After lots of chat I realised I was late so bunged on some lippy and a frock and skipped down to Richmond to get the train to Waterloo. It's funny but in London no one bats an eyelid at people in black tie on public transport (even if they are cavegirls in disguise). I had hoped to time it so I missed the drinks reception (less temptation) but had to wait around for half an hour drinking fizzy water while everyone drank champagne (I think people thought I was either ill or pregant!) The dinner was in the London Film Museum and there was a caveman film showing on the wall (yaaay).
I cheated a little because the starter was baked fig with mozarella (shall have to go dairy free in a couple of days) and then we had a huge wodge of overcooked beef with 4 julienne sticks of carrot and potato dauphinoise (my absolute favourite :-() I gave it immediately to my neighbour to avoid accidental hoovering and while cursing under my beath vowed that I would eat dessert. Actually dessert was 3 tiny bits of mango and chocolate mousse - I ate two spoonfuls and then stopped a) because I felt guilty and b) it was toooo sweet. Dinner was uber dull especially without the lubrication of alcohol. So I scampered off as soon as possible to get the last train back to Bristol - got to bed at 2 with a massive headache.
Day 4 and I woke at 10 (paleo says to wake without an alarm clock :-D ) went off to get eggs but as it was so close to lunch I had spicy roast chicken thighs and salad with roast artichokes and pinenuts instead of bacon etc. I was planning for the next day's breakfast and lunch on the move and was looking at having hardboiled eggs, chicken breasts and salad - in the end my trip to leicester got cancelled so I might look at one of these cool soup recipes; spiced pumpkin or creamy tomato. As I had homework for running club I went out in the rain (yes you read that right!) to do my 5 x 5 minute runs, picking up my knees and flicking my heels - managed 2 x3 and 2 x2 and 1x5 minutes and despite being cheered on by some welsh workmen, gave up because my left ankle was hurting (yeah I know I'm the excuses queen). Weird because it's usually my right achilles that hurts but it's the inside of my left ankle. Got the pain ball out and did some stretches and some massage which was excrutiating and went to shower and get ready for black tie dinner number two *sigh*. I had eaten a naked bar earlier and a handful of nuts/fruit/seeds so I baked 2 figs and then grilled them with some stichelton to keep hunger at bay. Got a cab because it was hard to walk in the heels (and it was raining) - again timed to arrive after the drinks reception and straight into dinner. I had tried to play it safe by asking for a wheat free, gluten free, dairy free meal so got melon and strawberries to start rather than mushroom ravioli (hate mushrooms - food of the devil) and some beautifully cooked lamb with roasted root vegetables and boiled potatoes rather than the mash that my neighbour got (he also got my potatoes). The wine was (unusually for these gigs) pretty good stuff so I was gnashing my teeth as I drank tap water with some strawberries (?) floating in it. Desert for me was sorbet compared with a rather lovely looking lemon tart (food of the angels). I ate a few spoonfulls but it was sweet so I gave it to my neighbour in exchange for a sip of his wine. I also caved in a stole two chocolate truffles and ate some grapes and cheese with a sip of dessert wine. I left as soon as possible after encouraging everyone to come to the world apple rolling championships on Saturday and nicked an unopened bottle of red that no one wanted ;-) (it's amazing what you can fit in a little evening bag when you really want to). (Ankle still hurts :-( )
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