Day 14 - prevarication is the thief of time

Got through another weekend (woo hoo) and a cool couple of days off now to recuperate. Actually it is a holiday here in Ghana on Tuesday but I have taken today as a "chill axing" day.  That should be all one word. I am not running around attacking people with machetes. Ah well, the wonders of auto correct.

But it isn't a wasted day, oh no, not at all.  I am off to South Africa in November with good friends and we are plotting a nice Operation Dinner Out in Cape Town (staying at the Commodore Hotel right near the Waterfront).  But to get there we are having a little detour to Simonstown to see the penguins, possibly a whale watching trip and, of course, some wine tasting/fine dining.

When we get to Cape Town I have a day to kill and so have booked myself on this:

http://www.sharkcagediving.co.za/accommodation.php

How mad is that!  I have always wanted to see Great Whites and so have taken the plunge (or I will in November) and swim with them too - from the safely of a cage of course!)  Can't wait.

Then I am off to Pretoria for a few days for a conference.  After that, a couple of days to myself and I have booked into a lodge to do a horse safari and a walking with lions tour.

If I don't die on this trip, or get eaten, it won't be for the want of trying.

Oh and the prevarication: I should be studying for my Prince 2 course which is next week.

More anon

K

Day 13 - just past 1/3 way

Just past a third of the journey travelled and £650 pledged from friends. That is a totally amazing figure and is great motivation.

This week has been easier though Friday night was a bit of a tricky one and had to have a good talk to myself. Once again, Kai was on hand to look on reproachfully - but he was right. So day 13 and no alcohol consumed.

Yesterday was a good day - spent the afternoon watching the Ghana/Nigeria polo match, and very exciting it was too. Right down to the wire with Nigeria finally taking the win by 1/2 point. The Ghanaians fielded their youngest player aged 13 and what a little start he was - hanging off the saddle to ride others off their line - great riding.  Unfortunately, one of the Ghanaian riders rode into a goal post and fell off his horse - horse and rider were fine but goal post was utterly trashed.

Lost track of food a bit this week but 3lb down in a fortnight so quite happy with that.

Roll on next week!

K

Day 8

Oh my lord, whatever happened to days 6 and 7. For those of you who think they disappeared in a drunken blur - wrong. In fact you couldn't be more wronger!!

I went to the gym on Monday - I bet that has shocked some of you more than the booze free October!  Yes it had been a while, even the dog gave me funny looks. And, I went again today!  Well if I am going to be off the booze, I might as well try to be a bit more healthy don't you think.

The last couple of days have been a bit uneventful on the no-drinking front. Sunday I had a bit of a wobble though - oh it really was touch and go.  I had made a roast chicken dinner complete with yorkshire puds and there on the door of the fridge was a bottle of Sauvignon Moran - sorry Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc. I could hear it. I could smell it even though the lid was on (it was a classy screw top).  It was very tempting indeed, but a reproachful look from Kai (can they DO reproachful??) made me shut the door and stomp around the house for a bit. So I had an extra yorkshire to make up for it.

And the numbers on the doors today:

Funds raised: £570

Drinks consumed: a very dodgy cappuccino, lots of water and NIL alcohol.

Food for the day:

Breakfast: toast and a low fat cheesy triangle (surprisingly tasty)
Lunch: chicken and mushroom omelette
Dinner: Salmon steak, beetroot and a few spicy potato wedges

Exercise: Yay! I am not saying I enjoyed it but I did get very very sweaty (sorry!).  Dad, if you are reading this, look away now!  Let's face it, we all like getting sweaty.

Some friends have started hatching a plan for 1 November and it is shaping up like this;

Cocktails at the Movenpick Hotel (tres posh)
Dinner at the Polo Club

How lovely - makes all of this worthwhile I think - oh yes!

More anon

Day Five

Here we are on day 5.  Thank's for reading - you must have an intrinsic interest in how I'm doing, so I thought today I would share today's dinner recipe - Fiery Beef Madras.

But first an update, of course, on my progress. Day 5 and not a drop of alcohol. Yesterday was a bit more difficult because I went out with friends for dinner - and we always enjoy a few drinks before, during and after. But you know, I have great mates who claimed to be a bit tired - which is why they didn't fancy drinking. Now those are real friends, my friend.  So we have a great night out at Koh-i-noor. Plenty of lovely curry - it certainly packed a punch too.  Tonight has been surprisingly difficult - I have pottered around the house all day doing chores and when I sat down I really fancied a glass of wine. I could have had it too, and no one would have known. But I didn't. How marvellous is that.

And now for the numbers *drumroll please*

Funds raised £560 - thank you to another very kind supporter

Drinks consumed: masses of water. One cup of tea. One Coke Zero. Alcohol NIL

Food for the day:

Breakfast: toast and marmalade

Lunch: home made pizza (two tortillas with a bit of dolmio, ham, cheese) 

Dinner: Hairy Bikers Fiery Beef Madras (above)

And here is the recipe

Serves 4

4 long red chillies

800g braising steak (or other good quality beef, trimmed of all fat)

1/2 medium onion, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, crushed

2 tsp medium curry powder

400g chopped tomatoes

1 tbsp tomato puree

1 tsp sugar

500ml beef stock made with one stock cube (the recipe calls for 750ml but I think it was too much)

Heat the oven to 150c. Finely chop 2 chillies on a board (careful where you put your hands after this!) split the other two down the middle but don't deseed them.  Heat a large flameproof casserole and add 1 tbsp oil. Fry the onion, garlic, chilli for about a minute. Stir in the curry powder then the tinned tomatoes and tomato puree.

Cook for about 5 mins until the liquid starts to evaporate. Add the beef , whole chillies, salt and sugar and cook for a couple of minutes - stirring constantly - until the beef is browned and covered in the tomato mixture.

Pour over the stock and bring to a simmer, stirring.  Cover the dish and put in the oven. Check after an hour. Cooking time will be around 2 hours.  If the liquid is still a little thin, put the pan on the stove top and cook, stirring constantly. I had to mix in a bit of cornflour but I did use 750ml of stock.

Serve with 50g of rice - here I added a dash of turmeric to make it a lovely yellow.

Day Three

Here we are on day three - and so far, not a drop has passed my lips - and it won't!

I thought last night would be a bit of a challenge as I had some of the girls over for a "wine and cards" evening - frankly, I could have timed it better.  But, it didn't actually matter. I didn't even think about it even as I was pouring wine/vodka/gin for the gals.  Just shows really that having a drink in the evening can be more of a habit than something you enjoy (oh that was FAR too pious!)

The star of last night was, of course, Kai. He was as quiet as a church mouse in the kitchen for most of the evening until the ladies asked if he could come out. He did a quick lap of the lounge, pausing only to allow for adoration and cuddles before scooting off to bed - sensible chap.


Funds raised: £535

Drinks consumed: haven't drank enough water today so have a bit of a headache but no alcohol :-)

Food for the day:
Breakfast:  Cornflakes - tedious in the extreme
Lunch:       Thursday is treat day and we have chicken and chips - oops!
Dinner:      Cheese filled tortellini in tomato sauce

Exercise for the day: 1 1/4 hours of tennis - nice!

A demain!

D-Day

So today is the first of October and it is therefore D-Day.

One of my colleagues today asked a favour and promised me a whole month of beer - in October. He thinks he is a comedian!  He did, however, promise to sponsor me - so I shall wait for him to put his money where his mouth is!

Today has been easy. Of course it would be. It's Tuesday. Who drinks wine on a Tuesday (er . . .  looks around for bolt of lightening).

As promised- here are the stats for today

Funds raised: £535

Drinks consumed: sh*t loads of soda water but crucially NO alcohol

Food for the day:
Breakfast:  Rice crispies - and I had forgotten how cute the "snap, crackle, pop" is
Lunch:       Sweet and sour chicken fajita. Another Hairy Bikers recipe and totally delicious
Dinner:      Baked salmon steak, leek mash and beetroot - yep all a bit weird but delicimoto!

Exercise for the day: ah well, haven't done so well in this area today.  Problem is, Kai is back from his holidays and so I wanted to rush home to be with him. We did run around in the garden like loons, but I am sure this strictly counts as exercise.

Day one - DONE!

Two days to go

First, like the colours?  I thought an event as serious as this deserves some "mood" colours, none of that frippery you might find on other blogs!

A friend of mine said he thought a sober blog would be "quite funny". Well, you know who you are and this is therefore all your fault.  Not that I think I will be laughing much.

We are nearly there. I have no idea why I am saying "we".  I do, of course, me I am nearly there - nearly at the starting line of the Macmillan Going Sober for October. I am now wondering what in the name of God made me sign up for this, but in my more lucid moments I have decided to use it as a bit of an excuse to have a "lifestyle shakeup".

So, more healthy eating, more exercise and, of course, no alcohol.

I did toy with the idea of staring October with the following menu:

Chicken chasseur (wine)
Beef Carbonade (beer)
Coq au vin (wine)
Beef in guiness (guiness obviously)

But decided that even though the alcohol would burn off, it would feel like cheating. I might be a lot of things, but I don't cheat.

People have been very generous so far and I am already at over £400 for Macmillan - amazing generosity and many thanks to everyone who is supporting me (either with funds or by NOT offering me a drink).

The blog will therefore take the following form:

Funds raised: £425

Drinks consumed: One white wine (well it is Sunday and it hasn't started yet!)

Food for the day:
   Breakfast = Frosties,
   Lunch = Home made vege bean burgers with salad,
   Dinner = lambs liver with onion and bacon, leek mash potato, cauli and broccoli (all taken from the            
   Hairy Dieters cookery books)

Exercise for the day: Ironing (yes I KNOW that doesn't count)

See you anon

Kat