FOOD 3 May 2013 7:50 AM (11 years ago)

Lately I've been thinking a lot about food. After being vegetarian for many, many years I started eating a little fish a few years back when I went to Japan. I felt as though there were so many foods I'd never even tasted, I'd never tried sushi, maybe I felt like I was missing something. And I'd never disliked the tatse of meat or fish and maybe now it was easier to eat those foods more sustainably. So slowly started introducing fish into my diet, and then last year a little meat. But my small adventures in eating without dietary restrictions have swung me back the other way and I've reverted to full vegetarianism.

I'd forgotten some of the reasons that I didn't eat those foods and after a little while, I remembered them.

I absolutely don't disagree with eating meat and fish per se. What I do have a problem with in terms of meat consumption is the mindlessness with which it's done, the sheer amounts of meat being eaten, and the conditions in which the animals are raised - conditions which not only cause those animals immense suffering but also produces sub-standard food and introduce dangerous pathogens into the food chain. I think meat probably can be healthy, in small amounts, but that it most definitely isn't if it's been produced in a factory farm setting. For me it's easier to just cut it out altogether.

For me healthy is veg. And fruit, and lots of it! I definitely feel as though my diet is whole lot more exciting when it's centred on fruit, veg and whole grains. I'm experimenting with eating less "other" animal products but I'm not sure if I can make the full transition to vegan. That feels like a much bigger and more difficult step!

If you have any interest at all in the farming and production methods of meat, fish and even just veg & grains then I'd definitely recommend Michael Pollan's books and Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer. Joanna Blythman's book on the power of supermarkets is interesting as well, and provides a compelling arguement to start supporting small local farmers with organic veg box schemes and pay them a fair price for their produce and labour.

GARDEN paradise 24 Apr 2013 1:30 AM (11 years ago)

Yes, sorry, more pictures from Morocco from way back last November, we spent a few days relaxing by the pool and feeling luxurious at the beautiful Jardin d'Issil. I want to go back!

high ATLAS 23 Apr 2013 6:09 AM (11 years ago)

The beautiful Atlas mountains in Morocco are definitely worth a visit. I can highly recommend Douar Samra, one of the loveliest places I've ever stayed I think. A perfect place for a holiday... go!

Photo overload upcoming!

the walled CITY 22 Apr 2013 12:40 PM (11 years ago)

Lovely Morocco...

LOSER 22 Apr 2013 12:20 PM (11 years ago)

land of FIRE & ice 28 Mar 2013 5:29 AM (11 years ago)

So it's been a while.

Going to attempt to make this a more regular thing - kicking off with some photos from a trip to Iceland last November. I was lucky enough to get to see the northern lights dance, but I have never been so cold. I was not built for such arctic conditions although looks as though I may need to get used them seeing as the UK's frozen winter seems to be showing no signs of ending.

Camera: Lomo LC-A

"you don't have to be PRETTY" 28 Mar 2013 5:07 AM (11 years ago)

“You don’t have to be pretty. You don’t owe prettiness to anyone. Not to your boyfriend/spouse/partner, not to your co-workers, especially not to random men on the street. You don’t owe it to your mother, you don’t owe it to your children, you don’t owe it to civilization in general. Prettiness is not a rent you pay for occupying a space marked “female”.”

Diana Vreeland

Words to remember.

TOURIST 5 Sep 2012 12:38 PM (12 years ago)

Paris, August 2012.

let them eat CAKE 4 Sep 2012 10:33 AM (12 years ago)

Le Palais de Versailles

June 2012.

flora 18 May 2012 1:00 AM (12 years ago)

Spectacular flora and fauna in La Palma. Sometimes it kills me that the weather in London is so awful, wish we could have some more sunshine!

BRUTAL/beauty 17 May 2012 6:30 AM (12 years ago)

The Barbican. I love the brutalist design of the towers and the complex. The architecture tour they run is really fascinating - there are so many levels to the design.