A series of blogs from 2009.

I remembered that occasionally I compiled a list of my top five of something, and it was called “in my opinion” and I referred to them as the Top5s. I have compiled the lists that I made into one easy to read digest here on easterly moves.

Initially posted in 2009 when I had just finished my phd. I was young, free and single.

What are the “Top5’s”?

For a time I’ve been compiling Top5’s. I do it without thinking too much, and they are open to change, and sometimes have very specific titles. I think it all started with a friend and I thinking about the five vegetables we would take to a desert island – i.e. five veg for the rest of your life what would they be. Mine currently stand at

Top5 Vegetables

1. Peas
2. Sweetcorn
3. Broad Beans
4. Onions
5. Mushrooms

Okay, so I know that mushrooms are actually a fungi – but the vegetable term is quite flexible here and really means savoury-ish fresh things. It’s difficult for me to leave out tomatoes – I know they’re technically a fruit – but I just couldn’t get rid of anything on that list so they didn’t make the grade.

There are quite specific reasons why I have those 5. Peas are just my all time favourite vegetable, sweetcorn is a pretty close second – and helpfully for the desert island scenario can be dried and ground into flour for bread and stuff.

Broad beans are a new entry since I started growing them on the allotment not so long ago. I love them – they taste so good, and they can be dried and stored – and made into falafel. They can be eaten out of the pod, and the pods themselves are fluffy and awesome.

Then on to number 4. Onions are just a special, special vegetable and they are the base of so many good dishes – although it was a close call between onions and mushrooms. Finally Mushrooms – I actually get quite serious mushroom cravings if I don’t have them so I couldn’t leave them out, and they grow fast so you can always have fresh ones.

Some Top5’s are easy

It’s true, some Top5’s are easy and have been formulated over time, cogitated over and over in my head so they’re fairly well established and unlikely to change. For instance Top5 vegetables – very rarely changes.

Others, like the problem child are wilful, they change and get confused and sometimes angry. I’m taking this analogy too far.

This wilful child category I like to think of as a temporally dependant Top5. For instance – Top5 films of all time – without a being genre specific looks something like

1. Amelie
2. Donnie Darko
3. Howls Moving Castle
4. Pans Labyrinth
5. Monsters Inc

Although over the last few iterations this list has included Toy Story, Anchorman, Bugsy Malone, Zoolander, Labyrinth, Dogma, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind…… It’s a tricky one and a Top5 for films is difficult – but that’s why Top5’s are fun.

I would like to also point out, that this isn’t the definitive Top5 films of all time – not even close. It is my current (2009) Top5 favourite films.

Look out for other film Top5’s which are more genre or mood specific such as ‘Top5 films to watch with a hangover’, or ‘Top5 comedy films’.

Top5 meal choices

A Top5 meal choices is a really tough one, it’s basically the five things I choose most often when i’m eating out.

1. Bangers & Mash (but there has to be Peas and Gravy)
2. Rack of Lamb
3. Ribs
4. Belly Pork with Mash
5. Sirloin Steak with Chips

Bangers and mash is my NUMBER 1 choice in pubs, but i think that i would choose Rack of lamb in restaurants.

A note from 2019. I am now a vegan, so this may need updating.

Top5 Albums

Now, this really is a difficult one. This definitely ISN’T a Top5 albums I listen to most at the moment. It’s more like tTp5 albums of my life so far, there are around 15 albums that I would say are my favourite albums, but I’ve made the bold step to show only the Top5.

1. The Postal Service – Give Up
2. Muse – Black Holes and Revelations
3. Incubus – Science
4. Courtney Pine – Back in the Day
5. Rage Against the Machine – Rage Against the Machine

All of these albums have been pretty influential in shaping what kind of music I like and listen to. I love the crossover that Courtney Pine manages in Back In the Day – it’s like he took the clarinet and made a clarinet rap/dj album.

RATM – stunned me so much when i first listened to it at the tender age of 15. Incubus – this is a legendary album. And at number 1, The Postal Service – Give up. I listen to this over and over and over again.

Things i had to leave out include, green day, jurassic 5, lionel richie, DJ shadow etc etc. Sad times for them.

Top5 films to watch with a hangover

Another film category – and one of my favourite genre’s actually, although i think I made it up.

1. Sliding Doors
2. The Holiday
3. Bridget Jones Diary
4. Bring It on
5. Miss Congeniality

All completely pointless films, but all totally enjoyable. Watch under a duvet (preferably in bed) with either chocolate, ice-cream or crisps. If you’re feeling particularly fragile then you might need some tissues – some have the potential to induce a post-booze up sob fest.

I actually think they are best if multiple cocktails/ many beers have been consumed the night before and you’re feeling tender.

Top5 things to have for lunch

In the words of my friend and now (2019) ex-colleague James, ‘I like lunch’.

1. Hot sandwich from the refectory
2. Leftovers
3. A Pasty
4. Curry
5. Classic Sandwich and crisps

Top5 Gigs I’ve been to

The only problem is that I cant remember all of the gigs I’ve been too. After most of these gigs I think I may have uttered something along the lines of ‘that was awesome’, ‘best gig ever’ and in the case of the RHCP, I was speechless.

1. Red Hot Chili Peppers – Reading Festival 2000
2. Hot Chip – 2007ish – Leeds Met
3. BlocParty – 2009 – Leeds O2/Carling Acadamy
4. Introducing 2010 – HiFi Club Leeds
5. Incubus – Manchester 2001ish

Top5 Crisp Flavours & Make

Now crisps are a wonderful thing. They are definately more addictive to me than chocolate. It’s the carbs and the saturated fat – wonderful.

1. Indonesian Black Pepper and Salt – Phileas Fogg*
2. Salt and Balsamic Vinegar Kettle Chips (Dark Blue Bag) **
3. Frazzles
4. Salt and Vinegar McCoys
5. Hint of Lime Doritos

*New in at Number 1

**Especially the folded over ones! Delish.

Top5 cities I want to visit

Lots of interesting places, this Top5 could be twinned with Top5 Cities i have visited. Watch this space.

1. Moscow
2. Mumbai
3. Melbourne
4. Vancouver and Seattle
5. Cape Town

There are two reasons that cities get into my Top5 – visiting friends and history. I count Vancouver and Seattle as one because I always envisage that I would visit them both in one trip.

Top5 vegetables to grow

1. Peas
2. Chillies
3. Fennel
4. Potatoes
5. Broad Beans

I have an allotment, these are the most rewarding plants to grow. In my experience so far. Fennel is new this year. I thought I’d killed it but it had made a remarkable come back.

Top5 nuts

After a long car journey back to Leeds the chat in the car turned to favourite nuts. For me brazils are a clear winner. There again, you cannot deny the peanut a high ranking…but anyways here’s my list.

1. Brazil
2. Peanut
3. Almond
4. Pistachio
5. Cashew

Thanks to Eddie and DanFun for their valuable input.