By Rachel Hanretty
As a student who has been trying to live in Paris my diet has recently consisted of baguettes and ‘La vache qui rit’ (that other really well known fromage.) So, I arrived at the ADM ready to be fed with sumptuous delights hoping that there might be a few foodie journalists to demand simply the best.
In reality I have never been so bloated from carbs, fizzy pop and heavily processed everything. It was nice to see that the ultimate cornish pasties and sausage rolls were kept for the last day. For the many people travelling home for hours on public transport, let us all spare a thought for those who sat beside the gassy NUJ members left with limited circulation in a train carriage.
If someone asked what fueled the NUJ ADM it wasn’t only the debates, it was gallons of coffee and tea. Debris littered the tables as everyone reached for the caffeine to help them through the day. And let’s not even talk about the amount of alcohol consumed. I promised my mother I wouldn’t drink while away as she is convinced the path to journalism is barred with addictions.
NUJ thank you for feeding me but now I’m going to go on a diet.
- Morning: Yoghurt and fruit / A proper English breakfast (what do you think everyone chose?)
- Lunch: Pungent cheese and onion sandwiches, ham and ‘cranberry’ fillings, flapjacks, crisps including playground style Quavers. Odd little tubs of chicken fried rice or chilli con carne. A piece of fruit if you wish. The hygienic baby wipe was not edible. And a kit-kat.
- Dinner: Pizza, pasta, Chinese and variations on fast food, and what the kitchen can get out for over one hundred delegates. And we were The Prince of Wales’ guinea pigs to try out their Christmas meal. Sticky toffee pudding, chocolate cake, many gluttonous goods.
- Evening: wine, wine, beer, beer, wine, vodka and diet coke, whisky, spirits (water)
- Throughout the day: gallons and gallons of tea and coffee to survive and function.
