I was driving along (sort of, I don't/can't drive but I was in the passenger seat so that counts) some time late Friday/early Saturday and I noticed that rare occurrence when the moon is low and (I'm not an astronomer so I could be making this up) the light bounces off the Earth's atmosphere and makes the moon look big and red, it's an awe-inspiring sight which I find it impossible to describe (and a quick google search shows many pictures that don't do this phenomenon justice.) I'll remember to take a picture next time.
It got me thinking about how nature has a way of totally humbling you and it (she?) does this again and again. I used to do a lot of camping and sleeping out, this sort of thing would happen to me quite often. It would be something simple like looking up on a moonless night and seeing the sea of stars. Living in London, with very large buildings and “light pollution”, it's very easy to forget this sort of thing but I find that all adds to the experience as when you do see a blood red moon or the stars out in force or even just an imposing mountain on the horizon, I'm reminded of just how insignificant I am (I mean this is a good way =)).
I'll dial down the cheese for now but in the mean time you see something like this, stop and stare, take in the awesome view!
Monday 31 March 2008
Saturday 29 March 2008
Spring
I've notice over the last few weeks, I've been in an amazingly good mood, almost to the point I have a 'spring' in my step. I don't know what the cause of this would be, nothing has changed in my life but I just feel good. Even walking in the puring rain doesn't get me down. On the tube, every now and then, I see someone smiling for no reason and I think “what a freak” but recently, that's been me! I'm sure something will dampen the mood soon enough but for now, I'm just going to enjoy it.
Anyway, spring has apparently arrived! Tho you can't tell looking at the weather, they promise us the hottest summer on record this year (is it me or has it been “the hottest summer since records began” for the last few years?). I'm looking forward to it, it's been a while since I last got on my bike or roller blades and I've been saying for the last few weeks that I'll start cycling “once the weather clears up”. I won't make a “global warming” comment here as public opinion on this has got to a rather ridiculas media-hyped point and people seem to get a bit over-emotional over this.
Seeing something on an almost daily basis you don't quite realise how much you get use to it, until it chnages. I'm talking about google, I think they are only doing this for a few days so you need to be quick to see it but I think it looks quit cool. They are doing it for their earth hour campaign and although painting it black makes very little difference now-a-days I still think this is a nice gesture.
Anyway, spring has apparently arrived! Tho you can't tell looking at the weather, they promise us the hottest summer on record this year (is it me or has it been “the hottest summer since records began” for the last few years?). I'm looking forward to it, it's been a while since I last got on my bike or roller blades and I've been saying for the last few weeks that I'll start cycling “once the weather clears up”. I won't make a “global warming” comment here as public opinion on this has got to a rather ridiculas media-hyped point and people seem to get a bit over-emotional over this.
Seeing something on an almost daily basis you don't quite realise how much you get use to it, until it chnages. I'm talking about google, I think they are only doing this for a few days so you need to be quick to see it but I think it looks quit cool. They are doing it for their earth hour campaign and although painting it black makes very little difference now-a-days I still think this is a nice gesture.
Friday 28 March 2008
Commitment
Almost 2 months ago, I did something completely uncharacteristic, I committed. After a lot of thought, weighing up the pros and cons and getting opinions from the people around me, I came to the conclusion that it was going to be my choice and mine alone. If I was going to do it, I would just have to go for it, jump in with both feet. So I did it, the very next morning I bought an annual travel card!
Why mention it now? Well I realised the other day that I didn't really grasp what an annual travel card was (yes I know a year is 12 months is 365.26 days is about 8760 hours is 525600 minutes is 31536000 seconds etc etc). It dawned on me when I stepped on a bus and pressed the oyster on the reader and the expiry date flashed up. I didn't get all of it but I saw “2009”, I hate to say it but that stopped me in my tracks!
I gave this a bit of thought, now I don't have to worry about the card expiring on a weekend or having to queue up on a Monday morning to renew, I made the right choice. I guess sometimes you just need to jump in with both feet! By the way, anyone that thinks this isn't a big deal...... 2009!
What next? I'm not sure but I think I should pick something and stick with it....maybe a large jar of marmite, that stuff out lasts religions!
Why mention it now? Well I realised the other day that I didn't really grasp what an annual travel card was (yes I know a year is 12 months is 365.26 days is about 8760 hours is 525600 minutes is 31536000 seconds etc etc). It dawned on me when I stepped on a bus and pressed the oyster on the reader and the expiry date flashed up. I didn't get all of it but I saw “2009”, I hate to say it but that stopped me in my tracks!
I gave this a bit of thought, now I don't have to worry about the card expiring on a weekend or having to queue up on a Monday morning to renew, I made the right choice. I guess sometimes you just need to jump in with both feet! By the way, anyone that thinks this isn't a big deal...... 2009!
What next? I'm not sure but I think I should pick something and stick with it....maybe a large jar of marmite, that stuff out lasts religions!
Thursday 27 March 2008
These Boots Weren't Made for Walking
This morning I dusted off my climbing shoes and packed them in with my laptop with the intention of using them in anger after work. Amazingly, I was told it's been almost a year since I climbed there and I didn't recognise many people which worked to my advantage as my usual routine was to grab a cup of coffee and chat for a few hours before getting changed and hitting the wall (ok, so I hit the crash mat more then I hit the wall but such is life).
The one thing I don't remember about the sport was how tight my boots were, really, walking or standing is not an option! After a not so impressive 2 hour session, my arms ache, my thighs ache my back aches and lest we forget, my feet are killing me but it all feels good and I'm hoping that being this tired might break the mild insomnia I've developed over the past few weeks.
Anyway, enough of that, I won't dwell on the fact I felt an amazing sense of achievement from something people do every day! I'll leave with a small word of advice, don't try to get into Oxford Circus station at 6 on a weekday, you'll have better luck walking through the eye of a needle. I thought, rather then waiting, I'll walk in the “I'm not quite raining on you” drizzle to Tottenham Court road, unfortunately I wasn't the only one inspired with this idea. Slow moving crowds (which, for some reason, always reminds me of herding cows) move there way into the station, past the gates, down the escalator and onto an empty platform and an even emptier train. I can't work that out, where does everyone go?
If your one of the people who disappeared and are currently still stuck in the alternate reality between the escalator and platform, give me a shout, it would be good to hear from you.
The one thing I don't remember about the sport was how tight my boots were, really, walking or standing is not an option! After a not so impressive 2 hour session, my arms ache, my thighs ache my back aches and lest we forget, my feet are killing me but it all feels good and I'm hoping that being this tired might break the mild insomnia I've developed over the past few weeks.
Anyway, enough of that, I won't dwell on the fact I felt an amazing sense of achievement from something people do every day! I'll leave with a small word of advice, don't try to get into Oxford Circus station at 6 on a weekday, you'll have better luck walking through the eye of a needle. I thought, rather then waiting, I'll walk in the “I'm not quite raining on you” drizzle to Tottenham Court road, unfortunately I wasn't the only one inspired with this idea. Slow moving crowds (which, for some reason, always reminds me of herding cows) move there way into the station, past the gates, down the escalator and onto an empty platform and an even emptier train. I can't work that out, where does everyone go?
If your one of the people who disappeared and are currently still stuck in the alternate reality between the escalator and platform, give me a shout, it would be good to hear from you.
Tuesday 25 March 2008
Narrowband
I got home tonight only to find the world wide web has disappeared! A quick call to broadband customer service told be I'm “experiencing and outage” not very helpful, I know but at least I know it's not something I did. Anyway not to be deterred, I paired my laptop and mobile phone (still shocked that you don't have to be a minster to do this) and now have the inter-web on this laptop! Yes, I know, I'm a geek, but I'm currently the only one in this area with an internet connection so Ha!
Going back to work after an uncharacteristically relaxing weekend felt better then I expected, maybe because I love my job and work with some fantastic people but more likely, because there was a box of jam doughnuts sitting on the counter. I figure, I walked to and from the tube stations so the odd doughnut is still within my new healthy lifestyle.
Moving swiftly on from deep-fried, sugar coated, jam filled loveliness....... hmmm doughnuts...... No, I can't continue, I have nothing but doughnuts on my mind now, I'll leave it at that...... Sorry =)
Going back to work after an uncharacteristically relaxing weekend felt better then I expected, maybe because I love my job and work with some fantastic people but more likely, because there was a box of jam doughnuts sitting on the counter. I figure, I walked to and from the tube stations so the odd doughnut is still within my new healthy lifestyle.
Moving swiftly on from deep-fried, sugar coated, jam filled loveliness....... hmmm doughnuts...... No, I can't continue, I have nothing but doughnuts on my mind now, I'll leave it at that...... Sorry =)
Monday 24 March 2008
Healthy Living
People go on about healthy living, I've been thinking about this as last night a few of us went out for a kebab. I don't mean we were stuck for something to eat at 2am after a night out clubbing. I mean we specifically went out for a kebab.
We've been going to this small hole-in-the-wall on Bath road (near Heathrow) for a few years now and it's well worth the drive. I don't know what it is about this place or spending the evening stuffing your face with grease, maybe it's just the company but it's usually a good night. We end up sitting the the car, chatting the night away, philosophing over kebabs.........
The trend over the last 12 months or so, I've been having more and more evenings out (restaurants as well as kebabs) and been exercising less and less. I guess the problem is, it's too easy to skip out on a climbing or gym session to go out for dinner. Lack of motivation probably has something to do with it as well.
This week, I'm indent on making a concerted effort, I will exercise, I'm not sure how and I'm not sure when but it will be done. I guess at the same time, I could try to eat healthily but that might be too high a target.
We've been going to this small hole-in-the-wall on Bath road (near Heathrow) for a few years now and it's well worth the drive. I don't know what it is about this place or spending the evening stuffing your face with grease, maybe it's just the company but it's usually a good night. We end up sitting the the car, chatting the night away, philosophing over kebabs.........
The trend over the last 12 months or so, I've been having more and more evenings out (restaurants as well as kebabs) and been exercising less and less. I guess the problem is, it's too easy to skip out on a climbing or gym session to go out for dinner. Lack of motivation probably has something to do with it as well.
This week, I'm indent on making a concerted effort, I will exercise, I'm not sure how and I'm not sure when but it will be done. I guess at the same time, I could try to eat healthily but that might be too high a target.
Saturday 22 March 2008
Where the cold wind blows
It snowed today, yay! But then I remembered that, here in Briton, we don't really do weather. Sure some times we have a brilliantly hot and sunny day, or a day where you know it's raining. But the vast majority of the time, it's sort of in between.
Don't get me wrong, I love London, I can't imagine living any ware else but I just don't understand the weather. I don't mind the rain but it rarely ever rains here, their's always that grey threat of rain and sometimes, it opens up but not for long and it quickly goes back to it's grey threat or worse still, drizzle. Just enough to make to feel the rain but not enough to warrant an umbrella. I think about the weather in new york, hot summers and cold winters. You wake up in the morning and you know for sure if you should take your umbrella or scarf with you.
What's the solution? Move? Not a chance, I'll take London with all it's flaws over any place else! For the questionable weather, we have great theater, great restaurants and cafes and milkshakes from Godiva on Regent's Street. The pros far outweigh the cons.
In the meantime, I'll look out the window, see the white flakes and dream of snow angels. Knowing full well it's not going to settle long enough for me to make any.
Don't get me wrong, I love London, I can't imagine living any ware else but I just don't understand the weather. I don't mind the rain but it rarely ever rains here, their's always that grey threat of rain and sometimes, it opens up but not for long and it quickly goes back to it's grey threat or worse still, drizzle. Just enough to make to feel the rain but not enough to warrant an umbrella. I think about the weather in new york, hot summers and cold winters. You wake up in the morning and you know for sure if you should take your umbrella or scarf with you.
What's the solution? Move? Not a chance, I'll take London with all it's flaws over any place else! For the questionable weather, we have great theater, great restaurants and cafes and milkshakes from Godiva on Regent's Street. The pros far outweigh the cons.
In the meantime, I'll look out the window, see the white flakes and dream of snow angels. Knowing full well it's not going to settle long enough for me to make any.
Friday 21 March 2008
They're dropping like flies
A friend told me this week that he is getting married, after knowing her 3 months. To me this seems a bit wrong as they see each other once a week and, on average, a date would last 3-5 hours. So that's at most 36-60 hours in total! How is it possible to commit to someone after that time, especially if neither feel the inclination to see the other more then once a week (believe me, both of them have the time).
He's not alone in this, ok at this point I should probably give some back ground here, I'm a “second generation British Asian” (whatever that means) as are a number of my friends. I'm single and live in London.
Where was I? Oh, he's not alone in this, quite a few of my friends (both male and female) feel the need to be hitched by the age of 26, I'm not quite sure why but this is just accepted as the norm, to the point where over dinner a friend told me “we are going to have to start scraping the bottom for the barrel for you” (I'm 27).
I have no real objections to this if you have found someone special, have spent a fair amount of time with that person, know who they are and are happy with them. But this isn't what's happening, it seems like the new path is, find someone who's vaguely ok, marry them, then get to know them. The number of gripes and complaints I personally listen to about someone's other half. My first thought is almost always “Shirley you knew this about them before you committed the rest of your life to this person!”
The question I really have to ask is “why?” is the average life expectancy getting lower (noone told me)? Is living alone as a single person really that bad? Personally I love my life and don't feel a huge urgency to change it. So what is going on here?
Last year, I witnessed 2 divorces, it's not pretty, let's hope this year is better.
All I know for sure is that, given the sample of people I know, now is a great time to be a marriage therapist....... It's just a shame that's not what I do.
He's not alone in this, ok at this point I should probably give some back ground here, I'm a “second generation British Asian” (whatever that means) as are a number of my friends. I'm single and live in London.
Where was I? Oh, he's not alone in this, quite a few of my friends (both male and female) feel the need to be hitched by the age of 26, I'm not quite sure why but this is just accepted as the norm, to the point where over dinner a friend told me “we are going to have to start scraping the bottom for the barrel for you” (I'm 27).
I have no real objections to this if you have found someone special, have spent a fair amount of time with that person, know who they are and are happy with them. But this isn't what's happening, it seems like the new path is, find someone who's vaguely ok, marry them, then get to know them. The number of gripes and complaints I personally listen to about someone's other half. My first thought is almost always “Shirley you knew this about them before you committed the rest of your life to this person!”
The question I really have to ask is “why?” is the average life expectancy getting lower (noone told me)? Is living alone as a single person really that bad? Personally I love my life and don't feel a huge urgency to change it. So what is going on here?
Last year, I witnessed 2 divorces, it's not pretty, let's hope this year is better.
All I know for sure is that, given the sample of people I know, now is a great time to be a marriage therapist....... It's just a shame that's not what I do.
Thursday 20 March 2008
First Post
So, I'm thinking "what's the purpose of this blog?" and I'll be honest with you, I've got nothing!
I guess I need a forum where I can put down a load of random thoughts, musings and such like. Not quite sure what I'll put down or how often, naturally I'll try and write on a regular bases but I think it's all going to be dependent on how much stuff is floating around in my head.
I'm going to make my first post about whole grain mustard, well not really, this is a thinly veiled attack and I need a way of working my way to it. Mustard grains are small and seem irrelevant but these things have the power to transform and add taste to the most tasteless thing on the planet. No I'm not talking about the daily star, I'm talking about a pie from EAT! I genuinely feel that eating the cardboard box it comes it would tantalise my taste buds more then the pie itself.
I've always thought that it must take great skill to cook these pies, it's not that I dislike the taste, that's not the problem at all. The problem lies in the fact that the pies taste of NOTHING. How is it possible to mix together so many ingredients and have them balance so perfectly that they all cancel each other out? I would have thought it can't be done, but as they've proved time and time again, it can be done. If you don't believe me, try it! I promise you that the very next thing you eat will remind your taste buds how great it is to be alive.
Anyway, I digress..... To whole grain mustard. The savior of EAT pies!
Well there it is, my first post, a bit shallow granted, I'll try and make my next one have more content then an EAT pie.
I guess I need a forum where I can put down a load of random thoughts, musings and such like. Not quite sure what I'll put down or how often, naturally I'll try and write on a regular bases but I think it's all going to be dependent on how much stuff is floating around in my head.
I'm going to make my first post about whole grain mustard, well not really, this is a thinly veiled attack and I need a way of working my way to it. Mustard grains are small and seem irrelevant but these things have the power to transform and add taste to the most tasteless thing on the planet. No I'm not talking about the daily star, I'm talking about a pie from EAT! I genuinely feel that eating the cardboard box it comes it would tantalise my taste buds more then the pie itself.
I've always thought that it must take great skill to cook these pies, it's not that I dislike the taste, that's not the problem at all. The problem lies in the fact that the pies taste of NOTHING. How is it possible to mix together so many ingredients and have them balance so perfectly that they all cancel each other out? I would have thought it can't be done, but as they've proved time and time again, it can be done. If you don't believe me, try it! I promise you that the very next thing you eat will remind your taste buds how great it is to be alive.
Anyway, I digress..... To whole grain mustard. The savior of EAT pies!
Well there it is, my first post, a bit shallow granted, I'll try and make my next one have more content then an EAT pie.
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