Only 30 minutes until Kerry arrives and we can start making the tea- so excited!

The Cake v Apple debate


We are doing pretty well with our challenge. My body seems to have adapted to the restrictions and I am no longer constantly hungry nor do I crave a caffeine fix.
Interesting debate today between the three of us...namely the cake v apple one. We currently have money left in the kitty, some of which will be spent on some fresh vegetables, however we need to decide how to spend the remaining money. Do we spend the balance on buying the additional ingredients required to bake a cake or do we spend it on a piece of fruit for each of us?
Which side would you come down on in the cake v apple debate?
I am learning quite a bit about my particular eating habits, for example I find the part of the day between mid-day and 4pm to be the most difficult so I realise I must be in the habit of snacking at this time. Do I really crave that cup of tea at 3pm or is it perhaps more the biscuit or slice of cake that goes with it?
I do find drinking only water rather boring and a friend suggested elderflower cordial which is easily made at this time of year. Sadly the recipe asks for ten elderflower heads picked on a dry sunny day, otherwise they apparently smell like cats p***, so I have been awaiting such an event.....but alas not this year. Anyone for Cat's P*** cordial?
By the way, if you interested in supporting Below the Line financially we have a Fund-raising page at:

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserPage.action?userUrl=livebelowthelinegang&faId=223559&isTeam=true

Day 4...the novelty is wearing off


We are well into Day 4 now and currently I am not very hungry - its not that long since we  had our lentil soup and bread for lunch.  I would say though that I am hungry most of the time, and I seem to be more hungry than the other two for some reason, even though we are all eating the same amount.


One reason might be that today I did a bike ride...it seemed a good idea at the time.  After all most people who do actually live in extreme poverty have to expend a lot of energy to get the money to buy food, and do it when they are hungry!  So I did a bike ride, I had just had my porridge and some toast and jam, and so the hunger pangs had been satisfied...by 10.30 though I was ready for lunch.


The worst time for me has been in the middle of the night.  I wake up feeling really hungry, you know that feeling when your stomach contracts with the hunger pangs?  Luckily I have enough belly fat for my stomach to chew on...and eventually the hunger pangs stop and I go back to sleep.


And thankfully I am so hungry when I wake up that even porridge tastes OK.


And yes today is the first day I have been tempted to cheat, I have had to dig deep into my resolve and remember why we are doing this...and so have been good and poured myself another cup of hot water.


Now what time is it and when is it teatime?

day three

If you're anything like me sometimes you can't help but feel down and defeated by things that go on in the world around us that quite frankly aren't all that pleasant. There is an awful lot of that kind of stuff going on isn't there? The fact that 1.4 billion people are forced to live on less than £1 a day is just one thing that when we think about it, might make us feel some unwelcome emotions such as sadness, pity and perhaps guilt. If you are not one of these people and can ignore those feelings and all the unpleasant things in life, then good for you, how lucky you are. If however, like me you can't just ignore those feelings or the causes of those feelings here are some things that you can do to make a difference and to start adding to your pile of good feelings.


Probably the most obvious and most talked about thing that ordinary people like you can do to make a difference is by using your own money...

• The most obvious of these ways is probably donating money directly to a charity. This is also the quickest and simplest way to use your own money. You can just set up a standing order and the money comes out of your account each month. It doesn't have to be much, as little as £2 a month makes a difference too. You can also of course donate to our charity and sponsor us for doing this challenge-http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserPage.action?userUrl=livebelowthelinegang&faId=223559&isTeam=true
• Shop in charity shops. If you're feeling a little hard up why not do your next round of shopping in a shop that will use your cash for something good. Handbags and shoes are great things to look out for. 
• Buy fair trade products. Swap your clothes, make-up, coffee, tea, bananas, chocolate, sugar and loads of other cupboard essentials for fair trade brands. Buying fair trade helps producers get a fair price for their product and stops them being exploited by more powerful people like you and me. 
• At Christmas or birthdays buy charitable gifts for people across the world or send charity cards to your friends and family. Most charities make their own cards, and you can give really interesting things now like goats!

It's not just your money that is valuable and can be used to make a difference, using other resources is really helpful too...

• Don't send old clothes, shoes, bras, coats, books, kitchen stuff or toys to landfill, donate them instead. Give to charity shops the things you no longer need or want. However, from personal experience I know a lot of charities are sent things they don't really need which end up taking up valuable space, so it's best to get in touch with a charity to find out what they need the most and what will be most helpful to them. 
• Donate food to homeless shelters. Don't waste food full stop. Buy only what you need, eat up out of the fridge and what you really don't want give it to someone who does! 
• Recycle. A simple one, but still so many people don't do it. If your council are a bit rubbish when it comes to providing the right facilities, speak to them!
• Give blood. Okay so this isn't necessarily going to help people all over the world, but it is going to help someone in your community, or in the community next door, or your parent's community perhaps. It's quite fun actually and you get to eat free biscuits and drink free squash. 
• Spread the word. If you are passionate about something and are already doing something to help, tell people about it. Let them know what you're doing and maybe it will inspire them to do it too.

Finally, we have something else that we can use to help, that most of us probably have in abundance and gets wasted every single day...Time. Give up your time as a volunteer. Volunteering is enormously beneficial not just for the organisation or the people you help but is also beneficial for you. It makes you feel great. There are loads of volunteering opportunities in your area, absolutely loads....

• You can volunteer at a local community centre, you'll meet lots of interesting people of a variety of ages, really old ones and really wee ones. 
• Help run a homework club.
• Keep your community clean and green by doing some local conservation.
• Walk dogs for a animal shelter. 
• Volunteer at galleries and historic buildings.
• Teaching english as a second language.
• Take part in a sponsored activity like swimming, walking or running for charity, having a cake sale, or even Living Below the Line! 
• Litter pick around your house or pop in for a visit with an elderly neighbour to keep them company. Easy. 

I'm not saying I do all these things, because I don't and I too could do so much more but even if you start by doing just one of these things trust me you'll feel so good about yourself and at the same time you'll have made an actual difference to someone or to lots of somebodies. Maybe your one thing today could be to sponsor us! 

Day 2.........

Today was tougher than day one. I felt lethargic, had half-a-headache and my concentration was poor. It had nothing to do with the restricted diet, but all to do with my body's need for caffeine. Caffeine withdrawal wasn’t something I had even considered beforehand.

On the plus side I had to attend a conference as part of my work. I managed to resist the temptation of the ‘free’ lunch and this provided the opportunity to talk to other people as they tucked into theirs, about the 1.4 billion people who live ‘below the line’.

It was interesting that many people wrongly assumed our action was associated with a church group or Christian charity. There seems to be a common misconception that an atheist isn’t interested in giving and cares little for other people, when in truth I have just as much empathy as anyone else.

Food wise I ate well, though probably not as well as on day one. Porridge for breakfast, rice with onion and mushroom and garden herbs with a handful of home-grown rocket for lunch, and a mashed-up over-ripe banana, which was being thrown away, for supper.

In the evening I went to the pub, where my companion thoughtfully ordered a glass of water and a gin and tonic for himself, rather than the pint of beer he would undoubtedly have preferred. This meant that our glasses did at least look similar, and in the convivial surroundings and delicious smells of a ‘gastropub’ I soon forget about the ‘Timothy Taylors Landlord’ I would otherwise have enjoyed.

Hopefully the caffeine withdrawal symptoms will improve tomorrow and I can focus on wondering about when the next meal will arrive.

still day 1

Day 1 well under way, the porridge at breakfast was at least hot and filling, just what you need in an English summer.   Pasta,onions,mushrooms and tomato at lunch was lovely, although some nice shavings of parmesan would have made it extra special.  We have a special treat for tea, crumble and custard!  Just as well I'm hungry and its not even 5 o'clock......

Rhubarb and raspberry crumble to be served with 6p instant custard.

Day 1

The start of a long week?

I’m Kerry. I am a friend of Zoe and of her mother, Lynne. Although we don’t all live together, I am only about a mile away and we often spend time and eat meals together. Initially I was enthusiastic about the notion of living ‘Below the line’ for a whole week. As the start date looms ever closer I am beginning to feel some trepidation.

Why have I decided to do this action?   I suppose several factors have influenced my decision, as there were when I chose many years ago to stop eating meat.

For some time I have convinced myself that my metabolism is such that I would cope well if food was in short supply-is this an unhelpful belief I uphold in order to indulge in foods I enjoy? Time will soon tell whether this particular myth will be busted.

In addition, I wanted to experience at first hand how 1.4 billion people survive daily. For them eating is not an indulgence, for them finding enough food to feed themselves and their children is a daily battle which must occupy their thoughts for a large proportion of each and every day.  

I am fortunate that I can make an active decision to participate in this action. I take the food I eat for granted. I often say that for me one of the best reasons to go on camping trips is, that I appreciate running water and electricity so much more on my return. Will the same apply to the food I eat? Perhaps I will waste less and buy more wisely in future once this action is completed.
Having just completed a circuit of Morrison's, with Zoe, ten minutes before closing time, to pick up bargains and managing to find nothing more nutritious or appetising than a small white loaf, for 19p-actually there were also two very small organic fancy lettuces which had been reduced to 75p and so consequently beyond our budget,  I am beginning to appreciate that this is going to be a long week.