Plumpcious abroad: 20 July 2012

I cannot believe today was my last day of cooking school. I am sad, tired, relieved and full (literally, I had a huge lunch). I expect there will be tears at the farewell dinner this evening - warm buttery tears falling in fat droplets down chubby cheeks ...

Today we had a full day of written exams. The first exam was ok, the second was better, the third exam was hilariously awful - I had a massive brain block and couldn't remember anything. Then I struggled through the meat and fish identification - at one point I was staring at a piece of meat and all I was certain of was that it came from something that 'mooed'. Was is shin? Chump? Rib? Fillet? Sirloin? Could I just write 'cow' and get a point? I was slightly beyond caring - it was the sixth hour of exams, my wrist hurt from writing and I was in desperate need of a drink. Thank God The Editor arrived to pick me up with a bottle of champagne (Bless him).

And so ends my 12 week adventure at Ballymaloe cookery school. I have had a fantastic time, met some amazing people, cooked some great food, (also some edible food and some slightly dodgy food) and most importantly, I managed to get through the three months without actually bursting the seam of my chef pants (although they are groaning).

The diet starts tomorrow.