So I went to play paintball for the first time today just outside of Cambridge. The actual experience is an entirely different story (glasses and foggy goggles are not conducive to winning, and I begin to appreciate---though could never fully understand of course---the mental mind f-blow that must happen when you are in trench with real guns). However, after three hours lunch time rolled around. "Lunch" was included in the deal.
"Lunch" consisted of a staff member running to Tescos and buying a bunch of 1pound sandwiches and crisps and donuts---hence the quotes. Every sandwich had meat. I was starving. It was a difficult moment. Luckily I am somewhat snobbish regardless and wouldn't be inclined to eat a 1pound sausage and egg sandwich or cheap ham and cheese anyway (any wild caught smoked salmon, rocket, capers, and creamcheese sandwiches or wraps?). Anyway, I knew I would have to be "that guy" who complained or just eat some extra donuts and crisps which seemed quite unhealthy.
Then I had a moment. a bond. a spark. There was another vegetarian! Out of the unsustainable herd a beacon of all that is good shone through!!! OK, so it wasn't quite that dramatic, but its so funny how not eating meat can lead to a discussion point and something to bond over. It was also successful. We went up to the staff and mentioned it. A woman who was a regular there (the regulars, besides this woman, were interesting to say the least---note to self: never become passionate about a sport centered around shooting people) offered to run to Tesco and buy some more sandwiches. So in the end I ended up with this nice roasted red pepper, rocket , and creamcheese sandwich. It was twice as expensive as the other ones, but it was great. The other vegetarian and I smiled and enjoyed the sweet taste of moral superiority. (mostly joking, but I do like the little holier-than-thou aura of it all, can't imagine what it feels like to be vegan :P )
It also got me thinking how cheap industrial food is. This article also brought up the issue again when I got home. Maybe the issue isn't so much meat or not, but how it is produced.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/06/nyregion/06metjournal.html
There was also a free range chicken farm on the walk back to the train station from the paintball place. A few thoughts: 1. herds of chickens look ridiculous, 2. do they have chicken-dogs to coral them?, 3. free-range uses a lot more land (need to do some calcs on that one).
Cheers,
CpO
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Paintball is a game that is won by eliminating ones opponents by tagging them using a paintball gun. The paintball gun is a safe propelling device that has water soluble paintball capsules that are used to tag the opponent. Cambridge Paintball is one such center that offers these services in the UK. It has easy access from the Cambridge city center by road or train from the Royston Station. The Cambridge site boasts of great woodland and jungle features that act as exquisite war zone areas. Their equipment is top of the line and has a safe area on the grounds where visitors can enjoy refreshments and use the lavatories, if need be.
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