Adventures in London: New Year's Resolutions

I just came back from my last run in 2008 in the warm 30 degree fahrenheit weather. When it comes to running, I would love to say that I ended the year on a high note , but I cannot say that completely. Granted I am in better shape than I was in this time last year. All that said, in general I feel list I ended 2008 with a strong kick. Today's 5K run, however was just what my heart, body and soul needed to prepare for 2009! 

While running today, I reflected on 2008 and started thinking about hopes for 2009.  2008 was all about "Taking Chances" and you can definitely say that I certainly did. I took my chance, I started my adventure and now 2009 will about "Slow[ing] Me Down" before my life flies by. If you were to ask me what 2009 is going to be about - I can sum it up in one word - BALANCE! This year is all about balanced life, balanced nutrition, balance mindset, balanced training for the marathon.  It will be about training smarter - sounds simple, but this is the one area that I am anything, but smart about. I need to start listening to MY body and learn MY limits and not try to follow the programs of the people around me. 

With that, here are my top 10 resolutions for 2009...

1. Log no less than 25 running equivalent miles a week (going to the gym at least 3x a week) - this goal will increase and adjust as the year unfolds
   
2. Complete reading 12 new books - good thing I have the next 4 already lined up thanks to my family and Santa
3. See my family at least once a week (via Skype of course)
4. Continue to expand my cooking ability - adding hopefully 3-4 more dishes to the rotation
5. Add 2 new country stamps to my VALID passport
6. Take a photography class
7. Read a book in french (and not the easy French reader)
8. Run a sub-2hr half marathon 
9. Be able to look back on the 26.2 miles of NYC marathon as an experience of a lifetime - a unique way to tour all 5 boroughs of NY. Have the hope of crossing the finish line in under 4 hours (3h45 to be exact), but am going to try to avoid making this a goal as I do not want to look back at NYC as a disappointment. I don't want to feel like I failed, rather I want to be proud that I was able to run a marathon despite what the doctors said. 
10. I cannot say what my last one is, but some of you (PR this is especially for you) know what it is....

Happy New Year everyone! May this year be filled with grand adventures, treasured friends and a lifetime of memories!

xx

T

Adventures in London: Issue 23

I am taking a break between helpings of cous cous to write this, so needless to say - I am quite keen to have a second serving. I have thoroughly enjoyed this week in London with Mom. It has been an utter pleasure to tour and see the city with Mom by my side. 

This week kicked off with a dinner party with my friend and his family. Home cooked curry was on the menu and boy did we eat! Mom prepared a full indian feast of chicken curry, rajma, paratha, rice, raitu, bataka shak, and baigan burtha. I did my part and made some cheese canapes (my speciality) and papadams. 

I was so pleased to have SS and his family over. Last time SS came to my place it was to eat pizza and drink mararitas on the floor of my NYC apartment. It was nice to actually have him and his family over for dinner. Truth be told, they have become my family here in London and have been there every step of the way; I stayed with them before I moved, they were there the day I moved to London and they have been there for me on weekends while I struggled to find my way.

On Tuesday, I took Mom to Oxford Street for some good ole holiday shopping. For the first time this season, it actually felt like Christmas in London. All the stores were decorated in Christmas lights and the streets were PACKED (and you know how much I love crowds) with shoppers and bags :-( 

Mom enjoyed herself in the department stores of Selfridges, John Lewis and House of Fraser. They can only be described as the Macy's on 34th street in NYC, but with a gourmet food shop on the ground floor. We did a bit of shopping, but had to call it a night as the crowds were starting to get to me and I could not stand being around people any minute longer. 

On Christmas Eve, I took Mom for a tour of Clapham - showed her where I was planning on living (happy to report, she approved of my choice not to live there), the commons, Clapham Old Town and some of the local restaurants. Then we hurried home to get ready for our date with Bond... James Bond! While drinking mulled wine and sitting in velvet seat of the picture house, we watched QoS! 

For my first Christmas in London,  Mom and I had a relaxing day at home (not really out of choice, but because the tube was closed and we were unable to travel into London). We started the morning with me making pancakes (or what we would call crepes since they have no idea what buttermilk pancakes are). For lunch, we went to a Belgian restaurant for mussels and strawberry beer. For dinner, Mom and I cooked a British Christmas dinner with sprouts, yorkshire pudding, bread sauce, cranberry sauce and homemade mulled wine. It was a quite Christmas, but it was just perfect. HOLD! I take that back! It was missing 3 key details... it would have been perfect if Bhai, Jamila and my dear Kadin were here too (suppose we will have to do Christmas in June when they come to visit). Guess if I was truly nice and not at all naughty, then Santa would have brought them over to London for the holidays. 

On Boxing Day (26 Dec), Mom and I went into London to see the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace. From there, since the temperature was rather cold, we altered plans and took a detour through SoHo and Regent street for some retail therapy. I was content taking photos of the decorations and the streets rather than shopping, but I was easily convinced to buy some sweaters. 

Since the weather started to warm up a bit (went from 0 degree centigrade to 2 degrees centigrade), we made our way through Picadilly Circus to Hyde Park for Winter Wonderland. Hyde Park had been transformed into a German style Christmas market with a Bavarian village style houses serving sausages, dutch pancakes, and of course mulled wine. They had an ice staking rink, a carousel, a roller coaster and a sleigh ride, but we opted not to do any of the attractions as once the sunset so did the temperature.  It had been a long day, so we went home for some chicken Thai curry made by yours truly. 

I should have known that Mom was not feeling well after she had 3 normal size servings of dinner that night. The next morning, Mom woke up with a typical London cold - cough, lost voice and achy bones. It dawned upon me while I saw mom curled up with my Red Sox blanket on the sofa that I had planned a too hectic of an agenda for her with too many outdoor activities in the cold and windy London weather. After a day of rest and plenty of ginger tea, Mom got all bundled up and went exploring to Covent Gardens and the National Theatre today.  She does not have her voice fully back, but she is managing to talk...nothing can ever prevent that ;-)  (she did not like me saying that)

Well, my tummy is eager for more cous cous. I had another story to tell you, but guess that will have to wait for another time. 

Hope you all had a lovely Christmas break with your family! Do tell - who was nice? And more importantly who was naughty?! 

Adventures in London: Issue 22

They say that is not about the destination, but the journey that matters. Well, in this case I would like to disagree. For me this week, it has not been about Monday-Friday, but rather the last couple of days. Thursday morning, I went to Heathrow airport to collect my dear pocket sized mom! It was a rather surreal moment. I had been planning this trip...well since the moment I landed in the UK and here I was 5 months later finally picking her up from the airport. It was the last piece to the puzzle, finally the move would settle in. This move was the first time I truly did something on my own, so to say I was nervous about Mom seeing the flat, neighborhood, London is an understatement. I am happy to say that she was pleased with my choice - granted the flat was "smaller than expected", but just right for one person. 

After getting mom settled (and giving her the wrong guidance to re-entering my complex), I went into the office to attend my first Mindshare WW holiday lunch. Since I was unable to fully enjoy the WW holiday party, I was looking forward to this luncheon. It was a lovely afternoon away from the office filled with wine, pizza, PS2 Sing Star, and secret santa.  It is a great concept that they have here and I am glad that we all had some time away from the office to laugh, sing and hangout. Despite the fun time that I was having, I must admit - I was rather keen to head home :-) Later that evening, after coming home (in a well hydrated state) mom and I had a low-key evening as 1) she had just taken the red-eye and 2) it was a work night. We simply had some Thai take-a-way from a local pub. 

Friday, Mom travelled into London to take me out to lunch. Since it was my last day in the office for the year, I had to return to finish up some paperwork. After the workday, a few of us tried to go to Gordon's for wine and cheese. As our luck would have it, they were packed. Actually luck has nothing to do with it. Like the Monday night movies in Bryant Park, if you want a table, you have to go there at 3:00p.  We tried a couple of other bars, but given the holiday and festive season, they were all standing room only. Thus we went back to the good ole "brain drain" and joined some fellow Mindshare friends for wine and crisp. What was supposed to be a couple of glasses of wine turned into a couple of bottles. Once we were finished with there, we travelled across Waterloo bridge and walked around the Southbank German Style Christmas market. I introduced Mom to the beauty of Gluhwein, we ate our Bratwurst, and we shopped along along the Queen's Walk on the Thames. 

Saturday, as I am sure you all can guess, I took Mom to wonders of Borough market for coffee, Raclette, mulled wine, cheese, oysters, pastries, and lychees (clearly the last one was for mom,not me). I had initially planned a full tour around that neighborhood of the churches, monuments, and temples, but the beauty of Borough could not tear us away. Honestly it was bad planning on my part - should have not planned anything else when Borough was on the agenda. That said, Mom and I did have a night walk around the area. From Borough, we walked to Tower Bridge, along Tower Hill (again missing the last entry by a few minutes), 

and then made our way to St. Paul's Cathedral. This time, however, we were able to go inside and see one of the masses going on. The inside of that Cathedral is utterly breathtaking. I am so very glad that I was able to witness the beauty of the church and even more pleased that I did so with Mom.

On our way to dinner, we made a stop at the Somerset House on the Strand. We were unable to go to the market, but we did manage to have some Tiffany & Co mulled wine for our walk to Covent Gardens. We were going to walk around a bit more, but after walking for nearly 4 hours the hunger pains started to kick in. Thus, we took a bike rickshaw to Chinatown (tee hee hee) for some xiao long bao (soup dumplings), sticky rice, and crisy duck at Leong's Legend. I am happy to report that unlike the last time I went, I definitely did not leave hungry. 

Today, Mom and I travelled to zone 4 to Ealing Road which can only be described as a tasting of Bombay in London. The groceries were definitely much better than Curry Hill in NYC, but I will admit that I do miss Tiffinwala and Pongal. Have yet to find my own version on this side of the pond. 

Well, I am off. It is late and my bed is calling (or maybe that is Mom - who knows). 

In case I do not speak with you. Happy Chanukah, Happy Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa and Happy Winter Solstice (hope I did not leave anything out). 

Miss you all!

xx

T

Adventures in London: Issue 21

In comparison to last week, this week has been rather low key. Fortunately I did not need my passport to travel anywhere and thus no encounters with airport security. Sadly no running tours around London (as my legs  still do not like me). This week has been about wrapping up 2008 and getting ready for 2009.  I am looking forward to 2009 and what it has in store. In the last 5 months that I have been living here, I have noticed subtle changes as I have learned to adapt to the new culture around me. Below is a sample list...

• I have let my taxi days go and now travel via the tube from destination to destination - not only is it the cheaper way to travel, it forces me to come home at a reasonable hour (like Boston, tubes close at midnight)
• Rather than paying $80 a month for others to work out, I actually work the body beautiful (well excluding this week)
• I have learned to live in a world without seamlessweb - well it is not a city without, it is here, but I am avoiding opening Pandora's box
• I have learned what it feels to arrive at work before 0930 and leave before 1830! (guess I should also add that when typing I have also adapted the 24hr clock since everything is formatted like this). 
• You don't have to hold a dinner party or Superbowl to use your stove - sometimes a dinner for 1 is the perfect excuse to cook. 
• Girls Aloud is UK's PCD where all band members sing - fashion is still the same, tunes are  similar, but dancing is not up to par to PCD
• Unpasteurized milk makes a HUGE difference when making cheese - and honestly that is how cheese should be made
• Tipping is optional, especially when ordering at a bar (unless you are being served) If service is not included then tipping 10-15% on a bill is acceptable practice. 
• Holidays (aka vacation days) are meant to be taken!

Contrary to the assumption that by moving to London, I would only have more vacation days that would go unused - I am happy to report that I have used all my allocated days for 2008. And for 2009, I have already allocated 14 of my 23 days!! Impressive huh?!? So where exactly am I off to...well let's see! In February I am off to West Virginia for a long weekend (about 90% sure I am going on this trip). In March I am off to Austria for 10 days. And then in May I am off to St. Thomas for my "little" sister's wedding.  March will be an exciting month as not only do I have my Austria trip and my half marathon, but my dear friends from NYC will be visiting.I am so very looking forward to their visit. They are probably some of my older friends that I have. Known KU for 11+ years know and her husband for 5 years. I don't have many people left in my life that I can say that I date that far back with. Re-connected with a few friends that I have known since I was 12 which has been lovely. Post high-school, we did a fair job of keeping in touch, but while I was in grad school we re-connected again. I owe her really for my job at the NYS comptroller's office. And now, 6000 miles apart we have connected again. Some people will always be in your life - no matter.

Back to the adventures in London. Friday night, I hosted my first house party. Come to think of it, I think it was my first house party all together - not counting Superbowl. 13 people filled my little flat in Clapham for a Champagne and Cheese party - where everyone brought their favorite champagne and cheese and we did a tasting.  We definitely had more than enough cheese - in fact I think I can open a little shop with all the leftover cheese in the fridge.  I probably could have avoided making cheese canapes, but you know me - any chance to purchase cheese and I am there. (Sorry Ma champers and wine was thoroughly finished, but I will be sure to get you more for your visit! Which is in 4 days!!!)

Other than that, I have been brushing up on my french.. On Friday I was asked to recite from my french book. Think I did a fair job, but definitely need to work on pronunciation. Good thing my Parisan friends were there to help me out. They suggested that the best way to learn french was to date a french guy. Perhaps after learning french perhaps I should learn italian, celtic, spanish :-)

Have a fun last of week of work all!! The next time we speak I will be officially on break for 2 weeks!!

xx

T

Adventures in London: Issue 20

Oh deary me, what a week it has been!!! If I was looking for an adventure, this week has certainly been one. I have learned 3 key lessons this week

1. Listen to your body, not numbers

2. Throw away your old passport

3. Things always work out

Let's start at the top...

Last week I was a bit under the weather, but the OCD side of me was still determined to work out. Wednesday I spent the evening re-engineering my training schedule for the half marathon in March and the marathon in November. I really should just be focusing on finishing and perhaps having the goal of running the entire race. Instead, I got it in my head that I want to run it in 3h45mins so I could guarantee a spot in the 2010 London marathon. It did not seem too unreasonable. I have just about a year to focus on building up endurance and work on speed. On Thursday, against my better judgement, I went to the gym. Despite coming down with a cold and having tight leg muscles from Tuesday, I thought I could work the body beautiful. I should have known after the pain I felt after taking my first step to stop, but I continued. I barely made it 10 minutes before I had to jump off the treadmill as I could not stand the pain that radiated from my left ankle up through my ankle to my hip joint. Almost a week later and I am still in pain. Should have listened to my body when I felt tight, but purely focusing on the numbers has cost me a couple of weeks of training :-(

On the bright side of things - I was scheduled to fly to Vienna the next morning so I could be forced to give my legs some rest. "Scheduled" there being the operative word. We arrived at the airport at 0430 and at approximately 0500, I realized that I brought the wrong passport (I remembered to leave the ones with the fake ones at home, but did pack the one that was EXPIRED!!!). Against our better judgement, we thought we would see if we could still make this work - scary, but we were able to check-in, and pass through security. It was when I tried to border the plane that they flagged me. I was promptly de-bordered from the plane and ordered to go back to ticketing to get on the wait list for the next flight. Easier said than done. In order to get back to ticketing, I had to pass through Border Control - see where I am going with this?! I tried to explain to the officer what had happened, but they were quite keen on detaining me. I was detained in airport security for 30 minutes while they tired to sort our what to do with me - how do you allow a person back into the country that does not have a valid passport? Where do you send them? Do they go back where they came from (irony being the country I was tried to get back into) or do you send them back to where their illegal passport is from?

Thankfully I was let back into the country!!! I was, however, forced to purchase another full ticket to Vienna (joy to UK policies that if you do not take the outbound flight of a ticket, your inbound flight is void). I figured since I had a ticket for Vienna via Zurich departing in the evening that I would swing through Hollywood. At least I did not need a passport to go there!

The Mindshare WW holiday party was a fancy dress party with an Oscars theme - so the rule was anything Hollywood. Since I had to go home to get my passport, I decided to grab a dress too. I was glad that I was able to crash the holiday party! It was good to see everyone in their fancy dress and outside of the 4th floor of 40 Strand. After eating (some of) a fine Oscar meal, it was back to the airport! I cut my timing a bit close so I ALMOST had to travel in the dress. Thankfully, someone was looking over me and figured I had gone through enough so I was able to change just before boarding the plane.

I arrived in Vienna around 10:30p, just in time to make last order at Plachutta (we did not intend to go here, but after trying a dozen restaurants before, we were quite pleased to discover this). The meal was amazing - I wish I got the dish with the bone marrow and the boiled beef, but I went another traditional route and got the famous wiener schnitzel.

Since I only had one day in Vienna we had to make the most of it. Vienna is a lovely city. The old Europe feel reminds me a bit of Paris. The architecture and overall feel of the city is quite the contrast to London and especially NYC. Although I will say that unlike London, Vienna knows how to do Christmas. The city was overtaken by Christmas markets filled with ornaments, candles, candy, sweets and plenty of GLUHWEIN!! We went to a number of markets including the Christkindlmarkts at the Rathausplatz, and the Schonbrunn Palace.

In addition to visiting the markets we also managed to see...Belvedere Palace, Museum Quarters, Hofburg, Ringstrasse (Parliment), amongst other sites that I have not idea what they were. I am glad that I made it to Vienna and was able to spend a day exploring and photographing the city. Xavier, Nikki and Mini had a blast in the city. (photos from their exploration can be found on my Facebook account).

I cannot believe that the end of the year is a couple of weeks away!! A part of me cannot wait to start 2009, but there is another side that wishes I had a little more time 2008 (probably because I have a very long to-do list at work for the end of the year). I am looking forward to next week (w/c 15 Dec) as my mom will be arriving that Thursday. I am really looking forward to her visit. I have a jam packed agenda of sites, attractions, dinner and parties for us. While planning the agenda for her visit I realised that it has been years since we got to spend 18 days just the two of us :-)

With that - I am off to get some sleep.

Adventures in London: Issues 10-19

Hi All

Here is the recap video from the past 10 weeks. I hope you enjoy the video. The song is interesting, but I could not find another one in my collection that I liked. The song is by Luciana Souza. She is a Brazilian jazz singer and composer. After seeing her, Morley and Carmen Consoli perform in Central Park, I immediately bought the album. If you like jazz and are looking for something new - I highly suggest checking her album out. Also highly recommend Carmen Consoli. I ideally wanted to use one of her songs, but given that I do not speak Italian, I did not want to use an inappropriate song.

Anyway, this was not meant to be a music review. Hope you enjoy the video.