Hungry Ghost's Daily Diet (TM)

Such was the scene a few days ago..

The moment I woke up, before I put on my makeup, I said a little prayer for you... oh wait. Wrong day.

So, a few days ago, I woke up and opened the blinds. And lo, there was a strange yellow orb in the sky. Like a jaundiced baby's sole eye staring grumpily and accusingly at you. It hurt me this round, bright thing. It made my skin tingle in the way that precedes a seizure. "it burns, it hurts, we'z don't likez it".

Which is only my way of saying the pineapple express has been curtailed, and the sun, although not its warmth, has come back. For now. But we don't hold our breath, and I say a little prayer for you - while jiggling my soft belly around.


Ear bleeds: Do you have any idea how expensive almonds are? They are. It's because the bees are dying off - colony collapse disorder, I believe it's called. Bees - they pollinate almond trees and thereby permit baby almonds to grow. No bees, no almond babies, and thus the price of almonds increases. In any case, let's get back to ME. There I was, in London Drugs looking for a ladle that doesn't bend at the wrist, some light-bulbs and the almonds. Assaulting my ears were the Salvation Army people jangling their bells, christmas carols piped over the sound system and assistant managers whistling along.

Gah. I would die if I had to work in that environment. I left precipitately, but not without ladle, bulbs and almonds. I should probably have got cotton tips to staunch the flow of blood too, but leave that for now.

Unfortunately, the whole consumerist imperative will only get worse as we march towards Saturnalia. This year, I shall not say another word about what is to come. Instead, I shall find calming recordings of Buddhist monks chanting, waves crashing onto beaches and tune the gaudiness out. For after all, what do I gain in participating or encouraging the madness? I shall go to my grave with a pure and clean conscience.

Right then, ear-plugs in and blinders on. I'm ready. Bring it on.

Twelfth Night at Tojo's on Tuesday, and again, I didn't have to pay. Ah. This streak of not-paying won't last long though. It has been decreed that I shall pay in March. This is what happened.

"Sharks need treats too!", said Dr. Shark, I hurried to find some kippers for her, but she turned her snout up at them. "Fool! Do you think I will eat the bloodless remnants of some Englishman's smoked and burnt breakfast?! No! Tuna. Tataki!"

And that's how we ended up supping at Tojo's.

• Spinach salad with bonito flakes and a creamy sauce (not too peanuty)
• Miso soup
• Tojo's tuna marinated in miso sauce
• Great Canadian Roll - asparagus, lobster, crab meat topped with smoked salmon
• Spider roll - soft-shelled crab roll
• Spicy tropical roll - tuna with mango and other delicious bits and bobs
• Black sesame flakes with fruit in a raspberry-grapefruit reduction

And the rest of the week, was spent saying little prayers, polishing abstracts, editing grants, writing papers and cursing idiots who think when they shouldn't, and don't when they should. Which is to say that they didn't do what they were supposed to do, and now completion dates for tasks are slipping too close to my deadlines. Feckwits.

I think I'll go for a nice doughnut to calm my nerves now.