High-speed fitness

In our never ending quest to find fun ways to stay fit the girls and I decided to try roller-blading in the park this weekend.

Blading is not as easy as it looks although we were slightly cocky in our ability at first. While picking up our hire skates from a shop over the road from the Hyde Park we piffed at the offer of a £15 hours beginners lesson - I mean how hard can it be? I used to go to rollerworld in derby every week, and I was, like, really good - I could go backwards and EVERYTHING! Wrist guards? No thanks - they are for geeks.

However, our arrival at the park told a different story. We strapped ourselves into our roller-blades and found it not to be quite as easy as I remembered. Que lots of squealing, wobbling around and curses that we had not got the wrist guards. After a few minutes though we managed to find our feet, secured our balance and set off along the path. It was a quite a crisp Sunday afternoon but there were still plenty of people out and about, including cyclists, joggers with prams and religious fanatics all of whom we managed to wobble past without mishap.

Soon enough we were whizzing along the open path and starting to quite enjoy ourselves even to the point of confidence, especially me and S who started picking up quite a bit of speed... which was all well and good until we saw the path ahead drop down a hill. And then realised we'd missed out the small factor of practicing how to stop before setting off.

I knew this could be bad. We were getting faster and the slope downwards was getting steeper. The path led down towards a road that ran through the park leading onto the busy main roads that circle Hype Park, and was separated by bollards and a curb. If there was a hazard perception test for roller-bladers this would involve a LOT of clicking right now.

I started squeeling and manged to skate onto a grass verge, which didn't actually stop me but send me whizzing back the other way only to crash straight into a lampost - which luckily stopped me. Meanwhile S went screaming and whizzing past me, straight down the hill and round a bend at the bottom towards the main road. Luckily she fell over before she got there. Meanwhile along came F in a flurry of frantic arm waving screaming her head off unable to stop. She too went arse over tits.

EVERYONE was staring at us and laughing. Frank Spencer move over. I was hanging onto the lampost for dear life, laughing harder than I have laughed in a long time just happy to be alive and unbroken. F and S were laughing too, trying to pick themselves up off the floor which, dear reader, is not the easiest of things to do with wheels strapped to your feet.

Luckily one of the regular skaters witnessed the commotion, came and rescued me from clinging on to the lampost at the top of the hill and gave us a lesson into how to stop, and then hung out with us for a while to make sure we were ok. I also managed to fall into the sandpit that runs next the path for the horses to ride on as I tried to turn round to talk to someone behind me.

More practice is definitely needed, but once we had mastered the basics we had an amazing afternoon skating up and down the (hill free) road. Blading is fantastic exercise for the thighs and bottom, and I could really feel it the next day. I had no idea that an afternoon of physical activity could be so much fun, or that such a lovely community existed there. Apparently each weekend a regular crowd gathers in the park to blade, skate and hang out - on sunny days there is even music courtesy of a DJ powered with a car battery. And these are not your stereotypical crusty (sorry) skater types, but a real mix of people from all walks of life who just like to skate.

We have planned our next outing, and S is even considering buying her own blades to save on the hire charge. I wonder if this will become a new hobby for me, or just another of my fads? Either way, it was the best Sunday afternoon I've had in London in a long time.

First day back on the commute.

I can tell I've been out of London for sometime. This morning on the way to work I smiled at someone on the train and later asked a lost looking lady in Waterloo station if she needed some help with directions. This won't last long....

Reflections of 2008 and onwards into 2009

Yes I'm abit behind with my the seasonal blog posts, but I barely stepped near a computer for the blissful two weeks I spent back in the 'shire.

2008 for me has whizzed by in abit of a blur really. This time last year I was just moving into my new flat in London and in the same job I'm in now - so really there has been very little change. Oh and I'm still single. But I've had my fair share of dates, including a drop dead gorgeous cricket playing surrey lad, a stock broker and a personal trainer. Oh and not forgetting the toy boy from Ibiza who still lingers but for how long I don't know. I had an amazing holiday to Ibiza that now seems like a distant dream. And finally I got myself into more debt this year living in London than I have ever been in in my life. Although it is all manageable and is not stressing me out really. Marks out of ten for the year? I'd give it an eight for fun times, but a low six for life satisfaction.

So what about New Year's Resolutions? Basically to sort my life out. It is glaringly obvious to all who know me that London is not really the city for me, I've had fun but i've never been blissfully happy. London to me feels like a relationship that you are not all that happy in, but can't quite bring yourself to be bothered to leave. So it's time to get my arse into gear and leave! All my closest friends still live in Birmingham and I really miss them. As well as missing my family and the ever increasing debt as London is totally unaffordable on my salary.

This time next year I resolve to be living in a nice little two bedroomed semi in Birmingham, with a small garden and two cats. Boyfreind would be nice. Car desired. Job satisfaction essential. I've started researching suitable companies in my field to approach already, so watch this space. Hopefully soon this will become a blog of relocation.

Best piece of advice given to me over the festive period: "2009 is your year, and you alone are responsible for your happiness - so if changes need to be made, MAKE THEM, or 2010 will come round and you will still be sat at this table moaning that things are 'OK' but not 'Great'." Hear hear! :o)

The joys of London transport

People on London trains can really piss me off. There a few types of offenders...

Firstly, people who sit on the outside seat and then tut when you say "excuse me please" to sit down on the free seat by the window. When there are about a thousand people all battling for an inch of space I think it is rather rude to assume it is acceptable to take up two seats all to oneself.

Secondly, people who don't move down. Again, when there are a thousand people all trying to squeeze into one carriage I think it is extremely rude for someone to stand half down the aisle and tut when you try and squeeze past them to make more room for the folk stuck on the platform.

Thirdly, (and this is more of an "I laugh at you because you are fucking stupid" kind of annoyance) people who run down the platform to get on the train that isn't due to leave for nearly another ten minutes. And even more annoyingly the lemming effect of others noticing someone running, and starting to run too. Chill out people! These types of offenders are usually those who do the commute wearing scruffy trainers with their office attire, and possibly carry backpacks. Another of my pet hates. Urgh!

London in October

I have woken up this morning to the sound of heavy rain on the roof, and it is enough to make me want to just dive straight back under the duvet and ignore the day. Sounds dramatic I know, but Autumn rain really depresses me.

Everyone rushes everywhere in the rain, and pays their fellow pedestrian even less attention than is normal for London. People just seem push and shove past each other, with no care for the danger their brollies pose to the other pavement users.

And aside from the health and safety risk of London rain, there is just the fact it hinders most plans! Going for a night out? Will need to take brolly to protect carefully styled hair; but where is one to put the dripping wet umbrellavwhich is far larger than one's disco purse? Shopping in the rain? Forget it; no hands free to hold the shopping bags.

Then there is the risk of spray from passing cars and lorrys in the roads, and the fact that while an umbrella protects the top of your head it does little to keep the rain off your legs. Soaked jeans anyone? And a downpour results in over crowded buses, crammed full of damp miserable commuters who normally walk the few streets from the tube.

So you see, I may sound like a moaning girl on this, but I really feel my dislike of London rain is justified. However, I am not going to let it ruin my day completely. Rain makes perfect weather for checking out a museum or gallery, which is exactly what I plan to do today.