Before I went to University I had never really experienced fast food. Well, obviously I had... but not on a regular basis, and it didn't ever seem to haunt and stalk me the same way it does now. Here, in Cumbria, I can go for a jog up the fell, and feel invigorated by excercise. In Stoke, whilst at Uni, I go for a run and pass McDonald's billboards every 300 metres- which just makes me want to go and order 3 large Big Macs!
Anyway, regardless of the effect this food has on my health, wallet and figure, when I'm at home, I do kinda miss it. A friend and I really wanted a quick food fix the other day. The theory that when living at home your parents wait on you hand and foot is a myth. Or at least in our households it is. No home cooked evening meal and no parents in sight. To top it all off, bare cupboards. We may aswell have been still at uni. And we'd have had better luck finding ourselves some gnosh if we had been! We weren't able to call Dominoes as there isn't one anywhere near us.That's no exageration. I genuinely don't know where our nearest one would be! (OK, so you inspired me to do some research...!)
I made this chart to show the distance to our nearest fast food outlets.
From top to bottom: Pizza Hut, Indian, Chinese, Burger King, Chippy, KFC, Subway, McDonald's
Given that wherever we were to travel we would have to incur petrol costs, it was unfortunate that we didn't fancy fish and chips. Travelling anywhere further than 5 miles makes for a rather expensive evening meal. So what did we do? Hit Westmorland, where we both work, and got ourselves a panini and a portion of chips each. Lord knows why we thought this was a better idea, as the hefty service station prices didn't make for a cheap stomach filler by any stretch of the imagination and the meal was probably as calorific as a McDonald's. In hindsight, we shoud've stayed in and ate cereal.
Despite Cumbria being truly beautiful, (and let’s be honest, there are worse places to live than on the edge of the Lake District!) living in the countryside is quite often a challenge in itself- this week I’ll be keeping you informed of all the drawbacks, and highlights, of being a country bumpkin!
Whilst some readers may blame the tube, public transport or general busy traffic as excuses for running late for work, my manager told me today that when I drive to work and run late, I most commonly blame getting stuck behind farmers moving sheep and for the most part, this excuse is genuine!
Delays: Enough to drive you baaaaaa-rmy!
Rather than me describe what my surroundings are like, I thought I’d make the most of multi-media, and let you view the sights, and hear the sounds of the countryside for yourself.
Well, needless to say, given I'm writing this. I survived my 16 hours in work, folllowed by another 8 hours, seprated by only 6 hours at home!
Regarldess of my survival, the whole experience wasn't pretty (and neither is my face in this video!) My words may reveal I was feeling ok, but boy oh boy, do I look rough! There's one thing I can say for sure- hard graft aint glamorous!
Top tips I can give to anyone else working long hours are;
-Make sure you get your break enitlement, for obvious reasons. Sometimes a little break can help you feel a lot more revatalised.
- Take your toothbrush, and maybe some dry shampoo. If you look clean and fresh this may have you feeling a little fresher too!
- Take a second pair of shoes. (I'm not the only one who swears by this!) If you're on your feet all day (like I am) it can really take its toll. A change in footwear helps relieve pressure points on your feet, and keep you comfortable.
My job makes it almost impossible to have a lie in. Even today, when I wasn’t due in work until 11am (a much more reasonable hour than the usual 7am start) I received a phone call from my manager, Ela, at 8.30, asking if I could start my shift an hour earlier.
Whenever they ring up during what I perceive to be the ‘early hours,’ they catch me so off guard that I agree to absolutely anything they ask. As soon as the phone goes down and I’m in less of a state of slumber, I’m always overcome by extreme feelings of remorse- ‘Why, oh why did I agree to go in!?’
Apparently I should consider myself lucky that my phone call arrived when it did. My colleague, and very good friend, Tracy Potter, received a similar phone call at 7.30am- and today’s her day off. Not cool. But then she got to spend the day chilling in the sun whilst I ran a barbeque shed. So my heart hardly goes out to her.
Me, inhaling smoke whilst flipping burgers
Given the Bank Holiday proves to be a busy one, extra hours are flying around, and shifts are often becoming available at short notice.
This week, I worked Monday and Tuesday, on a day’s notice, and agreed to work an early on Saturday (7am start) despite working a late on Friday. (11pm finish) As if spending 16 out of 24 hours in the place wasn’t already going to be enough, I then agreed to work an extra shift tomorrow- meaning I’ll be working two consecutive eight hour shifts.
You may perceive this as a bit of a mad move, but with tomorrow being Good Friday, I’ll be earning time and a half (that’s just over £9 an hour.) which means I’ll receive three shifts worth of cash in one day- it's a pity we won't recieve the same perks on the day of the Royal Wedding.
On the begining of a bank holiday weekend, I predict the whole experience will be nothing less than traumatic.
Wish me luck for my 16 hour stint. I can't help but feel I’ll need it.
The first day back was always gonna be a struggle. I haven’t been in work since I was home over Christmas, and they always seem to be making subtle changes and not making me aware of them, which confuses the hell out of me until I get to grips with the place again.
Not helping matters was the fact that I spent much of last week desperately trying to get work done for my University coursework deadlines, and had many a late night in the library. Not having caught up with my sleep made getting out of bed at 6am, to start work at 7, a major, major chore.
The place was manic. I had forgotten what a nightmare it could be, and didn’t hesitate in telling my manager that. She said I should consider it lucky that I’ve had the opportunity to forget- which I appreciated, but it didn’t stop me feeling sorry for myself.
With customers right, left and centre, all making demands of little old me, a slow working till, and a dodgy coffee machine- I was feeling the pressure within 30 minutes of being there. To say I was ‘out of practice’ would be a massive understatement.
After a shift from hell, consisting of several consecutive nightmares, I was glad to receive an invitation to dinner from my manager. As a means of compensating for a not so great first day back (not that it was her fault in the slightest!) she offered to rustle me up some gourmet gnosh- winner.
She also explained that no one had expected it to be quite so busy, and although we hadn't had an abundance of staff, we had massively exceeded the day’s target, with regards to money through the tills. So maybe I was justified in feeling slightly overwhelmed, and even if not, at least I got a free meal as a result of my discomfort.
Nice management and colleagues- a definite perk of the job... I'll let you know if I think of any more!
An obviously less busy day at work. About 3 years ago.
Whilst some students seem to be gaining a negative reputation when it comes to gaining and holding onto undergraduate jobs, I’m the paradox to this- and consider myself to be quite the workaholic.
I began working for Westmorland Limited the summer after my GCSEs. I spent plenty of time there at weekends and during my school holidays whilst I was ‘studying’ for my A Levels, and since I began university, whenever I’m home for Christmas, Easter or the summer, I take the opportunity to give my bank account a little replenishment. A student loan can only go so far after all…
The times of year students are away from uni tend to be the busiest in the calendar for motorway services, as everyone’s travelling about- holidaying, visiting relatives etc- so it makes sense for the company to keep us student staff on their books with the idea that, when they’re over run with angry M6 users in need of food, they have the man power to resolve the situation.
Given I’m in sunny Cumbria for a fortnight, and as of tomorrow, shall be embarking on a week of hard graft, I thought I’d let you know my perceptions of working life- the good, the bad, and the very, very ugly!
If any of you do get down about having to solely foot the bill for your lifestyle, (you may think your parents could do more etc) be sure to watch this video, and hopefully it will inspire you to make your own money.
Usually I’m a big fan of public transport. Coming from a rural area, where you’ve got more chance of hitching a lift on a cattle wagon than catching a bus, I view access to public transport as a real treat. This was all before my train journey home this weekend.
Definitely Rural: The view from my bedroom window
Now, being a last minute girl through and through, I surprised myself when I arrived at Stoke station a good 20 minutes before my northern bound train was due to depart. Plenty of time to purchase my ticket, get myself a coffee for the journey, and have a leisurely walk to my platform- or so you would’ve thought.
There were three ticket salesmen behind the desks.
One man was dealing with two women who were obviously having ticket issues. It could have been that he was being extremely helpful by taking a great deal of time trying to resolve their issue, but more likely he was just being generally bad at his job by not being able to solve their problem quickly. Alternatively he may just have been working slowly.
The second man appeared to be on his break. He was sat there not doing an awful lot. Fair enough, it was lunch time and I believe that everybody should be entitled to have half an hour of peace and quiet, but surely the station would have a staffroom/office area he could go and sit in. Was it really necessary for him to loiter behind his desk, almost taunting the lengthy queue of travellers?
Ticket man number 3 was talking to a member of staff, who looked like a conductor. I think they were discussing a piece of paper work, although I can’t be entirely sure that they weren’t just having banter. For all I know there could’ve been a picture of a topless model on that piece of paper, and they could simply be discussing her fine curves.
The more time I spent waiting in the queue, the less time I wasted giving them the benefit of the doubt. Mr Lazy, Percy Perverson, and Snail paced Joe, were really grinding my gears.
With only two minutes left before my train left I stormed out of the non-moving queue, making no attempt to hide my dissatisfaction. I dragged my suitcase in a obviously unhappy manner. As I went to walk down the steps to the Subway to get onto the platform at the other side I passed the self ticket machines. Why on Earth hadn’t I thought to use these sooner?! With only a minute and a half until the train left I wondered if I really had time- but if you don’t buy your tickets before travel, often you’re not entitled to the same discounts- and there was no way I was paying non-student prices thanks to useless ticket salesmen. So, I punched my pin into the machine faster than you can say ‘visa debit’, and waited desperately for my tickets to drop out the bottom. Phew.
Luckily, two years since this video was taken, I've become more adept at working the self ticket machines!
With only 30 seconds to go I threw my suitcase over my shoulder and literally sprinted to the platform. The train was in. I managed to hop on it just as the doors were closing. The conductor lady gave me a look that could kill- as if me running late was a personal attack on her. Funnily enough, I didn’t enjoy the close shave either Missy!
Anyway, I reached my destination, a friend’s house in Lancaster, and was able to forget about the whole ticket escapade.
The next day however, I was travelling the final leg of my journey up to Cumbria, where the use of the self-ticket machine came back to bite me in the ass.
In my hurry I stupidly forgot that I would be spending the night in Lancaster, and as out-going tickets are only valid on the day of purchase I didn’t have a ticket to get me to Penrith, the station closest to my home.
The ticket collector on the train was thoroughly unsympathetic of my tale of ‘ticket office woe’. I wouldn’t have been surprised if I'd had smoke coming out of my ears as she stated I’d have to fork out yet more cash. Grrrrr.
They don't even have this sign anymore, to amuse me upon arrival!
Someone a bit more streetwise and cynical eventually did some re-wording!
All in all, a very unsatisfied traveller. I’m going to find the relevant person to complain to, and I’m going to rant my little socks off. (Though hopefully in a manner which will help them take me seriously and give me some form of compensation.)
My love of public transport has drastically dwindled.
Fenton Manor seems to be the bane of my life at the moment. Whenever I go there, bad things happen.
On Monday I went up there to film a news package. (The story being that they’ve introduced parking charges and leisure users aren’t happy.) As you can see from the map below, on foot, the sports complex from campus is a bit of trek.
My lengthy route
Having a heavy tripod on your back and a camera over your shoulder doesn’t make the journey any easier. To add insult to injury, it was raining, so whilst I wanted to wear a coat to protect me from the elements, the heat my body was producing through this endurance challenge was causing me to sweat rather a lot. A classic catch 22 situation. Things couldn’t get much worse really.Or could they? Turns out, they definitely could.
That palaver was followed by me desperately roaming their car park in search of people willing to give Vox pops on the parking charges, which, in the wind and rain proved a difficult task. It was safe to say that filming at Fenton was not my favourite journalistic moment...
Despite my recent bad experience with the centre, I do actually love its pool. So today, once again, I embarked on the laborious walk up there, hoping that a nice relaxing swim would make the trek worthwhile. Got there, only to discover that the pool was closed to the public as there was a gala on.
I'm scared to go back there, who knows what might go wrong next!? If I go for a swim and my Nan’s cat dies I’ll never forgive myself!
At least by not wanting to go to Fenton Manor, I can jump on the band wagon and complain about the recent closure of Shelton Pool.
That’s right, during my week as a pessimist all potential ‘moan topics’ are welcomed!
It's easy to be negative when you feel physically rubbish. Unfortunately yetserday morning I woke up feeling worse for wear. If you’re a dedicated reader of this blog, or know me in person, you may immediately suspect that the illness was self-inflicted. Well, not this time. No, this time I was genuinely ill, though the symptoms were similar to a hangover. My throat and my head hurt, my voice was coarse, my body ached and I felt generally very weak.
Now, I like to think that under normal circumstances I’m a bit of a trooper, but yesterday, I seriously could not face going in to my 9-5 practical Broadcast Newsday. I felt my body would collapse under the weight of a camera and tri-pod and my brain was in no mood for story collecting.
Although she had nothing to do with my decision not to go in, Dolly Parton doesn't exactly do much to promote enthusiasm for the 9-5!
Before you start accusing me of being a bit of a ‘wet lettuce’ please note that I had perfect attendance throughout Primary school, exceptional attendance throughout secondary school (and have a certificate somewhere to prove it!) I’ve never once called in sick to my part time job, (and you should know I put in rather a lot of hours) and it is very VERY rare that I miss a lecture.
I notified my tutor and Newsday editors that I wouldn’t be in, and began my day of feeling sorry for myself- wondering all the time what could be kicking off in the newsroom.
My housemate Nelly interrupted my misery when she came into my room and announced she was taking me for Subway. Whilst I claimed I was too ill to leave the house and getting dressed seemed like rather a lot of effort for not much reward- she was insistent I join her for a sandwich. Too ill to put up much of a fight I pulled on some joggers and a hoody and moped out to her car.
Granted, the sandwich probably did me good as by mid afternoon I started to perk up. This is where I ditched the negativity and started to feel good about life. (I know this isn’t really in keeping with my challenge but it’s hard to be pessimistic when your life is on the up!)
Now, pay close attention, as these are the events which triggered an epiphany.
A couple of my course friends came knocking on my door. Apparently they had missed me throughout the day and wanted to check I was doing ok. Bless them. They kept me entertained with talesof the day, it really is a giggle a minute with them, and I was so glad they called in.
An hour later I was invited to go round to another friend’s for dinner, but given I had already had Subway, I declined. She persuaded me to go round anyway though, for the sake of social interaction. I’m glad she did, because again, I realised just how funny my friends are.
Having watched them eat I was feeling rather peckish myself. By this stage in the day I was feeling well enough for ice cream, and, conscience of the fact I hadn’t done ANYTHING all day, I persuaded the gang to take an evening stroll round the park whilst we enjoyed our edible treats.
Whilst we walked we had the type of conversation that is the norm between really good friends. Old tales, and current antics, complete with witty banter throughout, really made for a pleasant evening.
I had scheduled a phone call with an old friend of mine from home. So, bang on 9.30pm, we began a much needed catch up. Once again, it made me appreciate the very special people I have in my life, who always raise a smile. Rachael Walker, if you’re reading this, you’re not in my life enough!!
Me and Rach: Four years on, we're still the best of friends!
Later that evening, Nelly, who was ‘studying’ in the library posted on my Facebook wall that her tummy was talking to her. Having eaten at the same time, she figured I may be hungry too. She was right. Now, you regular readers will remember from previous posts that I can NOT resist Dominoes Pizza. Given it was ‘Two for Tuesday’ (Buy one, get one Free pizza) we decided to put an order in, at 11:25pm! Nelly, aware of how much work she still had to do was reluctant to leave the library so, like the good friend (and bad student) I am, I suggested we eat there! The library security guard looked less than impressed when the Dominoes man appeared at the entrance with two 14 inch pizzas- but I dishonestly assured him we’d eat them in the designated ‘canteen’ area.
Sitting amongst the books with Nelly, and her study buddy Emma, eating forbidden pizza and having a laugh over the lack of work they had got done, was the day’s final instalment of terrific company.
As I drifted off to sleep, I thought about everyone I had spent some time with/talked to throughout the day, and remembered how much each of them had me smile. I’m so lucky to have friends like them, and this realisation/reminder left me feeling only positive thoughts.
Sorry negativity, although you looked like you may rule the day, my amazing friends ensured it wasn’t to be!
With University deadlines just around the corner, I’ve reached that point where every day is crucial. I NEED to start making productive use of my time.
On Friday I did a 14 hour stint in the library. No joke, I was in there from 1:45pm until 4am. Granted, I popped out occasionally and used the coffee machine and took regular comfort breaks etc, but for the vast majority of that time I was sat at my computer work station. Unfortunately, between texting my friends and checking my phone, browsing Facebook and watching ‘The Annoying Orange’ videos on Youtube, I didn’t actually get a whole lot of work done.
The video below is the one which I consider to be the most annoying!
Luckily, on Friday my pessimistic week hadn’t yet begun. So my outlook upon leaving the library was; ‘tomorrow’s another day.’
Realising that today was my last chance to redeem myself and have something to show for the weekend, I finally knuckled down and at long last finished writing a magazine article I had been working on.
After a long hard slog, that ‘I’ve Finished!’ feeling is literally like no other. I felt liberated.
However, being a pessimist, that feeling of ecstasy didn’t last long. Oh no. I started focusing, not on what I had achieved, but what I had not. I still have to produce over a thousand words for the Magazine writing module, have a three thousand word politics essay to start, two online news stories to do, a one thousand word critical analysis of working as a broadcast journalist, which, despite broadcasting being my supposed specialist subject area WILL require extensive research. All this is to be done whilst continuously producing radio and television news packages for my portfolio. And (obviously) it’s all got to be completed by the end of term.
Sorry if some of that has gone over your head. In truth, half of it goes over mine, which leads me to feel, not only negativity, but almost self-loathing. Why do I have to be such a last minute person? Why do I not work consistently throughout the semesters? Why do I treat lectures as a social occasion rather than an opportunity to actually learn something? I ask myself these questions EVERY deadline period, and yet still find myself in the same situation the following semester. Maybe I’m actually going to have to learn the hard way and fail a module before I change my ways.
Ordinarily I’d defend my tendencies with the reasoning that being laid back is a desirable personality trait. During my week of pessimism I’ve become aware that my outlook is stupid, and that perhaps I’m just lazy.
If pessimism leads to self-loathing then my self-esteem is going to be at an all time low by the end of the week and I’ll require extensive therapy to build it up again. I can see the blog topic now; ‘A week in the life of a Psychotherapy patient.’ Drop me a complimentary comment once in a while else I fear this scenario may actually become reality!
For anyone who's procrastinating whilst reading this, watching this video is a must!
My first opportunity to be majorly pessimistic arose this evening. Some clothes I had ordered online were delivered to me by post this morning, and so tonight called for a trying on ‘sesh’- when it comes to new clothes, some vital questions need answering. What shoes go best with this? What jewellery suits this style? And, can I wear a jacket with this item?
I eagerly un-wrapped my purchases, ready to do a few twirls in front of the mirror, but had my bubble well and truly burst when it came to the first item. It was a chiffon top in a lovely coral colour, but unfortunately, it just ‘hung,’- the whole style was just unflattering. And so I decided I’d be returning that.
I moved on to wearing the playsuit. Now this looked adorable on the website- the cutest, most summery thing ever. But unfortunately in the cold light of day (well, early evening) it looked nowhere near as striking. Urgh. I felt let down immediately and didn’t even bother trying it on. What would be the point?
The second dress, my fourth and final purchase, was just overly snug, (the cabbage soup diet obviously hasn’t had any lasting effects!) and so that too became a ‘non- keeper.’
Now, under normal circumstances I would shrug, package them all back up, and be grateful that the postage returns are freepost and that the post office is only down the road. (I lived in a very rural area before uni, and this is my first experience of convenient amenities!) I’d also relish the fact that once my return was processed I’d have £82 pounds in my bank to spend on anything I wanted, and could buy a whole host of various fashions.
Contents of my closet- no new purchases. Grrrr.
Today however, with me wishing to consider the negative aspects of life, I began to get irritated by the situation. Not only did I waste over an hour of my time browsing the site and making the purchases in the first place, I’ll no doubt spend close to another hour in the endless queue at the post office. (Seriously, I would be surprised if an old biddy collecting their pension hasn’t dropped dead in there before!) Also, I paid a non-refundable £3.99 for postage and so this whole clothing scenario which I wish had never happened, actually cost me money! And then there’s the major kick in the teeth that through having to return the clothes I’m stuck with the same old boring summer wardrobe full of stuff I’ve had for years. Yes I need new clothes. No, it is not proving an easy task.
Even if I was to hit the high street there would no doubt be further irritations - a rude checkout assistant, a smelly changing room, a lack of size 10 clothing… the list goes on.
Is it just me or is shopping seriously over rated? If it wasn’t for clothes being somewhat essential, I really really wouldn’t bother with them. Urgh. I’m not gonna lie, my negativity is rife right now!
Yesterday was April the first, and also, for those of you who were ignorant of the occasion; April Fool’s Day.
The usual pranks were played. I know people who called their parents telling them they’d been kicked out of University, friends ‘in need’ who asked for advice on their ‘pregnancies’ and couples who faked break ups, all for the purpose of the occasion.
Oringinal Image courtsey of Roger Hargreaves' 'Mr Happy'
Personally, I quite like to embrace April the 1st. I’m always on my guard to try and ensure I’m not made a fool of, and like to get up early and make the most of the prankster’s favourite morning.
However, a lot of people HATE theoccasion. Whilst I understand that hearing (for example) that your 14 year old sister is pregnant must be highly distressing, surely once you discover it’s not true you can laugh about it? Even if not, rather than being annoyed about the prank for the remainder of the day/week, why not just be grateful April Fool’s Day only comes round once a year?
But then I began to consider that maybe not everyone is able to take something positive away from a situation they deem to be negative. The Chinese use the same symbols to write ‘crisis’, as they do ‘opportunity’ (apparently!) but not everyone is able to share such an optimistic outlook.
I hate negative thinking. Hate, hate HATE it. I mean, surely it just lowers your quality of life if you’re walking around in a cloud of doom all the time. One of my favourite quotes ever is ‘Life is like a mirror, you get the best results if you smile at it.’ In my mind, never has a truer line been spoken. (The quote even gets a mention on the 'About Me' section of my Facebook page)
Whilst I encourage others to always view the glass as being half full, am I being unfair when I fail to even consider their negative point of view? For the next seven days I’m going to put my positive disposition into hiding, and see situations for how they really are.
As of today, I shall be Little Miss Pessimistic. Prepare yourself for some major grumbles... although is it too optimistic to think that I'll be able to complete this challenge so readily?!
Apparently my friend Matt Payne seems to think so, unbeknown to me, until now, this is how he percieves me on a day to day basis...
We'll see if my weekly grumbles are of similar calibre to his!
I'm done! I'm so relieved and so so happy to have finished. It was a long seven days to say the least, but now, at last, I can say I've done it- and without cheating too! (First attempt doesn't count!)
Day seven is hardley a spectacular way to end the week of misery. Eating only brown rice and vegetables with the cabbage soup was neither my favourite, nor least favourite day. I kind of wish it had been one or the other then I could have formed a stonger lasting opinion based on my the 'grande finale.'
I can't wait to have Weetabix for breakfast tomorrow. (Yes, Weetabix. Hardley a treat, but during a week of cabbage soup you'll be surprised what foods you miss!)
I'm going to jump on the scales tomorrow morning, so watch this space for the revelation of results! I don't actually feel thinner and haven't noticed any physical changes, which is unfortunate as some people online said that by mid-week they had noticed the difference. However, the truth in the dieting is in the weighing... (Like I say, watch this space!)
So, next week's blog- 'A week in the life of a Binge Eater...!' No, I jest. Un-do all my hard work in the space of a seven days? No thanks! I went food shopping today, and bought mostly healthy goods. I'm not going to be one of those people who pig out following a diet. After the week I've had, doing the basic 'healthy eating' thing should be a doddle. I have the reciept to prove how well I did, avoided all the cake/biscuit isles and everything! (The 'luxury dessert' was a minor slip up, but it can act as a well deserved treat!) Also, no comments about the non-applicator tampons please- applicators may make life easier but they're considerably more expensive!
Yet another Carnage bar crawl took place in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, last night. I arranged to hit the town with a group of close friends and acquaintances, all of whom were heading out to celebrate Ashleigh's twentieth birthday.
Although the diet plan suggests alcohol should not be consumed throughout the week, I had other ideas. I'm not enthusiastic enough about clubbing to the extent that I could have a brilliant time based solely on the atmosphere of the place and the company. That's not to say I can't enjoy myself without having a drink. Oh no, no, no, no, no. It's just that there are plenty of other ways I'd rather spend a sober evening. I hate having to try ridiculously hard just to have a coherent conversation with someone who's stood 2 feet away from me. In a club, you can literally be yelling at someone and they still can't make out what you're saying above the noise. Whilst if you're drunk in a club these issues tend not to be so important, and it doesn't matter that you have to queue out in the cold, or that someone is being sick in the corner, or that your toilet door has no lock and yet again there's no loo roll...
So, rather than endure the hardship of an alcohol free night club experience, I decided to devise a list of all the 'healthy' alcohol I could consume. Now, this isn't quite as stupid as it first may sound. A lot of alcoholic drinks have a very high calorie and sugar content, and these were to be avoided. Under normal circumstances I would order vodka and coke, but I wasn't about to un-do all my hard work by filling up on empty calories. There was to be no coke, just vodka!
Camera on the floor moment in 'Walkabout' club/bar Hanley
This logic resulted in me waking up this morning fully clothed with a fake eyelash stuck to my face, a mouth like the Sahara and a very very poorly head. The only plus point of awakening was the fact there was no evidence of any take away lying around. I'm assured I very firmly stuck to my guns, and refused to order a post-club kebab with the others. (Demonstrating self-control whilst drunk? That's new!)
So, having not eaten since tea the following evening, I had a lot of alcohol in my stomach that needed soaking up. A pre-lecture fried breakfast at Ember seemed the most appealing idea EVER, but unfortunately day four of the cabbage soup diet allows only the soup, bananas and skimmed milk. How on earth was that going to cure my hangover?!
It wasn't, basically. I still feel abysmal. The day has been an incredible struggle. I currently have the energy of a sloth and am ready to crawl into bed and rest my weary weary body. I know bananas are a slow release of energy, but surely they should've provided me with a little burst by now! I've been eating them all day! Even typing this post has felt a mammoth task.
Not much is fun whilst hungover, but the cabbage soup diet has to be the least fun thing ever. Under no circumstances would I repeat this day again. Not for love, money, or any amount of weight loss!
The second day of the diet allows you to eat all the vegetables you want, (although it recommends staying away from dry beans, peas, and sweet corn,) along side the cabbage soup. (Joy.) As a massive treat, the diet plan suggests you reward yourself with a baked potato with butter for dinner- which already makes the day ultimately better than yesterday!
The weather today was glorious, and my housemate Nelly suggested we have a picnic in the park, and went on to list all the lovely things we could pack up and take with us. Cold pastries, quiche, Doritos with salsa sauce, coke, chicken legs, breadsticks with homous, cake… the list goes on. You name anything unhealthy and I bet you, Nelly fancied it!
After making it clear that I had learned from Monday, and was not about to let her tempt me into breaking the rules again, she suggested we have a trip to Morrisons, where we could make use of their self-service cold salad counter.
Whilst she loaded coleslaw and potato salad, and various types of pasta, (all smothered in lovely mayo) into her box, and topped it off with a sprinkling of cheese and fried croutons for good measure, I was left with lettuce leaves, cucumber and a small amount of grated carrot. Fantastic.
The sunshine enabled me to salvage a pleasant picnic experience, although the food wasn’t a big factor in my enjoyment! I really started to get irritable when Nelly toddled off to get an ice cream from the shop, leaving me to wallow in my self-pity, and continually curse the stupid diet.
Even the Hanley Park ducks were getting fed more than me!
I cooked myself the biggest jacket potato I could get my hands on for dinner. I figured I wouldn’t be coming across carbohydrates again until day seven, so I may as well make the most of it.
Tomorrow I get to eat fruit AND vegetables… oh how will I cope with the sheer variety and choice…?!
Give me Weight Watchers points any day, at least they allow you to eat chocolate!
Really regretting ordering Dominoes yesterday, especially since I crumbled so late in the day. My evening meal was my final hurdle, and yet I couldn’t bring myself to jump! Ahh well, they say “tomorrow’s another day,” and today has been.
Breakfast- Fruit Salad
Lunch- Soup
Snacks-4 Clementines and ¼ melon.
Dinner- More Soup.
Boring, but bearable. I’ve coped, and neither feel hungry, death like or drained.
I forgot to weigh myself before starting the challenge yesterday, but seeing as I failed anyway, I guess that doesn’t make a lot of difference. Jumped on the scales after guzzling down that pizza last night. Probably should’ve done it this morning on an empty stomach, but a dramatic weight loss will look more impressive this way!
Apologies for the trampy looking feet. I'm aware a coat or nail varnish wouldn't go a miss!
Day one of the cabbage soup diet should consist of eating all the soup and all the fruit you want (except bananas). And drinking only unsweetened teas, cranberry juice and water.
Well, I got off to a good start. I prepeared both a fruit salad and a batch of soup last night and had those for breakfast and lunch (respectively.) I tend to mainly drink water anyway, and have a real soft spot for peppermint tea- so with regards to liquid intake, it wasn't as if I had to fight against a fizzy drink craving or anything. Easy.
This evening I had to endure my usual Monday excercise bonanza, which involves hockey training from 5-6, then badminton from 6-8. I had a cheeky bowl of the fruit salad before I left, as I literally can not function if I haven't grazed readily enough throughout the day! Both sessions were fine. We combined our session with the lad's at hockey training, but that was nothing us gals couldn't handle!
The problem came when, after badminton, I just wasn't feeling eating the soup again. I wanted something tasty, and to be honest, felt as if I deserved it. I put 'forbidden foods' to the back of my mind, but still couldn't bring myself to eat the soup.
Then my gorgeous house mate, Nelly Tyanase returns home. Forgeting all about my challenge, she barges into my room and announces her own hunger! Her opening sentence didn't even begin with a 'Hello,' just "If only today was tomorrow, we could do Dominoes 'Two for Tuesday!!!" Well, I was quite glad that today was Monday, as half-price pizza would have been a rather appealing idea, diet or no diet! Nelly left, and once again, forbidden food (specifically Dominoes) went, rather reluctantly, to the back of my mind.
By this point in the evening (about 9.30) my tummy was rumbling, so I was begining to come round to the idea of eating a helping of the cabbage gunk. As I trundled through to the kitchen I became acutely aware of the Dominoes menu on our dining room notice board, as well as the 'Huge student savings' leaflet, which is full of Dominoes discount vouchers!
Stupid, diet ruining discounts!
Now, I was praying they were past their expiry date, because otherwise resisting picking up the phone to order was going to require all my psychological strength! Great news for Nelly- the vouchers are valid until August. Not so great news for me, as within three minitues of opening the menu I had placed an order for two large pizzas! Not only that, when the kind man on the phone politely asked, 'Is that everything Madam?' I replied, 'No, chuck two cans of Coke on there too!' Rules were been broken here there and everywhere. NOT a great start to my week of maximum self-discipline.
A constant reminder of my failure...! :-(
And so, the diet starts again at breakfast time! Wonder if I can freeze my leftovers until my diet week is up... seriously, too good to waste, or give away!
This week’s challenge is going to be a major struggle for me! I’m a big fan of eating- I just LOVE food! I tend to munch what I want, when I want, but unfortunately this is becoming visually apparent. Last time I went home my Mum took one look at me and said “Blooooody Hell. Have you put weight on!?” (Obviously not a big believer in diplomacy!) She didn’t just leave it there either. Oh no. Her next line was ‘What on earth have you been eating!?’
Given we’re approaching the Easter break soon, I’d like to be able to go home and not receive that reaction. I’d also like to be able to fit into my favourite pair of jeans. They were a pre-university purchase, and I used to have to wear them with a belt, but now I can’t even manage to squeeze my thighs into them! Sad times.
Now, I know as well as the next person that fad diets are stupid and the best way to lose weight is through eating sensibly and exercising. Well, I already do rather a lot of exercise as it is, and couldn’t really do much more, so limiting my food intake is the only way. A short term fad diet seems like a quick fix, and so I thought I’d put one to the test.
If there was a ‘Family Fortunes’ style survey done on Fad diets, the Cabbage Soup Diet would surely be the top answer. Because of its reputation, I've decided to give it a go!
This video pretty much explains the diet... and also highlights what I already know- that fad diets are not sensible. Oh well...!
I’ll let you know how/if I cope with having to exercise some form of self-discipline.
Following my week away I’ve devised a list of five top tips for all tourists. You may feel this post has been a long time coming, and yes, I know I’ve been back from tour a good few days now but I’ve literally been shattered since I returned. Which leads me nicely onto tip number one…
1.) Give yourself enough time
Whilst you’re away you need to make sure you allow enough time to achieve the aim of your trip, whether this be seeing all the sights, developing an in depth knowledge of the culture, or regaining your sanity after a hectic week at work.
You also need to consider how much time you will need either side of your trip. You may need a few days previous to pack and get organised, and, (if you’re anything like me) a few days to recover afterwards.
2.) Do some research.
Obviously the location of our tour was a secret, so I couldn’t do any ‘geeking up’ before jetting off. However, if I was planning my own trip itinerary I would want to ensure I was getting the most I possibly could out of my visit. Therefore, checking out the best, and choosing your favourite touristy hot spots before travelling, is a must. A sly glance at the weather forecast never hurts either.
3.) Be financially savvy
It’s no good if, having chosen what you’d like to do, you don’t have the funds to support you. So unless money is no object, spend wisely and work to a budget. This is as important when booking flights, transport and accommodation, as it is when paying for activities or excursions. Some hotels often offer discount cards for local amenities, so check with hotel staff to see if they can get you any money off. Remember that quite often, if you don’t ask, you don’t get!
4.) Follow the law
Now this may sound like an obvious point, but you don’t want to go getting yourself into trouble, especially if you’re in a foreign country. Social norms vary greatly throughout different countries, and it’s important that you understand and follow laws/traditions. At best you’d appear ignorant, disrespectful of rude, but considerably worse than that, you could potentially find yourself under arrest. For example, marijuana use may be legalised in Amsterdam, but could get you into serious trouble in other countries.
Those of you who are ‘Sex and the City’ fans will remember the trouble Samantha got into whilst holidaying in the Middle East. As her date kindly points out, (1.03) what may be acceptable in Paris or Madrid, may not be in Abu Dhabi!
The video shows the actions which led to her arrest.
Finally, 5.) Learn some of the language
If you’re doing the touristy thing abroad, it’s always handy to know a little of the language- it’s unrealistic to suggest becoming fluent in a language for the purpose of a short break, but learning a few key words and phrases can help you get by. You can’t guarantee that there will always be someone around who speaks English, and even if there is, locals usually appreciate efforts made to speak their language- despite the fact they could probably more easily understand your English!
So there you have it, my top tips. And if they weren't enough, I've included a slide show of pictures capturing some of my favourite tour moments- enjoy!
