The Backdoor

The backdoor into the house I’m staying at for the summer.

Taken with Olympus iSnap, London, July 2009.

Cranky and Deprived

Its been a week at my temp job. I’ve probably registered a thousand students into the university and it looks like there might be several thousands more in the next couple of weeks.

This temp job reminds me of my days in office; working all day and sleep at night. I’ve become completely exhausted by the time I’ve reached home, not wanting to do anything else except veg out in front of the telly.

I’m not use to this lifestyle anymore, not like how  I use to be. My body couldn’t cope without ‘me’ time. Slowly, my ‘cranky’ self is taking over my sleep/exercise/socially-deprived body.

Is this a sign of age? Or have I been too pampered for living a healthier life of sleeping, exercising and eating right?

Luckily, its only a 3 week temp job. A good reminder of why I’ve escaped from the cubicle in the first place.

Boarded up…

Most stores were boarded up to keep revelers away.

Notting Hill Carnival, 31/08/2009, Olympus iSnap.

The Epic Bicycle Ride!

My cycling route from my doorstep to St. Paul’s Cathedral.

******

My bicycle was a small, single-gear and stylishly-red retro folding bicycle called ‘The Road Runner‘. Love my bicycle to bits! There were advertisements everywhere for the Skyride, and decided to take my lovely little bicycle for a ride! The Skyride was an annual cycling event where cyclists get to conquer the traffic-free roads of central London! The Skyride route was 15km in length that starts from Tower Hill to Green Park. 65,000 cyclists turned up for the event!

To get to Central London, I joined a cycling group from North Finchley to St Paul’s Cathedral. It was a good 10 miles (18 km) of long motorways, urban hills, narrow park walks and traffic lights before we reached Central London. It was torturous for me, especially up hills, as my bicycle only had a single gear and its tires were smaller than a regular bicycle. I had to cycle 3 times harder compared to other cyclists.

But I made it!

By the time I reached St Paul’s Cathedral, my thighs were screaming in exhaustion. DE, my cycling buddy and I rewarded ourselves with a lovely cafe latte at Pret-A-Manger, while watching cyclists of all different shapes, size and vehicles cycle by under the bright sunny sky.

We cycled an hour along the bicycle congested route before we rested on the green, green grass of St. James Park. We spotted a counter giving away goodie bags! I love the goodie bags, which came with a drink, mini snacks and a neon yellow bib!

Before long it was past 2pm, another 2 hours till the roads were open again for cars. My cycling buddy followed the cycling group back to North Finchley at 3pm. I would’ve loved to follow, but my thighs couldn’t bare cycling back the same route. Instead, I headed home via the Underground.

An excellent experience! I’d definitely participate again next year, if I were around. I’m now seriously considering getting a proper bicycle with a few more gears and larger wheels… just need to take some time off for my overworked thighs, hips and butt to recover.

Laughing Buddha

Laughing Buddha and a fish pond by the backyard.

Taken with Olympus i-Snap, July 2009.