Spring challenge

Every year, as winter recedes, I find myself surprised at the utter joy and excitement I feel at the promise summer.

It is as if 'there is a light at the end of the tunnel' and I am beginning to realise just how much the winter months close in on life and how much they affect us. With a natural talent for the melancholy, I assume that I suffer more than average, But it is hard to tell.

the Longer daylight hours, and the milder air, are all so refreshing. This year they have emboldened me to take on a swimming challenge, to swim 1 mile in the sea from Padstow to rock, for a cancer charity. It was quite telling even to myself that I was happy to jump at the challenge, despite not swimming regularly for a few years, and certainly not in the sea around Britan. A 10K run, something every woman and her dog is doing these days, hasn't, and i feel sure wouldn't, be entertained so readily, despite my recent running regime seeing me manage a 6k run comfortably. I have realised that I love to swim, it makes me happy, and rarely bores or pains me as running does. I have made it a new commitment, to make sure I do it. If it makes me happy then it must be good.

Having proclaimed all this, I must add that I have yet to enter the sea since reviving my swimming passion. I have told myself that I cannot enter the sea unless I have a wetsuit, for fear of Hypothermia. The temperature of the waters in these parts at this time of year could be anything from 10 to 15 Celsius, not an inviting thought. Swimming wetsuits are, I have recently discovered, a specialised, and not inexpensive luxury. I already have 2 wetsuits, but these are for diving, and therefore, not suitable (a terrible pun) for swimming. The part of my brain that tells me everything must be right and correct before proceeding (with caution) has convinced me that I MUST HAVE, a new wetsuit.
'Ouch', responds my bank balance.
Fortunately, the researcher- in another part of my brain, has found a place to hire them, thus reducing the cost.
'phew'

Now I am plucking up the courage to order my wetsuit, for I know that once it arrives, I shall have no more excuses to avoid the Sea.
The swim is in 6 weeks. Not long to hone my open water skills.
Perhaps I need a book as well? just to make sure I get it right...
yes I am sure a book would help.
I shall put the researcher on to it right away.

back in the blog

I realise have restarted writing my blog, it happened in the beginning of May, it's a surprise to me, and sprung from nowhere. I think it is the weather. Life is such a grind in Winter.

extreme climates

The last three weeks have whizzed past in a whirlwind of packing, travelling, and generally having a rather exciting time. I think I shall write seperate pieces about it all, because it is rather diverse. In short, I've packed up my life, had a beautiful sunny and hot week in Thailand, Diving and relaxing, followed by an emotional farewell in Bangkok airport, and now here I am in my new home city under 2 inches of snow, freezing cold, and the whole country is in a pre-holiday frenzy as the CNY approaches and they are going to visit family.

I arrived Last Sunday, and am now installed in "Sun Shine International serviced appartments" as a temporary measure.My suitcases, however did not arrive. I'd sent them on from London,before I left, to avoid carrying them all the way to Thailand. So I have spent the first week wearing an interesting collection of 'beachwear' layered with as many teeshirts and tops to keep warm! Luckily my cases arrived on Friday to save the day.

What to name my new home? Well, I would use it's real name, but i don't need to, since anyone reading this actually knows where I am. The name of the city means "City By The Sea" so that is what I shall call it.

Snow is very unusual here, I think the last time it snowed like this was 20m years ago ( it gets longer every time i speak to someone about it...) and they are utterly ill-equipped for it. No grit, no clearing, nothing. the airport has shut down, the roads are a quagmire of freezing slush, and all the taxi's are hiding because they don't want to crash their cars. For a newcomer who speaks no language and has no clue where she is, it's all rather strange, not to mention dehabilitating. I am confined to a small area that I can walk within, being careful not to skid and fall over in the snow.

I am Tired from my first week in the Office here, getting to know my teams of colleagues, and just taking it all in. This morning I have found a global cafe and got myself online, which is quite a relief, as anyone who knows me will know that I do have something of a addiction to the Internet.

wet

It is really wet in London at the moment. This is the view I get as I walk to the office in the mornings. Utterly depressing, although I have to admit I am guilty of randomly breaking into a huge grin, because I know I am leaving soon, AND, even more exciting I'm going to Thailand next week to go diving and get some real sunshine YES!

For the moment I sit at my computer, feeling guilty because I have not written my blog for a bit, while Mr V watches a bank robber film on TV, and cooks fish pie. I just looked back at my blog and realised that I have recently over-used inverted commas, which is quite annoying to read. I shall try to avoid it in future. I have also realised that I tend to capitalise words that I think are important, and not those that actually warrant it. I'm sure you reading people don't mind. I've never won any medals for my grammar.

I met my friend HC from The Olympic City yesterday. We had some drinks in the pub and made plans to meet up once i'm settled in my new home. I'm really looking forward to it! Tonight I have to pack a suitcase to post to The City By The Sea. ( those caps are deliberate by the way)

Birthday Party

Last night I dragged myself out of the flat to go to SH's birthday party. I've been feeling pretty rubbish and run down recently, so it felt like a huge effort, but I did think it would do me good to get out there and see a few friends and be all sociable.

SO, armed with yummy make-up gift and humourous card I trudged to the station under cover of the biggest umbrella I could find. Mr V met me at Old street station, so I walked through the Broadgate centre, which is one of my favourite 'urban public spaces' because it has lots of little paths and alleys and shops and I recently discovered a gorgeous 'changing colour lights in the floor' installation. Because of the rain it looked super shiny in the dark, so I stopped to take a few snaps. We had some dinner and I finished up with a very creamy Irish coffee in an attempt to give myself a bit of 'energy' for the night. Actually everything went really well, and seeing my old pals from Germany really cheered me up, and accordingly I drank mohitos and got silly.



Today I have a headache, a toothache and am all grumpy again. BAH! nevermind we are flying away for New Years fun tomorrow so that should cheer me up. I think I should pack lots of pain killers for the event.

rain

Today is the first time is has rained for a while. The main difference being that I am back in London now. Living in a little appartment in Spitalfields, bordering the city. How dismal. I have been woken buy a gigantic pneumatic drill, digging a hole right outside the flat. The building was literally shaking with the force of the drill. Does nothing change in England? As I speak another machine has just added to the chorus, flattening down the freshly laid tarmac from yesterdays dig. I sopose I should be grateful that there is work being done, rather than a hole and no workmen.

There is something quite exciting about being back here, and my head is alternately filled with dreams of finding a good job and a nice little house within reach of the city, OR "sticking it out" for as long as I can and then making a fast exit to a place very far away and with a less dreary climate. I think the current plan is to stick it out and see how it all feels in a few months.