It's Lent, or Careme, as of tomorrow and I always give up something and have done for a number of years. It's gradually become more and more traditional that I give up typically British things: tea, cake, biscuits. I don't really eat much of the latter two over here and a builder's brew is becoming a lesser part of my daily lifestyle (mainly due to the French's incapacity to make a decent one.) So this year I thought I would do the opposite and give up something stereotypically French that I either consume a lot of, or would struggle to go without whilst here. What did I decide on? Bread and wine. (I'll let you decide which of these I consume a lot of and which would be the challenge.)
It's not that I live on either of the things: bread is a temptation which I struggle to refuse with butter and Marmite/toasted with peanut butter on/sitting in a basket whilst waiting for my meal to arrive, while wine is just the "done thing" when out to dinner or eating with the colcos. (And quite frankly giving these things up helps me to continue to defy the French: seeing their faces' when I turn down their beloved "Cote du Rhone" is one thing I am looking forward to.)
The only problem Lent presents aside from these issues is the forthcoming trip home. I always have a bacon sandwich with Mum and always have a glass of red wine with Dad, and that's not even considering any of my antics when I go back to Lancaster.
Everyone I've told has told me I am mad. (But I think the majority already knew that.) Baptiste doesn't think I'll do it, Tommy thinks I'm a nutter and Dad thinks I'm on a diet (though after my weekend of eating eating and well, eating, that may not be a bad idea.) Either way I'm determined. People always think I'm mad trying to give up tea and chocolate agreeing with both Baptiste and Dad, but they're always wrong. Why?
A) I'm stubborn as hell when I want to be and the fact people don't think I'll do it only spurs me on.
B) I also substitute the food for something even worse (I've already established I can go crazy on Creme Eggs and Mini Eggs when I'm back in England next week.)
C) I've succeeded every year so far, except for at school when I was coaxed into eating a chocolate digestive biscuit the first year I tried to give up chocolate.
Normally I spend my final few days consuming as much of whatever I'm giving up as is humanely possible. This year I figured consuming this much wine was perhaps not the best idea so fear not (mainly for my parents and grandparents) I've avoided it. I'm going to bed full on baguette, butter and Marmite.
DISCLAIMER: A crumpet is not bread. Nor is a tortilla wrap (HA! can still go to Goburrito when I'm in Lancaster) Also croissant does not have the word "bread" or "pain" in it and is therefore not banned either. Beer and spirits still permitted when a tipple is required (aka when watching the rugby, also when back in Lancaster.) Wine in cooking (when eating out) is allowed as one has no control over what the chef says! Sadly for Mother and I and our girly day, Prosecco is not permitted.
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