VD

VD - Valentines Day. For once, the old calendar has set the tone, with a soft focus close up of some heart shaped choccies in a box. They actually look like dark chocolate, which is a bit rich for Inane. I prefer milk.... Still, hasn't helped my craving for all things sweet today, and despite my trip to the gym, it hasn't gone away...

All began on Saturday night - went to a friends' dinner party - all couples and very grown up - but at the insistence of the host, we polished off the booze - I did my bit with half a bottle of port! Very sweet! (Of course, my "No Beer" trial is still going well - the lager cravings have passed, the only thing I am having trouble with now is the cost of other drinks!)

Funny, now that I am no longer indulging in my favourite sour beverage, I've developed something of a sweet tooth, which i did not have previously - chocolate has never really bothered me - is there something in lager that my body actually liked, and is now lacking in...? Better stop there, I'm developing a cold sweat... (for real!)


Inane thought - actually, the more I think about it, the more I realise the old desk calendar has been rather interesting of late. Thursday we had a print space shuttle, which is you think about it is rather a cool design for a paper aeroplane (may get around to making that one) whilst Friday's entry was a full shot (I don't know the technical term, the picture filled the paper, right) of a TV screen - a retro 70's model rather like the one my Gran had at the time, if I am not mistaken (black and white, of course)

Brits

Now, I'm not one to get on my high horse about much, but I've always been left exacerbated by the Great British public when it comes to music polls. Last night's Brits are no exception,... whilst I have a guilty liking for warbling Robbie Williams' Angels at various drunken karaoke events in my time, I certainly thought the title of Best Single of the last 25 years could have gone elsewhere.... how about one of the following 25 artists from that period?

Joy Division
The Jam
Madness
Culture Club
New Order
Tears for Fears
David Bowie
Human League
Pet Shop Boys
Depeche Mode
The Stone Roses
Happy Mondays
Suede
Blur
Oasis
Pulp
Supergrass
Prodigy
The Chemical Brothers
Fatboy Slim
Basement Jaxx
Coldplay
Travis
Keane
Franz Ferdinand

There are probably loads others too... ...oh well...

Idle chatter

This morning, we are mostly gawping out of the window at the Thames Barrier, which has been closed to protect us from Mother Nature. We are currently locked in a debate over whether the barrier is raised or dropped into its closed position. I say raised....

Another day dawns... where's my agent...?

Alternative remedies

So, these are the things I cannot drink - amongst friends/colleagues, I have tried to define as "anything brown in a glass", a better definition would be "anything golden/brown/black and fizzy (or flat) in a glass made product" - but to be more precise: lager, beer, bitter, ale, stout, porter, all in a draught or bottle.

I have found some exceptions to the rule but I have decided if I'm going to do it, I may as well do it properly.

What I've discovered so far:

Vodka and Tonic - absolutely no carbs in Vodka, and you can find slimline tonic in some places, although the last time I asked for that in our work local (possible sign of heavy drinking number one: I have a local for working hours??) - I found the last time I asked for that though, the barmaid asked me and The Overlord where our girlfriends were, and laughed at us...

Anyway, they do serve Vodka and tonic in our actual local, but it isn't very good quality and costs a lot more than beer (suspect i am going to find this with everything...) A good Friday night boozy drink though...!

Red Red Wine - Hmmmm... now, this not only makes me drink slower, it's also good for you too (like everything, in a sensible amount). And I like it. Price and quality vary, of course. Our local does it's own, which is pleasant enough, but it instantly stains your teeth blue... better quality costs more, but I can moderate the amopunt I drink...

I appreciate everyone's support in this (especially those that are joining in) - I tell you what though, it's day three and I'm gasping for a pint!

Lent

Today is Shrove Tuesday, or Pancake Day, or Mardi Gras* ... ...or a day of no significance, if I am to believe my calendar...

I've been thinking about Lent quite seriously this year. Not that I've had a road to Damascus moment or anything, it's just that as a child I was always encouraged to give something up for the period of Lent. This usually had to be something that was bad for you (and as a child, it was sugary food such as chocolate etc)

What I begun thinking was that whilst I have been going regularly to the gym for a while and as a result I have lost some weight, I still have a small beer baby. And I can't shift it. So, would it be possible to quit lager??

After going over some of my blog entries and looking at my diary, there's enough here to suggest that I do drink a lot of the stuff (and I'm not talking about giving up booze altogether, oh no, I'm not ill!) So, is it possible to find an alternative for lager for 40 days?

The other factor in this proposed trial is there are rather a lot of birthdays coming up around Easter time - Scattergun is planning at least two, one of which is on the final day of Lent (the Saturday before Easter itself) - on that basis, to get my 40 days in, without massive lager temptation (although I'm sure there will be some), I would have to start a day early. Today.

(That means my last pint of the fizzy stuff was last night with Julian.)

The fun part of this trial is I get to try out all the things I wouldn't normally bother with - which could be worse - but another inane adventure begins... (wish me luck!)



* As that link suggests, there are rather a lot of other references to Mardi Gras nowadays: the quote "some of which are adult" made me laugh!

Tissues Part 2

Having stayed behind I've worked out who has been taking my tissues......

Pour Homme Part 2

Speaking of my accidental move from hetero man to metro-sexual this morning, The Guardian has published this blog entry today. I don't use moisteriser... oh no....

(...and even if I did occaasionally, I wouldn't give up my rug...)

Jess has got a really bad cold

Poor Jess....

Pour Homme

As a result of a crisis in stocks of shower gel/body wash I have incurred upon myself, this morning I have had to use a combination of small tubes of shower gel picked up at hotels etc and larger tubes presented in Xmas gift packs. The result is my torso and limbs are smelling of sweet Calvin Klein CK One whilst my back, face and hair is definitely a more fruity FCUK brand.

Still cannot figure out how when I trimmed my fingernails, I managed to ignore the ring finger on my right hand...

Little fluffy clouds

Like John Lennon, I'm a great believer in drinking a pint of milk before going out of an evening, (admittedly, one of his lesser known beliefs), and I have recent evidence to suggest it actually works from the point of view of lining your stomach... so, currently milking it at my PC, awaiting another call from my agent, looking at the little fluffy clouds...

...beers this evening is looking like a quiet affair - why is that? - I sneaked in a cheeky pint yesterday though. Whilst doing so, noticed that the half pint line on my glass was marked with the word "utopia". What does this mean? Was a supposed to feel a sense of utopia by that point? Had it been my third or fourth pint glass, would I have gazed down to see the warning "steady" or even the description "mullered"??

And never mind beer, is water bad for you? I was drinking a bottle of water yesterday and I got this real soapy taste in my mouth. Mentioned it to the boss, and she went crazy, claimed there was a "higher than average" nitrate content. Suggested I always drink tap water from now on, but get one of these fitted in our kitchen. Wonder what Julian would say to that....

Tea

First cup of tea I've had this week! No time for blogging... which is a shame as I've got so much to say...