Yemeni Chicken... consisting of a whole chicken spit roasted... a carrier bag ... yes a carrier bag... of spiced rice.. salad and about 3 different sauces... for 15 riyal... about £2 . fantastic
Then of course the Shawarma.... with the garlic sauce, pickles and a couple of French fries.... wrapped in khubz .... 3 riyal a pop...
khubz ʿis never the same anywhere in the world... pita a close second... but never the same. And even in little Arabia in Edgware Road.... it isn't the same
0
My experience last Saturday on 22:47 - Nov 3 with 3602 views
My experience last Saturday on 19:24 - Nov 3 by derbyhoop
I can. But there aren't too many Lebanese restaurants in rural France. Might have to concoct something from Otalengo.
There aren't too many Lebanese restaurants in KIng's Lynn either. I just used Google to find if there is one in the area, there's just the one, claiming to be a sort of middle eastern cuisine - but it just does curries.
Seems like I'll have to return to the Mandaloun in Westfield before too long, so I can enjoy another Lebanese mixed grill, and then afterwards suffer another insipid losing display from the clueless R's.
[Post edited 3 Nov 22:51]
Why does it feel like R'SWiPe is still on the books? Yer Couldn't Make It Up.Well Done Me!
0
My experience last Saturday on 22:55 - Nov 3 with 3572 views
Think Naama on Uxbridge Rd is Lebanese....the goddamn best falafels i've had outside the middle East and the platters and kebabs they serve up look sensational but i've never had them.
When Covid hit, I emailed them saying that i was going to obviously watch the match on TV but we were all craving pre-match Naama falafals and if i drove up from Kingston to pick them up, could they sort me out. Answer was yes but only if i asked for the manager when i got there. Got there and 10 mins later produced a bag full of falafels and other bits and pieces including amazing baklava. 'From us to you...no charge please'. Amazing.
But don't start going there please as i don't want to have to queue any longer than i do already. But you should.
I was thinking about this the other day, how many London teams have locations better than ours? Two? Three at a push? Surprised there hasn’t been more interest in another takeover with all the money/ego’s that’s sloshing around The irony of how the local area has regenerated whilst our club has degenerated.
My experience last Saturday on 00:06 - Nov 4 by Nov77
I was thinking about this the other day, how many London teams have locations better than ours? Two? Three at a push? Surprised there hasn’t been more interest in another takeover with all the money/ego’s that’s sloshing around The irony of how the local area has regenerated whilst our club has degenerated.
[Post edited 4 Nov 0:07]
Maybe we should speak to that guy at the council and see what he can do to gentrify us ?
Those possessed by devils, try and keep them under control a bit, can't you ?
0
My experience last Saturday on 07:03 - Nov 4 with 3223 views
On a similar culinary track, love Ayam Zaman in the Bush, Syrian, really good food, prices and service. Was in there after coming down for the Oxford game. No middle-Eastern restaurants over here. Or Georgian for that matter, and I love Georgian cuisine. We're on the mackerel trail and not the silk road, alas.
My experience last Saturday on 18:43 - Nov 3 by FDC
Another big shout out for Lebanese food here.
I live in the middle east and whenever we go out with Arab friends , whether Iraqi, Syrian, Egyptian, wherever, it's Lebanese food all the way. Love it. And great cuisine for socializing, with all the sharing plates.
@Brian, early request for Lebanese Friday music theme?...
[Post edited 3 Nov 19:36]
The Habibi Funk compilations are *so* good!
1
My experience last Saturday on 15:31 - Nov 4 with 2743 views
My experience last Saturday on 09:33 - Nov 4 by robith
The Habibi Funk compilations are *so* good!
I saw him DJ at an out door thing last year, he was the highlight of the day. Very eclectic, but big grooves all the way, great fun. And brilliant seeing someone DJing with 45s on a roster full of digital DJs playing tedious techno. Reminded me a bit of a Mr Scruff festival set back in the day.
0
My experience last Saturday on 15:56 - Nov 4 with 2656 views
My experience last Saturday on 22:47 - Nov 3 by ShotKneesHoop
There aren't too many Lebanese restaurants in KIng's Lynn either. I just used Google to find if there is one in the area, there's just the one, claiming to be a sort of middle eastern cuisine - but it just does curries.
Seems like I'll have to return to the Mandaloun in Westfield before too long, so I can enjoy another Lebanese mixed grill, and then afterwards suffer another insipid losing display from the clueless R's.
[Post edited 3 Nov 22:51]
But there's a lot more to King's Lynn now than when I lived there in the 70s and 80s.
100% of people who drink water will die.
0
My experience last Saturday on 16:27 - Nov 4 with 2563 views
The change in the area is beyond recognition. Possibly one of the moat changed locations in London, but thankfully there is still old school shepherds bush still in existence also.
Quite an unbelievable difference in culture, class, society from walking two hundred yards apart.
Its whats brilliant about London.
Am glad old school Shepherds Bush is still in existence in part and yes the apartment blocks galore and Westfield is unbelievable tbf even if its not for everyone.
Whats the phrase - "Time stops for no man"
For me though, thw likelihoid of us getting an upgraded stadium in the same area has been lessened by all the retail and residential changes as i think the council realise this will bring more money to the region than a brand new spanking 30 000 seater stadium for QPR. There isnt really any likely location nearby also.
Would say we probably need a new stadium for future times when many of us will be looking down from on high, but like most fans, always love the atmosphere our ground can genetate when rocking.
i just think when we will have to change, it will be in a different area. Just think it would have happened by now as dont feel its on the councils agenda here.
Probably not for 15 or 20 years time though i believe...
back when I lived in the Bush, the Damas Gate shop (Uxbridge Road, opposite Loftus Road) was munchies central for their Lebanese bakery. Load of sweet stuff, no idea what any of it was called. I'd just go to the counter and point at stuff. It's still there but not been in for years.
0
My experience last Saturday on 17:09 - Nov 4 with 2451 views
My experience last Saturday on 17:09 - Nov 4 by ted_hendrix
The Harp Cafe on the Uxbridge Road Is sorely missed.
Indeed. I remember when it was closed for a few weeks because they were making a film called "Some Voices" there. Tough times. I had to go to Adelaide Cafe instead or that one on the Green (Joe's??)
In the film, Daniel Craig's brother worked in the Harp cafe. They also filmed some of that on the road I lived on (Ormiston Grove) and I watched out of the window from my flat as they filmed him wandering around a few times. I'd never heard of Daniel Craig at that time so he was not James Bond, just some actor with peroxide hair to me. Disappointingly I never saw the delectable Kelly McDonald who played the love interest in that film.
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.
