Body clock: Alan Stanford
'I am a carnivore by nature'
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Monday February 08 2010
7am
I am normally up early. I immediately get dressed, then get my bag and walk the few minutes down the road to the gym.
When I turned 60 last June, I decided to go back to the gym. I utterly hate all forms of exercise but I still go five mornings a week and I work very hard. I do an intensive 20 or 25 minutes of weight training. After my workout I have a shower and then walk back home.
8.25am
I cook breakfast. I used to have porridge every morning but since I started on a low-carb diet I've had to drop that. On this morning I cook rashers, eggs and mushrooms.
8.35am
I sit and watch the BBC news while I have my fry with a couple of cups of black coffee.
9.30am
I walk into work. I'm fortunate enough to live in the city centre and so it takes me no longer than 25 minutes to get to pretty much any of the venues where I am directing.
10am
Rehearsal starts.
11am
During the break I drink a cup of brewed coffee but I must admit that I always have a cup of coffee with me when I'm directing anyway.
I'd have about 12 cups by the end of the day, which is probably a lot, but I did stop smoking two years ago.
1pm
It is time for lunch and I am still busy. I normally don't get a chance to sit down to eat because I tend to be talking to actors, taking phone calls or having production meetings.
I usually bring a salad from home or order one in, but I might get a bowl of soup or even a roast chicken leg so that I eat protein rather than carbohydrate.
On this day I order a chicken salad with crispy vegetables from a local deli. I also have a good cup of black coffee and I drink some water.
2pm
Back at rehearsal, we work for the next hour and then take a short tea break.
5.30pm
We finish for the day. I eat out because I have another production on at The Gate and I will go to have a look in at that.
I decide to eat in the Hop House. I order a chicken stir-fry. I have loads of vegetables and bean sprouts, avoiding the rice.
My evenings vary. Sometimes after rehearsal, I go home and cook. I love to cook and I'm partial to a good steak or piece of fish; I enjoy doing stir-fries as well. Seafood and red meat are my two passions; I am a carnivore by nature.
I also love wine. People seem to think that I'm a huge expert because of the way I sound, but I'm not. I have a reasonably good knowledge of wine but I'm no expert.
I know what I like and I think it's important to drink wine that compliments the food.
11pm
I'm not a big sleeper and can often get by on four hours a night. When I get home I might watch tv, read or listen to the radio in bed.
On this night I read for a while then go to sleep about 2am.
Irish Independent
