Back in the saddle again.

Day 14 and 105 kilos

Again!! Shit!! I even went for a bike ride first thing yesterday morning so perhaps I was talking nonsense  about patterns emerging. The longer bike rides that I was doing were 18.8 kilometres and involved 6 medium difficulty climbs but I did the rides in the afternoon heat. The shorter ride that I did yesterday is 11.4 kilometres and involves 3 easy climbs one medium one and then a hill which my beloved refers to as "the hill of death"! She is of course being utterly pathetic in describing it as such but she claims to have run up it non-stop and that it nearly killed her. Basically it does make my heart pump but it's not exactly the rock of Gibraltar. This ride was done in the morning. I'm working on the basis that maybe it was the time of day that changed and that was why there has been no weight loss (no comments necessary about my logic here). I will change the time and if the result is the same then it will be back to the 18.8 km ride.

A couple of people have mentioned that the blogs have not been as upbeat of late. I am aware of this but the sense of dull routine and lugubriousness (sexy word huh?) are fair reflections of how I have been feeling during this ridiculous experiment. I would like to be able to say that there will be no more posts like that but in view of the temptations and both physical and mental anguish that I have been feeling I really can't promise that.

The chief can be remarkably fickle when she wants to be - lunchtime yesterday and it was raining. Not a thunder and lightning rainstorm but it was wet. "Have you eaten lunch?' I asked her. "No" "Do you want me to make lunch for you?" "No, I want roast chicken." "But it's raining" etc. etc. So 10 minutes later, being the pathetically over-indulgent husband that I am, we changed into shorts, tee shirts and flip flops to drive the motorcycle to the supermarket in the pouring rain. I considered waiting with the bike but she chivvied me into the shop with her. She went to the deli and I noticed that a lot more than roast chicken went into the basket but eventually she had what she wanted before we set off to sweep the aisles. At the bottom of the first aisle, an auntie had set up a small stove and was cooking the most exquisite smelling curries. I was instantly transported back to the "Romna" - a north indian curry house in Rugby. The first curry house that I ever went to - one bite and I was hooked for life. If you asked me what my favourite types of foods are - the list would go like this. 1. Italian, 2. Indian 3. everything else. I have a terrible weakness for north indian food and the smell of it yesterday forced me to leave the supermarket with my saliva glands going like water pistols. The chief emerged 10 minutes later with her purchases which of course included 9 trays of these curries - so thanks for that. When we got back to the house, she decided that she didn't want roast chicken after all and then tucked into some smoked duck breast. The chicken therefore got re-wrapped and left in the fridge for me to admire every time that I went for a glass of water. So thanks for that as well.

I mentioned yesterday that the hunger pangs had returned - well so have the food fantasies. However they are no longer about protein rich breakfasts. No, now I've graduated to lunches and these are not just about proteins, these are all encompassing, apart from fruit. Oh and on that note I should add that I now know what heaven tastes like - one of the chief's purchases of yesterday were 3 chilled coconuts (I am aware they are nuts and not fruits but they are sweet like fruits). I don't think that I have made it clear to you all but I have the original sweet tooth - how people can drink a Margarita and pay for the privilege I have absolutely no idea. To me it taste's like battery acid as do limes, lemons, grapefruits and some oranges - I hate the sour taste. This coconut was epically sweet and phenomenally delicious - it was perfection. I feel now that I should have chilled cocnut water instead of my usual 3 lattes. Just heavenly. Anyway I digress from my lunchtime fantasies. You are all familiar now with my craving for chicken liver pate - once this fast is over, I'm going to make a kilo of the stuff and put it into individual ramekins and seal each with clarified butter to preserve them - that should last about a month eating it two or three times a week. But I'm also dreaming of boiled potatoes in salted butter with mint and truffle oil and my wife's coronation chicken and green salads or cold roast pheasant and a really good chutney. And then the piece de resistance that has really been battling for my attention - a rich Stilton and smoked salmon quiche! This lunch must then be finished with cheese and biscuits. As far as biscuits are concerned there are only three worth having - McVities digestives, Carrs Water biscuits and Nairns oatcakes (rough or smooth). other biscuits are just nonsense for this business. Brie - I want a wheel of good ripe Brie and Stilton and Cambazola, Dolcelate, Gorgonzola, Beemster, Cornish Crumbler, Boursin etc. etc.

Oh my God, I'm only 14 days into this fast and there's still 30 days to go! AAAAAARRGGGGGHHHH!!!