Curb your enthusiasm

September 21, 2015 by Ray Morgan

Curb your enthusiasm

You may remember that, last week, I mentioned to you that my trousers split and I casually joked about how I should lay off all the wine, ice cream and ale that I mentioned in the blog. HOW WE LAUGHED.

Well guess what happened on the following Tuesday? IT HAPPENED AGAIN. My second pair of blue jeans ripped at the seams. What was initially a wry nudge at myself turned into a full blown wake up call.

This summer has been a glorious stretch of great food, great booze, and little exercise. Food is a huge passion of mine; my vice is good grub. I'm not rich, but I'd happily spend my last dimes eating a beautiful three course meal with accompanying wine or cocktails.

I've recently eaten at some wonderful restaurants, and drunk many a pint at some brilliant gigs, and indulged in takeaways, street food pop-ups and micro breweries.

The exercise...well...it's just not been happening for me. Walking is my only real passion when it comes to exercise, and it was often too hot in the summer to do anything else. I would pay for a gym membership but - my soul would die.

Now it's autumn, what's my excuse? It's not really hot anymore, and I can cover up in snuggly jumpers. This is the beginning of the season to drink pints or red wine in a pub by a fire. A slimline tonic just doesn't have the same ring. HOWEVER. I realise I need to be healthier. Lay off the takeaways, Rachel. You don't need to drink 5 pints at the gig on a Sunday night do you? Do you?

I also started baking a batch of cakes every Wednesday to accompany viewing the Great British Bake Off. I didn't need to do that either, did I? (it was fun though)

Here is my public declaration: I'm going to stop the bagels. No more "but it's Thursday!" bulk beer buying at the corner shop on the way home from work. The after-dinner sweet things shall CEASE. But just for old times' sake, here are my top 5 indulgences:

1. A cheese board. Chutneys, fresh bread, olives, more cheese. ALL THE CHEESE.
2. Pizza. The baddest, stodgiest kind.
3. Sharp's Doom Bar ale, several pints of, with crisps on the side, in the Billet.
4. Chocolate eclairs. Had the best one of my life on Saturday at Maison Bertaux in Soho.
5. Bakewell Tart from Milly's Deli. THE BEST EVER (apart from my Mum's. Mum, if you're reading this - can I have one for my birthday please? It's 6 weeks away, so it can be my reward for being good...!)