I looked at this link and released an involuntary squeal, MrLapLap came over and practically drooled over the abominations.

One of the advantages of moving to a new area in London is easy access to delis you weren't familiar with. Lots of Polish groceries near where I live and, without exception, we've been enjoying our first taste of a range of Polish gherkin/cucumber pickles. The vinegar used in most readily available British pickles is more like turpentine, and the pickles themselves lack that all important crunch/bite.

I have two suggestions for easily made Japanese style pickles.

1. Miso flavoured baby cucumbers. Take some baby cucumbers (pierce them lightly if you want a more intense flavour) smear them in miso paste, pop them in a plastic bag and put them in the fridge for 2-3 days. Rinse the cucumbers, slice and serve. (You can also do this with raw Calabrese broccoli stems)

2. Salted radishes. Slice some radishes, sprinkle with salt amd chopped garlic, put them in a dish with a plate and weight on top and put everything in the fridge for 24-36 hours. Rinse if you like (my taste), but MrLapLap doesn't and eats them with rice.