Fitness.

Hmm. Fitness.

Somebody I won’t name convinced me to sign up to fitness classes. To be honest, I didn’t resist too much as I will be reaching 26 (too soon) and intend very much to keep smoking, boozing and eating as much as I was before without gaining any weight and while building myself a Goddess’ body.

Everybody has its dreams…

But those are not regular fitness classes, oh no! I’m talking Military Fitness!!

Yep.

British Military Fitness. Help..! I went to the first class on Wednesday evening. Today I still feel like I’ve been beaten up by a whole team of rugbymen.

The concept is fairly simple though: a military / ex-military instructor screaming orders and encouragements at about twenty people wearing blue numbers (blue because that’s the easiest level, the “unfit” level), sweating, running, rolling in the mud, doing press-ups, sit-ups, and loads of other very rude words I haven’t a clue what they mean.

Oh yeah, first thing first, half of the time I hadn’t a clue of what they were screaming at me. To my ear it sounded like barking. And to make matter worse, it was tough. Oh God it was so, so hard. I thought I was going to throw up, to die from a cardiac arrest, to fall on the ground and never get up again. But in the end I kept going apart from the occasional stitch and cramp, and you know what kept me running/jumping/rolling/crawling?

No. Not BF’s encouragements and advice…

Hatred. Pure HATRED. If I could have caught one of the two instructors (very, very unlikely to happen though), the thought of all the horrible things I could do to him/them made me go through the whole session. A good point, they know how to get the maximum out of somebody although I doubt my reaction is the standard one – I hope it is not anyway.

Results are there. I feel fitter! Well, at the very minute, I feel totally knackered, in pain, and even breathing is sore… but it was the first class. It can only get better from now!

Seriously now. It’s good. Even fun (yep!). And definitely worth a try. The classes take place outside, in our case at the Clapham Common, and it does make a nice change from stuffy gyms.

Everybody knows of the hassle of moving from an apartment to another… Well it’s a nightmare and I know no one who will not agree!

So we moved apartment – we found the old one too small and too expensive. I was in charge of finding the new place – being the one who wanted most to move out.

I found one: bigger and less expensive.

The new flat is a one bedroom flat in Balham, but still walking distance from clapham south, on the ground floor and with a decked garden! A bit shabby compared to the old one but bigger, brighter and… cheaper (a little)! ahah. It was worth the move.

I can’t wait to really settle and tidy everything and find new place for my stuff. The moving was epic though, it took us 2 days or more precisely 2 evenings as it was during the week and we were both working.

First evening was horrible. We kept arguing the whole evening and moving heavy bags from the old place to the new one walking and by bus… From 6 o’clock to 11 o’clock pm. Well I did most of the work because someone refused to carry too much heavy stuff…

Fortunately a friend was there to help on the second day and we met a very nice mini-cab driver who helped us carry all the boxes and move the big stuff (i.e. coffee table, book shelves, etc.) in his boot. Really nice guy!

So there it is – we were done with the moving and now the tidying was starting. I wanted to have as much as possible done before going to China, I was obviously completely deluded. I’ve now been back for 5 days and still live in a mess of bags and cardboard everywhere… I know! But I couldn’t be bothered to tidy the mess, I’m alone home, BF doesn’t cme back from Peru before the 1st May.

PS: I know the picture doesn’t have anything to do with the topic but I particularly like this view of London, picture I took myself…

I am gazing into the emptiness, this day is lasting forever! It’s Friday, 15h24, the phone has been silent for the last 5 hours and I have been looking at my spreadsheet for the last 3hours. The phone rang; it is one of the directors’ wife. I want to go home!

To keep myself busy and my hangover at bay, I’ve just started a small translation work: write a letter in French. Pfffiu I’m already exhausted at the thought of it. Today will never end.

I want to hear your opinion:

Yesterday Google and the launch of its new application, Google Street London, was making the headlines of every national newspaper.

Today it appears that some area of London will be blanked out over fears for privacy breach. Allegedly the face of a man walking out from a sex shop has been recognised.

What do you think? I personnally had quite a bit of fun trying to locate my sister’s apartment in Paris, but I guess wrong-doers can always find a much  dodgier use to this otherwise really cool application.

Please feel free to tell me what you think, I’ll put the results together and publish it in a next post.

Check out the link on bbc.co.uk: Google View snapshots of people’s everyday life and their surprise and comments at finding themselves on Google Street.

Posted in London Life ]]> http://somethingaboutlondon.wordpress.com/2009/03/20/new-google-streets-application/feed/ 2 LondonLady google http://somethingaboutlondon.wordpress.com/2009/01/29/new-year-new-things/ http://somethingaboutlondon.wordpress.com/2009/01/29/new-year-new-things/#comments Thu, 29 Jan 2009 15:47:07 +0000 LondonLady http://somethingaboutlondon.wordpress.com/?p=329 ]]>

I know 2009 has already started for 3 weeks or more, but yet it’s still time to wish everybody a very Happy New Year 2009!

So what’s different in 2009?

First of all, I didn’t get drunk on New Year’s Eve, and that is a sure sign of growing up. I did have a very nice evening though, amazing food, nice conversation, good wine, small presents to exchange – very adult, very pleasant. So why am I nostalgic of my boozy New Year’s Eves?? Is 2009 meant to be they year of maturity then? Who knows when it’s ones time to grow up.

Even though I am now working and supposed to be an expert at communications, while socialising, entertaining clients, or during meetings, I still find it very hard to shake off the shy teenager who is not allowed to interrupt the adults talking. I definitely don’t feel like one yet but again, what’s the definition of adulthood?

The first half of January was pretty tough, very depressing work-wise, money-wise and personal-wise. According to the newspapers that was a shared feeling among the UK population. It is always good to know you’re not the only one feeling crap!

And then it started getting better.

In January, my favourite activity is to start planning all my breaks and holidays ahead. I did quite a good job so far. In January you have the whole year ahead to plan romantic getaways, exotic holidays, to visit friends and new cities. Bath, South West of France, Beijing, Dublin?, Portugal?, Brittany – I need more ideas as I have more days to take. I am opened to any suggestions, especially sun destinations.
January is also the month when you take so-called “life-changing” decisions, such as: sign up to a gym, lose weight, take Italian classes, move house, write a book… some sensible, some very optimistic – anything to keep you going.

And then January is also when the Depression was first evoked – what a big word!! It is now on every body’s lips and even though we cannot say it came as a surprised! Recession / depression, abstract words with very tangible consequences. In the Telegraph last week: “Take a pay cut or lose your job!” is now a reality for numerous employees; unemployment rate in London is frightfully high and all we can do is just keep working, do the job as good as possible, bow the head and pray not to be laid off! Welcome to 2009 guys, and think what you will tell your children / grand-children when times are better – hopefully we are going to make it through, and build a stronger world, even fairer maybe!

I WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I finally came back safe from Switzerland last Wednesday and directly from City Airport to work.

Parenthesis: I absolutely loved flying to City Airport. It was my first time. Then we rode the DLR at the very front, just beside the “driver”, and that was even better.

On Thursday then was our office Christmas Party – sorry: Christmas Lunch although it started at 3.30pm. Well, let’s just say I came back home at 3.30am and called sick on the following morning. No need for more details: my Mum is reading this blog…

I spent a miserable Friday and felt very fragile until about 6pm… I watched TV: Arabesque, the show with Dick Van Dyke as a Doctor and his son as a Detective, Charmed (2 episodes!). I absolutely adore Arabesque, I used to watch it with my grandmother. And she probably still watches it! This and Morse.

Saturday morning I woke up much too early for a Saturday, to go Christmas shopping. It rained the whole day through, it was great! Streets and shops were relatively empty and this time nobody pushed me and/or called me names, which was a serious improvement. But then I had to get ready for the … Christmas Ball

Said like that it sounds great, doesn’t it?

First, BF had completely forgotten about it despite my numerous reminders - but big mistake not in the last three days before the event unfortunately, and he had also forgotten about a very little detail: he had to wear/rent a tux. So while I was trying to figure out if it was better for me to put the dress first (long dress!) or do my hair first and what about the make up, BF went to get his tux. Miraculously he got one.

But we’ve hardly sorted one problem that another one raises: is it really sensible to wear a long dress in the Tube? especially when we have an hour and a half journey and 2 changes? The answer is NO. And what about my hair and my make up?

Too much thinking, we were already late so I did my hair, I put on my make up and packed the dress in a bag – almost forgot the shoes by the way!

In the bag I probably had enough different stuff to face any more alea. I had a hair brush with loads of hair-clips and hair bands and hairspray for hair emergency. I also had my complete pouch of make up: mascara, black and brown pencil, 3 types of brown eye shadows for make up emergency. I also had a toothbrush and deodorant. I was prepared

Obviously I didn’t use any of these, everything was perfect, the evening was perfect.

Before finishing up this third – and last chapter (for the moment only) of the story of my life I would like to submit a petition: everybody who wants to enforce the wearing of tuxedo for men at random occasions, please leave a comment. I vote for the tuxedo being mandatory at least once a month!!

Thank you.

And I am not ashamed of revealing it – almost not ashamed, just a little bit really:  Strictly Come Dancing!!

It as been nearly a month I’ve started drafting this post and since then my addiction has grown. I now watch “It Takes Two” every day, the Saturday show and the Sunday votes result. I was extremely disappointed of having missed it while in Dublin, and then last week for the semi final.. Well I got over it, thanks God, but had to catch up reading all the blogs and websites dedicated to the show.

I don’t know what it is: the dresses, the music, the dancing, Bruce’s jokes, Austin Healy?

Austin was my favourite from the beginning, all those muscles, and the very revealing costumes he was wearing, the hip moves, everything. Hmm tough…

Now he’s gone, I don’t know who to support any more. I like Tom Chambers,  he is funny and witty and definitly love Camilla, she’s great, and her choreographies are amazing. Rachel Stevens..? Being a girl I find her quite annoying, she’s too perfect: perfect small body, perfect face, perfect dancing, that just shouldn’t be allowed! And then we have Lisa. After all she’s dated George Clooney, and it is a good reason to support her.

I’m even talking about those people as I know them personally… How pathetic is that?

Last time I was that addicted to a reality show programme it was the first season of Star Academy – a kind of mix between Big Brother and the X Factor located in a Castle in Greater Paris, it’s great! And it was about…. 7 years ago!!

I know, I am not growing up, am I?!

Edit: Quick announcement for anybody trying to reach me on Saturday, my mobile will be switched off from 6pm. It’s the Final!

Edit 2: the final was amazing!!! Tom’s performance made me wanna jump and clap my hands all way through and I wimped like a baby when he eventually got the trophee. Very good night.

I’ve started the evening supporting Lisa, she’s an amazing dancer and I think she really deserved to win!! But then when she was kicked out of the final 2, I was completely behind Tom and Camilla, they put a realy really good show!!

Part of my new job is knowing as much as possible – if not everything, about skiing and snowboarding. I realise it has been a month since the event actually happen, so not really “newsworthy” but still worth having a look!

So I went to the London Freeze in Battersea power station, and for those who don’t know what I’m talking about, please click here, and took a couple of shots. Here they are, quite spectacular, and I’m not only talking about the blue sky!

Some people might doubt those have actually been taken in London, but I swear they were and it was absolutely freezing this day.

And I personally think they are great

I certify the ownership of this one. – this one for my Sis, which I love and apologise to for “publishing” her Crêpe recipe.

For the absolute beginners a “quiche” is made of two parts: the base and the stuffing.

PART 1: THE BASE

To get the base you have two solutions, you buy it or you make it. I personally make it. It usually takes me 10min maximum to put together.

You need:

- 250g of flour

- 80g of water (useful reminder: 1g = 1cL)

_ 70 g of oil (olive oil preferred)

- salt

You put the flour in a bowl and pour over water, oil and salt and mix the lot together. You can then use your hands to finish the mixing and make a perfect ball. You have to flatten the ball with a rolling pin to obtain a 5mm wide base. Finally you place the base in a buttered mould.

In the mean time you would have started to prepare the “stuffing” which leads us to

PART 2: THE REST

You need:

- 3 green peppers

- 75g oignons

- olive oil

- 200g of bacon

- 3 eggs

- 10cL of fresh cream / sour cream works as well

- salt and pepper

- 50g of grated gruyère / it also works with mild cheddar

Preparation:

Put the base in a mould already greased with butter.

Wash the green peppers and take the seeds off, cut them in thin slices

Peel the onions and cut them in very thin slices

Put the cut onions and peppers in a fry pan with a little bit of olive oil and make them melt

Take the onions from the fry pan and replace them with the bacon

Place the vegetables and the bacon on the base et pour over the fresh cream mixed with the eggs, salt and pepper

Put the grated cheese at the top and place the quiche in the oven for 30min, Th6 / 180°C

Don’t forget to pre heat the oven: 15min, Th 6 / 180°C

Here you go it’s ready and delicious served with a green salad!

Here is what it looks like just out of the oven

Bon appetit!