PovertyChallenge

Sorry about the lack of posting yesterday....don't panic i have not died a bean death.

Had the most hectic day ever yesterday, and due to the involvement of an essay amidst the hecticness, it has unfortunetly carried on this morning! Was really tired yesterday, and although i didn't feel that hungry, i felt really drained. Walked to uni in the morning after my first dose of beans (feels like a horrible medicene i have to take in the morning now, definetly tastes like it, except seemingly makes me feel more ill...) as had a meeting with my dissertation tutor, and felt as if i was sleep walking into uni like some kind of weird beaned out zombie. So, walked back, put on some rice, and embarked on an afternoon of essay writing (except it was really an afternoon of uninspired tea brewing, screen staring and facebook procrastination). Felt pretty ill all day, and not ready or patient enough to face the battle of me vs the can opener vs the can, nibbled on green beans to keep my energy topped up.

And after a day of being ridiculously bone idle, i had to scuttle back into uni for my shift at the Guild at 7pm, which was 5 hours in which my stomach growled, begging for the (just about) out of date sanwhiches which are normally up for grabs at the end of a shift. But alas, while my co-worker picked up his free and easy cheese and tomato sandwhich (what i had been dreaming of only yesterday), i gritted my teeth and sipped on my tea.

And after, frankly, a day of all round grump, the bus back from work was seething with temptation, as my stomch growled, and the chip shops passed, i felt a couple of pounds in my pocket and thought of the heaven that would be a sneaky pack of chips....the worst temptress being 'Friends' the kebab shop (which, in my opinion, is probably the best in the universe) that lies just at the top of my road. The smell of chips was alluring, and a mixture or hunger, rain and tiredness definetly provided the perfect conditions for me to be tempted, however, i mustered the will power of a monk and hurried past, realising 'Friends' was not a friend, and in fact an enemy.

Once home, I was greeted instead to the remanants of a pack of green beans in my fridge.

So, just thought id post this quickly up, will post some more perhaps later after ive turned into super woman and ive read my Tolkien for the day, get together some notes for todays class, attended my 2 hour tutorial, walked my 4 miles to and back from uni, plan next week's meeting for Oxfam society, restock my beans.........

Ciao for now.

Day 2 has been more difficult than expected.

Hunger and food bordem have already led me to perve on anything that is non bean/rice shaped. The fridge is an object of temptation. The rubbish sandwiches in the library cafe look ridiculously appealing. The smell of my housemates omelette and chips is sending me into a spiral of depression.

Although 7 days doesnt seem a very long time, when every meal you taste doesnt taste of ANYTHING....well it starts to seem a while. After beans for breakfast, and then for lunch, the anticipation of dinner is not too wild. Today infact, i had the reminents of last nights beans and rice that i packed in a geek lunchbox for todays breakfast and lunch, and although the carby combination is filling, i think im rather avoiding eating any more than i need, coz frankly it tastes bloody awful.

 I think i have also developed a strange sixth sense, as an inbuilt 'food-dar' has suddenly materialised from no where. My human capabilities of smell have heightened to inhuman proportions since taking on this bean test, and 'food possability' seems to be everywhere i look. A waft of chips from the Smithdown takeaway mile nearly stops me in my tracks home, and a packet of walkers crisps just has to look at me, and i feel the need to run. My general awareness of food around me is ridiculous i realise, but i think the thought that i can't have it just makes it worse! My lecturerer today was talking about Tolkein, and i was thinking about bacon sandwiches.

So, onwards i go. I have posted a pic of last nights dinner (which also turned into my breakfast and lunch today). The rainbow-like array of beans actualy makes it look pretty appetising. But don't be fooled.

PS.

I am also newly armed with a can-opener donated to me by next-doors, after last nights battle with my old can-opener ended, during a war with a can of Asda's Mexican Bean mix, in it's death. RIP.

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Check out this bizzarre american site, some interesting stats about the effects of climate change on food supplies around the world. Quite shocking that this site exists, there are people in the developed world who are seriously worried about their food supplies right now too. This article is literally telling us that we should be thinking of stocking up on emergenncy food supplies...also advertising copious amounts of products to buy in case of a food emergency!!  -----   .http://theemergencyfoodsupply.com/archives/the-coming-world-famine-will-2010-be-the-year-the-world-runs-out-of-food

However far-fetched a world food crisis may seem to those in the developed world while we're surrounded by supermarkets, takeaways and food products available to us at any time, what is perhaps inconcievable to us is that there is serious food shortages happening in the world RIGHT NOW. In Niger, soaring food prices due to poor harvests have led to half the population being left hungry. Here's a link to a channel 4 news report, very scary, very real.----- http://www.oxfam.org.uk/oxfam_in_action/emergencies/west-africa-food-crisis2010.html