Today one of my lady loves and I adventured into the countryside for a utopic spring picnic surrounded by big trees and trickling streams.

There were baby animals hopping excitedly around us, fascinated by their new surroundings. We got really lost on a windy dirt road, but we didn’t even care.

We ate coconut damper and salted caramel, apple and haloumi salad while sipping fresh pineapple and beetroot juice. 

The hangry struggle is real, ok.

Don’t even pretend like it has never happened to you. You’re out at a restaurant, a little later than usual as is, and are completely ravenous. You tenaciously order your favourite linguine without a second look at the menu. And then the waiting begins.

You know that feeling you get when an hour later your meal is nowhere to be seen? Like you could actually grab a fork and stab it into your partner’s eye if they ask you one more time whether you want some of their leftover trail mix. Yeah, that is hangry.

I am somewhat of a cuisine discriminator and I blame it nearly entirely on my uncle.

He is tall, wears excellent shirts and takes lovely photographs. He is funny and caring. Sounds like a good guy right?

Wrong! He is a downright arrogant food monarchist! I found this out after once sharing with him my utter infatuation with Greek food  - after a holiday in Corfu saw me sailing around the islands eating olives and fresh caught sardines. 

I really, really love winter.

It is a time when you can sip delicious hot drinks, and down lamb shanks and apple crumble like it’s nobody’s business.

Soon you are a festive three or four kilos heavier. But not to worry, long cosy trench coasts and firming black tights have a magical way of hiding all manner of sins. 

I know it happens all the time, but it really stinks.

You are happily committed and then something, somewhere changes. You develop feelings, a magnetic attraction. You know you shouldn’t, but you can’t fight it.

It may have just started with their smell, a few sheepish glances and yearning eyes. You have come this close before, yet have always been able to tell yourself it isn’t worth it. But before you know it you are having some pretty deceitful thoughts.