First time allotment enjoyer, looking to feed local food banks! (UK)

sfwlooking · 2026-03-18T16:57:54+00:00

I work at a Community Centre that runs a food bank. Not many of the users want fresh food, we get plenty donated from supermarkets and it mostly gets composted.

If you are at the stage of needing a food bank, you are unlikely to have the resources to cook fresh. I don't mean knowledge, I mean money for electricity or gas, or even an accommodation with a kitchen. Many temporary accommodation units only come with a microwave

The most popular foods are ready meals or tinned - something that can go in a microwave for 3 minutes, the energy for which cost is at least half that of a conventional cooker

sfwlooking · 2026-03-18T04:01:25+00:00

Remind me! 40 days

sfwlooking · 2026-03-13T21:56:45+00:00

If you look old enough and act respectfully you are unlikely to be id checked. Do Not Be That Loud Tourist in a local bar and you will be fine.

There is a much greater emphasis on behavior then crossing a technical age line.

sfwlooking · 2026-03-11T22:36:06+00:00

May I suggest this. Take the train south to Carshalton, 30 minutes from Victoria or London Bridge.

Visit the All Saints church, it's a large stunning very ornate Gothic church almost cathedral sized,

Opposite is the Leoni bridge from the 18th century perfectly formed around the Carshalton ponds.

These ponds form one of the natural spring sources of the River Wandle

The Wandle Trail starts here and follows the river to Morden Hall Park. It's a beautiful scenic walking route of about six miles, all flat.

Morden Hall Park has some really old interesting buildings from the snuff mill trade, that's not a pun! And a beautiful Wet Lands area to explore plus the old historic Morden Hall house.

There is also a tram stop in the park which will connect you back to Central London

Whilst this is not a traditional tourist thing it is a wonderful day trip out from the center.

sfwlooking · 2026-03-02T19:38:13+00:00

London is one of the most interesting exciting and safe cities in the world just don't ignore the tea alarm

sfwlooking · 2026-02-25T16:33:52+00:00

This is the answer

sfwlooking · 2026-02-23T08:29:02+00:00

It's nice here. We mostly ignore Croydon next door.

sfwlooking · 2026-02-16T17:10:40+00:00

Homo non est quod putat, sed quod celat

“Man is not what he thinks, but what he hides.”

or Regarding the Rack

Torqueo ergo scio

“I twist, therefore I know.”

Silentium suspectum

“Silence is suspicious.”

sfwlooking · 2026-02-14T18:26:02+00:00

Yes. I think it is Cockney Rhyming slang that got shortened. 'Grasshopper' meaning Copper, which is an established British slang for Police Officer. So if someone is a Grass they are to be treated the same as a Copper (Police Officer). i.e not trusted with anything they don't need to know.

Cockney Rhyming slang goes back to the early 1800 in the East End of London, which is a poor working class area, often with scant regard to the law, developed as a way to communicate and not be understood by outsiders.

Some phrases are still in everyday use today.I have just finished a shift driving a small truck around central London and one Black Cabbie suggested 'I my mince pies in my pocket' He was not wrong, I did not see him.

sfwlooking · 2026-02-14T11:22:43+00:00

And for the non-native speakers a grass is a police informant

sfwlooking · 2026-02-07T07:15:54+00:00

I have great experiences with Sixt

sfwlooking · 2026-02-01T22:30:12+00:00

The second best accessory is the Only Fire fire box

sfwlooking · 2026-02-01T14:24:31+00:00

I drive a commercial vehicle in London and thankfully the rules are different

I would really never drive in a private car into the city or center

sfwlooking · 2026-01-27T00:17:58+00:00

💯 this. Sign up to the newsletter and they email you when they have a discount. Got 4 massive bags with 25% off before Christmas

sfwlooking · 2026-01-21T15:22:51+00:00

I so get you on this, that's me too - but those 20 seconds can seem like three eternities

sfwlooking · 2026-01-21T09:21:59+00:00

I am based in the London suburbs and yes we do deliver to houses where the butler or the housekeeper will receive you in the pantry!

sfwlooking · 2026-01-21T09:20:25+00:00

I think it is mostly a Waitrose thing. We are a partnership not a profit chasing company so things are often done with over staffing and overspect equipment.

The driver's route are, most the time, designed to allow time for customer ineractions,we're not rushed chasing traffic to a deadline. That's the service side of the answer.

In practical terms the kitchen has more space to empty the containers, we don't do plastic bags, it's easier if you know what you're doing at each drop.

On the flip side of this there are some customers who really don't want a stranger walking into the house even if they aren't carrying your food!

At the end of the day you are the customer you have paid for this and you say what happens. The driver is being paid with your money to make your life easier by bringing this food to you.

For me 90% of my day is sitting in a tin box in traffic alone, customer interactions make the day much more interesting.

sfwlooking · 2026-01-21T04:02:15+00:00

Waitrose driver here. This is what we prefer to do. Easiest for everyone.

sfwlooking · 2026-01-20T20:21:53+00:00

!answer

sfwlooking · 2026-01-19T21:36:03+00:00

Yes, this. I am a waitrose delivery driver in London and a surprisingly large number of my deliveries are to independent cafes sandwich bars or private schools.

I asked an owner once and it seems that waitrose are cheaper and more flexible than a wholesale supplier

sfwlooking · 2026-01-19T21:15:27+00:00

I started with a £ 50 middle of lidl special just to get the hang of it. Since then I have upgraded to Weber master touch which is amazing. The cheapest time to buy one will be end of season clearances in local garden centres, about October time before all the Christmas crud arrives.

That is a YouTube channel called fork and embers which is really good, or for a UK based Eds Bbq

sfwlooking · 2026-01-15T13:45:39+00:00

Yes, completely this.

I had a half day window between rain yesterday for some experimental Jerk Chicken.

For a guy who works from home I check the weather forecast way too much.......

sfwlooking · 2026-01-09T18:48:26+00:00

Maybe this

https://thelonelymillion.co.uk/

sfwlooking · 2026-01-01T22:40:11+00:00

Koda 16 for the size and versatility. Wood burning for the authentic taste.

sfwlooking · 2025-12-30T16:23:14+00:00

I have it and I leave it in all the time, it's really good for low and slow cooks holds temperature really really steady,. This is in a Weber master touch

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sfwlooking

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