We’re back with Felix Clarke. Read on to find out what he’s into, and if you’re new here, hit subscribe for secret recommendations every Monday.
Felix is based in Whitehall, Westminster. Through his chosen medium of government economic appraisal, he’s recently been exploring themes such as the decarbonisation of new non-domestic buildings.
☞ COLD SHOWERS: Want some extra endorphins and to start your mornings with clear-headed alertness? Consider turning the temperature dial on your shower… all… the… way… down. Cold water therapy has been used for centuries to treat anxiety, reduce inflammation, improve circulation, and boost immunity. You could always go, instead, for a few lengths at Brockwell Lido followed by a trip to the sauna there. But the problem with turning it into a fun morning out is that is you’re then starting to lose the crucial masochistic element. Stepping from the cold air of your flat into an even colder jet of water on a dark winter morning is where the real fun is to be had. Try going cold for a week and, like me, you may never look back. There’s a small but growing club of people I’ve already converted. Could you be the next member? Above is a tutorial for beginners from The Iceman himself. Stay frosty folks.
☞ FALAFEL & SHAWARMA: The jewel of South London. It does what it says on the tin and it does it well. The falafel wraps are of course excellent and cost only £3.50. However, my personal go-to is the mixed mezze box, packed full of various delicious Lebanese treats. Even with added chicken, it will set you back a mere £7.50. It is, as my father would say, a veritable cornucopia of delights.
☞ HOMEMADE KEFIR: The name of this fermented milk drink is said to come from the Turkish word keyif, which means ‘feeling good after eating’. It’s a delicious way to top up that all-important microfauna. Enjoy its sour fizziness with some muesli or just knock it back straight. The process for making kefir at home is simple and satisfying. However, be warned: once your kefir grains have arrived you now have a needy pet to look after. Like a pet, the kefir grains need consistent feeding, in their case with fresh milk. You also need to remember to put them into hibernation mode when you go away, not that I’m aware of any pet with that option.
☞ MUG HOUSE: One afternoon last summer, two friends and I challenged ourselves to visit the dingiest pub we could find in Southwark. Judging by the Mug House’s bleak exterior and location in a piss-streaked alley underneath the London Bridge Experience, we thought we were onto a winner. Imagine our disappointment, then, when behind its doors we found a charming, traditional tavern. Solid wooden tables and intriguing decorations fill a series of spacious stone caverns. Friendly bar staff serve real ales in pewter tankards and “fine foreign wines by the glass, bottle, carafe, pipe, and butt”. Our visit was during the notorious heatwave so I particularly remember the refreshing coolness of the caverns – the Mug House could be a particularly useful spot to remember over the toasty decades to come.
☞ KRAV MAGA: Krav Maga (Hebrew for ‘close combat’) is a system of ruthless self-defence first devised in the 1930s. A group of Jews in Bratislava wanted a way to defend their community from the attacks of fascist gangs. It was later adopted by the Israeli Defence Force and has since been taught to every Israeli soldier. Krav Maga has what you might call complex undertones. I’ve been going on-and-off since September to Peckham Krav Maga, where Remi, Vince and Steve give fun and inclusive classes in a dojo above Kahn’s Bargains. Krav Maga is about disarming your attacker and extracting yourself from the situation as effectively as possible. The move we probably spend the most time honing is the groin strike – there’s no room for sportsmanship in Krav. I’d never done martial arts before and it’s nice feeling like if things were to kick off I would at least no longer be completely useless. Using your body in new ways with people of all ages and backgrounds is also a great way to clear your head on a Monday night. Why not have a look what martial arts are on offer in your area...
☞ THE NINE DELIGHTS: A concept a friend of mine came across on Twitter. The idea is that you should aim for every day of your life to include at least three of the following nine ‘delights’:
Walking around
Enthralment
Deliciousness
Fellowship
Transcendence
Amelioration
Goofing
Coitus
Wildcard
I’ll leave it to you to interpret the meaning of the ‘delights’ (that’s half the fun). It also works as a way of looking back on your day/week and remembering the small, good things you might otherwise overlook, thereby cultivating #gratitude.
♪ LISTENING TO: Flesh and Bone by Sammy Rae & The Friends
☠︎ HATES:
Shopping for trainers
Geneva Airport’s lost property policy
Wasted talent