Friday, January 25, 2008

Weather update...

Basically its crap....what more can I say. Its not cold, but its certainly not hot, its cloudy then its rainy, and grey - oh soooo sooo grey. You get a bit miserable then the sun comes out to cheer your mood a little, then it hides and blows a gale.

However, with much relief we are starting to get longer days back so it's light just after 7.30am and still light around 4pm now! Just have to make it through February...only one more month, just one more.....that is the most difficult month as spring is just around the corner!

Lisa & Dean...or is that Torvill & Dean...Lisa Skates around London

Canary Wharf Ice Rink, I quite liked this one and being surrounded by the skysrapers
Canary Wharf Ice Rink - Me!
Lisa and Toni at Canary Wharf
Somerset House, sponsored by Tiffany's hence the attempt at Tiffany blue on the ice rink!
Lisa at Somerset House...check out the Nike skates
Natural History Museum - Ain't it pretty, this one was my favourite
Natural History Museum, skating with Danni
Danni skates
Tower of London - What a pretty view
Lisa and Boris from Work at the Tower of London Ice Rink!

Monday, January 14, 2008

A Winter Portrait...Hampstead Heath

Finally on Saturday after days of dreary grey, oppressing, rainy, albeit generally gloomy winter weather (perfect to match my mood too, given I was ill and grumpy in bed) the sun made an appearance. Bliss.

I do truly forget how much sunshine affects my moods, and as soon as i saw the sunshine I made up my mind to go for a walk to the Heath to enjoy the wondrous winter sunshine.

The sun was giving a very convincing impression of providing warmth, but once outside, it proved that that was exactly that, an impression. Burrrr... it was indeed very cold! My walk was invigorating to say the least, any colder I am sure I was going to have frost bite. My tolerance to the cold air was hence quite limited, whilst pink cheeks are cute in children, mine were ready to turn into chilblains!

To warm up, and to speed my progress to my destination of Parliament Hill I broke into a jog. Soon enough with a bit of Jet playing on my i-pod I was in a rhythm and it was like I had never stopped running. So with that 40 minutes later I was at the top.

Parliament Hill has the best views of London by far, yet for some reason I had never made it there before. I was well rewarded, as I was with the rest of the walk, and being the glorious day that it was I was treated to the family tradition that is flying kites on Parliament Hill. Enjoy....oh and....

Let's go fly a kite
Up to the highest height!
Let's go fly a kite and send it soaring
Up through the atmosphere
Up where the air is clear
Oh, let's go fly a kite!...........and so it goes!

Winter sunshine in the trees
Pathway towards Parliament Hill through the park
Hidden green space...deserted in winter, packed in summer
Winter trees, not all bare and bleak with a lovely blue sky
Lets go fly a kite - Parliament Hill... Hummmmm, everyone loves a little Mary Poppins and that is the first thing I thought of as I wound my way up to the top of the hill on seeing all the kites
A mum helping her son with his kite on Parliament Hill
View across London from the top

Friday, January 11, 2008

Out of Order

Sorry I have been away from my dear blog, my link to the world beyond London, well at the moment, any part of the world beyond my flat. Between snuffling and snorting into countless boxes of supposedly Aloe Vera tissues (my nose is red raw and peeling so possibly more actual aloe content required - note to self to write to blasted tissue company) I have visited the doctor to discover that I - Lisa who never gets sick - has Bronchitis.

How can I possibly keep up with everything that is going on, plan things, work, go out, see friends and more importantly keep up with my own self proclaimed title of Queen of the phrase "no rest for the wicked"! Ahahh. I give up! Body what do you want from me...please tell me and if you get better for me, and pronto, you can have it! Rest, sleep.... are its probably very simple demands, but there is too much to do, anything but a request for that.

I cannot take it anymore!!! I am cancelling plans with friends, even into the next week, for fear that might agravate the already angry virus within me. I NEVER cancel anything....so unlike me, it's attacking my brain am sure. I am getting grumpy at work colleagues whose only crime is to attempt to talk to me, a small feat deemed impossible for me whilst I heave never ending reams of phlegmy tissues via my nose to the bin.

Eating is a chore - how can I possibly put food in my mouth, where that is the only means I have currently to breathe. Makes for very small mouthfuls and speedy chewing, to avoid gasping breathlessness at every bite. It must end.

The only good thing out of all this, is that I am actually enjoying my own company!! That and relishing at my new found potential to become a true workaholic, I have access to work files and email from home!! See I told you it was messing with my brain.

Ok well I think I might give in, just this once, to my bodies demands and go to sleep!

Thursday, January 03, 2008

New Years Resolutions!

Well what a year 2007 was and 2008 is going to be the year of years, this year is the coming of age of Lisa. It is so going to be a brilliant and fabulous year, life can only get better and better! I have now made my New Years resolutions to make myself a happier, healthier, more learned, more well rounded individual, yes that is right, an individual! Wow to hear myself say that is a very weird thing indeed!!

It's been nearly 5 months, now, wounds are healing, I have gone from a very low point to a very high point and somewhere in the middle, around and back again. I am the right in the middle of the Powderfinger Song....Up and down and back again...

The lyrics -

I can barely see up and down and back again
Despite what you believe I keep away from trouble
If who I am today's a sign of where I'm going
I'm ready to embrace

If everybody knows just who you are
When your walk on role becomes a major part
Have you ever attempted to be yourself
When everybody wants you to be someone else
Up and down and back again
Going up and down and back again

I think these words are particularly apt!! And the resolutions....now I have to stick to them!

1.Exercise
a. Start running again
b. Pilate's for Monday mornings with Kate at 7am
c. Maintain current ideal weight

2.Food
a. Proper meals at home 3 nights a week
b. Actually go food shopping once a week, proper food – fruit/veg/meat
c. Eat breakfast everyday – fruit/yogurt or muesli (muffins Fridays only)
d. No chocolate at work
e. 1 x coffee a day and no tea at least 3 hours prior to sleeping
f. Eat out properly once a week
g. DO NOT go out drinking more than 3 nights a week and in moderation

3.Well being
a. Take up French lessons again
b. Go to history events (i.e. Hampton court)
c. Read more books, at least 1 a month
d. Join a volunteer group
e. Get a massage every 2 months
f. Get at least 7 hours sleep a night
g. STOP Procrastinating!

4.Organisation
a. Schedule friend catch ups in diary
b. Email friends and ring home more often
c. See at least 1 ballet, 1 opera, 2 shows & 2 bands (before Jun-08)
d. Organise holidays/breaks in advance - plans for Polo lesson, Belfast, Val d'sere (ski), Cinque Terre (Italy), Champagne, Korcula, New York, Eastern Europe (Contiki), Prague, Paris (again), Egypt and I am sure I could figure out more!

5.Money
a. Get budget back up and running – and actually be responsible for spending!
b. Buy a flat in London

6.Work
a. Get a permanent job!
b. Do more work related study.
c. Stay focused and organised!

7.Random
a. Go to a concert on own or even a music festival
b. Update blog weekly

So there you have it... lets see how I go