Optifit bra - update

Just over a year on and how's it going?

Alas ultimately disappointing.

I have ordered three, that's over €200 including postage. Which is not a ridiculous amount for something made to measure (if it fits). Two of them give me wicked shoulder ache (leading to headaches & migraines) - due to the weight of my breasts, incorrect fitting and according to the manufacturers, women's desire for 'lift' which HAS to be a part of the design.

The third bra I sent in my own natural fabric (silk) - why do bra makers offer only synthetics? I paid the same price as with them providing the material. When it came back, there was a comment about the fact it was material that frays. 

In my first sewing classes I was taught that you make extra large seams and double them over or cut the material with pinking shears to deal with fraying. They left seams that were neither large enough to fold over or re trim with shears - while sending back more than enough material  to have done so. Consequently despite infrequent hand washing the bra fell apart after four
washes.

I have recommended these bra's to three girlfriend's who have each bought one and we all agree that despite doing our utmost to follow the detailed measuring instructions, none of us believe we got it right and you probably need to be measured in person. Or possibly be way smarter than we are!!

I see that the new updated website gives an alternative to their measuring tape of three measurements to take and 'they will do the rest'.

Currently I am bitterly disappointed and loosing hope. Of the two bra's left, the hooks and eyes are damaged and almost unusable and the strap broke on one. I cannot tell which one I sent to have fixed and know I to pay another €15 for postage. Which sticks in my craw to do for items that ultimately are uncomfortable to wear.

The lack of comfortable, practical, undergarments, for women whose bodies do not fit a very narrow spectrum is proof enough of the misogyny in our society, that there are no women with the skills, who are willing to address/solve this shows how deeply ingrained in each of us is that hatred of self.

There are two other company's that I am going to try 'The BreastNest' apparantly in Ca. and The Healthy bra company..... Will keep you posted

Uber in Amsterdam Rip Off BEWARE!

The Uber drivers are rip off merchants. 

They (want/try to) take the ring road around Amsterdam at every given opportunity (usually unnecessarily) and try to spin that it is quicker because of avoiding traffic lights - which is blatantly untrue. 

  

The ride I took on a Sunday night was quoted at €15.60 from TCA Monday morning, Uber quoted 15 and the driver charged 21.46!

 Of the 7 times I have taken an Uber ride 5 of those times I have been charged more than it would cost to take an TCA (standard Amsterdam cab). The other two times were long distance to other cities and then it was cheaper. 

There is no way to contact Uber if you don't have the Ap, they are unhelpful via Twitter - only interested in compliments 

This company is unethical and clearly so are the people who work there. 

I can only guess that their attitude is that; when you're being paid slave wages you think you have a right to steal from the people using the service cos you see them as ripping you off 

 I had issues downloading Uber to my phone but a few of my friends have it so I have used their accounts. 

If it was my account I wouldn't pay but as it's my friend, I am forced to pay. 

But I have learnt my lesson! They are NOT cheaper, just cheap

Hajé restaurant de Lepelaar Lelystad, Netherlands

A very pleasant and unexpected surprise!

I will have to swallow my words regarding 'Dutch service' and change that to Amsterdam service! From the moment we walked in we were politely greeted, asked by each person who served us our opinion on our food, drinks and service.

On the way out, I listened as one women complained about her meal and was almost shocked when she was told it would be instantly replaced and she didn't have to pay!

There is a wide choice of seating places with subtly different atmosphere outside and inside all separated from each other by glass walls. The whole restaurant has glass walls on the outside so it is very light.

The surroundings are green, lush well tended. Around the outside dining area there were lovely flowers growing and a nice view on such a fabulous warm spring evening.

The service was quick, the food and the portions were really good. The wine was above average. The prices were less than you would pay in Amsterdam for the same and everything was better than I have come to expect!

They had the most delicious, crunchy sweet potato chips (patat/fries)

The lowest point of the menu was the tomato soup. If you order a main course instead of costing 6 euros the soup is only 2! it would have been rude to refuse. It is self service and we shared the bowl and were satisfied, The soups were all a bit gloopy and the texture of the mini meat balls in the tomato was very dubious but it was tasty and very hot. The fact that you didn't have to wait for it was also a plus.

The large, tender, schnitzel I ordered came with mixed root vegetables; multi coloured carrots, swede (possibly turnip!) and diced courgette. My companion ordered the half a chicken and it was not small! Succulent, well flavoured and served with peas and diced smoked bacon, there was more bacon than peas I reckon! And the side of sweet potato chips. With a sparkling water, a glass of red, wine, one beer it came to 45 euros! Bear in mind this in on a motorway next to a filling station! I seriously was impressed.

The menu is very health conscious with the possibility to order a low carb meal! or change you meal to vegetarian or even vegan.

They aim to make it low additive, sugar, gluten and the quiona they use is grown in NL!!!

There was only one fish restaurant open in Urk and I am glad with gave it a miss and found this little treasure instead. Dunno when we're likely to be in the area again but if you are - I highly recommend it!! - Which is very rare!!

Saravanaa Bhavan Stadhouderskade 123, Amsterdam

The only reason I am giving this place such a low mark is because the pricing is ridiculous!


Yes, it is good, authentic Southern Indian cuisine, the service is good and friendly.

 Though I of course get collywobbles from the older white man (maitre d') in charge with all the brown people running around doing the real work.

There is a massive turn over. The style is quick in, quick out, places are just off on top of each other, bright lights, no table cloths. The decor, service and ambiance do not justify €5 for 330mls of beer! 

The portions are adequate, not generous. Our food was tepid when it arrived - fairly quickly - The gobi masala was middling, the naan was mediocre, the puri was fab. I ordered two chilli dishes mushrooms and paneer, both dishes came as an unidentifiable brown mass, without any heat in either (clearly geared to Dutch taste).  

It was tasty, good, authentic but below the standard of places (including their own franchise that I've been to in the UK where the same dishes cost ₤2-6 compared to around the €10-12 they ask here.

 

 Two people, two breads, three dishes, four beers €60? - You're taking the piss!

Byron Burgers High Holborn

–Apart from a place in Berlin – see my review blog – these are the best burgers in my humble opinion. You can order them to your taste and they are exactly that rare is rare, medium is medium and well done is....

Great vegetarian and vegan options!

In general I don't like beef and I'm not as a rule a fan of burgers but if I see Byron even with their London pricing I make an exception to my rules!

I love the fact that it's not a problem to skip the bun and that you get a generous baby leaf salad as a replacement. 

The additional toppings/sides and sauces are my major downfall. They have 2 types of bacon, 6 types of cheese, chillis or jalapenos, fried (crispy) onions, portobello muschroom and avocado! Here you get a (whole) half avo! To date they have all been good sized, perfectly ripe specimens.

I ordered the cheese burger Emmentaler – I got blue cheese but that was because I kept changing my mind. We had courgette and sweet potato chips (fries) both of which are fabulous, with chipotle mayonnaise.

The service is good; friendly, attractive staff. Anywhere else in the world they would be expensive, but this is central London so the prices are standard.

My companion is vegetarian and had doubts about going to a burger bar. I swore that the portobello and goat cheese burger – which I've had  - would amaze. I said don't bother with the veggie burger – which I actually haven't tried – I received thanks and praise way after the meal was finished!

The beers are pricey and not great but you can have tap water – also un chilled at no extra cost. But I don't drink, especially not cold water when I am eating – nasty habit!

https://www.byronhamburgers.com/

Hiba - High Holborn, London

Officially Hiba Express (there are three around London) – Lebanese and Palestinian

An utter delight!!

The lunch time service was quick and efficient.

There are Vegetarian and vegan options 

The waiters were without fail incredibly friendly, helpful and cute! 

The place is quite small but the placement of th tables feels intimate without being crowded.

A major start and extra brownie points for the complimentary (with regards from the chef!), super delish aubergine salad (baba ganoush) served as a starter with flatbread, oilve oil, fresh parsley and pomegranate.

I ordered marinated lamb with was a generous portion of melt in your mouth, perfectly cooked and well flavoured chunks of meat, served again with flatbread and minted onions. 

For ₤1 you are practically forced to take a side dish. I was very happy to have a salad with it again generous, fresh and as tasty as chopped lettuce, tomatoes and cucumber get, it complimented the onions and meat excellently.

My companion ordered a vegetarian mousaka which was nothing like the Greek version. A generous bowl of thick, nose orgasmic stew with lots of aubergine and other vegetables, which extended the pleasure from the nose to the mouth and then stomach!

Standard prices for that area of London

http://www.hiba-express.co.uk/hiba-express/

http://www.activehealthcenter.nl/ - Lilith Turk

My Body

My body was a burden
Until I met Lilith Turk
It was a vessel that carried my rage
I fed it with the hatred my food became
I drank until it wept then drugged it to numbness
I ate to not speak of the pain and loneliness
I gave it to others to mishandle and disrespect
Treatment this body had learnt to expect

Then I walked into a class Lilith, led by you.

Something changed at that moment

There came something new

My body was always the bringer of strife
My body until that moment was the bane of my life
The lump of flesh with which I was cursed
That reflected the misery of my mind, of my birth

When I do therapeutic stretching with Lilith Turk
My body is still a bringer of pain
The pain of information long held restrained
Muscles are messages of areas ignored
Tell of whole territories yet to be explored
My body has become a field of possibilities
Journey's beckon, oceans are made from seas

Only concentration and application are necessary
To accomplish the voyages stretching before me
My body has still its limitations

They are now challenges to be negotiated.

When I get down, consumed by depression and self hate

Which manifests in isolation. I cannot participate.

Still I struggle to find the compassion for myself.

Know I need to stop the thoughts churning, take the time to return

To connect with my body, to communicate and re learn.

Financial competence is my second largest learning curve

You wiped that away to let me work on my first

Lilith you are an avatar of Body Self Connection

Your stretching classes are a living message

To the body/self, to embrace, to love, to spurn rejection.

I cannot truly describe or repay the gifts you have given

My simple, maybe feeble response is these words I have written

My a deep and heartfelt wish is to express  my gratitude - Thank You.