Vegan Dry January Day 16: Taking stock

Vegan rubbish.

Okay - half way through. Let's take stock.

Firstly, although a month seems like a long time, it's not really. It's so short I don't need to think much about my nutritional intake, my appetite for alcohol or animal products or make any permanent lifestyle changes. Most people can put up with most things for a month.

I'm also not being bombarded with offers to drink alcohol or eat fancy foods. I have one social occasion in the diary between now and February, which involves going to watch a comedian in London and then driving home from the station afterwards. Normally I'd expect to go out for a boozy meal after the show, especially as we are meeting old friends, but driving will ensure my resolve holds. And as we are going out in central London, I suspect finding a restaurant which offers a vegan meal in January won't be too tricky.

Sticking to vegan dryness in, say, December, might require a different kind of willpower and a more focused psychological approach. In 2014, when I stopped drinking for a year, there were three difficult moments. The first was after three months, when there were still feelings of attachment to alcohol (eg fancying a pint, especially when being around others who were drinking).

The second was after nine months when I no longer had any urge to drink, and felt very much outside the drink "bubble". Then I wondered what the point of continuing to prove this psychological detachment actually was. It became almost existential. I felt myself turning into quite a serious person, which had echoes of the weird, earnest little creature I was before I discovered alcohol.

The third, and quite surprising moment, was in December, when London appeared to be wrapped in fairy-lit pre-Christmas, boozy bonhomie. I knew this was coming, but thought I'd be fine as I was on the home straight. I actually felt a profound sense of missing out. I think the togetherness that alcohol brings is part of what it is to be human. Shame it's also the cause of so much violence and disease.

So all that abstinence in 2014 took a lot of psychological re-setting and self-management, and you can tell this time round I haven't approached it the same way. On Saturday I gave myself the opportunity to relapse, and took it.

On the food front, it's been far easier than I expected. I'm probably not doing it properly (if I see another "delicious vegan recipe" I will scream), but convenience foods and animal-product substitutes are making this month go by in a delightful fug of plant-based righteousness. I pulled all the food in the photo above out from my fridge and cupboard in about 60 seconds. I didn't include the fresh fruit, bread, cereal, noodles and veg which I have been calling into service on a regular basis, but you get the point. It's more than enough to work with.

So Vegan Dry January preliminary conclusions: food-wise, enjoying it. Alcohol-wise, enjoying it, but less so.

I haven't yet discussed any post January veganality with Mrs Wallis, as it will require some thought, but I'd personally be quite happy to continue vegging about indefinitely. At least where practical. Problem is we already have enough fussy eaters in the family.

Today's vlog is below (or here on youtube, if you can't see the embed). It contains video evidence of a small alien creature I have captured, as well as further ruminations on #veganuary. Please upthumb it or subscribe or whatever it is you are meant to do. Tale of the tape below that and then the #vegandryjanuary blog archive. Thanks for reading.

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Weight: 11st 7.6lb

Exercise: 30 mins circuit training, 15 mins abs.

Food:

Porridge oats, soya milk, syrup
Beetroot in vinegar
Tea with Oatly
Bread and soup
Pepper stuffed with couscous, probably.

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Vegan Dry January Day 31: The Last Post
Vegan Dry January Day 30: A Vegan in Downing Street
Vegan Dry-ish January Day 29: Can't see what all the fuss is about
Days 26 to 28 are Nonblogged.
Vegan Dry January Day 25: Simon Amstell is a Vegan
Days 20 to 24 are Nonblogged. 
Vegan Dry January Day 19: Peer review
Vegan Dry January Day 18: Are you a vegan?
Vegan Dry January Day 17: Mmm... cashews.... 
Vegan Dry January Day 16: Taking Stock
Vegan Dry January Day 15: A relapse
Days 13 and 14 are Nonblogged. 
Vegan Dry January Day 12: There was no Day 11
There really wasn't a day 11
Vegan Dry January Day 10: Alcohol wobble
Vegan Dry January Day 9: Avoiding four meals a day
Vegan Dry January Day 8: Smeared Poo
Vegan Dry January Day 7: Separation Anxiety
Vegan Dry January Day 6: Wastelands of Admin
Vegan Dry January Day 5: Oatly is the tits
Vegan Dry January Day 4: Milk is everywhere
Vegan Dry January Day 3: I've lost my nuts
Vegan Dry January Day 2: This is going well
Vegan Dry January Day 1: Vegan Dry January is go

Vegan Dry January Day 15: A relapse

Saturday: Walton Casuals FC 4-0 Ashford United FC.

Well it had to happen, didn't it? I was hosting a little pizza party for my boy after the football (see photo above). A couple of dads were in attendance, I had no more admin left after 13 days of being sober, and I had nothing to do on Sunday other than referee an U7 football match, attend a football match (see photo below) and watch Match of the Day. So I thought, "why not?"

Bad me. I didn't really enjoy the drinks (or their effects), and felt particularly ill when I woke up the next morning. So much for willpower.

I spent most of Sunday eating, too, so now I am back to my pre-Dry January weight. I know I can't have put on 5lb in the course of 3 days, but I certainly haven't lost it. I stayed vegan (I can thoroughly recommend the Tesco Wicked vegan Caponata Sourdough pizza), but managed to eat most of a catering packet of spicy Indian mix, which may have sorted out my hangover, but didn't do much else for the metabolism.

Sunday: Chelsea Ladies FC 0-1 Manchester City WFC

Hopefully I'll get back on track this week. Yesterday's dinner was a triumph - orange pepper stuffed with a weird packet of sludgy vegan lentils which I supplemented with a tin of chopped plum tomatoes and put in the oven for an hour).

Today also started well with a Hike bar and a vegan curry at a motorway service station. And no alcohol. Yet.

In other news, "getsurrey" have written an article about Surrey Vegans featuring a video contribution I sent them via smartphone. You can watch it here. You can watch my video confessional about my alcohol relapse below or on youtube here. And then at the bottom of this post, the tale of the tape.

Please like, subscribe, share, vote up, vote down, do the hokey cokey or whatever. And do please get in touch with anything you're going through this month in the name of fun/healthiness/experimentation etc. Misery shared is misery spread.


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Weight: 11st 10lb

Exercise: An hour of walking. None all weekend.

Food (today):

Hike bar.
Lovely vegan curry from a motorway service station.
Soy Americano.
The lentil sludge I had yesterday, but this time on a baked potato with Pure olive spread.
Mint chocolate.

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Vegan Dry January Day 31: The Last Post
Vegan Dry January Day 30: A Vegan in Downing Street
Vegan Dry-ish January Day 29: Can't see what all the fuss is about
Days 26 to 28 are Nonblogged.
Vegan Dry January Day 25: Simon Amstell is a Vegan
Days 20 to 24 are Nonblogged. 
Vegan Dry January Day 19: Peer review
Vegan Dry January Day 18: Are you a vegan?
Vegan Dry January Day 17: Mmm... cashews.... 
Vegan Dry January Day 16: Taking Stock
Vegan Dry January Day 15: A relapse
Days 13 and 14 are Nonblogged. 
Vegan Dry January Day 12: There was no Day 11
There really wasn't a day 11
Vegan Dry January Day 10: Alcohol wobble
Vegan Dry January Day 9: Avoiding four meals a day
Vegan Dry January Day 8: Smeared Poo
Vegan Dry January Day 7: Separation Anxiety
Vegan Dry January Day 6: Wastelands of Admin
Vegan Dry January Day 5: Oatly is the tits
Vegan Dry January Day 4: Milk is everywhere
Vegan Dry January Day 3: I've lost my nuts
Vegan Dry January Day 2: This is going well
Vegan Dry January Day 1: Vegan Dry January is go

Vegan Dry January Day 12: There was no Day 11

Weekend plans.

I'm home alone with James (6) over the weekend. On learning this was going to happen he wrote the above list of things to do whilst I was at work. They are:

1. me and dad have the best party ever.
2. we go to football
3. make lots of lego
4. play a game

Attaboy.

Yesterday was so bonkers I didn't have time for a vlog or a blog, which is a shame as I ate like a champion, worked like a dog and was in bed before 8pm. That's living.

Not drinking means all the boring stuff I could usually put off forever gets done. Although I have found I would rather clean the whole house than write invoices. I've also started pursuing a story I let lie for a while last year, though that might be because I met a useful contact last week.

On the food front, the vegan ready-meals have been great. I now have weekday routine - energy bars and fruit in the morning, nuts for lunch and a vegan ready meal for dinner.

Last night I had a proper feast. Crisps and salsa, followed by vegetarian samosa, vegan chickpea curry ready meal, then raspberry sorbet with grated organic chocolate on top.

I could quite happily be a vegan, and whilst I'm not going out and not drinking, it's easier not to eat animal (by-)products.

If/when I reach a point where it's easier to be vegan than it is to be omnivorous or vegetarian, I'll do it. Whilst it's not, I won't.

On the health front the weight certainly appears to be sloughing off. This morning I weighed 11st 5.6lb, which means if you believe the 11st 12lb my scales reported on 2nd Jan, is just under half a stone in 10 days. If I manage another 5lb before the end of the month, I'll be happy.

Today's vlog is below (and here, if you can't see it), below that, the tale of the tape.


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Weight: 11st 5lb

Exercise: 5 mins cycling

Food:

Hike and Raw bars, apple, banana and satsuma
Tesco Wicked beans and mash
Jamie Oliver's vegan bean chilli with rice
Crisps and salsa
Carrots and Houmous
Two soy americanos

**************************

Vegan Dry January Day 31: The Last Post
Vegan Dry January Day 30: A Vegan in Downing Street
Vegan Dry-ish January Day 29: Can't see what all the fuss is about
Days 26 to 28 are Nonblogged.
Vegan Dry January Day 25: Simon Amstell is a Vegan
Days 20 to 24 are Nonblogged. 
Vegan Dry January Day 19: Peer review
Vegan Dry January Day 18: Are you a vegan?
Vegan Dry January Day 17: Mmm... cashews.... 
Vegan Dry January Day 16: Taking Stock
Vegan Dry January Day 15: A relapse
Days 13 and 14 are Nonblogged. 
Vegan Dry January Day 12: There was no Day 11
There really wasn't a day 11
Vegan Dry January Day 10: Alcohol wobble
Vegan Dry January Day 9: Avoiding four meals a day
Vegan Dry January Day 8: Smeared Poo
Vegan Dry January Day 7: Separation Anxiety
Vegan Dry January Day 6: Wastelands of Admin
Vegan Dry January Day 5: Oatly is the tits
Vegan Dry January Day 4: Milk is everywhere
Vegan Dry January Day 3: I've lost my nuts
Vegan Dry January Day 2: This is going well
Vegan Dry January Day 1: Vegan Dry January is go

Vegan Dry January Day 10: The first alcohol wobble

Just add microwaves.

Last night I went to M&S and bought a new work suit, then went to the adjoining Tesco and spent £20 on their vegan ready-meal range, and as I suspected, Mrs Wallis wasn't best pleased. I have already filled up the cupboards and fridge with vegetables. Last night I went to bed with my second crushing headache this month (I never have headaches) and this morning I walked to work suffering from severe stomach cramps. I brought the Tesco felafel meatballs and pasta with me. And wore my new suit.

This is the first time I have taken food which needs heating to ITN, because you never know where you're going to be or what you're going to be doing. Nonetheless, I spend at least half my shifts at Gray's Inn Road, and when that happens, I usually get time for a break after the lunchtime news. I thought I might get lucky. Nope.

After shooting two interviews, a piece to camera, several voxes and then going on a plastic rubbish hunt, I had to write, voice and edit my piece in time for the lunchtime news. It's a team effort, and I was ably assisted by the newsdesk (sourcing and booking second interview), ace cameraman Russ Padwick, top producer Vicky Coxon (sorting the graphic, fact-checking my script, making sure the astons were correctly timed), Ruji on the regions desk sorting the Cornwall pictures and Martha on the picture desk sorting the stills, Nick Lloyd the brilliant editor for tidying up (ie vastly improving) my edit all under the sage guidance of legendary output editor Mike Rigby. But it was still on me if it f***ed up, so I was feeling it a little bit. I was also starving. Breakfast had been the usual Hike/Paleo/Apple/Banana/Satsuma medley, eaten at various stages between 7am and midday, but by 1.30pm I was ready to fall over. I kept myself going by thinking that after the debrief at 2pm I'd have a chance to heat my exciting vegan ready meal.

During the programme debrief I was asked to go immediately to an industrial estate in SE15 to interview someone important at Veolia about their (gargantuan) recycling facility and what it does to the plastic which would otherwise end up in landfill or the sea. No swanky lunch at my desk. Oh no. I ordered a cab, and whilst waiting for it, went to the kitchen, nuked my meal for the requisite time before edging into a corner to eat it standing up. A colleague queueing for the microwave said I looked like the human embodiment of January. A miserable man shovelling vegetables into his mouth by a bin.

"Christmas," she said, "seems a long time ago, doesn't it?"

Of all the places I could have chosen to visit wearing a new suit, I'm not sure it would have been a recycling facility, but at least it has now been blooded. Thanks also to everyone at Veolia. One of the privileges of this job is getting into places people don't normally see. And until you've clambered around recycling machine the size of a football pitch, you haven't lived.

I had to rush to Waterloo to catch the train back to Walton - I needed to be back in time for my daughter's birthday party. The rail strike meant things were a little, er, up in the air at one stage, but I made it back in good time.

I need a drink. But I'm not going to have one. Vlog below (or here), showing my vegan ready meal purchases in all their glory. Below that, the tale of the tape and food consumption so far today.

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Weight: 11st 8lb

Exercise: 10 mins cycling, 30 mins walk

Food:

Hike/Paleo/Apple/Banana/Satsuma.
Wicked felafel meatballs and pasta.
Boots veggie and quinoa sushi (I ate that standing up, come to think of it).
Carrot sticks.
Two handfuls of roasted, salted cashews and peanuts.
Two rice crackers.

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Vegan Dry January Day 31: The Last Post
Vegan Dry January Day 30: A Vegan in Downing Street
Vegan Dry-ish January Day 29: Can't see what all the fuss is about
Days 26 to 28 are Nonblogged.
Vegan Dry January Day 25: Simon Amstell is a Vegan
Days 20 to 24 are Nonblogged. 
Vegan Dry January Day 19: Peer review
Vegan Dry January Day 18: Are you a vegan?
Vegan Dry January Day 17: Mmm... cashews.... 
Vegan Dry January Day 16: Taking Stock
Vegan Dry January Day 15: A relapse
Days 13 and 14 are Nonblogged. 
Vegan Dry January Day 12: There was no Day 11
There really wasn't a day 11
Vegan Dry January Day 10: Alcohol wobble
Vegan Dry January Day 9: Avoiding four meals a day
Vegan Dry January Day 8: Smeared Poo
Vegan Dry January Day 7: Separation Anxiety
Vegan Dry January Day 6: Wastelands of Admin
Vegan Dry January Day 5: Oatly is the tits
Vegan Dry January Day 4: Milk is everywhere
Vegan Dry January Day 3: I've lost my nuts
Vegan Dry January Day 2: This is going well
Vegan Dry January Day 1: Vegan Dry January is go

Vegan Dry January Day 9: Avoiding four meals a day

Feet model's own.

It is my first of four earlies at ITV News. A heartening start came from stepping on the scales shortly after getting out of bed. I am (or was at 5am) 11st 7lb, after reaching the giddy heights of 11st 12lb earlier this week. I know weight fluctuations and scale inaccuracies mean that I haven't really lost 5lb, but I'd rather my scales were showing an unreliable loss rather than a similar-sized unreliable gain.

Yesterday I ate my own bodyweight in roasted nuts, which gave me my recommended daily allowance of salt in one sitting. It did fill me up, though, and by the time I got home at 11pm it was too late for dinner.

Earlies are terrible for the metabolism and it's very easy to eat four meals a day, so I try to wait as long as possible after waking up before I have anything.

After showering, getting dressed and navigating my way to an anonymous doorstep location, I variously stood outside in the cold, or when it was safe to do so, got in the van to keep warm over the course of two and a half hours from 6.45am to 9.15am. I felt a bit dehydrated, but the last thing you want to do is take on any fluids, as that just means you'll be needing to go to the toilet for an indeterminate period of time, which is horrible.

Anyway, we got our shot, which I'm sure you'll see on the news today. I am heading back to base to get rid of my thermals and make myself available for the lunchtime news. I have already finished off a Hike and Paleo bar, and I have some fruit and the inevitable nuts in my bag. If I can get away for an itsu after the lunchtime news that would make me very happy, but we'll see how it goes.

Today's vlog (from the secret doorstep location) is here, and below. Below that is the latest tale of the tape and all the Vegan Dry January posts to date. Oh and do like and subscribe to the vlog if you like it and want to subscribe to it. You can have these blog posts delivered via email too. There should be a little box to fill in on this webpage - just put your email in there and confirm it when you get the request in your inbox. You will never miss an exciting instalment of the Nick is Not Drinking blog. Until you unsubscribe. Have fun.


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Weight: 11st 7lb

Exercise: 10 mins cycle, 30 mins walk

Food:

Hike bar
Paleo bar
Soy Americano.
Apple, satsuma, banana.
Unsalted nuts.
Sainsbury's minestrone soup.
Two slices homemade bread with pure spread.
Oatly in tea (didn't separate!).

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Vegan Dry January Day 31: The Last Post
Vegan Dry January Day 30: A Vegan in Downing Street
Vegan Dry-ish January Day 29: Can't see what all the fuss is about
Days 26 to 28 are Nonblogged.
Vegan Dry January Day 25: Simon Amstell is a Vegan
Days 20 to 24 are Nonblogged. 
Vegan Dry January Day 19: Peer review
Vegan Dry January Day 18: Are you a vegan?
Vegan Dry January Day 17: Mmm... cashews.... 
Vegan Dry January Day 16: Taking Stock
Vegan Dry January Day 15: A relapse
Days 13 and 14 are Nonblogged. 
Vegan Dry January Day 12: There was no Day 11
There really wasn't a day 11
Vegan Dry January Day 10: Alcohol wobble
Vegan Dry January Day 9: Avoiding four meals a day
Vegan Dry January Day 8: Smeared Poo
Vegan Dry January Day 7: Separation Anxiety
Vegan Dry January Day 6: Wastelands of Admin
Vegan Dry January Day 5: Oatly is the tits
Vegan Dry January Day 4: Milk is everywhere
Vegan Dry January Day 3: I've lost my nuts
Vegan Dry January Day 2: This is going well
Vegan Dry January Day 1: Vegan Dry January is go

Vegan Dry January Day 8: Smeared poo

Total daily salt recommendation in one convenient packet.

In an attempt to get this blog on track I'm publishing today's post earlier than usual. You'd presumably much rather have the opportunity to read about Day 8 of Vegan Dry January on Day 8, rather than the day after.

I also had a crack and doing a better quality vlog (in terms of sound and framing, if not content), which you can see here, or below.

Today's big news comes courtesy of ace journalist and former Surrey Life editor Caroline Harrap who noted on facebook that Tesco had heard my request for a vegan ready meal supplier and promptly launched a new range of vegan ready meals.

Photo: Tesco

Whilst I'm not exactly taken on the "smeared poo" element of the ready-meal packaging, this could represent a big leap forward in the normalisation of vegan eating.

Photo: Tesco

It also means idiots like me, who don't have time to cook and only retain a tangential interest in veganism, can easily access convenient vegan food.

Photo: Tesco

There are vegan wraps and sandwiches available too, in which the poo smear is less obvious.

If you want to read all about it - here's the Wicked Healthy brand website.

Whatever you think of Tesco, this could lead to more people eating a plant-based diet, and plant-based foods making up a larger part of "omni" diets. I suspect the other UK supermarkets will be watching the sales of this stuff very closely. If it holds up or takes off, they will be rushing out their own ranges quicker than you can say quinoa bean curry, because what's being offered here could divert people away from other supermarkets.

I wonder if it tastes any good...?

Daily vlog post below. Do like and subscribe if you can be bothered.

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Weight: 11st 8.8lb

Exercise: 40 mins circuit training, 40 mins cycling

Food:

Shreddies, cornflakes, oatly and soya milk all in the same bowl. Complex.
Hike Christmas Pudding bar (basically food find of the year - I'm going to buy Aldi out before they stop stocking them)
Paleo Macadamia and coconut bar.
Apple and satsuma.
75g mixed, salted, festive nuts.

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Vegan Dry January Day 31: The Last Post
Vegan Dry January Day 30: A Vegan in Downing Street
Vegan Dry-ish January Day 29: Can't see what all the fuss is about
Days 26 to 28 are Nonblogged.
Vegan Dry January Day 25: Simon Amstell is a Vegan
Days 20 to 24 are Nonblogged. 
Vegan Dry January Day 19: Peer review
Vegan Dry January Day 18: Are you a vegan?
Vegan Dry January Day 17: Mmm... cashews.... 
Vegan Dry January Day 16: Taking Stock
Vegan Dry January Day 15: A relapse
Days 13 and 14 are Nonblogged. 
Vegan Dry January Day 12: There was no Day 11
There really wasn't a day 11
Vegan Dry January Day 10: Alcohol wobble
Vegan Dry January Day 9: Avoiding four meals a day
Vegan Dry January Day 8: Smeared Poo
Vegan Dry January Day 7: Separation Anxiety
Vegan Dry January Day 6: Wastelands of Admin
Vegan Dry January Day 5: Oatly is the tits
Vegan Dry January Day 4: Milk is everywhere
Vegan Dry January Day 3: I've lost my nuts
Vegan Dry January Day 2: This is going well
Vegan Dry January Day 1: Vegan Dry January is go

Vegan Dry January Day 7: Separation anxiety

Grim offerings, for different reasons.

Having finished the almond milk on Day 5, I started on the unsweetened soya milk yesterday morning and found it separated in both instant and ground coffee, but survived tea. It tasted okay. This morning I had the soya milk in my shreddies and put the oatly in my coffee. The oatly separated, but not as much. Same with tea. It also tasted okay. I am now having more black tea and coffee and things like jasmine green tea, in order to avoid the coffee/tea/not-milk jeopardy/rigamarole altogether.

Lunch was leftover spaghetti and tomato, preceded by tomato, red rice and quinoa soup from Covent Garden. Why has Covent Garden soup taken to putting a plastic screw-top in its paper cartons? It means they're no longer recommended for use in the microwave, and they now have a lump of sea-float sitting on top of their previously worthy waxy paper cartons. They're probably reacting to feedback from people who find opening elo-pak cartons too difficult or confusing, but it does seem a self-defeating move.

I shouldn't be moaning on here. I have created a separate, safe space to moan elsewhere. This is my first 50 Micro-Irritations, collated before Christmas and recorded last week. It still needs work (the next one will not have those black bars on the side and will have better sound), but I like it and I'm already half way through collating my next bunch. The stupid new plastic openings on Covent Garden soup cartons is in. As are vegan bloody milks which separate on contact with hot liquids.

Day 7 vlog post below.
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Weight: 11st 8.8lb

Excercise: 40 mins cardio in the gym

Food:

Bowl of shreddies with soy milk.
Bowl of oat cheerios with sugar and soy milk.
Tomato, red rice and quinoa Covent Garden Soup
Small bowl of pasta and tomato.
Carrots and houmous (several kg today)
Crisps, baby tomatoes.

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Vegan Dry January Day 31: The Last Post
Vegan Dry January Day 30: A Vegan in Downing Street
Vegan Dry-ish January Day 29: Can't see what all the fuss is about
Days 26 to 28 are Nonblogged.
Vegan Dry January Day 25: Simon Amstell is a Vegan
Days 20 to 24 are Nonblogged. 
Vegan Dry January Day 19: Peer review
Vegan Dry January Day 18: Are you a vegan?
Vegan Dry January Day 17: Mmm... cashews.... 
Vegan Dry January Day 16: Taking Stock
Vegan Dry January Day 15: A relapse
Days 13 and 14 are Nonblogged. 
Vegan Dry January Day 12: There was no Day 11
There really wasn't a day 11
Vegan Dry January Day 10: Alcohol wobble
Vegan Dry January Day 9: Avoiding four meals a day
Vegan Dry January Day 8: Smeared Poo
Vegan Dry January Day 7: Separation Anxiety
Vegan Dry January Day 6: Wastelands of Admin
Vegan Dry January Day 5: Oatly is the tits
Vegan Dry January Day 4: Milk is everywhere
Vegan Dry January Day 3: I've lost my nuts
Vegan Dry January Day 2: This is going well
Vegan Dry January Day 1: Vegan Dry January is go