MrsB

We are taking it easy this year for Christmas – we’re not going anywhere, we only have one house guest, we only have a couple of very casual catch-ups with friends planned and a pantomime on the 28th.

Most presents are wrapped, the turkey and a new batch of gingerbread cookie dough is in the fridge. There won’t be a special Christmas breakfast or brunch or any of that – just the regular porridge or pancakes and being out and about whenever it’s not raining.

Today we went ice skating in front of the Natural History museum, it was quite a workout for us holding the kids up for 50 minutes :) Afterwards we enjoyed a late pizza lunch sitting outside – it was such a warm day! Then a walk through Hyde Park checking out the sights of the Winter Wonderland in the background and then home to a movie and mulled wine. [...]

This time I’m just referring to colour – I have been actually feeling ok since the post on being a hopeless geriatric and never fitting in at CrossFit – so I’m only talking about lovely blue Instagram shots that happen at this time of the year here in London.

Instagram is probably my most used app and even though I have other photo editing apps, I keep coming back to Instagram because it’s so simple to use. A few months ago they added a new ‘add a bit of sunshine’ button to the app – have you seen it?

I use it for most outdoor shots, it adds a tiny bit of extra colour and just makes everything pop. For indoor shots and portraits is does not work at all, so don’t be alarmed if you try it on those and the result is awful. [...]

On Sunday I ran the Royal Parks Half marathon here in London. MrB didn’t get a place so I hired him as my Bag Man for the day :) I figured that if I could keep my hoodie on for as long as possible before the race then I wouldn’t get cold waiting at the start line and would hopefully not finish with blue lips like I have before when races are in September/October.

Sunday’s weather was absolutely gorgeous though, with bright sunshine by 9am so I let my Bag Man go to a café around 9 and just hopped in the starting area until the start of the race at 9:30 – didn’t feel cold at all.

The game plan was to go for 1 hour and 48 minutes. My previous PB for a half marathon was a 1:50:11 for Run to the Beat in 2011, so I just pulled that 1:48 out of the hat and ‘ran’ with it. I had remembered what my pace was supposed to be and my time for 5km, 10km and 15km in order to hit that target. This was not going to be a Fun Run, I meant Business! [...]

In September 1998 I was working in a Border’s bookstore in downtown Washington DC. I remember a huge display being set up right at the entrance of/for a book called Harry Potter. I read it just to see what the fuss was all about and was totally hooked from the get-go. Fast forward 14 years: [...]

I blogged about Home Run London several months ago already but although I loved the idea of running half way home after work while someone else carries my bag, I was hesitant to sign up because joining one of the groups would mean getting home at 7:30 at night i.e. after the kids are in [...]

When the sun is shining, one should run outside immediately and make the most of it!

Yesterday we went to the Science Museum for a family day organised by J’s firm. First thing at 1pm was a show about bubbles, the kids got to see bubbles made the ordinary way and also using helium and dry ice. There was lots of laughter and shouting and audience participation. Oskar got to stand inside a giant bubble…

… or should I say “summer”?

As I was basking in 23°C yesterday (I don’t work on Wednesdays, remember? :), I realised how I managed to fend of depression for so long (from my 1st episode in 1998 until 2010) – for most of that time I lived in Australia! …

A few weeks ago on a rainy day we went to the London Sealife Aquarium.

Although the tickets are a bit pricey, it’s a great place for older children – Oskar enjoyed it to the full.

Oliver, however, found the dark tunnels in between the aquariums a bit creepy…

I so totally love London!

A colleague of mine told me about a very cool FREE initiative to help people run as part of their commute – your bag is carried for you, all you have to do is run!

Running groups meet either at 6 or 6:15 pm. I am trying it out next week! [...]

Another wet day here. I bet the flowers are waiting for sunshine as much as I am.

It’s cold. 4°C this morning. These daily photos are supposed to document the arrival of spring. So far it’s not happening :|

It’s a rainy day here today, we spent the morning in the aquarium looking at sharks and pancakes (sting rays).