Breaking radio silence - resolution update

I know, it is disgraceful, I haven't posted a blog in weeks. My running has gone to pot as well. I am blaming it on a very busy work schedule and a short stint in hospital which even though it was planned threw me off my game. Work is still busy but I am going to try to be more organised with my time.

So first things first, how am I doing on my resolutions? Well my ambition to visit places beginning with every letter of the alphabet during the course of the year is not going so well. As you will see on the right, I have only managed four letters (and I even I don't buy the Velodrome in Manchester as a V) and May is practically upon us. I am resisting counting neighbourhoods in London but come September I may have to recalibrate. 

My baking resolutions have fared marginally better. I have mastered the cheesecake - a great bottom and a top which sticks to the roof of your mouth. Do have to admit that I haven't made any choux pastry, mainly because I want to make crab puffs and have had trouble getting fresh crab locally. However, and it is a big however, I have made bread. Yes, it is incredible. I have never been successful with yeast-based goods. Hitherto all the bread I have made would have been more at home on a bricklayer's hod than a bread bin. But inspired by the glorious Paul Hollywood, I tried making a simple white loaf a few weeks ago and am completely converted. I have been making it every weekend and have been taking orders from friends and family. I am going to try a few other variations over the next couple of weeks and will keep you posted. 

As mentioned above, very little running has been done over the last few week and this plus my new found bread making skills have not helped my resolution to lose 3kgs. I remain committed to achieving this one. 

So much has happened since I lasted wrote. I will resist the temptation to cover it all or indeed any of it. Except perhaps Mrs T. I know hundreds of thousands of column inches have been written about her and there is very little I can add. But for the record. I took no pleasure in her death. The passing of an old woman had not impact on me or indeed anyone who wasn't a member of her family or a friend of hers. No, she made her impact when she was in power and her influence continues to be felt today. We can, I am sure, debate for hours on the scale of her influence and whether it is good or bad. But of one thing I am certain, her position on apartheid South Africa was unforgivable. She dismissed Nelson Mandela and people like my parents as terrorists and not only refused to do anything to stop the racist government in South Africa but also actively supported it. Shameful. 

I will be back soon with more musings and abusings . . .