Brrrrrrrr

A rare sight in London this morning. Snow covered trees in our back garden when we woke up. After weeks of mild weather we are finally experiencing winter.

Windy city

Chicago has nothin' on London today. I almost got blown off London Bridge walking to work this morning. Lunchtime was even worse when I ventured out to go to the gym. A girl walking past me in the other direction was blown into me and we both almost landed on the street.

Tonight almost all the tube lines were suspended. Information on the web said trains were operating from London Bridge but by the time I walked there, the whole station was cordoned off and closed. I jumped on the number 40 bus which took about 50mins but at least got me home.

On another topic, we've signed up for the Reading half marathon in March to really kick start the fitness thing. I've been for a few short runs but am yet to get into a routine. Its a start.

Staying resolved

Lifehacker has an article on web sites to help you keep your resolutions. I could probably use all of them but am going to take a close look at using Fitday to help track weight loss goals and the online running log at Coolrunning.

There is a definite fitness theme running through my (non-environmental) goals. As usual. But since my recent fitness test revealled that my fat percentage is 34% which is off the scale, beyond 'very fat' and even beyond 'really really fat' I have been even more motivated.

The personal trainer I have enlisted to help bust the fat has assured me the only way is to create more muscle. This is because I am not all that big - well a UK 12 is considered pretty big these days next to bloody Posh's size zero but not compared to 50s starlets at least. But I admit there are still a couple of kilos to loose in any case.

I think if my PT really knew the situation she would probably say "create more muscle and eat A LOT less cheese". I'm addicted to cheese. And recent experience shows that if I cut out chocolate and alcohol the cravings just get worse. This latest episode falling off the wagon started on New Years Eve when the choice was chips (crisps) or a massive block of Blue Stilton. Well it was conveniently located near me and the half of the block I consumed unassisted (ok ok more like 3/4) was divine. Ever since then I've had cravings. I'll be in the middle of a meeting at work and drift off thinking about the cheese on biccies I'm going to have in the evening. It has got to stop! From this point forward I am going to replace Blue Stilton with carrot sticks.

Yeah right.

P.S. sorry if this is all too much information.

Resolved

I have some environmental new years resolutions this year:

• Turn things off more (computer, work and home, TV, lights, heating)
• Only buy veggies without packaging. Harder than it sounds, but more than half the veggies in our local big supermarket are wrapped in two layers of packaging. Possible solution - buy elsewhere - this will definitely take more organisation and planning.
• Recycle more - I have been lazy about this in the past - No longer!
• Use environmentally friendly products in our renovations
• Consume less generally
• Avoid flying and catch trains whenever possible

And this is not a resolution but I am going to at least think about cycling to work. But that would mean getting over my fear of the Elephant and Castle roundabout which is not going to happen in a hurry. But I think I will start going to spinning classes so at least the concept might be physically possible!

I'm sure there are more things I can do and I will also get more educated.

PS tonight we went to the supermarket and managed to buy all the vegies we needed without any packaging Yay! - there were packaged versions for everything we bought though.

Delicious Sunday

Delicious not just for the food, but also for the chance to savour time spent with friends.

We train and tubed it in to Marylebone High Street to The Providores. This cafe & restuarant, wasn't hard to find as we spotted the queue of people out the door from halfway down the street. The Tapa Room which is the cafe downstairs was heaving. Happily we had a booking in the restaurant upstairs and swanned past the anxious, drooling queuers.

The Kiwi roots of Chef and Owner Peter Gordon are revealed through the menu by gems like Boiled eggs with Vegemite soldiers and FLAT WHITE coffees! Probably only an Aussie or Kiwi living in London can really appreciate the excitement seeing those two unassuming words on a menu can bring. It is fresh fusion style food and impeccable yet warm and friendly service. Apparently the wine list is a winner too.

I find it hard to resist French toast on a brunch menu. But when it is French Toast stuffed with Banana and Pecans with grilled, smoked streaky bacon and vanilla verjus syrup there is no chance of me passing it up. Ahhhh.

When we left the queue had grown to about twenty people waiting with anticipation outside.

After that we made our way to far north London, having been invited to Afternoon Tea. The day just got more and more civilised. We had a lovely afternoon chatting and enjoying German style Honig cake and another delicious creation with lemon butter icing. With cups and cups of tea from a teapot. Yumola.

Year in Reflection

Recent years have been dominated by travel, long distance relationships, running, moving countries and upheaval. In contrast this year has been distinctly domestic with house buying, wedding and planning renovations. My cancerian homebody soul definitely is happier with the recent trend!

Its been an incredibly busy year with some amazing highs but a lot of hard work in between. I'm looking forward to a quiet year with just a small renovation project in 2007 ;)

January:: Australia::hot::London::cold::February:: 10km "Love Run"::House surveys::March:: Paris ::Impatiently waiting for house::April:: Completion:Moving:: New house::Switzerland:: May:: Painting rooms::Making Curtains::Cricket at Lords ::Jo Visiting::Wales::June:: Birthday::Istanbul::Turf::July:: Backyard BBQs::London TOAST::Isle of Wight::August:: Provence cycling::Indian Monsoon wedding::Started Craft Actually::Wedding Invitations::September:: London Girls Night Out::Dancing Lessons ::October:: Australia::Mum’s 60th::Noosa Wedding::November:: Maldives Honeymoon::New job::December:: Architect plans:: Wedding Thankyous::Christmas parties