• 10am Saturday mornings: 20 minutes cardio, 1 hour weights and abs (as per usual)
• Sunday afternoon: long distance run with G (yesterday we did 10 miles around Regents and Hyde Parks!)
• Tuesdays: 1 hour of cycling at race pace around Regent’s Park
• Wednesdays: 40 minutes intervals (alternating running fast and slow) + 30 minutes weights and abs
• Fridays: running to the pool 1 mile away + 400 meters in the pool, and back

But through this challenge, I’ve found a few silver linings, as well. Though my Cupcake Parade posts may lead you to believe otherwise, I generally try to limit our consumption of carbohydrates. But taking massive cardio makes our cupcake parades, toast breakfasts and pizza breaks ok. In moderation, of course…

So, this morning I decided we should make our own, copying our favourites from Broadway Market. They turned out really well, actually. The trick is to make a standard yellow cake base. Then, combine butter and confectioners sugar adding fresh pulped fruit juice as the liquid (instead of milk in the standard buttercream frosting). Here you’ll note coconut (with canned coconut milk), blueberry (with fresh blueberries and blackberries) and strawberry (with fresh strawberry pulp). I think the strawberry ones were our favourites. Now, out for a sunny picnic!

I don’t like to do ‘hard’ cardio because I don’t particularly like to sweat. I don’t like to run or cycle in the rain because I’m afraid I’ll fall and break a tooth. I don’t like racing bikes because at heart, I really just want a big basket on the front of a hybrid so that I can fill it with flowers and race day and throw them to the [imaginary] crowd waiting at the finish. I don’t like to ride cycles on London’s busy streets because I value my life (and nearly callous-free hands). I don’t like changing sans dressing rooms in the cold morning air because I value my modesty. And I don’t like to lift ‘big’ weights because I don’t want ‘big’ muscles.

These are my ‘barriers’.

Triathlon training has forced me to step over most of these barriers. In fact, I’ve overcome most within the last week! But no matter how far I’ve come, I still have a long way to go. And this was made painfully apparent during a cycle-care workshop I attended Tuesday evening.

A local cycle store runs evening workshops for girl-only sport shopping and consultation. It’s really a great idea. They serve cupcakes and champagne (can you think of anything more perfectly targeted to a Kimberly???) and you wander about asking all the all-female employees silly questions.

So. I showed up wearing my silk shirt dress [that makes me feel like Peter Pan], leggings and my patent boots [it was raining] in order to have cupcakes, sip champagne and buy a bike lock In the process, I learned how to change a tire properly, how to service my own brakes and gears, which running shoes would correct my slight pronation. Perfect! The only non-perfect bit of the experience is that I’ve now identified more barriers:

• Female staffers at these types of shops aren’t very ‘girly’ and snear a bit when you ask questions like ‘do you have gloves that match my bike and helmet?’ OR ‘These shoes are a bit too plummy for me, do you have other colours?’
• After changing your own tire and servicing your own brakes & gears, you’re filthy! [with this in mind, instead of a second pair of gloves and a spare tube, I will now plan to carry taxi fare for use in case of a flat tire ]
• ‘Real’ cyclists don’t like baskets–they wear backpacks and sporty jerseys in bright colours with funny looking pockets across the back (which are filled with ugly bulky stuff!)
• The £50 lock that they recommend can’t be bracketed to the bike–you have to carry it in your boyish backpack and/or jersey pockets
• ‘Real’ cyclists don’t like bells on their cycles

I am painfully aware that I am currently consciously incompetent at sport–and I’m ok with that. On the bright side, my muscles are way more defined. Regardless of how silly I look to ‘enthusiasts’ in my ‘girly’ attire and accoutrements along the way, I’m ok so long as I’m more toned in the end…so far, so good. 

Which barriers are you working against? Any pointers for mounting a basket to a racing bike?

My office overlooks the new store and I have watched for almost one and a half years as they restored the historic building right on the piazza of Covent Garden. It looks beautiful. After watching and waiting for so long, I couldn’t miss the opening day. I am not sure the t-shirt will be worth it, but how many people can say they were at the opening of the world’s largest Apple Store.

An admitted perfectionist by nature, I have long realised that I subliminally decide which of my various interests, hobbies, tasks, etc are worth ‘competing in’ and which are not.

Those who have seen my artwork will know that this skill fits squarely in the ‘ok to be mediocre’ category. As does my running

And at first, when we started taking Spanish lessons it fit squarely in the ‘it’s ok to be mediocre’ category, as well. But, as we’ve progressed, it’s somehow transitioned to become something I actually care about and want to do well with. Great!

But tonight, I experienced the downside of actually caring. We were meant to translate a few tricky paragraphs from English, requiring that we use and properly conjugate for all three past tenses within a single passage. Absolute disaster. Every word spoken–incorrect. Not a great thing for a perfectionist.

Though we’ve been taking Spanish classes in London and meeting with a friend from Spain for a language exchange since returning from our various adventures this Spring, the past tenses just aren’t sticking. Why is this so hard?!?!? Actually, I think I know why, but that’s another story.

The whole experience made me crave a bubble bath and a good cry. Welcome back to life as a 5 year old. Maybe it’s time not to care about Spanish…

But for the first time since we arrived in England, we’ve experienced what a good summer in London has to offer! Sunny days, mild nights, little to no rainfall…it’s been absolutely gorgeous. So gorgeous, in fact, that I haven’t been carrying an umbrella–that’s unheard of!

We’ve stayed domestic this summer for lots of varied reasons and have done what we can to take advantage. There have been loads of balmy drinks al fresco, park days and runs through the borough. So nice! It rained on my birthday. But that’s one of only two rainy days that I remember since returning from the US in May.

Speaking of my birthday, G treated me to a domestic day away this year–in Kent (by the Channel). We spent a rainy day at the beach in Broadstairs and then headed to Read’s…a Michelin Star restaurant with rooms. It was so cozy. And the french macaroons and fun games made the rain romantic rather than wretched. [photos of the beach, Read's and our Room at right]

Getting back on the travel bus, we’re planning to travel to the Cotswolds for my triathlon 5 September, for a dose of Mediterranean sun in late September (and our first yet unvisited country of 2010…) and to see G’s parents in Barcelona come November. We’re also hoping to see the Gorillas in Uganda/Rwanda this year…but that’s all contingent on the political situation come November/December…we’ll see…

Though we certainly enjoy traveling, it’s been nice reinvesting in ‘Life in London’ this summer. It’s been a definite change of pace to our usual rapid fire travel appetite, but certainly a more sustainable pattern for the longer term. Maybe it is possible for us to stay in one place for longer than 4 weeks at a time, afterall.

In other news, G and I purchased a racing bike for my first triathlon last weekend. It’s a used Giant SCR 2.0. City roads kind of freak me out a bit, but I must soon get over my fears and take to the road. I have a helmet…and G’s old iPhone in tow…fingers crossed that the sunshine will hold!

Yesterday, we ventured over to the East of London for the Broadway Street Market and have decided that we’ll ride bikes down the canal from Camden next time we visit. It’s such a lovely little part of London–AND they have the absolute best cupcakes in London! Though two fit inside the palm of my hand, they’re packed with more punch than their full size counterparts. [Currently rushing our to buy fairy cake cups, a star tip and metallic beads to recreate these ]

Oh. And for anyone who has an ice cream maker…try Basil!!! It’s my favourite (had it at Arzak in San Sebastian). There are loads of recipes online, but since we don’t have a way to make it, G found a quirky ice cream place that makes it with liquid nitrogen within walking distance of our flat! Heaven!

[I'm still loving the Graffiti about London...the additional snaps here were taken along the Canal near Camden and Victoria Park]

Over the last month, we’ve had LOVELY weather in London. Knock wood, this has been the best summer of all since we moved here 4 years ago. So, over the last month we’ve made good use of the weather with:

• Picnics in the park (though most end up like the photo at right…poor G!)
• Theatre in Regent’s Park (the Crucible was a good show, I think)
• Running in the park
• …hmmm…perhaps we should just LIVE in the park : )
• Outdoor barbeques
• Seeing the Henley Regatta (photo at right…where I think we were the only people actually watching the competition )
• Drinks on the terrace rather than indoors
• Wimbledon, of course…

And, of course, my favoured ‘work setting’ is the Balcony (when I’m not at the British Library). But we’ve also had plenty World Cup events and craziness. It’s just such a phenomenon, it’s hard not to get stuck in.

Oh, and one last thing! G and I attended an event at Cass on Wednesday and then headed to a pub to watch the game (De vs Es). On our way to the Tube from the Pub, we saw another Banksy! I love Banksy…or most graffiti for that matter. Life just so much more fun with an unexpected splash of colour.

We hope you’re having a lovely Summer wherever you are…

Our strategy worked well. As usual we queued for tickets on the day. As you may recall last year we queued for a couple of hours. This year we chose the day England plays in the World Cup (currently they are winning 1-0!) hoping for a smaller crowd. Though the weather today is GORGEOUS, our plan appears to have worked because we waltzed right in shortly after noon and didn’t have to queue at all!

We’ve watched two matches so far and are taking a break with the obligatory strawberries and cream along with Pimm’s and lemonade.

G’s parents are always amazing hosts and this Spring they treated me to a few days seeing ‘another side’ of the DC that I had not previously experienced. I arrived via the Amtrak link from Lynchburg and I must say I was incredibly impressed. The train was on time, the commuters were upscale and the seats were HUGE and comfortable–especially as compared with their Indian and European counterparts (see photo at right).

During my few days in Annandale, we went for a walk with the ‘mall group’, visited multiple groceries (Wagaman’s, the big Wholefoods in Fairfax and the huge International market in Springfield) to see the amazing variety of international foods now on offer, tutored a Spanish-speaking child (actually she tutored me with my Spanish, but who’s counting ), had an impromptu tour of the Evermay House in Georgetown (well done Allan–not everyday one can have a private look inside a home worth $30m, see 3rd and 4th photo at right), visited the National Botantical Gardens (see second photo at right) and had countless amazing internationally-inspired meals both inside and outside the home.

Though America is physically isolated from other cultures, DC has attracted a diverse group of individuals who have brought a taste of the world to the town. Of course all of the above experiences were enjoyed, but also striking is the American suburban quality of life. G’s parents’ garden is a veritable Garden of Eden. Birds, herbs, vegetables, trees and flowers abound. So much greenlife is enough to make this girl envious. Well done with your green thumb.

Thank you for treating me to such an amazing time A&V!

After 4 years in London, our passion for updating the blog with happenings from our daily life has subsided. Instead, we generally blog only about our holidays. But as we’ve now used up the majority of our annual holiday leave as part of our trip to Spain, we thought a few ‘local’ updates may be appreciated.

Here are a few highlights for what the last 3 weeks have held for us:

-Resumed our weekly Spanish lessons in London

-Begun to practice our Spanish with an friend through a weekly ‘Spanish exchange’

-Dined in the Gherkin! See photos at right [THANK YOU, LOTTIE!!!]

-Made an Herb Garden on our balcony. See photos at right.

-K’s taking an elective course at her MBA school entitled ‘Managing a Professional Service Firm’ for the next month

-Thrown a Spanish-themed dinner party for friends at our flat

-K had her 3-year reunion at Cass Business School

We hope you’re also having a lovely summer wherever you are! And we’d love to hear what’s keeping you busy!

Early-on during our days in the UK, I focused very much on being homesick within my posts. But, the form that homesickness takes changes over time. At first, for me, I missed the frequency of visits with family. As time has passed, I now miss the depth of time spent. An extended visit this May, my longest uninterrupted period with my family since December 1999, was just the right medicine–though I’m sure the symptoms will recur.

My family bonds through working together. During my stay, I fed cows, petted (and fed) donkeys, climbed fences, helped to build fences, dug ditches and picked up rocks. But I also played games, went for ice cream, planted flowers, visited with the neighbors and extended family and just generally relaxed. I can’t think of a better bit of quality time with my family. And for this time, I’m very thankful.

It’s clear that my family bonds through hardwork, but it’s also good for my spirit to spend so much soaking up the sun (though perhaps a bit tougher on my skin ). I now feel renewed and clear of mind.

This new calm has allowed me the courage and clarity of mind to take on a number of new challenges:

• Starting my own company: acting as a marketing advisor for start-ups
• Running my first (sprint) triathlon: Stay tuned for the race results on 5 Sept (keep in mind that I’ll never be the fastest )
• Running my second half marathon: The Royal Parks in London this October

So, while I’ve returned to ‘reality’…it’s in a new form. For now, I’m free from the ‘butts in chairs’ corporate world.  I’m in the midst of completely reprogramming my daily routine after 10 years in the professional world. I’m finding that this transition has not and will not be easy as it’s such an incredible break from my sense of ‘normalcy’. But, looking ahead 6 months and 12 months, I like what I see. I like the ‘vision’ of myself that I may create if I’m tenacious and find a bit of luck along the way. Now, for the hard work…

Any prayers will be gladly accepted