Simple things

Not all tinned tuna is equal

Posted on by fantomwriter

They say blood is thicker than water. But somehow raw fish doesn’t run through the veins of the same family members.

I always thought I had an educated palate and enjoyed a huge variety of foods from all corners of the globe. Well, as long as this food comes in a tin with good quality olive oil and its sole contents are tuna.

Not all tinned tuna is equal.

For a guy who is not a huge fan of seafood, I tend put away so many tins of tuna per week that my mercury level must be at its upper limit and pushing the boundaries of safety. But despite all the articles I have read regarding the possible impacts of mercury poisoning, it doesn’t stop me from scoffing up to 7 tins a week for lunches and mid afternoon snacks.

Tinned tuna makes work lunches a no-brainer. Toss a tin into my bag and find some rabbit food to go with it and lunch is done and dusted. Many people may say this is as boring as bat shit, but they may not be aware of the multitude of flavours this staple of the sea come sealed within.

But over the years, my taste buds have refined. If it’s true, a person’s taste buds change every 7 years. So with that in mind, I can no longer tolerate most brands of tinned tuna, and am very selective on what I purchase. Is there such a thing as a tinned tuna snob?

A number of the no name brands I have tried end up as dinner for my cats, as the contents of the tin resembles mushed up cat food more that it does tuna for human consumption.

It’s also a sad day when one of my kitty cats curls its upper lip and looks up at me in disdain when I place the cheap tuna in her bowl. I guess this just goes to proves my cat has good taste in tuna.

Now one would think that with such a huge appetite for good quality tinned tuna, I would happily indulge in feed of raw tuna. But alas, my gag reflex comes to the fore and does not allow me to swallow the freshly sliced fish.

But, as the saying goes, ‘there are more fish in the sea’. And as long as that fish is tinned tuna, I will continue to be happy.

The Simple Things

Posted on by fantomwriter

The more I look at life and all it has to offer, it becomes very obvious that the simple things are the ones that make us the happiest

From the delights of sharing a simple meal with friends all the way through to sitting on the beach with a loved one and watching the sun set over the calm waters. Watching the sunrise is just as spectacular, but there is the fact you do need to be out of bed rather early.

We are all very different, and what makes us happy is a very personal thing. Dining at a fancy restaurant, staying in bed all day and bumming around in pjs for the rest of the day, or getting up at the crack of dawn and cycling about until the legs scream for rest. It’s these very simple things that make life worth living.

And then there is the one other thing that makes us truly happy? To hear words of love and affection from the people who are closest to us.

‘I love you’ are the three little words that make life special to all of us, no matter how hardened we think we are. They make us smile, even if that smile is an internal one.

Tell someone you love them today, as tomorrow is never promised. And what if you don’t love them? It’s best they know that as well.

Cronuts, cycling and friendship 

Posted on by fantomwriter

After not having been on a bike for over 9 months,it was time to test the waters and hit a track to see how my mind and body would cope.

So when it came to going off road and getting down and dirty on the Warby trail, there was only one person who I wanted to be by my side as I took the first few turns of the pedals of my trusty Giant mountain bike.



On the day of the ride and waking up much earlier than really required, I checked and then rechecked my gear and then my bike. A few butterflies fluttered in my stomach, but not as bad as I expected.

So once at the start of the track, I slipped on my gloves and put on my helmet and took off with my bro right by my side.


I guess it’s true what they say that you never forget how to ride a bike. It was easy as I  turned the pedals over and the track quickly became a familiar friend.

We chatted and laughed and whatever nerves I had were left at the start of the track. Still some apprehension, but nothing that was going to stop me from enjoying my return to the bike and the scenery it revealed.



With the sun on our backs and a light breeze cutting across us, the distance wasn’t an issue, and neither was my fitness, at least for the first part of the ride.

The return trip was a little tougher on the body, but as we decided to stop off for a coffee and cronut with 10kms from the starting point, I had enough sugar in my body to get me over the line.



Could have I completed the my return ride without my bro by my side? I honestly don’t know. But what I do know is that he would have been by my side whenever I decided to take the plunge back onto the world of cycling.



As miserable as 2017 has been, there were a few happy moments. This was one moment that will stay with me for my remaining days. Not because I got back on the bike, or that i managed to clock up 30 plus kms, but the friendship that helped me get through a dark time for me.


The ride cost nothing, just time spent together. Money can’t buy happiness, but a friendship is worth millions.



The simple things in life

Posted on by fantomwriter

From the delights of sharing a simple meal with friends all the way through to sitting on the beach with a loved one and watching the sun set over the calm waters. Watching the sunrise is just as spectacular, but there is the fact you do need to be out of bed rather early. 


The more I look at life and all it has to offer, it becomes very obvious that the simple things are the ones that make us the happiest.

It’s these very simple things that make life worth living.

What makes us happy? To hear words of love and affection from the people who are closest to us.

‘I love you’ are the three little words that make life special to all of us, no matter how hardened we think we are. They make us smile, even if that smile is an internal one.

Tell someone you love them today, as tomorrow is never promised.

And what if you don’t love them? It’s best they know that as well.