Chickening out.

All week I have been planning today's dinner. I bought a large free range organic chicken and had the intention of making it last all the way to Saturday - including soup / stew etc.

I don't eat much meat so this is an 'occasion'. I prepared everything - got the veg ready, and put the chicken in the oven. As I was clearing up I realised that the date on the chicken was not what I expected - it should have been 'used by' last Sunday. I told myself it would be OK and that it's been in a fridge during a cold snap, but after half an hour I had to give up and go out and buy another chicken - swiftly dumping the first. I'm a bit annoyed about the cost - but I would almost certainly have developed Salomonella or something - probably just phsychosomatic - but still it would ruin my week.

I made myself feel better with a packet of almond slices. The COOP was full of very old people stooping over hand written little lists, buying their Xmas food in tiny portions - most of them had also bought a box of Roses. Pretty depressing. There is a segment in the Orton Diaries where he shops on Xmas Eve in a supermarket and sees and old woman buy a chicken drumstick and some tinned garden peas or something. Felt rather sad about it. I loathe Xmas and I'm having a normal day - although I may take the dogs to the beach if the weather is OK. Dog walking on Xmas day is a nightmare - loads of drunk people wearing silly jumpers and over excited dogs who have probably been eating treats all day - running around off lead - the owners always feel obliged to try and start jolly conversations.... ugh.