Let's see how many fights I can start today. It does wonders for my comments ratings.
Downing Street press office has just proudly announced that Theresa May has given up Salt 'n' Vinegar crisps for Lent. I wonder if she will be able to hold out. Maybe we will notice a less sour expression on her face in the days to come?
I never give up anything for Lent and I never make New Year's Eve resolutions, but if I were to give up crisps for it, then I think I could manage quite well. I hate the fucking things.
Apart from the potato and salt, the worst thing about Salt 'n' Vinegar crisps is the 'vinegar'. Years ago, a food scientist (like Margaret Thatcher) worked out the active ingredient in vinegar, then chemically isolated it as acetic acid, which can be made in bulk using pure chemicals. It never loses its acidity since it is a crystal, whereas real vinegar is a liquid which would turn the crisps soggy whilst losing strength.
They use acetic acid in all sorts of things now and ruin perfectly good eggs by pickling them in it, saving loads of money by not using real vinegar. The awful, harsh, tartness in kid's sour sweets is acetic acid. They daub the stuff all over them. It must - in conjunction with the sugar - do wonders for their teeth.
Occasionally I frighten myself by considering things which I would find very hard to give up for Lent. I suppose alcohol and cigarettes would be the hardest. They have an addictive quality to them which is most compelling. I don't suppose I would suffer for very long in the absence of either, but right now I am not prepared to give them up for any reason short of saving someone else's life.
What would you give up? HAVE you given up anything for Lent?
All of the religions are stuff and nonsense to my mind. I think that I am sufficiently mature enough not to need cajoles or veiled threats. I maintain a moral code of my own which I do not inflict on anyone. I prefer cheese and onion crisps.
ReplyDeleteSo you've given up religion then?
DeleteYes and I lost the taste for strong drink a few years ago and that is just pitiful....
DeleteMe too. I have a bit in Winter and the odd G & T in Summer.
DeleteNope; I try to avoid religious superstitions at all costs.
ReplyDeleteOk, I'll put it another way. If you HAD to give something up for a few weeks, what would you find the hardest?
DeleteI have never given up anything for Lent even when at the convent. My mother regarded the whole idea of it as daft.
ReplyDeleteSee question to Cro above. Come on - play the game.
DeleteI find it quite easy to give up things but blog visiting very difficult. I would find it hard not to visit your blog for 40 days and 40 nights.
DeleteYou gave it a try though.
DeleteAfter turtle I did.
DeleteCannot remember any of that and do not intend to remind myself.
DeleteTom, I've given up chocolate...easy to do. After a recent fall, I've also involuntarily given up a few things like touch typing.
ReplyDeleteMissed reading your posts.
You fell? I am sorry to hear that. Try giving up falling over. Chocolate is easy for me too.
DeleteNope .... I've never given up anything for Lent.
ReplyDelete.....and, I'm a ready salted kinda gal !!!! But, I don't eat them very often. XXXX
Oh .... I've just seen your answer to Cro ..... what would I find hard to give up ????? Nothing actually. I'm not that good at much BUT .... i am very disciplined ( steady !!! ) and find it quite easy to give things up if I think I've overdone it. It's in our genes. XXXX
DeleteThe opposite of me then. I am what you would call habitual.
Delete...... and I can't make beautiful sculpture like you .... we all have our strengths and weaknesses !! XXXX
DeleteI would like to be able to give that up.
DeleteIt has been six months now that I have given up going into a lift, and I force my tired legs up stairways. It has nothing to do with Lent (never done it) but a little wish I made to myself to get stronger :)
ReplyDeleteGreetings Maria x
Does that count?
DeleteX
Err... I don't know. I could try getting out of a chair withut pushing up with my hands (legs have become weak since knee problems) but I think that's called physiotherapy.
DeleteI have given up alcohol. One year I gave up swearing. That was more difficult...
ReplyDeleteI gave up cocaine about 5 years ago and do not miss it. I know that I am not addictive, just habitual. I still fucking swear.
DeleteI gave up sodas and sweetened drinks at the end of January, not for Lent (obviously) but as part of my efforts to lose weight and get healthier. It was only hard at first.
ReplyDeleteSalt and vinegar potato chips are a guilty indulgence of mine. I rarely buy them, because I could easily eat a large bag at one sitting. Also, I'd want an icy cold Coke to wash them down!
I drink about 2 Cokes a year - usually for a hangover on holiday. They are good for that.
DeleteI am Jewish ,so i didn't have to give up anything for Lent, but i gave up smoking and i miss it so much every day.I think we don't have here those salt and vinegar potato, i shall look for them tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteYes, us lapsed Christians have it hard. Even priests can smoke though.
DeleteQuite easy, I'd find it really hard to give up that lovely first glass of red wine in the evening and even harder, the second glass.
ReplyDeleteSounds like me. I find it easy to give up spirits these days. I rarely buy them in case I'm tested.
DeleteRed wine or any alcohol I go without on the two days of the 2:5 diet. I try not to do it religiously.
ReplyDeleteHigh Mass transubstantiation?
DeleteGive up?
ReplyDeleteIm giving up being mr nice guy
I doubt that.
DeleteMr Nice Gay? Another typo? You even get adulation over here on my site.
DeleteI would find it difficult to give up speaking to my sister every day.
ReplyDeleteDo you speak to anyone else?
DeleteI'm a weak ass and can't give up anything. Nor do I want to. I have always liked the salt and vinegar chips because they have what I call "some zing" in it. I don't like finding out what this "zing" is actually made of. Time to pout a little bit and then eat some chips, which usually helps against the pouting.
ReplyDeleteDifficult to pout with a gob full of acetic acid. That's why models don't eat s and v crisps.
DeleteAbout a year ago, I gave up cola's and went to diet cola's. I'm use to them put a Coke was the real thing. After I got my dentures, bad teeth run in my genes..potato chips just don't taste the same. Although I'm Christian we don't do lent at our church. I do need to cut down on chocolate 🍫 and sweets. I'm bitchy today my daughter in law took my grandson home and he nor I were ready. Sigh🙃
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your grandson Gabrielle. Bad teeth in your family? I got quite angry with someone here recently for stating the obvious, so I won't make any connection with the regular Coke and teeth...
DeleteMrC and I are heavy users of wine and coffee, and light users of cigarettes. The combined cost of these habits recently led me to an un-Lent related challenge to pick one only. We both agreed coffee had to stay. We've drunk very little wine since instead of a bottle a night and we neither of us mind. the cigs we're weaning off slowly. The health benefits of this decision is nothing compared to the saving!
ReplyDelete