New Year, New Diet!

Hi

Right, got all that stupid New Years eve stuff out of the way!

I am getting old I know, but I do get confused. I mostly get confused answering questions on a Masterchef series ,that I filmed six months ago, while I am in the middle of filming a completely different Celebrity MasterChef.!

We are not quite back filming yet, so between getting drunk at lunchtime (!) I have a bit of time on my hands. One afternoon I went to view an exhibition of Byzantine art at the Royal Academy ,you had no idea I was so cultured did you?! Don't worry it took me all of 30 mins to get round the whole lot.

London was desperately quiet last week, black cab drivers are the best gage of the economy in London and every one was moaning his head off. No one was coming into the city and none wanted to venture out in the freezing temperatures. At one point in a normally busy resturant I was the only table at 9.30!

I am trying to lose weight .It is not a silly New Year's resolution I have been trying to loose weight for 2 years. It is disconcerting watching Master Chef to see my stomach approach the contestant 30 seconds before I do! I am so not going to lose weight I had a really big boozy lunch at Le Gavroche this week, five fantastic courses and enough good wine to fill a bath. Even my usually sober professional friend Howard was in a pickle by the end of it.

Went to see my Doctor, still got a bit of trouble with the old cholesterol ,well there is a surprise! He is a good Doctor, but I don't think he has quite got a handle on what it is I actually do! I tried to explain Master Chef to him and he suggested that, rather than eat the food when tasting, I should chew it up and spit it into a bucket, can you imagine?!

Love life is going quite well ,in that it is not in the News of the World yet and I am nearly all the way through my Level 2 Rugby Coaching Badge . I am nursing the bruises as I sit here and write this .

For an up to date list of seasonal produce I would like to encourage you to sign up for a weekly newsletter, it's OK it's free! Then we have your email address so we can send you information about upcoming events and try and sell you stuff you may not want!

Happy vegging,

Gregg

Happy New Year!!!!

Happy New Year to one and all!

I very much hope your Christmas veg was a big success!

Every time I turn on the television or radio, somebody wearing a tie ,is telling me we are all going to have a really tough time this year. I am not going to let them get me down. I feel no shame in admitting I feel happy. I look forward to Spring and lots of new veg. In the meantime, there is plenty of home-grown produce for you to get your hands on.

Masterchef has started, Hooray!! BBC2 8.30 Monday to Thursday. This was one of the closet run Masterchef's ever, so enjoy. Strange for me to be watching Mastchef on the telly and be filming a celeb Masterchef at the same time.

I went skiing over Christmas to Italy - I love it! After, England it is my favourite place in the world. Their approach to food is so honest and natural. My skiing has improved considerably. Well, actually, it is only the second time I have been and I was so rubbish last time that it didn’t take a lot to improve me! I really enjoy skiing fresh air , light exercise, you have one glass of wine with your dinner and it feels like you have downed a bottle of night nurse!

I was tucked up in bed by 10.30 on New Year's eve. I have never enjoyed it, I suppose it because I eat out so much in London during the rest of year. Every resturant is packed you can’t get a taxi everything is twice as expensive. I was happy in bed until the neighbours woke me up with a firework show.

I may have a new girlfriend , watch this space . . .!

Once again Happy New Year ! Sign up for my newsletter to get some great recipe ideas for this time of year.

Speak soon,

Gregg