Luton. Or is it?

A great new advertising campaign from easyJet.

Commuting isn't the most fun thing in the world, but a new advert from Luton-based airline easyJet recently brought a smile to my face on a recent trip home.

I've lived in Luton for 15 years and never seen the town's name written this way! 

It makes me proud to live in the northern region of Luton known as Lëagrâvé.

Links:
- easyJet
- London Luton Airport
- Thameslink

Related blog posts:
- easyJet
- Luton 

Gluten Free at Brasserie Blanc on Chancery Lane

A very nice meal at Brasserie Blanc in London

Last week Emily and I met up with my brother Christopher for an evening out in London. After visiting the brilliant Novelty Automation amusement arcade in Holborn (blog on that to follow) we visited Brasserie Blanc on Chancery Lane.

Our visit coincided with the new Sping Menu at Brasserie Blanc, and it was also the first time I've visited and received a full allergy listing for the dishes on the menu. There used to be a separate Gluten Free and Diary Free menu.

As I've dined at the St Albans and Chancery Lane restaurants before, and really enjoyed the food, service and atmosphere I had an idea of what would be OK to eat for a Coeliac. I opted for the Spinach, Watercress & Garlic Soup to start, followed by the Breast of Duck and Confit Duck Leg for my main course. It was delicious.

The Duck Breast and Confit Duck Leg served with Dauphinoise Potatoes, Carrots and a Citrus Sauce

Everyone enjoyed the meal and once again it was a treat to have a stress-free gluten free dining experience.

Links:
- Brasserie Blanc
- Brasserie Blanc Chancery Lane

Related blog posts:
- Brasserie Blanc
- Gluten Free
- Coeliac

Dorridge Invitational Minigolf Tournament

Report from the Dorridge Invitational Tournament.

As a warm-up to the MMGC Midlands Open competition held at the Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge the seven players still practicing on Saturday evening competed in the second ever Dorridge Invitational Tournament.

The Dorridge Invitational Tournament competitors, from l-r Adrian Amey, Emily Gottfried, Will Donnelly, Richard Gottfried, Steve Sturdy, Ruth Burke, Dave Donnelly

In the one-round Pro Player shootout local competitor Ruth Burke won with a score of 20(-4), two shots clear of runner-up Dave Donnelly.

D.I.T. minigolf champion Ruth Burke putting on the final hole and sealing victory

Emily Gottfried and Will Donnelly tied for third place having scored 23(-1).

Emily Gottfried playing on hole 11 at the Four Ashes Golf Centre in Dorridge

Richard Gottfried was fifth on 26(+2), with Steve Sturdy in sixth place on 28(+4) and Adrian Amey in seventh spot after scoring 30(+6).

The only previous edition of the Dorridge Invitational Tournament was held in 2011 and won by Seth Thomas in an eight-player field.

Dorridge Invitational Tournament (D.I.T.) Hall of Fame
2015 - Ruth Burke
2011 - Seth Thomas

Related blog posts:
- Dorridge
- The Dorridge Invitational Minigolf Competition 2011

Links:
- Midlands Minigolf Club on Facebook
- Four Ashes Golf Centre
- British Minigolf Association

My Gluten Free Journey

Check out my gluten free journey article on the Udi's website.

Enjoying a Coeliac-friendly gluten free meal while in Ayr last summer

Udi's Gluten Free have been operating in the USA since 1994 and launched in the UK in 2013. Visit the Udi's website for further details of their range and stockists near you.

The Udi's Gluten Free Blog also has articles from other Coeliacs / Gluten Free people.

Links:
- Udi's Gluten Free UK
- Udi's Gluten Free USA

Related blog posts:
- Udi’s Gluten Free – more than just mince pies
- Gluten Free
- Coeliac

Ed's Easy Diner goes gluten free

Ed's Easy Diner announce a new gluten free menu.

Ed's Diner is opening in The Mall Luton in May 2015

1950's themed diner chain Ed's Easy Diner has launched a new gluten free menu!

I was tipped me off about the new menu as she is a big fan of the diners and received the latest newsletter with info all about the gluten free options.

It looks and sounds great. Having been on a strict gluten and wheat free diet since my diagnosis with Coeliac Disease in 2008 I haven't eaten anywhere like Ed's for ages. Luckily there is a new diner opening at The Mall in Luton this May. I can't wait to try it out as there looks to be a lot of choice (85% of the 'normal' menu has been adapted to make it gluten free).

The gluten free menu will be served from breakfast to dinner. There are GF buns for hot dogs and burgers and the fries are OK too! Special malt-free milkshakes and three desserts will also be available. On the alcoholic beverages side of things you can get CELIA gluten free lager.

Ed's Gluten Free Menu looks great - with a choice of ten Hamburgers and five Hot Dogs!

With more new diners opening there will soon be over 30 to choose from around the UK.

Check out Ed's Easy Diner website for more information, locations and menus. You can also sign-up to Ed's Club where you'll receive news and offers.

Links:
- Ed's Easy Diner
- Ed's Easy Diner on Twitter
- Ed's Easy Diner on Facebook
- Coeliac UK
- CELIA Lager
- The Mall Luton

Related blog posts:
- Gluten Free
- Coeliac
- Funny things about being a Coeliac #2 - I live in Luton, but I can't eat Gluten

Minigolf with The Putting Penguin at Putt in the Park

A round of minigolf with Pat Sheridan at the Putt in the Park miniature golf course in Wandsworth.

The Ham and Egger Files meets The Putting Penguin in Putney. A perfect minigolfing mix

On Monday 2 March 2015 Emily and I met up with one half of the Putting Penguin team - Pat Sheridan.

The Putting Penguin's ambassador to the UK receives a warm welcome to King's Cross station 

Pat was in the UK on business and with a little free time upon arrival we headed to one of London's minigolf courses for a round.

Pat taking a photo of Duffer the penguin as Squire putts

It was great to meet up with a friend, fellow minigolf enthusiast and multiple time minigolf champion in the USA, and we had a fun round on the 12-hole Putt in the Park miniature golf course at Wandsworth Park in (aptly named) Putney.

For the record, the results of the international encounter were:
1st - Richard Gottfried 32
2nd - Pat Sheridan (USA) 34
3rd - Emily Gottfried 35

The prize giving ceremony on the 12th green at Putt in the Park

We're already looking forward to the return contest in the USA!

Pat Sheridan playing his first shot on a UK minigolf course. He scored a hole-in-one! 

The long second hole is tackled by Pat

Emily tapping in on the third

Pat taking a long route to the hole

A tough shot from the bunker

Emily played an incredible second putt from the wrong side of the water to almost get a two

A tricky second putt on the island green

 

Playing the final hole

A Putting Penguin Mascot and Putting Penguin logo golf ball

The Putt in the Park course was the 538th visited on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on the 18 October 2013. It was the 323rd course played.

Taking a shot on the eleventh hole

Crossing the water twice in one day

Check out the links below for more details on the Putting Penguin - the world's largest minigolf review website. The site, run by Pat and fellow minigolf fanatic Mandy Ranslow, has recently reached the 250 reviews mark. If you play a course anywhere in the world do submit a review.

And of course here's the link to Pat's review of the Putt in the Park course on the Putting Penguin.

Links:
- The Putting Penguin website
- The Putting Penguin on Twitter
- The Putting Penguin on Facebook
- Putt in the Park website
- #MinigolfMonday

Related blog posts:
- The Putting Penguin
- Let's get Minigolf 'trending' - Twitter, Minigolf and #MinigolfMonday
- Putt in the Park Minigolf at Wandsworth Park, London
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Minigolf and Crazy Golf courses in and around London

Crazy Golf in Hastings

A revisit to the Crazy Golf course in Hastings.

On the 21 March 2015 the minigolf course complex in Hastings, East Sussex celebrates its 40th birthday!

The first few holes of the Crazy Golf course in Hastings

On the 28 February we were back in Hastings ahead of the BMGA British Club Championships - held on the Pirate Golf course - and so took a look at the Adventure Golf course and the classic Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf course.

Each October the course is home to the World Crazy Golf Championships, an event Emily and I have competed in since 2007

The lucky last hole on the left and the infamous 18th hole - the site of triumph, defeat and incredible moments in Crazy Golf over the years

  

A plateau hole on the Crazy Golf course

The classic windmill standing in the background

A view of the Crazy Golf course in Hastings. It was the 39th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

As well as the Crazy Golf course Hastings is home to an 18-hole Adventure Golf course and an 18-hole Pirate Golf course.

We've visited the town many times since 2007 and spent a lot of time putting around on the courses.

Minigolf adventurers in Hastings

Two of the courses we've played are no longer there. The Miniature Golf course on the seafront was removed and turned into the Pirate Golf course in 2011, while the Adventure Golf course at White Rock Gardens also closed in 2011 and was changed into an outdoor laser tag arena!

For more information, prices and opening times of the seafront miniature golf courses check out the Hastings Adventure Golf website.

Links:
- Hastings Adventure Golf website
- Hastings Adventure Golf on Facebook
- Hastings Adventure Golf on Twitter

Related blog posts:
- Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf in Hastings

- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

- Hastings

Video:
- A walkround the 18-hole Arnold Palmer Crazy Golf in Hastings

What do you call a hut?

In Leagrave they call it a 'Car Park Operational Safety Hub'.

Answers on a postcard to my flat, or as I call it my Abode Residence Zone.

Sin Gluten

Receiving lots of gluten free products from sunny Spain.

Emily recently returned from a holiday to Logroño, Spain and brought me back a LOT of gluten free products!

Sin Gluten products from Spain

Living on a strict gluten free diet can get a bit boring, so we're always looking for new and interesting products to try. This haul was great.

The gluten free Palmeras con chocolate by airos are delicious and a real treat. I've never seen a gluten free product like them in the UK. Emily found these in a Carrefour

I'm a big fan of Cheetos and they are one of the first things I buy when I'm in the US. They used to sell Cheetos in the UK and I've found that the Jalapeno Cheese flavour ones are Gluten Free and available in some Tesco stores. I've surprised myself by not immediately scoffing these Cheetos Pelotazos! These snacks were from a sweet shops in Logroño

The Matutano Fritos XXL Sabor a la parrilla are 'Grilled Flavour'. Look at the low price too!

Risi make some fun looking crisps. I can't remember ever having Ketchup flavour gluten free crisps

More snack characters by Risi

I'm going to enjoy finding some gluten free hot dogs to go with these Hot Dog Rolls from Proceli

These dark chocolate biscuits from Bicentury look interesting - what grain is that on the box? 

While shopping in a Carrefour store Emily also saw a number of other gluten free products that she couldn't get as she'd run out of space in her luggage. It's great to know that if I ever travel to Spain there are lots of gluten free options.

Carrefour own brand 'No Gluten!' baguettes

Tiny little No Gluten! Croissants by Carrefour

Proceli also make gluten free Croissants

Carrefour's No Gluten! Magdalenas

Two types of gluten free bread at Carrefour

Gerblé sin/sans Gluten bread at Carrefour

Sin Gluten and Sin Lactosa Magdalenas by Mdalen Sin Gluten

Schär gluten free Grissini at Carrefour

Schär gluten free Crackers at Carrefour

Emily tells me that the gluten free products in Carrefour were all on a separate wall section in the centre of the store. None were next to any gluten-containing products and were all clearly labelled and priced.

For more information on Coeliac Disease in Spain please visit the Spanish Federation of Coeliac Associations (FACE) website.

Links:

- Cheetos

- Matutano

- Risi

- Proceli

- Airos

- Bicentury

- Carrefour

- Gerblé

- Mdalen

- Schär

- Federación de Asociaciones de Celíacos de España (FACE) / The Spanish Federation of Coeliac Associations (FACE)

- Coeliac UK

Related blog posts:

- Gluten Free

- Coeliac

Adventure Golf in Hastings

A re-visit to the Adventure Golf course in Hastings.

We've been visiting Hastings, East Sussex since October 2007 and have spent many hours putting around the three seafront miniature golf courses.

The 41st course played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour was the seafront Adventure Golf course.

In November 2014 I photographed the 18-hole Adventure Golf course. Two of the holes were undergoing renovation, so on our most recent visit to the town for the BMGA British Club Championships I took some snaps of the refurbished holes.

In addition to the Adventure Golf course, the seafront minigolf complex in Hastings has an 18-hole Crazy Golf course and a new 18-hole Pirate Golf course.

For more information, prices and opening times check out the Hastings Adventure Golf website.

Links:
- Hastings Adventure Golf website
- Hastings Adventure Golf on Facebook
- Hastings Adventure Golf on Twitter

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Course visit 41, Hastings Adventure Golf
- Hastings