Saturday 12 June 2010

It began as a bit of fun. Earlier in the week I'd started a new short-term job in Shaftesbury Avenue. Not only was the job new, but the location, Soho, was new as well.

I'd decided to make the most of lunch hours and get to know the area. So my first lunch break saw me walking up Greek Street to Soho Square and back down Dean Street. What a revelation: none of the seedy sex shops I'd expected but a cornucopia of bars and restaurants with food from all over the world. Being a bon viveur, I was in my element and wondered how many I could visit during the four months I'd be working in the area.

After a few drinks at my leaving do later in the week (yes, I know you're supposed to have this before you leave but I'd postponed it from the week earlier due to half term when everyone except me was off), I made the rash statement that I'd try to visit every bar and restaurant within the confines of Greek, Dean and Frith Streets.

Sobriety kicked in yesterday, but having recently watched the DVD, Julie and Julia (where Julie Powell attempts to cook all 524 recipes from Julia Child's book Mastering the art of French cooking), I thought 'why not?' I do not yet know the scale of the challenge but I have found a fantastic website http://www.streetsensation.co.uk/ which should help enormously.

So, as a Programme Manager, I need to scope out the project, develop a plan and create a risk register (the main risks at the moment appear to be a huge increase in my waistline (i.e. lbs gained) and a huge decrease in my bank balance (i.e. £s lost).

Additionally, as a virgin blogger I need to get to grips with what its all about! Hopefully as this happens, you'll see my blog improve, so visit me regularly!

My partner has suggested that in order to mitigate the main risk I also record my weight, as well as recording details of where I've been and what I've eaten. This is a step to far, but I will limit it to reporting weekly on pounds gained or lost (in my dreams!).

Well, I've now committed myself in writing, so I will go and get weighed and then start to work out how many places I need to visit in the next few months.

I'll be back soon with the results of my findings!