March On, March On

[Sweder]

Thank you Suzie, gracias Antonio - for your good wishes and your company on this incredible journey. We're almost there.

I'm unbearably excited and there's still five days to go . . . I think Mrs S will have me bumped off before I get to the start line! You both know how taper fever sets in . . . Moyleman went out for a sneaky, unscheduled eight this morning. At least he had the good grace to confess via e-mail.

I chose to go for a leisurely breakfast at the excellent Real Eating Company in town. There's something timeless and ultimately satisfying about leafing through the Sunday papers over a table creaking under thick slabs of freshly cut toast smothered in homemade apple and blackcurrant jam, a herd of fried meat, mountains of scrambled eggs, acres of mushrooms and tomatos roasted to the point of bursting alongside glasses brimming with freshley squeezed orange juice and steaming mugs of dark-hearted italian coffee. So exhausted was I by this orgy of indulgence I had to retire to the sofa where after an indecently short interlude I consumed a continuous stream of goodies including carrot cake, marmite sandwiches and a wonderful chicken and vegetable stew. The carbs are loading at an alarming rate.

I may have to pop out for a gentle waddle to Blackcap in the morning :o