#indian food essex

[bbywhitefox123]

description: Essex in an ER nurse and Richard Madden needs his wound stitched.

Essex kicked off her shoes as she stepped through the front door, the weariness of another long night shift weighing heavily on her shoulders. She dropped her bags of Indian food onto the kitchen counter, the savory scent of curry wafting through the air and making her stomach growl. All she wanted was to sit down, shove some food in her face, and forget about the craziness of the last week - namely, the unexpected run-in with Richard Madden.

"Essie, come see this!" her grandmother called from the living room, her voice a mix of excitement and warmth.

Essex sighed, her heart sinking slightly. "What is it, Gran?" she called back, already guessing.

"Richard Madden is on the Graham Norton Show!"

Great. Just what she needed. Essex had hoped to avoid any reminders of that bizarre encounter, but here was her grandmother, thrilled and raving about the latest celebrity gossip, as if Richard were a long-lost family member.

"Yeah, I'll be right there," Essex replied, washing her hands in the kitchen sink. She scrubbed away the remnants of the hospital - antiseptic and the faintest trace of someone's blood - before drying her hands on a towel.

With a resigned huff, she made her way to the living room, Indian food in hand. As she rounded the corner, she caught the tail end of Richard's story, his smooth voice filling the room, charming and full of that signature British wit.

"...and then I realized the gun wasn't a prop at all!" he said, leaning back in his chair, a playful glint in his eye. "Turns out, I shot myself with a decorative gun that was meant to be on display. I thought I was gonna die from embarrassment more than the actual injury!"

Essex rolled her eyes, dropping the food onto the table with a bit more force than necessary. "Great. Just great," she muttered, earning a curious glance from her grandmother.

"What's wrong, Essie? You don't like him, do you?" her grandmother asked, beaming. She loved to watch the latest celebrity interviews, and Richard was one of her favorites.

"Yeah, well, I had the pleasure of stitching him up last week," Essex replied, crossing her arms. "He's just another overgrown man-child who thinks he can do whatever he wants because he's famous."

Her grandmother laughed, clearly amused. "Oh, come on! He's just telling a funny story. Look how he's making everyone laugh!"

Essex plopped down on the couch, trying to suppress her irritation while pouring herself a glass of water. She could feel Richard's charisma seeping through the screen, and she hated that it annoyed her more than it should have.

"I don't care how charming he is; he still ran off like a scared rabbit," she muttered, her eyes glued to the screen.

Richard continued to regale the audience with exaggerated gestures, the audience erupting with laughter at his every word. "And that nurse, she was a real lifesaver!" Richard said, grinning widely. "Honestly, I owe my career to her. She's the real star of the show."

Essex nearly choked on her water. "Oh, for fuck's sake. Really? Is he really doing this?"

Her grandmother shot her a look. "What? You didn't want him to say something nice about you?"

"Nice?" Essex scoffed, waving a hand dismissively. "More like he's turning it into a pity party. He could've just owned up to being a moron."

Richard went on, clearly enjoying the attention, but Essex couldn't help but feel a tiny twinge of annoyance mixed with something else - a begrudging respect, perhaps. She had done her job, but hearing him talk about her like she was some sort of heroine was both infuriating and a little flattering.

"Essie, he's really funny! And cute!" her grandmother chimed in, her eyes sparkling. "You should try to find him on social media or something."

Essex only stared at her grandmother for a mere second. There was something about old people and the internet - they thought they could reach anyone who had Wi-Fi.

Her grandmother sighed, glancing back at the TV. "Well, I think he's charming. And so humble, considering the situation."

Essex rolled her eyes again, but she couldn't completely dismiss the charm. As much as she wanted to, she was still curious about how he was handling this newfound fame from that ridiculous incident.

"Whatever," Essex muttered, getting up to grab the takeout containers. "Let's just eat before it gets cold."

As she dished out the food, she couldn't help but listen in as Richard wrapped up his story. "And I just want to say a massive thank you to Essex from London - if you're watching, you're a legend!"

Essex dropped the ladle, splattering a bit of curry on the counter. "Son of a bitch," she muttered, a mix of embarrassment and irritation flooding her.

"See? He's talking about you!" her grandmother said, laughing. "You really are a celebrity now, Essie!"

"Great. Just what I wanted," Essex replied, trying to mask the flush creeping into her cheeks. "Now let's eat before I change my mind and end up throwing the food at the TV."

"Too late!" her grandmother teased, her eyes glued to Richard's charming smile, completely oblivious to Essex's rising annoyance.

As Essex sat down with her food, she couldn't shake off the ridiculousness of it all. A week ago, she was stitching up Richard Madden in the ER, and now she was watching him charm his way through a talk show, all while her grandmother gushed over him like he was the second coming.

"Fucking celebrities," she muttered, though the smirk on her face betrayed her true feelings.

Essex was finally starting to relax, enjoying the spicy, fragrant food after the insanity of the past week, when her grandmother turned to her with a playful glint in her eye.

"By the way, Essie, your mother called earlier," she said, leaning back in her chair with a smug expression. "She wants to know when you're planning on visiting her in New York."

Essex groaned internally, stirring her curry with a bit more force than necessary. "Yeah, I'm busy," she mumbled, avoiding eye contact. She hated the pressure of her mother's expectations, especially when it came to family visits.

"Busy? Busy doing what? Working yourself into the ground at that hospital?" her grandmother pressed, her tone teasing but insistent. "You haven't seen her in months! She'd love to have you."

Essex took a deep breath, trying to maintain her composure. "Gran, I said I'm busy," she reiterated, her irritation rising. "And besides, I don't need a lecture about family. I'm a grown-ass woman."

Her grandmother raised her hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright, I get it. But you know how your mother can be. You don't want her worrying about you, do you?"

Before Essex could respond with another snarky remark, there was a sharp knock at the door. Thank God, she thought. A timely distraction from this conversation that was going nowhere.

"Hold on," she said, pushing herself up from the table. She walked to the door, half-excited to see who it might be. Maybe it was a neighbor with some hot gossip or a friend stopping by unannounced. But when she pulled the door open, her heart sank.

Standing there was Andrew, her ex-boyfriend. The sight of him brought a flood of memories, all tinged with frustration and anger. Andrew was the reason Essex had nearly moved in with him, the one who had made her feel all those hopeful butterflies, only to crush them with his infidelity.

"Hey, Essie," he said, a casual smile plastered on his face. He looked good, as always—dark hair tousled just right, wearing a fitted jacket that accentuated his build. But she wasn't going to fall for it again.

"What do you want, Andrew?" she snapped, crossing her arms defensively.

He stepped closer, trying to keep his tone upbeat. "I wanted to invite you to Liam's birthday party at this new club. It's going to be amazing! You should come."

Essex's eyebrows shot up, caught off guard by the sudden proposal. "You've got to be kidding me. I'm not interested in hanging out with you or your friends."

"Come on, Essie," he urged, his smile faltering slightly. "It'll be fun! Everyone will be there. It's been ages since you've seen any of them."

"Yeah, and the last time I saw them, you were busy cheating on me with half the city," she shot back, her voice low but firm. "What part of that do you think I'd want to relive?"

Andrew ran a hand through his hair, looking slightly defeated. "I know, I know. I messed up. But I've changed, I swear! Can we just put that behind us? It's Liam's party—he'd really love to see you."

"Look, Andrew," she said, trying to keep her voice steady, "I'm not doing this. I don't want to see you or anyone from that part of my life. It's over."

Andrew's expression shifted from hopeful to defensive, and she could see the frustration building. "You can't just keep running away from everything. It's been over a year!"

Essex inhaled deeply, her patience wearing thin. "And what do you expect? That I'll just forget everything because you show up with an invitation? You're delusional."

"Okay, okay. Just think about it, alright?" He stepped back, hands raised in surrender. "I'll text you the details. Just... don't shut me out like this."

Before she could respond, he turned and walked away, leaving her standing there, heart racing and irritation boiling.

"Fucking Andrew," she muttered under her breath, shutting the door firmly behind her. She leaned against it, taking a moment to gather herself. The nerve of him—inviting her to a party like they were old friends after everything that had happened.

Her grandmother, who had witnessed the whole exchange from the living room, looked at her with wide eyes. "Well, that was... unexpected."

"Understatement of the year," Essex said, pushing away from the door and walking back to the table, her mind still swirling with the conversation. "I'm not going to that party. No way in hell."

"Essie, you can't avoid him forever. Maybe it's time to talk things out," her grandmother suggested gently.

"Talk things out?" Essex scoffed, exasperated. "He cheated on me, Gran! I'm not interested in hashing out old wounds."

"Maybe not, but he's still part of your life. You'll run into him eventually," her grandmother countered.

Essex plopped back down at the table, frustration coursing through her. "Yeah, well, that doesn't mean I have to keep letting him in. I can't believe he had the gall to show up here."

"Maybe it's a sign," her grandmother said thoughtfully, picking at her food. "You can't avoid your past forever, Essie. But it's your choice."

Essex rolled her eyes, stirring her curry with renewed vigor. "Thanks for the advice, Gran. I'll pass."

As she chewed on her food, the memories of Andrew and their relationship flooded back—mostly the anger and betrayal, but also the good moments they had shared. It made her stomach turn.

"No way in hell," she muttered again, determination firm.

"Still not interested, huh?" her grandmother said, amusement dancing in her eyes.

"Absolutely not," Essex replied, lifting her chin defiantly. "Now, can we change the channel before Richard Madden pops back on?"

"Only if you promise to visit your mother soon," her grandmother shot back playfully, and they both laughed, the earlier tension dissipating.

But as Essex settled in for her meal, she couldn't shake the feeling that Andrew's unexpected appearance might just stir up some unresolved feelings—like it or not.

<- Chapter 1 Chapter 3 ->

[coolartisanpersona]

Shikha Indian Takeaway: A Flavorful Journey Through Indian Cuisine

Welcome to Shikha Indian Takeaway, your gateway to the vibrant and aromatic world of Indian cuisine in Buckhurst Hill, Essex. We're passionate about bringing you authentic Indian flavours crafted with care and served with a smile.

A Symphony of Spices: Our Chicken Biryani

One of our most celebrated dishes, Chicken Biryani, is a culinary masterpiece that will tantalise your taste buds. This fragrant rice dish is layered with tender chicken, aromatic spices, and saffron, creating a symphony of flavours that will leave you craving more.

A Rich History of Flavor

Biryani has a rich history dating back centuries, with its origins tracing back to the Persian Empire. This dish has evolved, incorporating regional influences and becoming a staple in Indian cuisine.

Masterfully Crafted with Passion

Preparing Chicken Biryani is a meticulous process that requires skill and precision. The rice is cooked to perfection, while the chicken is marinated in a blend of spices and herbs before being layered with the rice. The dish is then sealed and cooked slowly, allowing the flavours to meld together.

A Symphony of Flavors

The result is a dish that is both visually stunning and incredibly flavorful. The fragrant rice, tender chicken, and aromatic spices create a harmonious balance of flavours that will leave you wanting more.

Experience the Difference

Whether you're a seasoned Indian food enthusiast or new to the cuisine, Chicken Biryani from Shikha Indian Takeaway is a must-try. Visit us today or order online and savour the authentic flavours of India.

Discover More at Shikha Indian Takeaway

In addition to Chicken Biryani, our menu features a wide variety of delicious Indian dishes, including:

Tandoori Chicken

Butter Chicken

Lamb Rogan Josh

Vegetable Korma

Naan Bread

Experience the Magic of Indian Cuisine at Shikha Indian Takeaway

Located at 164 Queens Road, Buckhurst Hill, Essex IG9 5BD, Shikha Indian Takeaway is your go-to destination for authentic Indian cuisine. Order from us and experience the difference and taste of Indian flavours today!

[bisexual-in-every-gender]

International survey

United Kingdom

Do you like to drink tea?

Only Indian style Chai ones. I normally only drink tea if I'm seriously ill.

Do you like to put sugar in your tea?

No. Milk and/or honey, never sugar.

Have you ever explored an ancient castle?

I've never been in one, no. Seen plenty from the outside though.

If you're Christian, are you a Catholic or Protestant?

I don't really consider myself either. More on the protestant side, but I don't go to Church and I practise my faith in a somewhat non-traditional way.

Do you live in a big house?

Average-sized flat, I'd say

Are there a lot of seagulls where you live?

None.

Do you have a garden?

Nope, but all the residents of our compound share a green area with a pool.

Name something you own with the British flag on it

Oh boy, I'm married to a Brit, so quite a lot: an actual flag, a piggy bank, a pillow...

What's your favourite part of London?

West End and Kew Gardens. Also Borough Market.

If you've been to England, what's your favourite city you've visited?

If this is England-specific, probably London. If it includes the entire UK, Londonderry has a special place in my heart, as I did an internship there in 2010.

If applicable, what's your favourite shop in London?

Don't know - I usually don't stay in London long enough to have a favourite shop. We stay in Southend, Essex, where my wife is from.

Have you ever been lost in London?

No, the wife knows all the streets.

Would you say your personality is British? Do you think you'd fit in there?

I love the humour and get on well with the people there. Just strange to me strangers will come up to talk to you, but yeah, I find they're easy to get along with and quite similar to us Germans.

Do you have British ancestors or are you from the UK?

No to both, but my wife is British.

Ireland

What is one of your favourite celtic songs?

The Dirty Glass by Dropkick Murphys

Do you have red hair?

Yes, but not naturally.

Are you Irish?

No.

Name 5 redheads that you know

My wife Izzy, my friend Ronja, Eddie Redmayne, Ed Sheeran and Bryce Dallas Howard

Who in your family is/was a redhead?

My sister Ami had red hair when she was a baby, then it turned blonde. And apparently my dad's father was a redhead.

If you've been to Ireland, what's the favourite city you visited?

Only been to Donegal.

Did you have any bad experiences in Ireland?

No.

Do you celebrate St. Patrick's Day?

Nope

Do you like Irish food?

Very similar to British food, so yeah, for the most part.

Do you like bagpipes?

Isn't that more associated with Scotland? Either way, they annoy me.

Do you like English or Irish accents better?

English. Too many Rs

China

What is your Chinese zodiac sign?

Monkey.

Do you like it? Does it fit your personality?

I don't really have strong feelings about monkeys. They're okay but not my favourites. And no, the personality of that sign is supposedly mischievous, loud, social and party loving - the opposite of my introverted self.

Do you like your Chinese or Western zodiac sign better?

Neither of the descriptions fit me, but monkeys are cuter than human twins *shrug*

Do you like Chinese food?

China is a massive country with an extremely varied cuisine, so this is a broad generalisation....I do tend to prefer Northern Chinese cuisine to Southern Chinese cuisine massively - mostly because in the South, they tend to eat quite... exotic meat. And you never know what's gonna be in it.

List three of your favourite Chinese foods

Dumplings, Moon Cake, Beijing style duck

Are you familiar with the topic of footbinding?

Yes, it used to be common practice for women to bind their feet to keep them from growing, so they're more attractive to men. But due to its long-lasting negative health effects, the last women to do that are now very old and dying out.

What are your favourite books about China?

Couchsurfing in China, the Inspector Chen books

Do you know anyone Chinese?

I used to live in China, so yes. One of my closest friends, Louise, is Chinese.

Have you ever cooked Chinese food at home?

I cooked a Chinese dish with my friend Jingjing before

Are you familiar with the Great Chinese Famine?

Of course, it's the reason why a lot of their dishes are full of exotic meats as that's all they could eat for a while

Would you ever want to go to China?

I lived there for 4 years, but have not much desire to return

Do you have any Chinese in your family?

Nope

Japan

Do you like sushi? If so, what are your favourite kinds?

I only like sashimi.

What is your favourite manga series?

Alice in Borderland, Death Note, Demon Slayer

What colour hair would you have as an anime character?

Blue.

What is your favourite Japanese name?

Sakura (cherry blossom), Midori (green)

Do you like bonsai trees?

Sure, they're really pretty. I'd have one myself if I knew how to take care of one properly

Have you ever listened to J-Pop?

Yep, I had a phase of listening to Ayubie

Do you like Hello Kitty?

I'm indifferent to it

What is something you want to know about the Japanese?

How they keep track of all the honorifics they use in everyday life for different members of society

Do you know anyone who's Japanese?

I used to - had a classmate called Kaho and lived with a Japanese girl called Yuka during my internship in Spain

Would you ever want to go to Japan?

I'd love to!

Australia

Do you have blonde hair?

Naturally I do, but it's dyed red at the moment

Do you live near a beach?

Unfortunately I don't

Do you surf?

Nope

Do you skateboard?

No

Have you ever been on an island?

Yes, but never in Australia

Do you live on an island?

No

Do you like Australian or British accents better?

Brirish. I hate Australian accent

Have you ever met anyone from Australia?

Yes

Africa

Do you know anyone from Africa?

I used to.

Have you been to Africa?

Yeah, I've been to Tunisia when I was 11.

What's your favourite wild animal?

Otters.

Do you have good rhythm?

I do have a good ear for music, but I also have dyspraxia, so...

Would you ever want to go to Africa?

Yep, specifically Namibia, Kenya and South Africa. Also Mauritius and the Seychelles.

Do you own any African jewellery?

Not that I know of.

Ever danced to Waka Waka?

No

Do you live in a mud hut?

Kind of a racist question that... erm, obviously I don't.

Mexico

List 3 of your favourite Mexican foods

Quesadillas, Empanadas, Churros

List 3 Mexican names you like

Can't think of any

List 3 people you know who are Mexican

My friend Jairo, Salma Hayek and Guillermo del Toro

Have you ever been to Mexico?

I haven't

Would you ever want to go to Mexico?

Yeah, of course

Do you like spicy food?

Nope. All mild for me, please

Is it hot where you live?

Yes, in Summer we got 45 degrees C

Do you like bright colours?

Yes

Can you speak Spanish?

Yes, I can

Ever smacked a piñata?

Can't say that I have

The Middle East

Are you Muslim?

No

Do you know any Muslims?

Knew plenty in my childhood. Half my class in primary school were Turkish

Do you know anyone who wears a hijab?

I used to. A lot of my classmates did

Ever been to a desert?

I've been to the Tunisian desert

Would you want to ride a camel?

I already did in Tunisia and would do so again

Korea

Have you read To All The Boys I Loved Before? Have you seen the movie?

Yes to both

Did you know that North Korea is closed?

It's recently re-opened for tourism

Would you ever want to visit South Korea?

For sure

Have you ever had Korean food?

I had Korean BBQ in China

South America

Name one fact that you know about Venezuela

The country's capital is Caracas

Do you know anyone who lives in Peru?

No, but I know people FROM Peru

Have you ever tried Peruvian food or drink?

Yeah, there's a good Peruvian restaurant near where we live. The Maracuyan cocktail and the Saltado de Ternera is particularly good

Have you ever been to South America?

No, but I'd like to go

Do you know anyone from Brazil?

I used to. There were loads of Brazilians in my old Church

Name someone you know who owns llamas

Don't know anyone who does

Do you like llamas?

They're cute, but I'm wary of them - they spit unpredictably

Do you own a skirt from Guatemala?

No, why would I?

Do you ever wonder why we don't hear much from South America?

I live in Spain, we very much do hear about it here

Thailand

Do you like elephants?

Sure, they're impressive

Do you know about sex traficking in Thailand?

Yeah, it's why the girls have to have Beatles like bowl haircuts by law to avoid being raped and lots of girls don't make it into foster care out of fear foreigners will adopt them to do sex traficking

Do you like Thai food?

Yes, love it! It's one of my favourite cuisines

Do you know anyone who's Thai?

Yes, my wife used to live in Thailand, so I know quite a few

USA

If you live in the US, in which state?

I live in Spain.

What states have you been to?

Never been to the US

Have you ever been to Washington D.C.?

Obviously not

What is your favourite American food?

Milkshakes?

Do you listen to pop music?

Not much. I prefer Alternative rock and metal

Were you abused by your parents?

Gosh, is that normal in the US? Anyway, they didn't abuse me, but they did unwillingly cause me trauma and they did not and still don't believe me I was sexually abused by a family friend

Do you know any nice people?

Er, ...yes?

How often do you BBQ?

Never, we don't have the facilities

Other

What's the best family vacation you've been on?

I always loved our Mallorca and Formentera holidays

What countries have you visited?

Germany, Spain, Poland, Austria, Finland, Estonia, Iceland, the UK, Ireland, China, Thailand, Hong Kong, Gibraltar, Tunisia, Greece. We'll also go to Malta next week, Portugal in December and Andorra for my birthday next year

What countries do you want to visit?

Japan, Australia, Mexico, Namibia, Kenya, Maldives, Seychelles, French Polynesia, Canada, Argentina, South Korea, New Zealand, South Africa

Have you ever been to NYC?

Nope

Do you live in a big city, small town..?

I live in the capital of Spain, so fairly big

What country do you live in?

Spain

What country is your favourite besides your own?

Spain, I also have a special love for Finland and am interested in Japan, too

What is your ancestry?

I'm German, my ancestors are German Jews

Are you happy with the American government?

I'm not, but I'm also not American

What currency do you use?

Euros

[daramsphotography]

5 Creative Ideas for Your Pre-Wedding Photoshoot in Essex

The pre-wedding photoshoots include pictures of how you and your spouse look before the wedding occurs. Think out of the box now.

Ditch the bored poses and cheesy backdrops. These 5 ideas help your Pre-Wedding Photography Essex tell a unique love story with artistic flair:

1. Vintage Theme at Historical Landmarks

Essex has no shortage of heritage buildings and rustic architecture. Pose among ivy-lined walls, brick archways or medieval towers found at:

Colchester Castle

Coggeshall Abbey

Hadleigh Castle

Paycocke’s House & Garden

Beth Chatto Gardens

Wear heirloom outfits, carry flowers in wicker baskets and style hair in vintage curls. Sepia tone edits complete the timeless romantic vibe.

2. Nature Walk Along Coastal Trails

Essex's protected natural reserves, like Wallasea Island or Fingringhoe Wick, offer miles of hand-in-hand coastal strolling opportunities amid breathtaking backdrops.

Other trail ideas include:

Tree tunnel path through Lower Raydon Nature Reserve

Seaside views along the Essex Way in Manningtree

Salt marshy terrain behind Tollesbury Fleet Nature Reserve

Capture candid moments of togetherness against the area’s rustic raw beauty.

3. Pop Culture Inspired Shoot

Infuse personality into your pre-wed portraits by recreating famous romantic scenes from iconic movies, songs, or posters with costume styling.

Iconic Pre-Wedding Photography Essex ideas include:

Run through yellow mustard fields ala Coldplay’s “Yellow”

Hold up the boombox playing your song outside your love’s window

Dramatic kiss in the rain wearing The Notebook’s blue dress

Bathtub guitar singalong homage to Pretty Woman lyrics

4. Embedded in Street Art Around Town

Colchester and nearby boroughs flaunt colorful street art murals by local taggers. Pose embracing with images of wings, fierce leopards or beautiful lotuses brushing your skin.

Backdrops to scout location scouting for cool collaborative shots include:

Rainbow tunnel down Queen Street

Dragon silhouette against the Red Lion Pub wall

Vibrant botanical bloom off Short Wyre Street

This urban edge amplifies artistic flair.

5. Romantic Picnic Setting Among Lavender Fields

Few backdrops evoke rustic romance like bountiful purple lavender beds. Essex farms like Wilkin & Sons or East Bergholt Place make fabulous floral picnic spots for couples.

Pack gourmet finger foods, fine wine, and an oversized blanket to cozy up on. Sunset golden hour casts a dreamy glow over tender moments.

Pre-Wedding Shoot Planning Tips

Prepping an artistic Pre-Wedding Photography Essex as unique as your love requires some strategy:

Scout locations in advance securing permits as needed

Discuss creative concepts with your photographer to align the vision

Schedule shoots during sunrise/sunset for optimal lighting

Craft styling inspiration boards on Pinterest before the shoot

Have a rain backup plan just in case!

Let’s Create Some Magic!

Infuse your pre-wedding portraits with playful originality by scoping the incredible backdrops Essex offers. With the right photographer guiding your creative direction, you’ll craft next-level art showcasing true love.

Ready to get started? The DARAMS Photography team offers full-service Indian wedding photoshoots plus designing completely custom shoots to match your personality.

Contact us today to make some magic together!

[whatdoesirawant]

Drunk in a trattoria (also, happy birthday to me)

The first time I visited Milan, ten years ago, I chose Indian food over McDonald's and got the worst food poisoning of my life. I went to Milan this year with a confidence in myself that was warranted but also premature, as the Milan Curse continued. This time it came in the form of my Airbnb hosts giving me the wrong address, me ending up on the opposite side of the city, not being able to find a taxi, finally getting an uber, having to walk through hundreds (no joke: hundreds) of Essex football fan chanting, to get to my hotel, which can only be opened with a code on my phone that was dying. I walked in with my phone on 7%.

The Curse was lifted that day with my walking to a McDonald's near the Duomo and humbling myself to the city with a cheeseburger.

I then spent two days having a great time walking around, choosing my early birthday present (some very chic Prada sunglasses), and people watching Fashion Week influencers. The Brits disappeared and the hectic area I was living in turned into a charming canal lined with restaurants.

I had the most delicious risotto and fish in a trattoria there and accidentally got drunk on a one glass of wine. Oh, but it was a nice, cosy drunk. The kind that makes you love your friends and walk home to play Leon Bridges and dream about cooking pasta for a lover.

Today is my birthday, in Paris. It's been a wonderful, casual day. A, M and I walked all around: first we went to my favourite place in Paris (would you have guessed its the Jardins de Luxembourg?); we stopped by some kilo stores and M bought a skirt; we walked around Saint Germain, which was lovely because I'd never properly wandered those streets before; went to some specialty tea shops; had cake and tea; and finished it off with some salmon tartare for dinner. Delicious, in every sense.

I feel ready for 29. Last time I was in Europe I had some overpowering obsession with jumpsuits and I spent the whole time looking for them and trying them on. I was turning into the jumpsuit version of myself. This time it's long skirts and dresses. I'm coming home in a fruffy dress and career goals to clip-clop towards.

[themerryfiddlers]

Exploring the Vibrant Food and Drink Scene in Epping

Nestled in the heart of Essex, Epping is a charming market town that offers a delightful array of pubs and restaurants to satisfy every palate. Whether you're a local resident or a visitor passing through, you'll find an abundance of options to whet your appetite and quench your thirst. From traditional pubs to contemporary eateries, Epping has it all.

Pubs in Epping

When it comes to pubs in Epping, one name that stands out is The Merry Fiddlers. Located on Fiddlers Hamlet, this cozy pub exudes a warm and welcoming atmosphere. With its traditional decor and friendly staff, The Merry Fiddlers offers an authentic pub experience. The menu features a variety of classic pub fare, including hearty burgers, fish and chips, and succulent steaks. Pair your meal with a selection of fine ales, lagers, or wines, and you're in for a delightful dining experience.

If you're looking to explore pubs near Epping, you'll find several options just a short drive away. The area boasts a number of picturesque country pubs that offer a tranquil escape from the bustling town center. These establishments often feature charming beer gardens or cozy fireplaces, providing the perfect setting to unwind with a pint and enjoy some traditional pub grub.

Pubs near Epping

When it comes to dining options, Epping offers a range of restaurants that cater to diverse tastes. Whether you're craving Italian cuisine, Indian flavors, or contemporary fusion dishes, you'll find a restaurant to suit your preferences. For those seeking the best restaurants in Epping, it's worth mentioning The Merry Fiddlers once again. In addition to its pub offerings, this establishment also boasts a restaurant that serves delectable dishes crafted from locally sourced ingredients. From gourmet burgers to fresh seafood and vegetarian delights, The Merry Fiddlers' restaurant is a must-visit for food enthusiasts.

Best restaurants in Epping

Epping restaurants go beyond traditional British fare, offering an eclectic mix of international cuisines. From cozy family-run eateries to trendy modern bistros, you'll find a wide range of options to satisfy your culinary cravings. Whether you're in the mood for a spicy curry, a fragrant Thai stir-fry, or a classic Italian pizza, Epping has something to tempt your taste buds.

For those eager to explore the offerings of The Merry Fiddlers, their website themerryfiddlers.co.uk provides all the necessary information. You can browse their menus, make reservations, and even discover any special events or promotions they may have. Whether you're planning a casual meal with friends, a romantic dinner for two, or a celebration with family, The Merry Fiddlers is a great choice for a memorable dining experience.

Epping restaurants

In conclusion, Epping's food and drink scene is a delightful tapestry of pubs and restaurants, offering a diverse range of options to suit all tastes. Whether you're seeking a traditional pub experience or an international culinary adventure, Epping has something for everyone. And when it comes to a memorable dining experience, The Merry Fiddlers stands out as a top choice, offering both a cozy pub atmosphere and a delicious restaurant menu. So, next time you're in Epping, don't miss the opportunity to indulge in the town's vibrant food and drink offerings. Visit us at https://www.themerryfiddlers.co.uk/

[centralparkcollection]

Where to Eat the Tastiest Street Food in London

London is often associated with high-end restaurants and posh eateries helmed by celebrity chefs. However, the English capital also has an exciting culture of street food through its long-stay markets and pop-up food courts. Furthermore, London has an exciting food scene that encompasses British, European and international cuisine. Find out what and where to experience the best of street food close to Central London hotels.

Southbank Centre Food Market 

Open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, the Southbank Centre Food Market is a convenient choice for tourists. It’s moments from the London Eye and Royal Festival Hall. 

Stalls represent British classics such as scotch eggs, sausage rolls, and Cornish pasties. However, there is an excellent variety of global fare including Japanese-style poke bowls, Korean barbecue, Polish sausages, Dutch pancakes, Greek souvlaki, North American sandwiches, and Portuguese custard tarts. 

The drinks offering is equally broad, with options ranging from bubble tea and hot chocolate to West Country cider and European craft beers.

Mercato Mayfair Food Hall

Convenient for those staying at hotels near Paddington Station, Mercato Mayfair Food Hall is one of the most unusual places to go for street food in London. 

Housed inside a deconsecrated church, the building is appointed with original stained glass windows, vaulted ceilings, and an altar. Spread over two floors, the venue has stalls serving worldwide cuisine, a rooftop terrace, and an atmospheric wine cellar in the crypt. 

Food on sale includes pad Thai, lobsters, homemade pasta, ramen, grilled meat, and Malaysian street food with an emphasis on sustainable practices.

Vinegar Yard

Next to London Bridge Station, Vinegar Yard brings together food, drinks, art, and a weekend flea market. 

Food is available daily with the offering changing seasonally. In general, you can anticipate such options as Asian street food, burgers inspired by Indian recipes, and Neo-Neapolitan pizzas.  

Draught beer sourced from local breweries is rotated frequently while cocktails reflect the season. 

Pergola Paddington 

Guests staying at hotels near Paddington Station should pay a visit to Pergola. This is a rooftop bar with a street market atmosphere. 

Food on the menu includes ciabatta sandwiches, hot chicken, loaded fries, duck pancakes, bao, and dumplings. The offering includes main plates and platters, perfect for sharing or experimenting with different flavours. The popular venue has scores of tables making it a wonderful option if you plan on making an afternoon or evening of it. 

Tipples inspired by the seasons include classic cocktails and spritzes with plenty of options for those who do not drink alcohol. 

Borough Market

Borough Market is the most famous spot for street food in London. This Thameside market springs to life early each morning with vendors selling fresh produce, pantry items, regional cheese, artisan coffee, and street bites. 

Typical dishes cooked at the covered market include Spanish paella, rock oysters from Essex, gourmet sausage rolls, curries from South Asia and Southeast Asia, and traditional apple crumble. 

There are several bars where you can sit down with an ale or glass of wine. In fact, these are the perfect destination for a date night while staying at Central London hotels.

[venuemonk0]

15 Instagrammable Venues In Delhi Where You'd Love To Get Married

There are so many choices to consider when choosing a wedding site! It's time to tackle your first bridal task: finding wedding venues in Delhi. Check out these gorgeous possibilities in and around the capital city to get this duty checked off your list!

THE REGAL PALACE

The Regal Palace in Delhi is the ideal location for your special wedding events. The place can suit all of your needs, no matter how small or grand the event is. The location offers a lovely banquet hall, which is suitable for destination weddings and wedding-related events. This venue is ideal for a medium or small-scale event.

PARK PLAZA

Park Plaza, East Delhi, offers a one-of-a-kind luxury brand at a crazy price. It  fulfils the holistic needs of a modern wedding. Park Plaza features two outstanding Banquet Halls, Emerald and Sapphire, for hosting destination weddings. Guests can enjoy a broad variety of alcoholic beverages at the venue's fully operational bar!

WINDSOR AT MALLU FARMS

Windsor at Mallu Farms in Chattarpur, Delhi, has a tranquil ambiance and is located in the centre of the city, where all of the best weddings are held. It's in Mallu Farm, Ansal Villas, New Delhi. They provide a variety of services such as a bridal room for the bride to prepare, décor, lighting, valet parking, and service staff.

STELLAR RESORT

If you're looking for a beautiful and elegant wedding venue in Delhi, Stellar Resort is an excellent choice. This destination wedding location in Delhi has the most beautiful indoor banquet hall and outdoor open park for your wedding ceremony. Stellar Resorts can handle any indoor or outdoor event thanks to its spacious banquet halls and lush green grounds. Because they have a variety of banquet rooms and lawns, you may have your pick of settings for all gatherings and spice it up a bit.

ESSEX FARMS

Looking for a wedding location that is already historically significant? Essex Farms in Delhi will put an end to your quest immediately. The farms are  relaxing so one must embrace the Essex Farms. The venue is spacious and comfortable, with first-rate amenities. They offer full event support for all of your wedding-related events and ceremonies.

HOLIDAY INN

Holiday Inn is a 5-star hotel near IGI Airport that is highly recommended. A great place for huge group photos or private photos between newlyweds. Holiday Inn assures that on your special day, all you have to worry about is looking and feeling beautiful.

CITY PARK IN PITAMPURA

Hotel City Park is a fancy seven-story luxury hotel in New Delhi's Pitampura neighbourhood. You can rely on any of their six attractively constructed banquet/meeting rooms for big scale lunches or dinners, as well as business seminars. This hotel will make you feel at home by providing you with a complementary platter of cookies and fruit. It features lawns, making it an ideal wedding location.

HOTEL EXECUTIVE CLUB

Hotel Executive Club is an extraordinarily large venue with both Banquet Halls and Lawns. The Executive Club is a popular place for wedding ceremonies in Delhi. Because of its calm settings, the Executive Club is the ideal location for your big day. This beautiful resort, situated across acres of nature, is one-of-a-kind and has all of the amenities needed to combine relaxation and celebrations. They provide a range of settings for various occasions.

THE VENUE MG ROAD

The Venue is one of the top wedding hotels in Delhi, with locations in every opulent neighbourhood. This wedding location features beautiful and comfy rooms with beautiful decor and good lighting. The hotel's wedding hall in Delhi is also very distinctive and can accommodate all of your guests for any function. The food offered throughout your stay and at each event is fantastic, with a wide variety of great Indian cuisines and unique and cold beverages.

AQUA- THE PARK

Aqua is a fantastic venue that may also be booked for a home wedding. It can easily seat all of your guests. Your guests will be astounded by the gorgeous design. It offers both indoor and outdoor settings for all of your unique events. Destination weddings, pre-wedding gatherings, wedding receptions, cocktail parties, engagement parties, and anniversary parties are also possible at this venue.

HOTEL SEWA GRAND

If you're looking for somewhere to stay with your family that also has all of the necessary amenities and is one of the top wedding venues in Delhi, Hotel Sewa Grand is the perfect choice. The in-house crew of designers and caterers does an outstanding job in making your event a memorable one.

THE GOLDEN PALMS HOTEL

The Golden Palms hotel and spa is a lovely setting for destination weddings, pre-wedding festivities, wedding receptions, cocktail parties, engagement parties, and anniversary parties. The atmosphere is lovely and helps to calm the nerves. The interiors are luxurious and majestic.

THE UPPAL AN ECOTEL HOTEL

The Uppal An Ecotel Hotel is a wedding venue in Delhi. It is critical to choose the best venue so that you can have a variety of wedding ceremonies with all of your loved ones in the most appealing way, take full advantage of it, and make wonderful memories with them that will last a lifetime.

ORANA HOTELS AND RESORTS

Orana Hotels & Resorts are great venues for destination weddings, pre-wedding gatherings, birthday parties, wedding receptions, cocktail parties, engagement parties, and anniversary celebrations. The amazing design will astound your guests. It has indoor and outdoor spaces for all of your occasions.

THE PICCADILY

Choosing the proper location is important to organising a successful wedding. Piccadily, New Delhi offers vast banquet halls, well-equipped rooms, and dedicated assistance for planning a memorable wedding celebration. Piccadily in New Delhi invites you and your family to celebrate your destination wedding there with first-rate amenities and competent services. There is no shortage of fantastic wedding locations in Delhi, ranging from fort castles to gorgeous hotels. Though booking farmhouses is a popular choice among brides nowadays, there are many other elegant settings to consider, and for that you can check out VenueMonk’s website at www.venuemonk.com where you can find top wedding venues in Delhi at affordable rates along with good deals and packages.

[bombaycuisinechelmsford]

Indian takeaway

Website: https://www.thebombaycuisine.co.uk/

Address: 30 Viaduct Rd, Chelmsford CM1 1TS, United Kingdom

Phone: 01245358111

Order food online in CHELMSFORD! It's so easy to use, fast and convenient. Try our new, online website which contains our entire takeaway menu. The Bombay Cuisine is located in CHELMSFORD.

[johnnyprimecc]

Dhamaka

My wife and I tried Dhamaka last night, using a gift certificate that our friends gave us as a housewarming. We started with some of their delicious cocktails, and then moved right into some meaty apps. The first thing that came out was my favorite item of the meal – lamb ribs! These had such awesome flavor and tenderness. The mint chutney that came with it is something they should sell by the…

[ltwilliammowett]

The Whaler Essex and the custom of the sea

It was 1819 when the Whaler Essex, under the command of Captain George Pollard, aged just 29, set off from Nantucket for the Pacific with a crew of 20 to hunt whales. The voyage itself was scheduled to last 2 and a half years, but it was not under a good star.

The Whaler Essex 1819 (x)

On 15 August 1819, she was almost capsized by a gale, but could be righted again. It was on 20 November 1820 spouts wer sighted, and as usual the ship gave chase  and launched the dories, leaving just skeleton crew aboard. Suddenly a huge bull whale breached, spouted and swam at high speed towards the Essex, ramming it at the waterline near the bow and throwing all those on board to the deck. The creature the surfaced beside the ship, shook itself and dived again. Then it came back for a second attack and the ship rolled over. The collision was so violent that several planks burst. Water entered the holds in great quantity, but the ship still kept afloat and was not to sink for the next two days.

The Attack - In the Heart of the Sea (x)

The crew retrieved everything useful from the sinking Essex and tried by all means to make the light whaling boats, which were built for high speeds rather than for weeks of voyages with heavy loads, seaworthy. From the starting position at the equator, they were to sail south to the 25th or 26th degree of latitude in order to reach the Chilean coast from there with favourable winds. Among other things, 195 gallons (780 litres) of fresh water and 600 pounds (about 280 kilograms) of ship's biscuits were recovered from the wreck and taken to the boats. At 12:30 p.m. on 22 November, the sinking Essex was abandoned.

After a month of hardship, the castaways reached the uninhabited Pitcairn Island of Henderson. On Henderson, there is only one sparsely flowing freshwater spring on the northern beach, which is also below the water level at high tide. They therefore did not find it sensible to stay on the inhospitable island for a longer period of time. To avoid death by hunger and thirst, they set off eastwards after a week, hoping to reach Easter Island. Three crew members remained behind on Henderson.

The accident drawn by Thomas Nickserson 1876 (x)

On 12 January, the boat under the command of First Mate Owen Chase lost contact with the other two boats. Soon food ran out on this boat and the first men died. As the hunger was now very great, Owen Chase and the other men took to eating the dead. It was to save their lives, because this meat kept Chase, Benjamin Lawrence (helmsman of one of the fishing boats) and Thomas Nickerson (cabin boy) alive long enough to be rescued by the brig Indian near the Juan Fernández Islands on 18 February.

The sinking, by Thomas Nickerson 1876 (x)

On 28 January Captain Pollard's boat lost contact with the third boat, which was never heard from again. In February, when the food in Pollard's boat had been used up, the first men died. They still buried the first two dead according to sailor tradition. When hunger finally got the better of them, a draw was made to see which crew member would be shot and eaten. Through this draw and the deaths of other men, the captain and sailor Charles Ramsdell remained alive long enough to be rescued by the whaler Dauphin off the Chilean coast on 23 February, "skin covered with boils, the castaways gnawed at the bones of their dead comrades with hollow-cheeked faces. Even when the rescuers rushed over, they would not leave their gruesome meal."

Owen Chase (1798-1869) and Thomas Nickerson ( 1805 –1883) (x) 

Of the 21 crew members, eight survived: Captain George Pollard, who shortly afterwards commanded another Whaler, the Two Brothers, but she too sank and so did the Merchantman on which he had hitched. Now that he was officially declared a Jonah, he never went to sea again. First Mate Owen Chase, wrote an account of all this that inspired Herman Melville's book Moby Dick. He too returned to sea and even built his own whaling ship, the Charles Carrol. Coxswain Benjamin Lawrence, never set foot on a ship again and Coxswain Thomas Chapple tried his hand as a missionary. The sailors Charles Ramsdell, Seth Weeks, William Wright also returned to sea and cabin boy Thomas Nickerson, became a captain in the merchant service, he too wrote his report but not until 56 years after the disaster. The three men left behind on Henderson (Seth Weeks, William Wright and Thomas Chapple) were rescued on 5 April. Three who died on board the boats were buried at sea, seven were consumed and two of the sailors remained missing. Seaman Henry Dewitt had already absconded during the stopover in Ecuador.

During their entire journey in the small whaling boats, the crew covered a distance of 3,500 nautical miles (6,483 km).

However, none of them was punished even if cannibalism had occurred at sea, because the custom of the sea applied here, which granted immunity from punishment in such cases. It was only later in the 19th century that it became an indictable crime.

[ellafryme]

Riyadz Indian Cuisine is an Indian Restaurant and Takeaway in Hornchurch RM11. Located in the heart of Romford, Riyadz Indian Cuisine offers fresh Indian food and fast service for delivery & collection Order takeaway food and book a table online from Riyadz Indian Cuisine through ChefOnline in just a few clicks.

[greatworldwar2]

• Battle of Bardia

The Battle of Bardia was fought between January 3rd and 5th 1941, as part of Operation Compass, the first British military operation of the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War.

Italy declared war on the United Kingdom on June 10th, 1940. Bordering on the Italian colony of Libya was the Kingdom of Egypt. Although a neutral country, Egypt was occupied by the British under the terms of the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty of 1936, which allowed British military forces to occupy Egypt if the Suez Canal was threatened. A series of cross-border raids and skirmishes began on the frontier between Libya and Egypt. On September 13th, 1940, an Italian force advanced across the frontier into Egypt, reaching Sidi Barrani on September 16th, where the advance was halted until logistical difficulties could be overcome. Italy's position in the centre of the Mediterranean made it unacceptably hazardous to send ships from Britain to Egypt via that route, so British reinforcements and supplies for the area had to travel around the Cape of Good Hope. For this reason, it was more convenient to reinforce General Sir Archibald Wavell's Middle East Command with troops from Australia, New Zealand and India. Nonetheless, even when Britain was threatened with invasion after the Battle of France. On December 9th, 1940 the Western Desert Force under the command of Major General Richard O'Connor attacked the Italian position at Sidi Barrani. The position was captured, 38,000 Italian soldiers were taken prisoner, and the remainder of the Italian force was driven back. The Western Desert Force pursued the Italians into Libya, and the 7th Armoured Division established itself to the west of Bardia, cutting off land communications between the strong Italian garrison there and Tobruk. On December 11th, Wavell decided to withdraw the 4th Indian Division and send it to the Sudan to participate in the East African Campaign. The 6th Australian Division (Major General Iven Mackay) was brought forward from Egypt to replace it and Mackay assumed command of the area on December 21st,1940.

After the disaster at Sidi Barrani and the withdrawal from Egypt, XXIII Corps (Generale di Corpo d'Armata (Lieutenant General) Annibale Bergonzoli) faced the British from within the strong defences of Bardia. Mussolini wrote to Bergonzoli, "I have given you a difficult task but one suited to your courage and experience as an old and intrepid soldier—the task of defending the fortress of Bardia to the last. I am certain that 'Electric Beard' and his brave soldiers will stand at whatever cost, faithful to the last." Bergonzoli replied: "I am aware of the honour and I have today repeated to my troops your message — simple and unequivocal. In Bardia we are and here we stay." Bergonzoli had approximately 45,000 defenders under his command. The Italian divisions defending the perimeter of Bardia included remnants of four divisions. Bergonzoli also had the remnants of the disbanded 64th "Catanzaro" Infantry Division, some 6,000 Frontier Guard (GaF) troops, three companies of Bersaglieri, part of the dismounted Vittorio Emanuele cavalry regiment and a machine gun company. These divisions guarded an 18-mile (29 km) perimeter which had an almost continuous antitank ditch, extensive barbed wire fence and a double row of strong points. The strong points were situated approximately 800-yard (730 m) apart. Each had its own antitank ditch, concealed by thin boards. They were each armed with one or two Cannone da 47/32 M35 (47 mm antitank guns) and two to four machine guns. The weapons were fired from concrete sided pits connected by trenches to a deep underground concrete bunker which offered protection from artillery fire.

Each post was occupied by a platoon or company. The inner row of posts were similar, except that they lacked the antitank ditches. The posts were numbered sequentially from south to north, with the outer posts bearing odd numbers and the inner ones even numbers. The actual numbers were known to the Australians from the markings on maps captured at Sidi Barrani and were also displayed on the posts themselves. The major tactical defect of this defensive system was that if the enemy broke through, the posts could be picked off individually from the front or rear. The defence was supported by a strong artillery component, yet the large number of gun models, many of them quite old, created difficulties with the supply of spare parts. The older guns often had worn barrels, which caused problems with accuracy. Ammunition stocks were similarly old and perhaps as many as two-thirds of the fuses were out of date, resulting in excessive numbers of dud rounds. Shortages of raw materials, coupled with the increased technological sophistication of modern weapons, led to production problems that frustrated efforts to supply the Italian Army with the best available equipment. As a "mobile reserve" there were thirteen M13/40 medium tanks and a hundred and fifteen L3/35 tankettes. The L3s were generally worthless, the M13/40s were effective medium tanks with four machine guns and a turret-mounted 47 mm antitank gun for its main armament that were "in many ways the equal of British armoured fighting vehicles". Bergonzoli knew that if Bardia and Tobruk held out, a British advance further into Libya eventually must falter under the logistical difficulties of maintaining a desert force using an extended overland supply line. Not knowing how long he had to hold out, Bergonzoli was forced to ration his stocks of food and water so that O'Connor could not simply starve him out. Hunger and thirst adversely affected the morale of the Italian defenders that had already been shaken by the defeat at Sidi Barrani.

On the Allied side, the 6th Australian Division had been formed in September 1939 as part of the Second Australian Imperial Force. Prime Minister Robert Menzies ordered that all commands in the division were to go to reservists rather than to regular officers, who had been publicly critical of the defence policies of right wing politicians. The result was that when war came, the Army's equipment was of World War I vintage and its factories were only capable of producing small arms. Fortunately, these World War I-era small arms, the Lee–Enfield rifle and the Vickers machine gun, were solid and reliable weapons that would remain in service throughout the war; they were augmented by the more recent Bren light machine gun. Most other equipment was obsolescent and would have to be replaced but new factories were required to produce the latest items, such as 3-inch mortars, 25-pounder field guns and motor vehicles; War Cabinet approval for their construction was slow in coming. The training of the 6th Australian Division in Palestine, while "vigorous and realistic", was therefore hampered by shortages of equipment. These shortages were gradually remedied by deliveries from British sources. Similarly, No. 3 Squadron RAAF had to be sent to the Middle East without aircraft or equipment and supplied by the Royal Air Force, at the expense of its own squadrons. Despite the rivalry between regular and reserve officers, the 6th Australian Division staff was an effective organisation. Brigadier John Harding, the chief of staff of XIII Corps, as the Western Desert Force was renamed on January 1st, 1941. Harding later considered the 6th Australian Division staff "as good as any that I came across in that war, and highly efficient." As it moved into position around Bardia in December 1940, the 6th Australian Division was still experiencing shortages. It had only two of its three artillery regiments and only the 2/1st Field Regiment was equipped with the new 25-pounders, which it had received only that month. Only A Squadron of the 2/6th Cavalry Regiment was on hand, as the rest of the regiment was deployed in the defence of the frontier posts at Al-Jaghbub and Siwa Oasis. The 2/1st Antitank Regiment had likewise been diverted, so each infantry brigade had formed an antitank company but only eleven 2-pounders were available instead of the 27 required. The infantry battalions were particularly short of mortars and ammunition for the Boys anti-tank rifle was in short supply.

To make up for this, O'Connor augmented Brigadier Edmund Herring's 6th Australian Division Artillery with part of the XIII Corps artillery: the 104th (Essex Yeomanry) Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery, equipped with sixteen 25 pounders. Italian gun positions were located using sound ranging by the 6th Survey Regiment, Royal Artillery. At a meeting with Mackay on Christmas Eve, 1940, O'Connor visited Mackay at divisional headquarters and directed him to prepare an attack on Bardia. O'Connor recommended that this be built around the 23 Matilda tanks of the 7th Royal Tank Regiment (Lieutenant Colonel R. M. Jerrram) that remained in working order. The attack was to be made with only two brigades, leaving the third for a subsequent advance on Tobruk. Mackay did not share O'Connor's optimism about the prospect of an easy victory and proceeded on the assumption that Bardia would be resolutely held, requiring a well-planned attack. The plan developed by Mackay and his chief of staff, Colonel Frank Berryman, involved an attack on the western side of the Bardia defences by 16th Australian Infantry Brigade (Brigadier Arthur "Tubby" Allen) at the junction of the Gerfah and Ponticelli sectors. Attacking at the junction of two sectors would confuse the defence. The defences here were weaker than in the Mereiga sector, the ground was favourable for employment of the Matilda tanks and good observation for the artillery was possible. Most of the artillery, grouped as the "Frew Group" under British Lieutenant Colonel J. H. Frowen, would support the 16th Australian Infantry Brigade; the 17th would be supported by the 2/2nd Field Regiment. Much depended on the Western Desert Force moving fuel, water and supplies forward. The 6th Australian Division Assistant Adjutant General and Quartermaster General (AA&QMG), Colonel George Alan Vasey said "This is a Q war".

A series of air raids were mounted against Bardia in December, in the hope of persuading the garrison to withdraw. Once it became clear that the Italians intended to stand and fight, bombing priorities shifted to the Italian airbases around Tobruk, Derna and Benina. Air raids on Bardia resumed in the lead-up to the ground assault, with 100 bombing sorties flown against Bardia between December 31st, 1940 and January 2nd, 1941, climaxing with a particularly heavy raid by Vickers Wellington bombers of No. 70 Squadron RAF and Bristol Bombay bombers of No. 216 Squadron RAF on the night of January 3rd, 1941. A naval bombardment was carried out on the morning of the 3rd by the Queen Elizabeth-class battleships HMS Warspite, Valiant and Barham and their destroyer escorts. The aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious provided aircraft for spotting and fighter cover. They withdrew after firing 244 15-inch (380 mm), 270 6-inch (150 mm) and 240 4.5-inch (110 mm) shells. The assault troops rose early on January 3rd, 1941. The leading companies began moving to the start line at 0416. The artillery opened fire at 0530. On crossing the start line the 2/1st Infantry Battalion, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth Eather, came under Italian mortar and artillery fire. The lead platoons advanced accompanied by sappers of the 2/1st Field Company carrying Bangalore torpedoes—12-foot (3.7 m) pipes packed with ammonal—as Italian artillery fire began to land, mainly behind them. An Italian shell exploded among a leading platoon and detonated a Bangalore torpedo, resulting in four killed and nine wounded. The torpedoes were slid under the barbed wire at 60-yard (55 m) intervals. A whistle was blown as a signal to detonate the torpedoes but could not be heard over the din of the barrage. Eather became anxious and ordered the engineering party nearest him to detonate their torpedo. This the other teams heard, and they followed suit. The infantry scrambled to their feet and rushed forward, they advanced on a series of posts held by the 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the Italian 115th Infantry Regiment. Posts 49 and 47 were rapidly overrun, as was Post 46 in the second line beyond. Within half an hour Post 48 had also fallen and another company had taken Posts 45 and 44. The two remaining companies now advanced beyond these positions towards a low stone wall as artillery fire began to fall along the broken wire.

The Italians fought from behind the wall until the Australians were inside it, attacking with hand grenades and bayonets. The two companies succeeded in taking 400 prisoners. The 2/2nd Infantry Battalion (Lieutenant Colonel F. O. Chilton) found that it was best to keep skirmishing forward throughout this advance, because going to ground for any length of time meant sitting in the middle of the enemy artillery concentrations that inflicted further casualties. The Australian troops made good progress, six tank crossings were readied and mines between them and the wire had been detected. Five minutes later, the 23 Matildas of the 7th Royal Tank Regiment advanced, accompanied by the 2/2nd Infantry Battalion. Passing through the gaps, they swung right along the double line of posts. The Italian defenders were cleared with grenades. By 0920 all companies were on their objectives and they had linked with 2/1st Infantry Battalion. However, several Bren gun carriers encountered problems as they moved forward during the initial attack. One was hit and destroyed in the advance and another along the Wadi Ghereidia. The 2/3rd Infantry Battalion was now assailed by half a dozen Italian M13/40 tanks who freed a group of 500 Italian prisoners. The tanks continued to rumble to the south while the British crews of the Matildas "enjoying a brew, dismissed reports of them as an Antipodean exaggeration". Finally, they were engaged by an antitank platoon of three 2 pounders mounted on portees. By midday, 6,000 Italian prisoners had already reached the provosts at the collection point near Post 45, escorted by increasingly fewer guards whom the rifle companies could afford to detach. The Italian perimeter had been breached and the attempt to halt the Australian assault at the outer defences had failed. Major H. Wrigley's 2/5th Infantry Battalion of Brigadier Stanley Savige's 17th Infantry Brigade, reinforced by two companies of Lieutenant Colonel T. G. Walker's 2/7th Infantry Battalion, now took over the advance. The battalion's task was to clear "The Triangle", a map feature created by the intersection of three tracks north of Post 16. Wrigley's force had a long and exhausting approach, and much of its movement forward to its jump off point had been under Italian shellfire intended for the 16th Infantry Brigade. Awaiting its turn to move, the force sought shelter in Wadi Scemmas and its tributaries. Wrigley called a final coordinating conference for 1030, but at 1020 he was wounded by a bullet and his second in command, Major G. E. Sell took over.

The artillery barrage came down at 1125, and five minutes later the advance began. The sun had now risen, and Captain C. H. Smith's D Company came under effective fire from machine guns and field artillery 700 yards (640 m) to the north east. Within minutes, all but one of the company's officers and all its senior non-commissioned officers had been killed or wounded. Meanwhile, Captain D. I. A. Green's B Company of the 2/7th Infantry Battalion had captured Posts 26, 27 and 24. After Post 24 had been taken, two Matildas arrived and helped to take Post 22. As the prisoners were rounded up, one shot Green dead, then threw down his rifle and climbed out of the pit smiling broadly. He was immediately thrown back and a Bren gun emptied into him. Upon hearing of the losses to the 2/5th Infantry Battalion, Brigade Major G. H. Brock sent Captain J. R. Savige's A Company of the 2/7th Infantry Battalion to take "The Triangle". Savige gathered his platoons and, with fire support from machine guns, attacked the objective, 3,000 yards (2,700 m) away. The company captured eight field guns, many machine-guns and nearly 200 prisoners on the way, but casualties and the need to detach soldiers as prisoner escorts left him with only 45 men at the end of the day. That evening, Brigadier Savige came forward to the 2/5th Infantry Battalion's position to determine the situation, which he accurately evaluated as "extremely confused; the attack was stagnant." Meanwhile, Captain G. H. Halliday's D Company moved southwards against Post 19. He drew the defenders' attention with a demonstration by one platoon in front of the post while the rest of the company moved around the post and attacked silently from the rear. This maneuver took the defenders by surprise and D Company captured the post—and 73 prisoners—at 0230. Although the Australian progress had been slower than that achieved during the break-in phase, the 17th Infantry Brigade had achieved remarkable results. Another ten posts, representing 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) of perimeter had been captured, the Switch Line had been breached, and thousands of Italian defenders had been captured. For the Italians, halting the Australian advance would be an immensely difficult task.

On the afternoon of January 3rd, Berryman met with Allen, Jerram and Frowen at Allen's headquarters at Post 40 to discuss plans for the next day. It was agreed that Allen would advance on Bardia and cut the fortress in two, supported by Frowen's guns, every available tank, MacArthur-Onslow's Bren gun carriers and the 2/8th Infantry Battalion, which Mackay had recently allocated from reserve. That evening, Berryman came to the conclusion that unless the Italian defence collapsed soon, the 16th and 17th Infantry Brigades would become incapable of further effort and Brigadier Horace Robertson's 19th Infantry Brigade would be required. The 2/1st Infantry Battalion began its advance on schedule at 0900, but the lead platoon came under heavy machine gun fire from Post 54, and Italian artillery knocked out the supporting mortars. The 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery engaged the Italian guns and the platoon withdrew. The Italian guns were silenced when an Australian shell detonated a nearby ammunition dump. The Australians then captured the post. About a third of its defenders had been killed in the fighting. The remaining 66 surrendered. This prompted a general collapse of the Italian position in the north. Posts 56 and 61 surrendered without a fight and white flags were raised over Posts 58, 60, 63 and 65, and the gun positions near Post 58. By nightfall, Eather's men had advanced as far as Post 69 and only the fourteen northernmost posts still held out in the Gerfan sector. The advance resumed, only to come under machine gun and artillery fire from Wadi el Gerfan. The brigade major, Major I. R. Campbell, ordered MacArthur-Onslow, whose carriers were screening England's advance, to seize Hebs el Harram, the high ground overlooking the road to the township of Bardia. By the end of the second day, tens of thousands of defenders had been killed or captured. The remaining garrisons in the Gerfan and Ponticelli sectors were completely isolated. The logistical and administrative units were being overrun. Recognising that the situation was hopeless, General Bergonzoli and his staff had departed on foot for Tobruk during the afternoon, in a party of about 120 men.

On the morning of January 5th, the 19th Infantry Brigade launched its attack on the Meriega sector, starting from the Bardia road and following a creeping barrage southward with the support of six Matilda tanks, all that remained in working order. The others had been hit by shells, immobilised by mines, or had simply broken down. The company commanders of the lead battalion, the 2/11th Infantry Battalion, did not receive their final orders until 45 minutes before start time, at which point the start line was 3 miles (4.8 km) away. As they advanced, they came under fire from the left, the right, and in front of them, but casualties were light. Most positions surrendered when the infantry and tanks came close, but this did not reduce the fire from posts further away. Meanwhile, the Italian garrisons in the north were surrendering to the 16th Infantry Brigade and the Support Group of the 7th Armoured Division outside the fortress; the 2/8th Infantry Battalion had taken the area above Wadi Meriega; and the 2/7th Infantry Battalion had captured Posts 10, 12 and 15. The only post still holding out was now Post 11. The 2/6th Infantry Battalion renewed its attack, with the infantry attacking from the front and its carriers attacking from the rear. They were joined by Matildas from the vicinity of Post 6. At this point the Italian post commander, who had been wounded in the battle, lowered his flag and raised a white one. Some 350 Italian soldiers surrendered at Post 11. Godfrey sought out the Italian post commander—who wore a British Military Cross earned in the First World War—and shook his hand. "On a battlefield where Italian troops won little honour", Gavin Long later wrote, "the last to give in belonged to a garrison whose resolute fight would have done credit to any army."

The victory at Bardia enabled the Allied forces to continue their advance into Libya and capture almost all of Cyrenaica. As the first battle of the war to be commanded by an Australian general, planned by an Australian staff and fought by Australian troops, Bardia was of great interest to the Australian public; congratulatory messages poured in and AIF recruitment surged. In the United States, newspapers praised the 6th Division. An estimated 36,000 Italian soldiers were captured at Bardia, 1,703 (including 44 officers) were killed and 3,740 (including 138 officers) were wounded A few thousand (including General Bergonzoli and three of his division commanders) escaped to Tobruk on foot or in boats. The Allies captured 26 coastal defence guns, 7 medium guns, 216 field guns, 146 anti-tank guns, 12 medium tanks, 115 L3s, and 708 vehicles. Australian losses totalled 130 dead and 326 wounded. Bardia did not become an important port as supply by sea continued to run through Sollum but became an important source of water, after the repair of the large pumping station that the Italians had installed to serve the township and Fort Capuzzo. Axis forces reoccupied the town in April 1941, during Operation Sonnenblume, Rommel's first offensive in Cyrenaica. Bardia changed hands again in June 1942, being occupied by Axis forces for a third time and was re-taken for the last time in November unopposed, following the Allied victory at the Second Battle of El Alamein.

[sciencespies]

Population boom near globe's vulnerable coral reefs

https://sciencespies.com/nature/population-boom-near-globes-vulnerable-coral-reefs/

Population boom near globe's vulnerable coral reefs

Millions more people across the globe are relying on our endangered coral reefs than 20 years ago, according to new figures into population growth in coastal areas.

Research from the University of Essex has found that the number of people living in coastal areas by coral reefs has grown to nearly one billion — a rise of 250 million since 2000 and rates are going up in these areas quicker than global averages.

Worryingly, the areas closest to the coral reefs — where people’s direct livelihoods rely on these valuable ecosystems — has seen a population density boom which is now four times the global average.

This new study, published in the journal Global Change Biology, provides the most up-to-date and extensive statistics on global, regional and nation-level differences in coastal population trends living within 5-100km of coral reefs.

Human populations near ecosystems are used to indicate the dependency on those ecosystems, as well as an estimated threat. Climate change is the greatest threat facing coral reefs but in these coral adjacent coastal areas there is a balance to be found between the important services coral reefs provide to humans, such as protection against storms, food supply and livelihoods, and the potentially damaging human activities that occur there — from overfishing and pollution to destruction of corals for construction. Human activities also play a large role in coral reef health and survival.

Coastal populations are calculated as 100km (60 miles) from coastlines and the number of people living near coral reefs is often used in regional coral reef management and the evaluation of risk at regional and global scales.

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Dr Amy Sing Wong, from Essex’s School of Life Sciences, who led the research, said: “Coral reefs are at the forefront of our climate catastrophe. They are also subject to many human-made impacts — from pollution and overfishing to tourism and extraction of raw materials.

“Yet, coral reefs are also a lifeline to millions, acting as a primary source of protein to some of the poorest people on Earth. Broadly, more people by coral reefs translates to more impacted coral reefs.

“Our research into understanding changes in human populations close to coral reefs is therefore crucial. We knew that global populations near coral reefs were high, but we did not expect nearly one billion people within 100km of coral reefs in 2020.”

Coral reefs cover less than 0.1% of the world’s oceans, are extremely biodiverse, hosting up to one quarter of all marine fish species and are among the most productive and complex ecosystems found in the world.

However, coral reefs are predicted to decline between 70-90% in the next decade and up to 99% if global warming reaches 2°C above pre-industrial levels.

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The scientists are now hoping their findings will help identify areas at higher risk which will prove a powerful management tool to inform policies around coastal protection — something crucial for securing the future of our vulnerable coral reef ecosystems and the people who rely on them.

Dr Michelle Taylor, Senior Lecturer of Marine Biology at the University of Essex, said: “There is a concern regarding high coastal zone human population growth as it has been associated with the degradation of coastal and marine ecosystems.

“By providing country-level coastal population data we hope it can be used in global policy goals such as the Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs). Our study highlights the millions of people that have a potential dependency on coral reefs and are therefore vulnerable to climate-change impacts on these sensitive ecosystems.”

The data from 117 coral reef countries found the Indian Ocean saw a 33% increase in populations within 100km of a coral reef and 71% at 5km. There are 60 countries with 100% of their population within 100km of coral reefs.

Of particular interest are Small Island Developing States (SIDS), where the dependency on marine ecosystems are particularly high and are recognised as a special group of countries that are disproportionately vulnerable to climate change. The study found that 94% of SIDS population live within 100km of a coral reef.

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Materials provided by University of Essex. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

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