Busy week at work again, presenting awesome strategic brilliance to our European president on Monday. Luckily we didn't have to travel to Munich this time to do the presentation. Normally that is our annual highlight that just makes the start of the year that bit more special. We did it through video conference this time which is great, our president is much less scary on video. Although when she hangs her head and covers her ears with her hands and then starts to pull at her hair, it's never a good moment.

And yesterday I had meetings in Manchester. I accidentally booked 1st class on the Virgin train. Our travel policy is quite strict, no Atlantic crossings on the 1st class on HMS Queen Mary II, so I really enjoyed the modest luxuries. Particularly on the way back as the train was almost empty. A Finnish person's paradise - no other people!

And a nice gentleman kept bringing me peanuts and crisps and proper food! I wasn't even that hungry and I'm trying not to eat like a maniac all the time as I recently hurt my back so haven't been able to go running and not sure if I used to buckle the belt in that hole and all that shit. But I can't not eat transportation food. Like on plains, they can bring me anything and I eat it. Really, anything. I even lick my index finger a little to get all the tiny bits of crisp from the bottom of the miniature crisp bag.

So this nice gentleman with his magic cart had options like there was no tomorrow, everything from Lamb Rogan Josh to Macaroni and Cheese and from Deli Plate to Smoked Salmon Salad. Well actually those were the four options. But still quite impressive, much more than most airlines stretch to. Although it is quite impressive how small some airlines have actually managed to make the croissants / bags of crisps / bacon rolls. It's almost a form of art, like these dexterous people with their tweezers who make the tiny boats in tiny bottles.

After finishing my salmon salad, which was also quite tiny, but my new friend gave me a load of options for crisps to go with it, his accent was a bit on the thick side, but I think I heard the word cheese, so I said "cheese" and got cheddar cheese and onion crisps, I had just started looking around for anything else I could eat, when my friend sped in wheels a-squeking his trusted cart now covered with dessert options.

I must not leave without a mention the friendly booze cart lady, whose services of course I bypassed as it was only Tuesday or maybe I tried a tiny glass of the red wine just to be polite and to flush down the final oat cracker with stilton and chutney before pulling in at London Euston.

So, a busy week and an abandoned husband. Last night when I got home he was sitting on the living room floor (!?) eating croissants with weekend's leftover bolognese sauce looking bereft, so tonight I suggested maybe I make him a lovely healthy soup. The neglected husband welcomed the idea, so I made him this healthy and hearty soup with vegetables, lentils, rice and tons of taste.

Wild rice,  lentil and vegetable soup recipe

1 red onion
1 capsicum
1/2 cup of puy lentils
1/2 cup of wild rice
1 carrot
1 stick of celery
2 tomatoes
1 vegetable stock pot or cube
4 cups of water
Salt
Pepper
1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

Chop all your vegetables and herbs, rinse the lentils. Put everything in a lidded pan. Bring to boil and cook for 30 min or until the rice and lentils are done. Check seasoning, sprinkle some fresh herbs on top and serve with fresh warm brown bread.