Helena Halme's Blog, page 43
March 3, 2013
Argo at The Electric Cinema
Once you've seen a film at the luxurious Electric Cinema in Notting Hill you just won't want to go anywhere else. For me at least, it's hard to beat the comfort of the plush armchairs, footstools holding blankets, excellent bar, even fresh doughnuts (although we've missed them every time because once they're sold out they're sold out).
It's just unfortunate that The Electric is not exactly around the corner from us in Crouch End. Having to take the tube across London is very frustrating for the Englishman (who loves his cinema) when there's a perfectly good Odeon (or the local a fleepit in my opinion) up the road in Muswell Hill. Sadly, I'm not one for compromises on the comfort score.
Apart from the location of the Electric vis-a-vis North London, the other problem is that the cinema gets very booked up. But the early bird gets the worm. I was wise enough to book tickets for Argo at the Electric a day before it won an Oscar. I wanted to see this film mainly because it's set in 1979, exactly the same year my spy story (to be published at the same time as Coffee and Vodka), The Red King of Helsinki, is set. It's always interesting and useful to see how the big boys treat a particular period.
As always, the Electric didn't disappoint, but neither did Argo. For the duration of the film, I was on the edge of my seat. The subject matter, Hollywoodesque escape of five US Embassy staff from under the Iranian revolution, as well as the cast were pretty impressive. Ben Affleck as both the director and the lead, did very well too. The Standard in its review said that the clothing and other props did most of 'the heavy lifting' as far as the period was concerned, but having myself struggled with setting a piece of work in this period, I disagree. It's important to get the physical period stuff right, but I think in Argo the script did its bit too. Amusingly for us now, most of the female Embassy staff were in their posts a) as subordinates to the male staff and b) in a relationship with their male superiors. This female subordination reflected the 1970's. The language was also very true to the period; no-body worried about being politically correct.
The plot was exquisite, although both the Englishman and I had real problem following all the dialogue. Somehow, however, this increased the tension in the film. In the same way as the 5 fortunate (or unfortunate, take your pick) US Embassy employees stuck in Teheran and not inside the occupied Embassy, were having to learn their roles in a Hollywood movie, a cover which might earn them their freedom, so did the viewers have to struggle keep up with the action.
Ben Affleck was brilliant as the bearded FBI agent, and should in my opinion have won an Oscar for his performance. I am struggling to understand how he was ever described as 'wooden'…
If you have a chance, go and see Argo. It's a seriously good film.
Here's the trailer.
February 25, 2013
What's in a cover - receive a free book!
I know some of you are patiently waiting the publication of my next novel. Something which I promised would happen very soon after The Englishman came out.
Alas, there have been some complications (aren't there always?).
Firstly, this next novel is very dear to my heart because it tells the story of a Finnish family who in the early 1970's emigrate to Stockholm. So when it comes out, I want it to look and feel absolutely right.
The heroine of the book is Eeva, who after a long day teaching Swedish to foreign students, receives a phone call from her father. Eeva hasn't spoken with Pappa for 30 years, not since her parents' dramatic break-up. Now Pappa tells Eeva that her beloved grandmother is dying and Eeva makes a snap decision to take the next overnight ferry across from Stockholm to Finland, to her home-town of Tampere. During the course of the journey Eeva remembers the first time she took the same crossing, in the opposite direction, as an excited 11-year-old together with her parents and older sister. Memories which she'd rather forget, flood back. While desperate to be with her grandmother, she doesn't think she can cope with seeing Pappa again. But on the ferry, and in Tampere, several surprises await her.
Initially when I wrote this book I called it Pappa's Girl. When it came to the cover design, I thought I knew exactly how I wanted the novel to look: a black and white image of a young girl, with the title in very similar letterings to that of The Englishman cover. I was even given a fantastic picture to use. With these tools, my wonderful cover designer, Simon, went to work and produced something beautiful (as he always does!). We whittled the options down to one cover (you'd be surprised how hard this is - the colouring, the font, the text, it goes on….). The most difficult item turned out to be the caption. I just could not decide on the wording and asked for help from my fellow Independent Writers.
The result of this unofficial poll was surprising. While many loved the cover, and the captions, almost as a 'by-the-way', it was revealed that all my peers thought Pappa's Girl was a book about child abuse. This is definitely not the case. While the novel deals with issues of displacement and family break-up, it's also funny (I hope!), and ultimately a book about love. It's definitely not a 'misery lit memoir'.
So back to the drawing board. A new name as well as a new cover were needed!
And since you've all been waiting patiently for so long, I decided to give you a sneak-a-peak of what covers we are working on now.
I'd also love your opinion on these three proposed covers for my next novel with the new name - drumroll please - Coffee and Vodka.
What's more, the first ten voters will receive a free copy of Coffee and Vodka when it's published in March.
All you have to do is to say which of the three covers below you prefer. Give your name and your favourite of A, B or C in the message section below, and I will contact you to get your details for the free copy of Coffee and Vodka.
Cover A
Cover B
Cover CI cannot wait to see which cover gets the most votes!
Alas, there have been some complications (aren't there always?).
Firstly, this next novel is very dear to my heart because it tells the story of a Finnish family who in the early 1970's emigrate to Stockholm. So when it comes out, I want it to look and feel absolutely right.
The heroine of the book is Eeva, who after a long day teaching Swedish to foreign students, receives a phone call from her father. Eeva hasn't spoken with Pappa for 30 years, not since her parents' dramatic break-up. Now Pappa tells Eeva that her beloved grandmother is dying and Eeva makes a snap decision to take the next overnight ferry across from Stockholm to Finland, to her home-town of Tampere. During the course of the journey Eeva remembers the first time she took the same crossing, in the opposite direction, as an excited 11-year-old together with her parents and older sister. Memories which she'd rather forget, flood back. While desperate to be with her grandmother, she doesn't think she can cope with seeing Pappa again. But on the ferry, and in Tampere, several surprises await her.
Initially when I wrote this book I called it Pappa's Girl. When it came to the cover design, I thought I knew exactly how I wanted the novel to look: a black and white image of a young girl, with the title in very similar letterings to that of The Englishman cover. I was even given a fantastic picture to use. With these tools, my wonderful cover designer, Simon, went to work and produced something beautiful (as he always does!). We whittled the options down to one cover (you'd be surprised how hard this is - the colouring, the font, the text, it goes on….). The most difficult item turned out to be the caption. I just could not decide on the wording and asked for help from my fellow Independent Writers.
The result of this unofficial poll was surprising. While many loved the cover, and the captions, almost as a 'by-the-way', it was revealed that all my peers thought Pappa's Girl was a book about child abuse. This is definitely not the case. While the novel deals with issues of displacement and family break-up, it's also funny (I hope!), and ultimately a book about love. It's definitely not a 'misery lit memoir'.
So back to the drawing board. A new name as well as a new cover were needed!
And since you've all been waiting patiently for so long, I decided to give you a sneak-a-peak of what covers we are working on now.
I'd also love your opinion on these three proposed covers for my next novel with the new name - drumroll please - Coffee and Vodka.
What's more, the first ten voters will receive a free copy of Coffee and Vodka when it's published in March.
All you have to do is to say which of the three covers below you prefer. Give your name and your favourite of A, B or C in the message section below, and I will contact you to get your details for the free copy of Coffee and Vodka.
Cover A
Cover B
Cover CI cannot wait to see which cover gets the most votes!
February 8, 2013
Jazz and Swing in North London
Photo: BBC I've been loving the new BBC Two drama, Dancing on Edge directed by Stephen Poliakoff and starring the fantastic Chiwetel Eijofor and Matthew Goode, among other big stars. It's a story of a jazz and swing band in 1930's London, and the acting, direction, plot and above all the music have really impressed me.So when I had an email from the wonderful Jazz and Swing band Down for the Count that they will be at The Music Palace in Crouch End this Friday (today, sorry for the last minute notice), I immediately had an image in my head from Dancing on Edge and thought I must go. I had a fantastic evening when this talented group of musicians performed as part of the Crouch End Festival last year. Plus the venue is but a hop and a skip from where we live, so even if there's snow, I am confident we can make it!
Today, the event will also include a dance lesson, which I am sort of dreading, because I love dancing but find it incredibly difficult to follow a pre-designated set of steps…we'll see how it all goes!? Talk about dancing on edge...I will report back if I dare…
February 3, 2013
Best Fish & Chips ever in North London
Last night, after the Six Nations Rugby, we couldn't be bothered to cook and decided to sample the fish and chips we'd heard a lot about in Muswell Hill. Toffs, on The Broadway is supposed to serve North London's best fish supper, so that's where we headed.
Doing our usual 'fly-past' check, the place looked just as a good chippy should. The fish at the counter was freshly cooked, and at just after six it was already filling up with both take-away business and those who wanted to eat in.
We booked a table for 7.30 and went in search of a pub called The Famous Royal Oak, which the Englishman had seen on Fancy a Pint was the only 'decent pub' in Muswell Hill. The pub is tucked away at the other side of the viaduct, in a very residential area, but once inside you realise this is a local spelled with a large L. You could see some of the punters had been there all afternoon watching the rugby, still there were a few families, all enjoying the friendly, convivial atmosphere of this 'proper boozer'. I can see another visit will be imminent…
Back at Toffs just before 7.30 we had to fight to get inside. After a while we were shown to a table upstairs (the restaurant seems to go on and on, up into the attic of the house), and although I'd much rather have eaten in the bustling dining room downstairs, at this stage I was happy just to be seated.
The menu does have other things on it apart from the traditional fish and chips, but I wasn't going to go away without sampling the real thing. The Englishman ordered cod and I opted for haddock. We also wanted some mushy peas, something which in my view you cannot eat fish and chips without.
Whether it was the pint we'd had in the quirky old-fashioned Royal Oak, or whether it was the half an hour wait for our meal (the menu stated that all food is cooked to order and asks for your patience - fine by me), but when the food arrived and I took a first taste, I just couldn't believe how good the fish was. The batter was thin and delicious, with a definite beer taste to it, and the fish was cooked to perfection. I normally eat but a fraction of the batter, but this time I could not get enough of it. The chips too were crisp and uneven, only the way chips cut from real potatoes are. The only thing missing was sliced white bread - but thank goodness they didn't offer it. I was full to bursting afterwards and still couldn't finish my dish.
I really believe this was the best fish and chips I've ever had in England - and I've been both to Bryans in Headingley, West Yorkshire, and Harry Ramsdens (before they went all commercial and franchised).
The staff at this Muswell Hill institution were very friendly too - they were literally rushed off their feet, but all had a smile on their faces and couldn't do enough for you.
We're already planning our next visit to Toffs - that's how good the meal was.
Toffs of Muswell Hill
38 Muswell Hill Broadway
London N10 3RT
Open Mon-Sat 11.30 am to 11 pm
Closed Sunday
Phone 0208 883 8656
Doing our usual 'fly-past' check, the place looked just as a good chippy should. The fish at the counter was freshly cooked, and at just after six it was already filling up with both take-away business and those who wanted to eat in.
We booked a table for 7.30 and went in search of a pub called The Famous Royal Oak, which the Englishman had seen on Fancy a Pint was the only 'decent pub' in Muswell Hill. The pub is tucked away at the other side of the viaduct, in a very residential area, but once inside you realise this is a local spelled with a large L. You could see some of the punters had been there all afternoon watching the rugby, still there were a few families, all enjoying the friendly, convivial atmosphere of this 'proper boozer'. I can see another visit will be imminent…
Back at Toffs just before 7.30 we had to fight to get inside. After a while we were shown to a table upstairs (the restaurant seems to go on and on, up into the attic of the house), and although I'd much rather have eaten in the bustling dining room downstairs, at this stage I was happy just to be seated.
The menu does have other things on it apart from the traditional fish and chips, but I wasn't going to go away without sampling the real thing. The Englishman ordered cod and I opted for haddock. We also wanted some mushy peas, something which in my view you cannot eat fish and chips without.
Whether it was the pint we'd had in the quirky old-fashioned Royal Oak, or whether it was the half an hour wait for our meal (the menu stated that all food is cooked to order and asks for your patience - fine by me), but when the food arrived and I took a first taste, I just couldn't believe how good the fish was. The batter was thin and delicious, with a definite beer taste to it, and the fish was cooked to perfection. I normally eat but a fraction of the batter, but this time I could not get enough of it. The chips too were crisp and uneven, only the way chips cut from real potatoes are. The only thing missing was sliced white bread - but thank goodness they didn't offer it. I was full to bursting afterwards and still couldn't finish my dish.
I really believe this was the best fish and chips I've ever had in England - and I've been both to Bryans in Headingley, West Yorkshire, and Harry Ramsdens (before they went all commercial and franchised).
The staff at this Muswell Hill institution were very friendly too - they were literally rushed off their feet, but all had a smile on their faces and couldn't do enough for you.
We're already planning our next visit to Toffs - that's how good the meal was.
Toffs of Muswell Hill
38 Muswell Hill Broadway
London N10 3RT
Open Mon-Sat 11.30 am to 11 pm
Closed Sunday
Phone 0208 883 8656
February 2, 2013
The 5:2 Fast Diet is a family affair
Having been going on about our new 5:2 Fast Diet to all and sundry for months now, I suddenly realised that almost all of my family are doing the intermittent fasting too!
The Englishman wrote about his experiences with the diet below and our Daughter started the 5:2 fasting as soon as she went back to uni after Christmas. She's never been fat, but felt that she wanted to lose the few pounds she'd put on over Christmas. As she has no access to a reliable set of scales (students!), she can't tell me how much she's lost in the last four weeks, but reported that her hipbones were more noticeable. Oh, the wonders of youth! However much I starve myself, I don't think I'll ever get to that stage; my hipbones haven't seen the light of day in years…
Son and his girlfriend have caught the bug too; on a recent evening out Son told us he'd not eaten anything all day to save his 600 fasting day calories for the meal we were just about to consume. Bad planning, I call that, but all the same, he's looking lean and healthy on the 5:2.
The latest recruit within my family circle to the Fast Diet is my big sister. She's only been doing it for two weeks and has already lost 2.5 kilos. Way to go Big Sis!
The only creature in the family left for me to recruit is the terrier, but I think I might have some trouble explaining the concept to him….
And on that note, here's a gratuitous cute terrier picture.
The Englishman wrote about his experiences with the diet below and our Daughter started the 5:2 fasting as soon as she went back to uni after Christmas. She's never been fat, but felt that she wanted to lose the few pounds she'd put on over Christmas. As she has no access to a reliable set of scales (students!), she can't tell me how much she's lost in the last four weeks, but reported that her hipbones were more noticeable. Oh, the wonders of youth! However much I starve myself, I don't think I'll ever get to that stage; my hipbones haven't seen the light of day in years…
Son and his girlfriend have caught the bug too; on a recent evening out Son told us he'd not eaten anything all day to save his 600 fasting day calories for the meal we were just about to consume. Bad planning, I call that, but all the same, he's looking lean and healthy on the 5:2.
The latest recruit within my family circle to the Fast Diet is my big sister. She's only been doing it for two weeks and has already lost 2.5 kilos. Way to go Big Sis!
The only creature in the family left for me to recruit is the terrier, but I think I might have some trouble explaining the concept to him….
And on that note, here's a gratuitous cute terrier picture.
January 31, 2013
Swedish TV comedy at its best.
Swedish TV4 A few months ago a friend gave me a box set of a Swedish sitcom called Solsidan. Now, you know I'm a sucker for dark Scandi crime and political thrillers (Wallander, The Killing, Borgen and The Bridge but to name a few), and I truly, truly love a good old Ingmar Bergman film, but Swedish comedy?Nja, as the Swedes would themselves put it.
So the Solsidan boxset stood next to the TV for weeks. Each time my friend asked if I'd seen it yet, I'd make up some excuse or other. Until I was laid down with a bad back last autumn, did I even consider (out of sheer boredom and lack of choice!) watching Solsidan.
Yes, you've guessed it, I watched the whole of the first series in a day, and then even convinced The Englishman to watch Series 2 and 3 with me. We both fell about laughing at the thirty/forty something modern Stockholm Yuppies trying to make sense of their lives.
Solsidan tells the story of a dentist, Alex, and his pregnant girlfriend Anna, who decide to buy Alex' old family home, from his mother, in a Stockholm suburb. But this is no ordinary suburb, it's a community by the sea, only a short commute from the centre of town called Saltsjöbaden, where the wealthy Swedes with small children live.
The first problem the couple face is Alex' mother, who has quietly misunderstood the new living arrangements and believes she will share the house with the young couple. Alex mother is brilliantly played by Mona Malm. She is the archetypical passive-aggressive, always interfering mother. She is perfectly juxtaposed against Anna, a liberal-minded actress who feels more than alien in the affluent community.
The other couple at the centre of the story is Alex' old wealthy schoolfriend, Fredde, who's ideas on life are more than a little skewed by money, and his skinny, blonde, keeping-up-with-the-Jones, wife, Mickan. Lastly, there is Ove, another old schoolfriend, who's a master of emotional blackmail which he uses fully to his advantage - usually financial.
The writing of the series is excellent. Some stories are dealt within the episode, while others have a slow burn effect and explode at the end of the series. This kind of sitcom writing is very effective, it makes the episode by episode plot seem less artificial and clumsy. The acting is also brilliant; the characters have grown on me so much, that having now finished the series, I miss them! But the main point why the series is so good is that it's plainly and simply very funny. Plus, (for a Finn at least) watching the well-heeled Stockholmare laugh at themselves is quite a treat….
I do hope someone at the Beeb, or ITV, or Sky, have the presence of mind bring this fabulous TV series to Britain. I know it'd be a great success here too.
Here is a clip for those who speak Swedish and have yet to see this fab sitcom.
January 25, 2013
Burns Night
I'm over at The Englishman blog today talking about Robert Burns.
Go and have a look and have a nice weekend!
Go and have a look and have a nice weekend!
January 22, 2013
The Shard in London
If you've been reading this blog for some time, or follow my Instagram feed, you will know that I have something of an obsession with the latest - and the tallest ever - skyscraper to adorn the London skyline. You can imagine how overexcited delighted I was when I received an invitation to a pre-opening 'View from The Shard'.
But as I walked from London Bridge tube station past the tallest building in Western Europe to the office this morning, on the day of the viewing, the weather didn't seem to be suitable at all. I couldn't even see the top of the Shard.
Luckily when I walked back towards London Bridge Station some eight hours later, the darkening skies were clear. I found the entrance with the help of some friendly men in fluorescent jackets (builders) and was welcomed to a waiting area. Then it was time for the (now) compulsory security check which was followed by a photographic session. I found out later this is a way to fleece you after the visit. The picture is turned into a tourist shot with London skyline in the background which will cost you £15-£20. Oh well, it is a tourist attraction after all.
Just to prove it was the 68th floor...But back to the main aim of the visit - the View! At last it was time to go into the lifts - there are two. The first one takes you to floor 38, then you wait for the final one which takes you the rest of the 30 (!) floors. After a very smooth ride (Finnish Kone knows their stuff), I was at the top and was rewarded for my patience.
Only a few steps up and there it was - London at my feet.
It was fully dark now and the lights of all the famous buildings were twinkling. The first thing that I noticed was The London Eye, shining blue in the distance. Moving along the windows which cover all the walls, I saw The Tower Bridge, looking like a little Lego model from nearly 300 metres up. Thames with a barge going along it looked dark and fairy-like. Trains and cars were mere toys. It was just breathtaking.
I was a happy bunny...
On the way up to the topmost floor you can see London afresh. But there was more to come: on the next - and top floor - where the shard-shaped roof (hence the name) is open to the elements, you really get the sense that you are up in the skies. I know there have been much criticism on the luxury aspect (and the source of its funding) of this building, designed by architect Renzo Piano, but it really is a very impressive project. I could have stayed up there all evening, admiring the amazing roof. When the friendly guide told me events could be organised on this floor with canapes and champagne, my mind went into overdrive. Now who could I convince to have a party at The Shard and invite me?
The uppermost floor is open to the elements.
The view up to the jagged roof.
Another corner of the Shard.Finally, I had to check out the best loo in London. What a view!
A loo with a view.Thank you Guild Travel - the expert in travel to and from Finland - and Encore Tickets for letting me have a sneak preview of The View from The Shard.
But as I walked from London Bridge tube station past the tallest building in Western Europe to the office this morning, on the day of the viewing, the weather didn't seem to be suitable at all. I couldn't even see the top of the Shard.
Luckily when I walked back towards London Bridge Station some eight hours later, the darkening skies were clear. I found the entrance with the help of some friendly men in fluorescent jackets (builders) and was welcomed to a waiting area. Then it was time for the (now) compulsory security check which was followed by a photographic session. I found out later this is a way to fleece you after the visit. The picture is turned into a tourist shot with London skyline in the background which will cost you £15-£20. Oh well, it is a tourist attraction after all.
Just to prove it was the 68th floor...But back to the main aim of the visit - the View! At last it was time to go into the lifts - there are two. The first one takes you to floor 38, then you wait for the final one which takes you the rest of the 30 (!) floors. After a very smooth ride (Finnish Kone knows their stuff), I was at the top and was rewarded for my patience. 
Only a few steps up and there it was - London at my feet.
It was fully dark now and the lights of all the famous buildings were twinkling. The first thing that I noticed was The London Eye, shining blue in the distance. Moving along the windows which cover all the walls, I saw The Tower Bridge, looking like a little Lego model from nearly 300 metres up. Thames with a barge going along it looked dark and fairy-like. Trains and cars were mere toys. It was just breathtaking.
I was a happy bunny...
On the way up to the topmost floor you can see London afresh. But there was more to come: on the next - and top floor - where the shard-shaped roof (hence the name) is open to the elements, you really get the sense that you are up in the skies. I know there have been much criticism on the luxury aspect (and the source of its funding) of this building, designed by architect Renzo Piano, but it really is a very impressive project. I could have stayed up there all evening, admiring the amazing roof. When the friendly guide told me events could be organised on this floor with canapes and champagne, my mind went into overdrive. Now who could I convince to have a party at The Shard and invite me?
The uppermost floor is open to the elements.
The view up to the jagged roof.
Another corner of the Shard.Finally, I had to check out the best loo in London. What a view!
A loo with a view.Thank you Guild Travel - the expert in travel to and from Finland - and Encore Tickets for letting me have a sneak preview of The View from The Shard.
January 19, 2013
A day in The Englishman's 5:2 Diet
I promised before Christmas to blog about what we eat during our 5:2 fasting days, and since I am still knee-deep in tax returns, The Englishman obliged me with a 'Day in the Life of…' post.
Although I was the one who really needed (and wanted to) lose weight, it was initially The Englishman who spotted the Horizon programme where Dr Mosley experimented with the 5:2 fasting diet. (His book is now out featuring tips from yours truly.)
The Englishman suffers from high cholesterol, even though he's never been overweight. Rather annoyingly, (unlike me) he's always struggled to keep his weight up, but alas, age plays its part and lately he's been complaining about the soft stuff which has suddenly appeared around his middle. (Welcome to my world…).
So here's A Day In The Englishman 5:2 Fasting Diet.
My 5:2 diet day
I wake early at 6; a habit picked up (not that there was much choice) in the Navy.
I always start the day with a slice of lime in hot water, this is supposed to be good for your cholesterol but it is a great way to sluice out your mouth first thing. I used to be a great tea drinker but now can’t touch the stuff in the morning and really can’t start with coffee.
Sticking to 600 calories in a day is tough so you have to be really careful about what you eat and when. Get it wrong and the day can seem very long. When I started fasting I went to bed early to try to reduce the amount of time I had to think about my hunger.
So breakfast consists of Scotts Porridge Oats, just 20g carefully measured (this is probably a man thing but to me 20g means 20g). I cook it in a saucepan with water, a pinch of salt if you like. Oddly, despite the lack of milk, it still tastes a little creamy, but for flavour I add a handful of blueberries. 82 calories of goodness washed down with an Americano, 1 calorie. The beauty of the traditional rolled oats is that they take longer digest so you stay full longer.
Breakfast 83 calories.
Lunch consists of a supermarket salad, provided I can see quite clearly how many calories are in the dish, I’m looking for around 170 calories. M&S king prawns and crunchy citrus salad is top the choice at 135 calories. Waitrose have started putting calories in large type on the front of the packaging, this is a big help. You can spend ages turning packets upside down, back to front, to find in tiny print how many calories and then you find it’s calories per 100g. It’s a ready meal, so why is it so difficult to tell me how many calories, how much salt, fat etc per packet? Why do I have to do mental arithmetic (although I know one of the benefits of the 5:2 is improved brain function)?
Sometimes I stay in the office and have a Clearspring Miso soup, 28 calories. I prefer the fact it’s only 28 calories to the taste (there isn’t any). I tried Miso beetroot soup, I can eat just about anything but this is beyond the pail. I’ve looked for the “not for human consumption” but couldn’t find it on the packet.
Lunch 135 calories.Total for day so far 218.
Frequent black teas and a second Americano keep me going during the day.
As I cycle to work I need fuel to get me home; it's 7.5 miles uphill. For this I eat an apple and banana, 170 calories, 30 minutes before setting off.
Total now 388 calories.
In the evening we have something like poached chicken or white fish with salad. There are lots of really tasty low calorie recipes online (the BBC one is pretty good, and although I feel hungry during the evening, my relationship with hunger has changed. I used to feel faint with hunger and would grab a snack as quickly as possible. Now even on non-fasting days I let it pass and stay hungry knowing the feeling will go.
Dinner 212 calories.Daily Total 600.
I’ve lost 4 kg since starting the intermittent fasting in August, which is great because I’ve lost that paunch I hated around my middle. I’ve had to get my suit trousers altered and buy new jeans a size smaller. The problem now is that I’m losing too much weight so have switched to 6:1. Just fasting one day per week has helped stabilize my weight.
When I break the following morning I am hungry so I make a Harley Pasternak smoothie who is apparently a celebrity trainer
Ingredients 5 raw almonds 1 red apple 1 banana 3/4 cup nonfat Greek yogurt 1/2 cup skimmed milk 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon Directions 1. Place all ingredients in a blender. (Depending on how powerful your blenderis,you may need to chop the apple and almonds into small pieces first.)
2. Blend on medium-high for 30 seconds (or until desired consistency).Makes one 16-ounce servingI add a handful of blueberries or a slice of ginger for variety.This gives me a 382 calorie boost from the off and sets me up for the day.Over Christmas and then straight after, on a week's skiing holiday, I didn’t fast. By the end of break, my body is now telling me it needs the fasting. I feel lethargic and bloated, so strangely I cannot wait to start the regime again.I’ve never been on a diet before in my life but this works. It’s not just about losing weight, it’s about feeling good.
The Englishman with Daughter,
looking lean.
Although I was the one who really needed (and wanted to) lose weight, it was initially The Englishman who spotted the Horizon programme where Dr Mosley experimented with the 5:2 fasting diet. (His book is now out featuring tips from yours truly.)
The Englishman suffers from high cholesterol, even though he's never been overweight. Rather annoyingly, (unlike me) he's always struggled to keep his weight up, but alas, age plays its part and lately he's been complaining about the soft stuff which has suddenly appeared around his middle. (Welcome to my world…).
So here's A Day In The Englishman 5:2 Fasting Diet.
My 5:2 diet day
I wake early at 6; a habit picked up (not that there was much choice) in the Navy.
I always start the day with a slice of lime in hot water, this is supposed to be good for your cholesterol but it is a great way to sluice out your mouth first thing. I used to be a great tea drinker but now can’t touch the stuff in the morning and really can’t start with coffee.
Sticking to 600 calories in a day is tough so you have to be really careful about what you eat and when. Get it wrong and the day can seem very long. When I started fasting I went to bed early to try to reduce the amount of time I had to think about my hunger.
So breakfast consists of Scotts Porridge Oats, just 20g carefully measured (this is probably a man thing but to me 20g means 20g). I cook it in a saucepan with water, a pinch of salt if you like. Oddly, despite the lack of milk, it still tastes a little creamy, but for flavour I add a handful of blueberries. 82 calories of goodness washed down with an Americano, 1 calorie. The beauty of the traditional rolled oats is that they take longer digest so you stay full longer.
Breakfast 83 calories.
Lunch consists of a supermarket salad, provided I can see quite clearly how many calories are in the dish, I’m looking for around 170 calories. M&S king prawns and crunchy citrus salad is top the choice at 135 calories. Waitrose have started putting calories in large type on the front of the packaging, this is a big help. You can spend ages turning packets upside down, back to front, to find in tiny print how many calories and then you find it’s calories per 100g. It’s a ready meal, so why is it so difficult to tell me how many calories, how much salt, fat etc per packet? Why do I have to do mental arithmetic (although I know one of the benefits of the 5:2 is improved brain function)?
Sometimes I stay in the office and have a Clearspring Miso soup, 28 calories. I prefer the fact it’s only 28 calories to the taste (there isn’t any). I tried Miso beetroot soup, I can eat just about anything but this is beyond the pail. I’ve looked for the “not for human consumption” but couldn’t find it on the packet.
Lunch 135 calories.Total for day so far 218.
Frequent black teas and a second Americano keep me going during the day.
As I cycle to work I need fuel to get me home; it's 7.5 miles uphill. For this I eat an apple and banana, 170 calories, 30 minutes before setting off.
Total now 388 calories.
In the evening we have something like poached chicken or white fish with salad. There are lots of really tasty low calorie recipes online (the BBC one is pretty good, and although I feel hungry during the evening, my relationship with hunger has changed. I used to feel faint with hunger and would grab a snack as quickly as possible. Now even on non-fasting days I let it pass and stay hungry knowing the feeling will go.
Dinner 212 calories.Daily Total 600.
I’ve lost 4 kg since starting the intermittent fasting in August, which is great because I’ve lost that paunch I hated around my middle. I’ve had to get my suit trousers altered and buy new jeans a size smaller. The problem now is that I’m losing too much weight so have switched to 6:1. Just fasting one day per week has helped stabilize my weight.
When I break the following morning I am hungry so I make a Harley Pasternak smoothie who is apparently a celebrity trainer
Ingredients 5 raw almonds 1 red apple 1 banana 3/4 cup nonfat Greek yogurt 1/2 cup skimmed milk 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon Directions 1. Place all ingredients in a blender. (Depending on how powerful your blenderis,you may need to chop the apple and almonds into small pieces first.)
2. Blend on medium-high for 30 seconds (or until desired consistency).Makes one 16-ounce servingI add a handful of blueberries or a slice of ginger for variety.This gives me a 382 calorie boost from the off and sets me up for the day.Over Christmas and then straight after, on a week's skiing holiday, I didn’t fast. By the end of break, my body is now telling me it needs the fasting. I feel lethargic and bloated, so strangely I cannot wait to start the regime again.I’ve never been on a diet before in my life but this works. It’s not just about losing weight, it’s about feeling good.
The Englishman with Daughter, looking lean.
Finnish comfort food for a chilly night in London
I know I wasn't going to blog, but due to popular demand…. ;-)
Last night when the weather in the UK became decidedly Nordic, I fancied a traditional Finnish comfort food dish, Kaalilaatikko. This is a stew with mince and cabbage baked for a long time in the oven, which I've been craving since Big Sis mentioned it during her recent visit. I cannot remember when I last made this dish, but helpfully Big Sis (she works in the food industry in Lapland) gave me great ideas how to adapt the old recipe into a modern British kitchen. I added a few of my own tweaks, and the result was really quite delicious (the Englishman had three helpings).
When I posted a picture of my Kaalilaatikko on Twitter, I got requests of the recipe for the dish, so here it is:
A small white cabbage, cut into slices
500 grammes (1 lb) of mince
1 onion, chopped
1 packet of cooked Uncle Ben's rice
150 g tub of creme fraiche
1 cube of chicken stock
1 tbs maple syrup
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 tsp of dried thyme or 1 tbs of fresh thyme
1 tsp of vegetable stock powder
sunflower oil
Heat the oven to 170 C.
Chop the cabbage and fry quickly in a little sunflower oil. Pour over boiling water to cover, mixed with the vegetable stock powder and cook for about 10 minutes until the cabbage is getting soft.
Drain the cabbage, reserving the water and mix in a stock cube into the liquid. (I used Oxo Reduced Salt Chicken only because that was all I had.)
Heat a little sunflower oil mixed with a little butter and fry the onion and mince until the meat is brown and cooked.
Mix meat with the cabbage and the rice. Combine the egg with the creme fraiche and blend into the meat and cabbage, also adding the maple syrup. Season with salt and pepper and the thyme. Mix well and put into a deep buttered oven dish. I used an oval pie dish. Add enough of the cabbage liquid so that you can just see it on top of the dish. (This prevents the dish from drying out in the oven). Dot a few knobs of butter (or omit if you're counting the calories) over the dish and bake in the oven for about 45 minutes, or until the top is nicely browned.
Serve the dish with some cranberry sauce, or if you can get hold of lingonberry jam (I get mine from The Scandinavian Kitchen), so much the better.
Enjoy!
Last night when the weather in the UK became decidedly Nordic, I fancied a traditional Finnish comfort food dish, Kaalilaatikko. This is a stew with mince and cabbage baked for a long time in the oven, which I've been craving since Big Sis mentioned it during her recent visit. I cannot remember when I last made this dish, but helpfully Big Sis (she works in the food industry in Lapland) gave me great ideas how to adapt the old recipe into a modern British kitchen. I added a few of my own tweaks, and the result was really quite delicious (the Englishman had three helpings).
When I posted a picture of my Kaalilaatikko on Twitter, I got requests of the recipe for the dish, so here it is:
A small white cabbage, cut into slices
500 grammes (1 lb) of mince
1 onion, chopped
1 packet of cooked Uncle Ben's rice
150 g tub of creme fraiche
1 cube of chicken stock
1 tbs maple syrup
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 tsp of dried thyme or 1 tbs of fresh thyme
1 tsp of vegetable stock powder
sunflower oil
Heat the oven to 170 C.
Chop the cabbage and fry quickly in a little sunflower oil. Pour over boiling water to cover, mixed with the vegetable stock powder and cook for about 10 minutes until the cabbage is getting soft.
Drain the cabbage, reserving the water and mix in a stock cube into the liquid. (I used Oxo Reduced Salt Chicken only because that was all I had.)
Heat a little sunflower oil mixed with a little butter and fry the onion and mince until the meat is brown and cooked.
Mix meat with the cabbage and the rice. Combine the egg with the creme fraiche and blend into the meat and cabbage, also adding the maple syrup. Season with salt and pepper and the thyme. Mix well and put into a deep buttered oven dish. I used an oval pie dish. Add enough of the cabbage liquid so that you can just see it on top of the dish. (This prevents the dish from drying out in the oven). Dot a few knobs of butter (or omit if you're counting the calories) over the dish and bake in the oven for about 45 minutes, or until the top is nicely browned.
Serve the dish with some cranberry sauce, or if you can get hold of lingonberry jam (I get mine from The Scandinavian Kitchen), so much the better.
Enjoy!
