Exercise Is Better With Friends. Training Week 2 And 3.

So, I missed last week's training update... that doesn't surprise me does it?!

So I've joined together week 2 & 3.

Week 2 saw me get back into the 9-5 life. Oh hello Dolly Parton...

This also means the commute and less time for cycling, or so I thought.

I made a deliberate effort to go out for a couple of rides. I fought 2 hills each ride. Well they were bridges, but quite steep!

I was, and still struggling with the diet side of training, but with some unexpected encouragement from a friend yesterday, I'm going to give it a go next week.

At the end of week 2 one of my good friends came over and we went out for a 5.5 mile ride, we went steady, my choice, and did it in about 45 minutes riding time, not too bad I guess.

What I did learn in week 2 was that exercise can be dull and boring, but only if you make it that way, and having a friend to exercise with makes it so much more enjoyable and bearable.

With the highs of Week 2 I hoped I was onto a winner, but then Week 3 came and everything went out of the window. I just lost ALL motivation and became a lazy slob for the week. I felt pretty low and I know those lovely little endorphins from exercise would have helped a lot.

I knew all week that I wouldn't be able to do the ride in September without training, but something in me just screamed NO! I'm not exercising, and I won't eat healthily!

I never realised how tough having this much a lifestyle change would be, but I'm determined to make small changes and get there.

As always I would love for you to donate to the ride. You can do this here.

Lydia
X

Family Selfies At The Pomeroy Inn

Yes, you did read that title right, my family took a selfie, and it was in a mirror, we are such 21st century people. Just kidding!

A few weeks ago my darling brother came home, and as this was the last time we'll be together for a least 3 months, we decided to go out. I have to apologise, I forgot to take my camera, so these are all iPhone photos, but the food's just too good not to share!

We went to the Pomeroy Inn which is just outside of Amersham, Buckinghamshire.

The pub/restaurant was full of people having lots of wine and delicious food, excited was an understatement.

With our tummies rumbling to the max we were shown to our table and looked at the menu.

There was such a wide range of pub classics.

We ordered and were drawn to the mirrors lining the wall.

The first selfie of my family. And probably the last.

 

When the food was brought out, I had to snap up some photos, but unfortunately, my family are not the best people to blog with. They just want to eat! So impatient..

My mum and I had the Hunter's Chicken, an absolute favourite of ours. I was most impressed with the amount of barbeque sauce there was as I usually have to ask for more. The Pomeroy earns itself an extra point for this!

Naomi had the Bacon Cheese burger, and it looked amazing.

Another burger was on the cards for my brother, but he is known to have eaten pretty much all meat than can be put into a burger. He settled for the Wild Boar & Chorizo Burger. Again, this looked so good and apparently it tasted good too!

While we all gulfed down our dinners, we caught up with each other, discussing unviersities, holidays and future plans.

The lovely waitress brought out the dessert menu.

 

Oh isn't it just so rustic!

Once again, my family quickly dug into their desserts so not many pictures!

My dad and brother each had a chocolate éclair. I think they were about a foot long and absolutely delicious.

I had the Pimm's Eton Mess. I am addicted to 2 drinks in the summer; Cider and Pimm's, so this was heaven!

 

Overall, we had a lovely evening, and with the pub just 30 miles out of Central London, it makes the perfect afternoon summer's escape.

Lydia

x

Training Week 1.

This is the start of a new feature/update thing I'm going to be doing on the blog for the next couple of months. 

If you read this post last week you'd know that I'm doing the London to Brighton Cycle in September, and I NEED to train.

So, I thought I'd share with you all how it's going.

This week, week 1, was a bit slow for me, I was busy with work so only got 2 half hour rides in. Each time doing about 2 miles. 

The thing that has stuck out for me this week is how difficult this training will be, I have not done exercise recently and, having broken my right leg last year, lost a lot of the muscle. This means that my leg is burning, and really hurting after about 10 minutes on a bike. I'm dreading spending 6 HOURS on one. 

I just hope that I get a bit less lazy. Not just cycling, but anything, I can do easy things like taking the stairs instead of the lift in my block of flats and I think I will.

I want to do this, not just for the charity, but for myself, to prove to everyone that just because you're fat, doesn't mean you have to be unfit. I guess I also want to have a deadline to lose weight for. I'm not saying you'll see my being a skinny size 10, but what I am at the moment is not healthy. 

A positive thing I'll say about the training is that; I'm loving the countryside any scenery that I get to go through, check this out; not bad for an afternoon ride heh?

I would love for you to sponsor my sister and I as we complete the challenge, all donations with go directly to Child Bereavement UK. 

Sponsor us HERE.

Lydia

x

Cycling London To Brighton.

So. This is happening.

I signed up to cycle 54 miles, in one go, from London to Brighton, with my baby sister, Beth. 

You may remember the post about last year's event here. Beth completed it in an amazing time, and I decided I wanted to join the challenge.

So on the 7th September 2014 I will be cycling from London to Brighton.

All 20+ Stone of unfit me.

 

As much as I'm excited for the challenge. I would not be doing this if it wasn't for the amazing work that Child Bereavement UK do.

Such as;

-Direct support for parents after the loss of a child

-Support for children suffering from bereavement

-Providing training for teachers, nurses & other professionals

-Providing media resources for families

Overall, a really well-deserving cause.

In the profession I am learning and heading into, I will experience death. Such an awful thing sometimes. And I cannot imagine how horrific it is to lose a child. So any help for families experiencing this are a blessing.

The organiser, doitforcharity, have so many helpful resources, and other challenges if cycling isn't you cup of tea.

 In the meantime, I am hoping to keep you all updated on the training I am doing going to start.

You can sponsor Beth and I here.

https://www.justgiving.com/LydiaBethCycling

Learn more about Child Bereavement UK here.

And contact me here.

Lydia

x

May's Musical Dozen

I know, it feels like a lifetime ago since I last did the musical dozen. I am trying to get organised, but that is difficult for an unorganised person to do.

So here it is, my favourite songs at the moment;

Mr Probz: Waves

Foxes: Holding Onto Heaven

Twin Atlantic: Heart And Soul

Indiana: Solo Dancing

Hozier: From Eden

Lorde: Tennis Court

Sigma: Nobody To Love

Dolly Parton: Jolene

Michael Jackson ft Justin Timberlake: Love Never Felt So Good

Sam Smith: Stay With Me

Charlie Simpson: Bullet

Aviicii: Addicted To You

Lydia

x

Tea in Grantchester.

A couple of weeks ago I was staying in Cambridge before the move back there next month. Over the weekend my sister joined me and wanted to explore!

I was more than happy to comply.

We went for a short drive and stopped at The Orchard Tea Gardens. The open-all-year garden filled with deck chairs and tables is somewhere I've wanted to visit since I started university in 2012. 

We both ordered the scones with clotted cream & strawberry jam.

I also bought the lemonade.

Delicious is an understatement.

Photos can't justify the size of the scones. They are honestly huge, which means you get more jam!

We debated both on the pronunciation of the word scone. The cone or con. I am a cone kind of gal by the way. And, of course, how you layer the jam and cream.  

Who knew a light lunch could be so intense?

Back to the food.

The scones were soft and delicate. 

Perfect.

We ate up then took a stroll around the gardens, joining in with some people watching.

My sister joined in with the photo-taking admiring the gorgeous blossom hanging from the trees.

 

I think I have found my new favourite place to open a book, and sink out of the real world, in any season.

I'll try to remember to take photos.

After filling up we went to do some shopping with a determination to return in the summer.

 

You should too.

Lydia

x

Breakfast Outings.

Now, it's fairly rare that I head out for breakfast, on my days off I am usually still in pyjamas at 11 o'clock in the morning. I am not breakfast material!

However, one day last week, my sister was able to coax me out of bed, into proper clothes and into Marlow.

We drove to the Continental Bakehouse, a new patisserie in the converted Hare and Hounds Pub just outside of Marlow.

When we arrived we were greeted with an open log fire and the morning sunshine in all it's glory reflecting on the daffodils in the windows. 

 In between watching the sun and the cars, we decided on what to eat.

The decision was a tricky one!

I decided on an egg & bacon sandwich in a brioche bun, orange juice to drink.

My sister had the rather delicious looking cheese & bacon croissant.

We soon tucked in and cought up with each other's lives. Even though we live together, it seems that we don't get enough time to get past "how was work?" 

The bun was slightly toasted, keeping the egg absolutely delicious.

I have to admit, I was very jealous of the croissant my sister had It was made even worse when she refused to give me any.

 

Needless to say both our plates were cleared rather quickly!

The inside of the building had been converted from the pub into the patisserie really well. It still has the country feel that I love in pubs, with the cleanliness and lightness of a fresh bakery.

Isn't it just lovely?

You can find their website here.

Lydia

x