Live Below the Line

[ratty]

Fucking East Dulwich

[Alec John Moore]

Hi numbers,

You've lost me there.

Alec

[numbers]

Alec John Moore Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Hi numbers,

>

> You've lost me there.

>

> Alec

likewise.

[Alec John Moore]

Hi

I've been doing some window shopping for my challenge next week. Attached is a shopping list comparison with last year. It's not directly comparable since this year's prices all come from Morrison's and last year's was a mixture of Morrison's, Asda and Sainsbury's. No real change to the diet so if anyone has any ideas for increasing variety. You'll see I have 3p to spare for this year!

Alec

[Sue]

Could you post the attachment as a doc rather than a docx, as I can't read it?

Thanks.

Only just seen this thread, and your last year's shopping list looks like what I live on all the time ..... :(

It never occurred to me I was living below some line ..... :(

[Alec John Moore]

Hi Sue

Sorry you aren't able to open the attachment. I don't have it on this 'puter but I'll see if I can post it in a readable format when I get home.

This is my 3rd year of taking the https://www.livebelowtheline.com/uk challenge. By doing it I'm trying to raise my own consciousness of the issue and "bring to life the direct experiences of the 1.4 billion people currently living in extreme poverty" while also raising awareness more widely of the issue of food insecurity.

I don't do running, I'm interested in the issue of food production and I work in international development so I feel this is an appropriate thing for me to raise awareness about. I've been told by some people that it's tokenistic and they are right in that I know I'll be able to go back to the kind of diet and lifestyle I enjoy this week after my few days of broth mix and porridge. However, it does get me thinking more about what I eat and how millions struggle to thrive or even survive on the equivalent of ?1 a day.

Alec

[Alec John Moore]

For you, Sue.

Alec

[Sue]

Thanks for taking the trouble to do that, you're a star :)

[nashoi]

Probably a bit late to help this year but this woman was on BBC breakfast this morning

http://agirlcalledjack.com/

A single mother with a two year old who budgets ?10 a week for food for her and her son.

[Alec John Moore]

Hi nashoi

Thanks for that, great stuff. Really quite humbling to read about the experience of someone in this country who has had to do it for real.

Not too late for me to learn something from Jack since I won't be starting until Tuesday.

Alec

[Alec John Moore]

Hi

Before I start my https://www.livebelowtheline.com/participant?lang=en challenge tomorrow I thought you might be interested in this set of photos from the Hungry Planet - what the world eats, series. This is a more recent set showing markets and shopping in widely different settings - from the almost decadent to the desperate:

http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1667690_1456194,00.html

Alec

[Alec John Moore]

Hi

This challenge has got off to a bit of a wobbly start. I haven't been able to get all of my supplies and my attempt to make pancakes for lunch this morning was a bit pants. Still, I'm confident it will taste better than it looks.

Alec

[Alec John Moore]

Hi

If you didn't view the slideshow from the Hungry Planet book then have a look at the attached. If you are interested in knowing more about the bigger picture then http://foodtank.org/about is consistently interesting on the global issue of food insecurity and how local initiatives are addressing the problem.

Alec

[Alec John Moore]

Hi

Finished my LBL challenge last week and glad to be back on what for me is a normal, varied diet that keeps me healthy and satisfied. However, I went to see a documentary last night at Riverside Studios called A Place at the Table, presented by DocHouse:

http://www.dochouse.org/film-screening/A-Place-at-the-Table--Panel-Discussion/312

Although it is about the situation in the US it has parallels with the UK. In the panel discussion the report, A Zero Hunger City, by the Health and Environment Committee of London Assembly was referred to:

http://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/A%20Zero%20Hunger%20City.doc.pdf

The report seems to be mostly based on the reported experiences of charities working in this part of the sector. So, the Trussel Trust has expanded the food banks it runs in London from 6 in 2009 to 40 in 2013 and has found that

"The top three reasons why people are using foodbanks in London are as follows:

1. Benefit delay ? 24%;

2. Low income ? 21%;

3. Unemployment ? 10%.

Trussell Trust (Foodbanks)"

This won't be a surprise to many of you but I'd be interested in your thoughts.

Alec