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vampyresheepBy some miracle, we've had two sunny May bank holiday weekends in London! Albeit a bit stormy this time, but I was determined to make the most of the weather.
I was eager to go for a swim (outdoors of course!), so got up early on Saturday morning to catch the morning session at Parliament Hill Lido. At 17C, the water was still a bit "fresh" and I'm finding it a frustrating challenge to persist with front crawl in cold water (was doing so well over the winter in a heated pool but just can't get the breathing right in cold water) but it was beautiful once I got used to it. Such a special place to be and the other swimmers are mostly lovely too, there was so much concern over my bruised knee with suggestions on swimming exercises I could do to help.
I couldn't persuade Rob out of bed to swim with me but maybe this photo of my yummy "fruit" tart that I had afterwards might help for next time!
yep, its chocolate chips, not fruit but it was surrounded by fruit tarts and I could have sworn this was some sort of berry when I picked it. :-)
Went back home to meet Rob and we headed into London for the Feria de Londres on the South Bank. My Spanish tutor had suggested it and coincidentally, found out that a friend was actually the organiser of the flamenco sessions and workshops, so we decided to check it out to see her dance.
It was a lovely, friendly event, albeit very crowded and I suffered terribly from plane tree hayfever. But we watched some flamenco, drank rebujitos (a sherry spritzer with mint, very refreshing) and ate delicious burritos.
got some free non-alcoholic booze! Its actually quite nice, if a little disconcertingly pea flavour, somewhat gin-like.
dressed for summer. :-)
Watching Angela give a flamenco demonstration to start the event.
Children's dance workshops, very sweet to watch, particularly all the girls who turned up in the flamenco dresses they'd had bought for them on holidays in Spain!
unfortunately the hayfever was getting to me so we went for a walk away from the trees and discovered the London beach! I can't believe that after 24 years in London, I've never experienced this before. It was a proper beach, with sand and everything! So peaceful down there, compared to the crowds on the South Bank, I could have stayed all day.
had to go for a paddle!
I'd booked for a free sherry workshop, so went back up for that whilst Rob found somewhere to sit down with a mango smoothie
got to try 5 sherries, ranging from surprisingly dry through to sweet as syrup - I preferred the syrupy ones of course, as the dry ones were to much like wine.
The day was drawing to a close, so we decided to finish off the day with a crepe at Gabriels Wharf next door. Rather nice and very cheap crepes, definately to bear in mind next time we're in the area.
I was eager to go for a swim (outdoors of course!), so got up early on Saturday morning to catch the morning session at Parliament Hill Lido. At 17C, the water was still a bit "fresh" and I'm finding it a frustrating challenge to persist with front crawl in cold water (was doing so well over the winter in a heated pool but just can't get the breathing right in cold water) but it was beautiful once I got used to it. Such a special place to be and the other swimmers are mostly lovely too, there was so much concern over my bruised knee with suggestions on swimming exercises I could do to help.
I couldn't persuade Rob out of bed to swim with me but maybe this photo of my yummy "fruit" tart that I had afterwards might help for next time!
yep, its chocolate chips, not fruit but it was surrounded by fruit tarts and I could have sworn this was some sort of berry when I picked it. :-)
Went back home to meet Rob and we headed into London for the Feria de Londres on the South Bank. My Spanish tutor had suggested it and coincidentally, found out that a friend was actually the organiser of the flamenco sessions and workshops, so we decided to check it out to see her dance.
It was a lovely, friendly event, albeit very crowded and I suffered terribly from plane tree hayfever. But we watched some flamenco, drank rebujitos (a sherry spritzer with mint, very refreshing) and ate delicious burritos.
got some free non-alcoholic booze! Its actually quite nice, if a little disconcertingly pea flavour, somewhat gin-like.
dressed for summer. :-)
Watching Angela give a flamenco demonstration to start the event.
Children's dance workshops, very sweet to watch, particularly all the girls who turned up in the flamenco dresses they'd had bought for them on holidays in Spain!
unfortunately the hayfever was getting to me so we went for a walk away from the trees and discovered the London beach! I can't believe that after 24 years in London, I've never experienced this before. It was a proper beach, with sand and everything! So peaceful down there, compared to the crowds on the South Bank, I could have stayed all day.
had to go for a paddle!
I'd booked for a free sherry workshop, so went back up for that whilst Rob found somewhere to sit down with a mango smoothie
got to try 5 sherries, ranging from surprisingly dry through to sweet as syrup - I preferred the syrupy ones of course, as the dry ones were to much like wine.
The day was drawing to a close, so we decided to finish off the day with a crepe at Gabriels Wharf next door. Rather nice and very cheap crepes, definately to bear in mind next time we're in the area.