Ben smoked!
I've now won the money to take me to the World Darts in Purfleet. However, if I don't loose the weight, I'll effectively be paying for myself. So, I'll be cracking on with the weight loss.
It was a staggeringly poor effort on B.C.'s part. Little more than 4 days of not smoking, and he couldn't take anymore. Bad show B.C.! Bad show.
Looking back on the weekend, it seems as though I eat a lot more when I'm off work (which is a bit strange - it's not as though I'm doing anything physical at the weekends). I assume it's the fact that I'm sitting around the house, and therefore have more access to food.
Although, this weekend I was out for most of it. Friday night in town to meet B.C. and Toby (a few drinks in a few places). Toby made a stand in the Slug and Lettuce over the drinking up time. As I understand the matter (and correct me if I'm wrong), under the new licencing laws, we now have 1/2 hour to drink up our drinks. On Friday night however, the bouncer (who'll remain nameless, although we do know who he is) started hurding up all the punters at 12.04 (a mear 4 minutes into our drinking up time). We didn't move, as we were sitting near the door anyway. However, by about 12.10am, he really trying to kick us out. Toby, however, wasn't standing for it (he was seated in a leather chair!). He argued (in well thought out, and coherant reason) that he was entitled, by law, to remain and drink his drink, which the pub had sold him at just before midnight. He argued further that any action (including threats of a baring from the bouncer [which he's not authorised to do], or phoning the police) would actually be against the law of trading in alcohol.
Toby left at 12.25am, with a belly full of beer (actually Bulmers' cider), and the shield of justice by his side.
Saturday I was at Newbury Racecourse. A rather nice racecourse, with wonderful facilities. It's a bit in the "industrial" mould of Sandown and Kempton. It was a great days racing, with some group races at Newbury, the Gold Cup at Ayr and the St. Leger in Ireland. We didn't win. I did however have a rather tasty Hot Roast Pork baguette. A touch of salt, and some apple sauce set it off a treat. It could only have been bettered by a side order of crackling!
On Sunday were were down in Seven Kings, at O'Gradys pub, watching the GAA All Ireland Football (a sort of cross between football, aussie-rules and rugby for the uninitiated). Mayo (Dad's home county) were playing Kerry (the perennial winners). I won't comment on the game. I'll just say that Mayo didn't win. By a long way. A long, long way. But it was great fun.
We stopped off on the way back for dinner in a pub called "The Chequers" in Ugley (near Saffron Walden). It was a good meal, if a little "pubby", but certainly filled a hole.
Looking back at the food I ate over the weekend, it shows a distinct lack of vitamins, fiber, vegetables and goodness. I aim to change that over the coming weeks.
