Big British Food Map The whole kit and caboodle

Date Published:

29/04/2008

Wellies? Check.

Laptop? Check.

Portable cooking stove? Err yes, that's in there too.

Everything I might conceivably need for the next seven months now fits snugly into the boot or back seat of my car, for my new life on the road.

The car, a new Ford Focus ECOnetic, arrived a couple of days ago, on loan from Ford UK so a huge thank-you to them. This is now my home and office for the next seven months. It's brand new and has that warm plastic, fabric smell like a new pair of shoes. There's only 109 miles on the clock, and 90 odd of those are from when a nice chap called Peter dropped it off from a depot in Peterborough.

The essentials

I learnt to drive in a Ford Escort in the early 90s, but have never owned a car. Working in Central London for the past ten years means I didn't really need one. Sure do for a trip like this however. I've spent the past few days indulging my inner geek and have already synced up my mobile to the built-in hands-free device, and twiddled with everything from the CD settings to the seat adjuster.

So what's in the boot? Well, there's useful stuff like wellies, waterproofs and walking boots. I think we're in for a good summer this year and have packed shorts, but if there's one thing you can predict it's the unpredictability of the British weather. I'm anticipating spending a lot of time out doors, and that means mud.

There's a rucksack full of other clothes, and now I'm wondering about practical things like 'where do I get my washing done?' I imagine I'm going to get to see the inside of a fair few launderettes over the next seven months.

Gadgets and gizmos

Everything I produce will be done on my trusty Mac Book. So I can send stuff back to Channel 4. T-Mobile UK have kindly given me a USB Broadband Modem – so thanks to them.

All packed and ready to go

I've also got a stills and video camera so I can record interviews with the people (and animals) you suggest are worth visiting.

I’ve also packed my kitchen equipment: pots and pans, Henckels knives, spoons, fish slice, hand blender, plates, cutlery and a small portable stove, as in the best traditions of Floyd et al I’m planning to do a spot of outdoor cooking with people I meet. Your average fishmonger for example probably doesn't have a kitchen attached and I want to try the food as close to it's source as I can with the producers alongside me.

I had to whittle down my food library to a few desert island tomes, so have packed Dorothy Hartley's excellent 'Food in England' and Laura Mason and Catherine Brown's 'Traditional Foods of Britain'. Both of which I think will come in useful along the way.

I've got a handful of CDs and my iPod shuffle for out on the road. But if anyone has any good suggestions for music to drive to, mail me at bigfoodmap@channel4.com

And that's pretty much it. The rest of my worldly goods are stored up at my Mum's, and plenty went to the local charity shop. I am now officially of 'no fixed abode'. Britain here I come!

Andrew's broadband has been supplied by T-Mobile