Pork sandwiches

I have  long been a fan of bacon sandwiches, best served on factory white - but today, quite by chance, I learn of pork sandwiches - otherwise bifanas - from reference 1. I suspect that they will be too complicated for my taste - rather in the way of most burgers - but I ought to give them a go. Something to ask about in the Estrela bar in Vauxhall next time I am there.

It seems that Portuguese food, long established in Little Portugal between Stockwell and Portugal, is riding the wave of foodie fashion, at least if the Financial Times is to be believed.

Fishing

This in the margins of learning from a correspondent that the GDP of University College London (UCL) is larger than that of the UK fishing industry, a factlet that I was supposed to be checking - but got diverted  Are we, for example, including the attached hospital? I did get as far as turning up reference 2.

If true, another example of how nostalgia trumps facts on the ground. To be fair, it is still the livelihood of a fair number of people and it was, until fairly recently, a big part of our national life.

Back in the days when lobsters and oysters were both food for the working classes. The upper classes were not so keen on them at all.

More Galsworthy

Things have now moved on since reference 3, having remembered about and put my hand on reference 4 - a post which stands the test of time pretty well, even though I say it myself. A book which has survived all the culls since.

The point being that Garnett - the subject of reference 4 - was the literary midwife to both Galsworthy and Conrad - with the former have met the latter when the latter was first mate of a clipper sailing from South America. The start of what proved to be a long friendship.

I also have some chapter and verse on the unsurprising fact that Galsworthy's writing draws a good deal on his own life. Including the marital affairs of both Galsworthy himself and those of his father. With the former having started as a barrister and the latter having been a successful London solicitor. Some readers will recall that the Forsyte family included lots of soliciting.

References 

Reference 1: Portuguese food is stepping into the spotlight in London: It’s the once-overshadowed cuisine’s time to shine in the UK capital, with buzzy openings, packed-out old-school spots — and the mouth watering bifana sandwich now a breakout star - Tomé Morrissy-Swan, Financial Times - 2026.

Reference 2: UK fishing fleet stares into a bleak future: An industry that welcomed Brexit feels betrayed - Gordon Smith, Financial Times - 2025.

Reference 3: https://psmv6.blogspot.com/2026/01/a-dream.html.

Reference 4: https://psmv3.blogspot.com/2018/01/midwife.html.