We’ve has a lovely Christmas day (including an icing-sugar dusting of snow here in Glasgow) with some gorgeous food:

09:00 Breakfast:

• Scrambled egg with wild smoked salmon, on Rankins soda bread toast.

15:00 Lunch:

• Roast pheasant (from Heritage Meat and Game, Kilbarchan – regulars at the Partick and QP Farmers’ Markets), with a chestnut, raisin and cream stuffing and sauce.
• Roast potatoes (Maris Piper).
• Creamed parsnips and brussels sprouts – boil the veg, the whizz with creme fraiche.

16:00 Afterwards:

• Breaking into the chocolates and truffles from l’Artisan du Chocolat. My personal favourite are the liquid salted caramels.

20:00 Snacks:

• Cheeses (Spenwood, Durrus and Blue Stilton) from Iain Mellis, Gt. Western Road.
• Brindisi cocktail chorizo sausages.
• Gorgonzola and red wine kettle crisps.

21:30 Pudding:

• Christmas pudding, made by Rene, accompanied by home-made brandy butter and double cream.

A satisfactory day!

I had a check-up at the docs a few weeks ago, and had my cholesterol checked.

6.0 – not a good rating (it’s meant to be between 3.5 and 5).

So I went on a low-fat kick – I cut out cheese (the main culprit), limited myself to one semi-skimmed cappuccino a day, no buns or pastries, and only a few treats at weekends. I also bought a pedometer and average about 8000 steps/day.

A few days ago, my cholesterol reading was down to 4.1. Within 4 weeks.

It works. I’ve also lost a few pounds (my trousers are a little loser) and feel much fitter.