Recipe of the Day.

A wholesome bowl of history revision

Ingredients:

• A stack of paper, assorted coloured pens and a regular smorgisboard of reading material on American history
• One packet of oatcakes
• One apple - chopped
• A mug for green tea and black coffee - amount moderated to personal preference
• Plenty of water
• Tobacco. Lots and lots of tobacco.

(Serves 1)

Instructions:

1. Wake up nice and early for maximum revision time following by 1 - 2 cups of black coffee
2. Spread out notes. Flick through reading material. Smoke a cigarette. Check emails. Smoke another cigarette. Write something partially incomprehensible. Smoke another cigarette in recognition of your good work.
3. Intersperse 'revision' with much liquid drinking, much less calorie intake and the odd break for Mad Men (cue the inevitability of further smoking)
4. Repeat process until your eyes blur, your limbs ache and you start speaking in an American accent.

Lose a pound, gain an A level! I'm seeing this one right up there with the best mantras.