Snow, dieting and a bit of ballet

I'm sitting in my toasty warm flat - admittedly still in my pyjamas - relaxing as the snow continues to fall outside.

I've just realised I haven't blogged for a few days, so thought it was time for a bit of an update.

I'm considering doing a workout DVD for exercise (which if done will be my fifth day of exercise this week). I don't fancy venturing out in that snow! Last week I managed six days of exercise and healthy eating with a 'cheat' one day when I went out for a meal. I lost one pound. This I found really disappointing.

And of course there's been no booze. I'm still successfully working my way through Dry January, now on my 20th day and only 11 remaining! It's felt great if I'm honest.

Last night I enjoyed another meal out, a two course meal at Prezzo and a little treat of ice cream at the theatre too. Let's hope it's not undone all my hard work this week!

I noticed as well how I'm falling into getting used to not having alcohol - my third meal out now without drinking and I actually felt quite happy with drinking water with my meal. It doesn't seem a big deal anymore and doesn't need to be an automatic association of eating out combined with a big glass (or bottle) of wine.

The best bit of last night though was the entertainment afterwards - the ballet. I was back at the London Coliseum, this time with my Auntie, for her first visit to the ballet.

We were there to see The Sleeping Beauty. I wondered whether it'd feel so magical this time round - not being my first visit or still around the 'festive' season. On Friday as the snow came down I was also concerned the show might be 'snowed off' or we just wouldn't be able to get there ourselves.

Thankfully the snow held off and we trudged up to London in our wellies without issue.

In terms of the show? I wasn't disappointed. This time we were to enjoy the story of beautiful Princess Aurora and the curse set on her to fall into a deep sleep if she is ever to prick her finger - only a true love kiss from a Prince can awaken her.

If I was impressed last time at the Nutcracker, this time I was absolutely wowed. There seemed to be even more astounding displays of dance talent. 'Aurora' (Tamara Rojo) was so so talented. I couldn't believe how she moved and you were mesmerised by her pirouettes (I hope this is the right term!)

Again I recognised Daria Klimentova and Crystal Costa from The Nutcracker and this time they seemed even better if possible.

The costumes were again so so beautiful, the colours, detail, sparkle and amazing movement as ballet dancers leapt, turned and floated across the stage.

I think we can safely say I will be booking up to go to the ballet again!

As I relax today I really hope I get a good result in tomorrow's weigh in. I'm finally not quite so achey. I hit the gym on Friday for an hour's workout and decided to do a little bit of weight work near the end as I haven't done it in so long, then Saturday morning I did spinning as usual. I've been in agony since, so achey!!

Thankfully after a long sleep my muscles don't seem as bad and I can brave my Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred DVD later. Although again I've not done this in a long time so I might find I can't walk too well for work tomorrow (not ideal when you've got to negotiate snow and ice too!)

There goes the sun

I've been feeling a bit down this weekend - mainly I think due to seemingly being on the verge of getting a bit ill and rundown. The other reason being Summer is over.

I'm definitely a Summer girl. I love the sun, I love fashion, I love the way when the sun is shining everywhere looks better and everybody seems to have a smile on their face.

Ever since returning from Thailand, I'll admit I've missed it non stop and how easy and hassle free life seemed there. Returning to work and having to get on busy trains with rude commuters isn't the best to bring a smile to my face after pure white sands, crystal clear blue waters and non-stop smiles.

Now, people are back at work from their breaks everyone keeps talking about how Summer is over. And that makes me sad.

However sitting in my little flat this evening I happened to look out the window and saw such pretty skies I had to take some photos of them.

Then it got me thinking, maybe Autumn isn't so bad...

Yes the sun is fading and the temperature is dropping. However, now we can look forward to colder darker nights snuggled up on the sofa with loved ones, beautiful scenes as golden leaves fall from the trees.

Also not minding hitting that gym quite so much as you're not missing out on any sun and fun outside. Comfort food and family fun in Halloween and Guy Fawkes night. Preparing for Christmas and all the presents you're going to treat those you love to.

Hitting the shops to get some new clothes for Autumn/Winter fashion.

And of course as we've seen in the last few years, we're bound to get treated to some bonus sun in a bit of freak season weather too!!

Brighton Bound

Yay it's Friday. Yay it's the weekend. Yay I'm off work and en route to Brighton for the first of my boyfriend's marathon attempts.

It's been a 'fun' couple of weeks, what with my Mum breaking her leg and having an op/being in hospital, some morons tried to break into my block of flats and I caught some weird tummy bug.

However now we're of to the seaside to spend time with one of my bestest friends and support her, my man and her Dad running the 26.2 miles that is the Brighton Marathon.

Trev's fundraising efforts are going quite well, he's now raised over £600 so just under £1,000 to go!! Sponsor him here if you fancy it http://www.justgiving.com/trevsolympicchallenge2012/

He's running for a very worthwhile charity Whizz Kidz - supporting disabled children (and adults) and we're hoping people who haven't already will sponsor him once they see evidence of him running this first event.

I'm also very pleased with myself as I've managed to pack all my outfits/wash stuff etc for two nights and three days in a teeny tiny case! I am the world's worst packer and always take too much so I have had to be very strict with myself. Also the weather forecast keeps changing so I'm sure I'm going to end up either too hot, too cold or wet!

It should also be interesting supporting our runners (there are a few things planned which I mustn't say anymore about in case it spoils things) and my man's running outfit will make interesting photos (or potentially blind people, it is pretty bright!)

Then there's going to be the fun of checking out what gruesome sores my man ends up with, encouraging my friend who is always so hard on herself even though she is an amazing sportswoman and trying to meet up with the in-laws on a packed Brighton seafront!

I shall keep you posted and am sure there'll be plenty of material to blog about!

For now I am going to sit back and enjoy (!) this District Line journey to Victoria before we get on our train to the (hopefully) sunny seaside!

Let the sun shine

I love the sun. There is something about it that just makes everything seem right in the world. A bit of sunshine and it brightens everyone's mood.

Last week we had a couple of sunny days, being during the week I was at work. I was so disappointed when on both days I was too busy to take a break and missed out. So when I woke this morning - with a slightly sore head from too much wine last night - I was so pleased to see how bright and shiny it was!

Hence this is also why I am now on my lunchbreak sitting in the sun and writing this blog. Lovely.

I've always loved the sun since a young age, being lucky enough to go on holiday to a warm climate every year from the age of around 2 through to 24, I am definitely a sun worshipper! In turn my skin tends to agree with the sun and I tan well.

I must admit although I've never used fake tan/sunbeds I do loathe the winter months when I feel pale and think my skin makes me look ill. As soon as any sign of Summer begins I am out there topping up my tan.

As for holidays there are only a few years I haven't had one and they were hard, just the thought of heading somewhere hot in the near future makes everything seem alright. And as for people who don't like the sun, I just don't get it. Or those people who go on holiday to a hot location and hide indoors or under an umbrella the whole time, what's the point?

Sun to me equals happiness, health and fun. It brightens your mood waking up to a bright sunny day and leaves you feeling fresh and more awake.

Take today, I woke up hungover but still had a beaming smile. I've walked round the city and people all seem that little less miserable and rude. And clients so far - touch wood - all seem pleasant and polite.

I really do hope this is the start now of lots more happy sunny days. Then I can look forward to changing my exercise routine to include swimming and runs or walks outdoors, BBQs with friends and family, trips to the seaside and of course wearing a new wardrobe.

I guess the only daunting part is getting in shape for this warmer weather and less covered up clobber. As I'm still on my healthy eating and exercise plan though that doesn't worry me quite as much as usual.

I'm also reading a book at the moment set in a hot summer in Italy which is brightening my mood, but also teasing me with its tales of sweltering heat, cool drinks, outdoor eating, clear blue skies and crystal blue swimming pools.

Fresh salads and cold juices are so much more enjoyable than stodgy foods and hot drinks when it's sunny too. Although in the sun I will start to crave ice cream, chilled wine and lager, so I will definitely need to find a balance.

So not long left and I have to head back indoors. I'll make do with the sunlight coming through the window for the rest of today...and keep everything crossed for a weekend of warmth from tomorrow!

The January Blues

The sky is grey, dark and heavy
Litter lies in the street dirty and soggy

Umbrellas hitting one another in the street
Blowing inside out, or water from them dripping on feet

No plans in the diary, nobody has money
Waiting for payday, those numerous bills are a worry

Trying to resist those comfort foods you love and adore
Turning down offers of treats and drinks, feeling like a bore

The gym is packed with new, bigger, sweatier bodies
Classes full up, regular goers not happy

Work colleagues and contacts all noticeably moody
Requests piling up, everything now needed in a hurry

Commuters are ruder, pushing and shoving
Everyone rushing to get home before it starts raining or snowing

The newspapers full of doom and gloom
Waking in the morning, it feels cold and so dark in the room

Your cheeks sting and ache as those cold winds bite
Being woken up as the wind crashes around throughout the night

You feel like your life revolves around the TV
Nothing to watch, you just flick channels endlessly

You start on a book, but it doesn't grip you
Try to clean up your home, but so too does it bore you

Everyone around coughing and sneezing
Soon you catch the germs and end up all heady and wheezy

Hate being so down and moody, oh what to do
It's just simply a case of the January Blues

Winter is coming

Your alarm goes off, you're met with darkness
Just five more minutes of your bed and its cosyness

An extra few minutes under a scalding shower
The wind outside blowing with all its power

All wrapped up in thick coats, scarves and gloves
You waddle in the snow, holding hands with the one you love

Children playing in fallen leaves and then the snow
As you rush home, house and pub windows have a warm, welcoming glow

Ice cold wind nipping at your cheeks and ears
Your nose tingles and eyes are filled with frosty tears

When reaching home you wear warm, supersoft clothes, changing out of your damp and heavy jacket
Your hands wrapped around the cup as you sip a warm hot chocolate

Huddled up on the sofa, the cold dark world outside your window
Enjoying bowls of steaming soup and hearty stew, which makes your skin glow

Long country walks, your breath a steamy puff in front of your face
Going for a big, hot, meaty, pub pie at your favourite place

Looking forward to the weekend and your Mum's Sunday Roast
Thoughts of Christmas soon coming and time with those you love most

As the evenings get dark more quickly, wrapped in a blanket you lay
Bus heaters and your radiator switched on, winter is on its way

Summer Sulk

Er hello? Where has the Summer gone?

I’m sorry, but I can’t let this go by without commenting on it. I love the sun and like to get out in it as much as I can. When we decided to save up this year to get some cash in order to get a place together I braced myself for the fact this would be another year without a holiday.

Now, I apologise to anyone who doesn’t holiday that often and for sounding like a spoilt little madam, but I admit I am an annual leave addict and like to get on a plane and go relax once a year without fail. The only year in my life – which I guess shows I have been pretty privileged on reflection – I didn’t go on holiday was the year I purchased my flat. Every other year of my life I have been on holiday and abroad at that.

The only downfall with this is you come to expect a holiday, your skin is used to getting the sun and you crave it. The weather forecasters – as per – predicted scorching temperatures and an ‘Indian Summer’ this year (hmm sounds familiar...) and so I tried to reassure myself I could cope if the weather was holidayesque in the UK at least.

But no no no, not England, no it couldn’t be a nice Summer could it. Oh no, I’m not going away so in fact let’s make it one of the coldest Summers instead. Great. I love waking up in August to grey skies and goosebumpy skin.

So now today we found ourselves in September – how on earth did that come around?? September, i.e. kids go back to school and Autumn is meant to start. What happens? We go to work in covered-up-clothes and sensible shoes and are met with a boiling hot lunchbreak and sweaty commute.

I’ve also chosen to start a new job in the month when everybody knows people go away, so not only am I met with a probation period without annual leave allowed, but also the fact that seemingly everyone else is going away. Those empty seats taunt me every time I look round the room! The joke is even if I was allowed annual leave (which I’m sure wouldn’t be totally frowned upon seeing as everything so far seems really fair and friendly), I can’t jump on a plane anyway as I’m supposed to be saving.

I’m not too good at the whole being happy for those going away either – my parents are a great example of this, they basically spend their retirement going on holiday. I don’t like this and find it hard not to get jealous! As the bank holiday approached and I looked forward to my plans, I soon felt my mood come crashing down as friends and colleagues took days off to extend the long weekend and went abroad instead.

It’s funny though how when we do get the odd sunny day we quickly forget them and complaints of ‘We’ve had no sun’ or ‘no Summer’ are quickly thrown around. I am just as guilty of doing that.

I’m just going to curl up on the sofa, in my cardi, with a cup of tea and console myself by giggling at Celebrity Juice. Ah Mark from Only Way Is Essex and Rochelle from the Saturdays (also from Romford) – a good bit of Essex ‘talent’ will keep me entertained I’m sure!!

Calm before the storm

I absolutely hate storms. Seriously I can’t stand them. The sound of thunder, a bolt of lightning and I am reduced to a quivering mess!

So now sitting in my office (thankfully not one of the higher buildings in the Canary Wharf area) I am looking out the window at the darkened skies filled with dread. Every roll of thunder, every lightning flash and I either gasp or oooh in response.

I’ve been reassured with words that this is tame compared to South Africa and lightning strikes the highest thing, so although at 5ft 11 I’m a bit of a female giant, I’m not high up enough to be struck.

Let’s just hope this stops before the end of the day else how am I going to leave the building and get home? Plus the boyfriend is working until late tonight (joys of dating a paramedic), so I’ve got nobody to comfort me when I’m indoors and I AM on the top floor there – okay it’s only a three floor building, but that’s just details people...

I got myself all prepared yesterday for this worrying weather to hit last night, but oh no, this storm’s sneaky. It has waited for me to feel calm and content and forget about it and then BANG it strikes!

We’re also on the cusp of a metaphorical storm in that tomorrow I have a second interview for a job and I keep forgetting about it and then getting super nervous when I remember. Apparently I was quite impressive last time, but how can I improve on that? What do I need to whip out the bag to excite the next set of people I meet? A night of prepping awaits me that’s for sure...

Oh well, if this weather continues who knows I may well not even make it there – no I’m not suggesting I’ll have been struck by lightning, I could just still be stuck at home underneath my duvet waiting for it all to end.