And now for a very quick word...

If there's anyone out there reading this, I really hope you'll excuse the radio silence over the past few days. I left for Italy at the crack of dawn on Friday morning and, on my return home last night, discovered I had a shortened deadline for a piece that was due in at the end of the week but ended up having to be submitted today (such are the joys of freelance life).

Anyway, I've been slaving over a hot computer (in a very cold room – I can hardly feel my fingers as I type) and have got the damn thing in on time. I promise that I will devote tomorrow morning to updating this blog with the various accounts of my exploits (culinary, exercise and travel) before I head off to a major tasting of Australian wines in the afternoon.

In the interim, I would just like to announce that my weight is now down to 90.9 kilos. To be totally honest, it was down to that before I left for Italy. However, the fact that it is holding steady at 90.9 kilos is a bit of a personal triumph in the face of onslaughts of ravioli, risottos, polentas, cheeses and charcuterie, not to mention an unending stream of Valpolicella, Amarone and Recioto. But I don't want to spoil a good story, so I'll tell you all about that tomorrow.