All posts tagged: Animals in War Memorial

#199 Nice vegan lunch from the buffet at Tibits, London

restaurant review #199 – Tibits is an international vegetarian restaurant chain. There are several locations in Switzerland, and also two restaurants in London (in Soho and near Waterloo station). We went to the one on Bankside (Waterloo station) a couple of months ago, for lunch. Tibits offers a buffet, where you can choose yourself, and one pays at the counter (where you also get your drinks). Price is per weight of food on your plate. The buffet was quite varied, and the vegan options are clearly labelled (seemed that most of the buffet was vegan). Lots of choice! There’s also a buffet with several vegan desserts. We had a vegan raspberry pie and a chocolate and pear cake. Delicious! I don’t remember the exact prices, but it was somewhat on the expensive side though (it is the city centre of London afterall). There was a relaxed atmosphere, with plenty of space inside the restaurant. Not crammed together like we have encountered at many other London restaurants. There’s also a nice veranda room at the back, which is bright …

Bombed, shot, shell shocked and killed. Animals in War Memorial, London

On our last city trip to London last Summer, we visited the Animals in War Memorial. It is located on the upper East side of Hyde Park at the Brook Gate.  On our previous visit to London (for the Intersectionality conference at VegfestUK, Nov 2016) we barely got a glimpse of the monument as we passed by with a cab on busy Park Lane, but a large truck in the lane next to us was unfortunately blocking our view on the Memorial. The memorial was designed by English sculptor David Backhouse to commemorate “all the animals that served, suffered and died alongside the British, Commonwealth and Allied forces in the wars and conflicts of the 20th century” (quote from Animals in War Memorial). It was unveiled in November 2004*. I have very mixed feelings about memorials and monuments dedicated to animals who have ‘served’ for law enforcement, as soldiers, as bomb sniffers or protection guards. One the one hand, it is heartwarming to see so many people care about the animal victims of war, and commemorate them …