Fri 14th Nov.

It occurs to me that, now that we’re in the swing of our vegan challenge, there’s not always that much to talk about, so I decide I’ll throw a few random non-food related items into the blog here and there. Inspiration for the first such item comes as I read an article in a magazine about vinyl records whilst eating breakfast (Jordan’s Country Crisp with muesli mixed in). About thirty-three years ago when I was a teenager Up North I borrowed a friend’s record – I can’t remember what it was. Inevitably I managed to scratch it. I felt guilty about this and decided to buy a new one and give him that without telling him about the scratch. I duly went and bought a new one (which probably cost about £2 in those days), and then realised that the record sleeve was a different design. So I just gave him back the original record with the scratch without saying anything. Today, thirty-odd years later, I ask myself two questions: a) Why didn’t I notice that the sleeve was different when I bought it? And b) Why didn’t I just put the new record into the old sleeve?! I suppose there’s also a third question: why have I only just thought of that obvious solution? Anyway, my friend never mentioned the scratch, so I think I got away with it.

Paul arrives back from America just before lunch. As he’s been overeating all week, he doesn’t want any lunch. I do give him a raw carrot though – it’ll help combat all those aeroplane germs. With my carrot I have a houmous, chicken style slice and salad sandwich.

Paul’s parents are coming today to stay for the weekend and watch Sally Mad Hattering. They’re meat eaters, so I’ll try to be gentle with them and not feed them tofu until at least tomorrow.

For tea we have sausage and aduku bean casserole with mashed potato and mashed swede and carrot. Everybody seems to cope. Nick points out that we’ve had potatoes a lot this week. He’s right; somehow I haven’t managed my usual well-balanced variety of carbs throughout the week. Noodles tomorrow then.