You probably know by now that I love quinoa and that the kid folk at Quinola Mothergrain are enabling me to feed my addiction with a regular supply of red, black and plain quinoa. I'm not just saying it's the best I've ever eaten 'cause it's free, it really is the nicest quinoa I have ever cooked - and I have done vats of the stuff in the past - and this one never looks like frogs spawn or goes all slimy like so many others do!

I have always found quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) a bit of a dull grain albeit a highly nutritious and healthy one. But, thanks to the Seasalt Cafe in Clovelly, (my favourite beach) in Sydney recently, I discovered black quinoa which is way more tasty and crunchy than its slightly slimy white cousin! Thank you for the recipe Chef.

I am such a huge fan of the Aussie breakfast, even more this year as it's become the most important meal of my day, while I'm here.  I am trying the 16:8 fast regime this year, instead of the 5:2.  (That's eating at 7.00 pm the night before and not eating again till 11.00 the next morning, making it a 16 hour fast.) I have to get the hell out in the morning, before it gets really hot, so most of my exercise is all done before 11.00 a.m. latest. I am swimming and cycling nearly every day.......The Best exercise, especially for us older folk, that I wrote about last year, as well as walking 10,000 steps along the beach & round Byron as often as possible. (I also do a 15 minute HIIT programme nearly every afternoon, more on that another time.)

I know this isn't brilliant for anyone living in the Northern Hemisphere at the moment, but I just had to share this delicious cold soup/smoothie recipe with you because of the amazing veg available here in Byron Bay.... all grown locally, from the Farmer's Market, all organic and just a joy to use for gazpacho, especially as I am doing a detox at the moment. (Blog on that coming soon.) And just look at the shape of this cucumber - the EU wouldn't allow one of those to be sold in the UK!