Domestic goddess?

Well, although it's been a while, I'm happy to announce I can cross another task off my list! Yesterday I hosted afternoon tea for three of my best girlfriends, to show off my baking skills - and according to them, I passed the test! It's been fun feeding people - I've always loved hosting but there's something so homely about baking cakes and treats and trying new recipes out on willing volunteers (thanks guys!). I've no intention of stopping now I've ticked this one off (there's a rhubarb and ginger cake in the oven as I type...), but I have learnt quite a bit. My natural style is a bit haphazard, hence me wanting to tackle something that requires properly measuring things out and following a recipe to the letter. While I wouldn't say I've had 'disasters' as such, there have been times when they haven't turned out as I would have wanted, and knowing that the only reason that is the case is because I did something wrong has made me focus a lot harder on the process. Yesterday's menu was:

smoked salmon, cream cheese and cucumber sandwiches
parma ham and fig sandwiches
stilton and pear sandwiches
baby cheese scones with chive butter
pear and rhubarb tarts
carrot cupcakes with maple syrup frosting
pistachio macaroons

and of course, champagne! I will confess to burning the first lot of cheese scones, but the second batch were a hit. (sorry folks, at the moment I can't seem to upload a photo, but I do have the evidence, honestly!)

This week also saw me taking the photographs at a friend's wedding. A nerve-wracking experience, but also an enjoyable one, and as long as the results turn out to be up to scratch I'll be happy. Not that I'm going to charge the bride and groom for the shots, but I'm a bit closer to getting someone to buy an image from me...

Other progress has been slow - lots of things going on in life, but no excuse really. I have signed up to a Race for Life 5k and 10k, but sadly didn't get a place in the Royal Parks half marathon, so will have to find another one to do. I've done a bit of writing but not enough, so am going to go along to the Urban Writers Retreat to make sure I put aside time without distractions to focus on that (it looks great, would recommend any budding writers out there to check it out). And the knitting has stalled entirely, as my lovely instructor has had a holiday and illness over the last few weeks. I knew it would be spring before I finished the jumper!

Next up: sunrise from London Bridge, before the sun starts rising at ridiculous-o'clock!

At least she never walked...

...ok, a bit of a lie in my case, but an oft-repeated theme Haruki Murakami's lovely book 'What I talk about when I talk about running'. Partly philosophical, partly instructive and largely entertaining, I really enjoyed reading about someone elses' experience of running. I think it's fair to say I'm not a natural, and Murakami definitely is, so it's interesting to peer into another world, particularly one that is full of solid, dogged, determination - those of you that know me know I do walk.

This week has seen real progress on the running though, and I've certainly kept some of his thoughts in my head as I've been jogging round the park (or, on Thursday, to the garage to collect my car - imagine their delight when a bright red, gasping for breath and dripping with sweat person turns up at 8am!). I'm up to 30 minutes now, and I worked out that if I add 5 minutes a week to that I'll be up to 2 hours 30 mins by September, with the half marathon I want to do being in October. Sounds like a plan to me!

The baking is going well - note the photo of a raspberry cheesecake, which I made yesterday for a few friends who came round for dinner. Fabulously simple recipe, which followed an Asian pork & aubergine hotpot. I also made some almond cookies for a bake sale at work, but sadly forgot to take a photo...bit rubbish for someone who is supposed to be improving their photography!

On that subject, went along to the photographic portrait prize exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery on Friday night, with a friend whose skills far surpass mine (hi Peter!). Lovely to chat about things that inspire us, and I'm definitely building more time into my diary for practice - starting Tuesday with a day trip to Brighton. Keep an eye on Flickr for evidence.

2010: Bring it on!

So having ended 2009 on a high by completing my first task, I had every intention of dialling up a gear at the start of this new decade. After all, time is a-ticking and I'm not getting any younger. But the snow hampered the things I had planned. Excuses, excuses, I know! But it's hard to run when it's icy, cup cakes don't really seem the thing to have and while a big woolly jumper would have been ideal (still would!), various days off working from home meant factoring in a meeting with the knitting guru was just too hard.

But, I'm happy to report that three weeks on things are starting to happen. You will see by the pic that the knitting has started. I'm now on row 21. At this rate it will be well into spring before I wear it, but wear it I will! (for anyone interested this is what I'll be modelling at some point) I'm enjoying my evenings in front of some educational documentary with the needles clicking away, feeling all is well with the world (actually, in reality, the tv has to go off or I can't concentrate, and the clicking is...somewhat stilted! Still practice makes perfect - my current mantra!).

And I have now also been for my first run of the year. How depressing is it when you know you got to a stage that could actually be described as 'fit', only to take a few weeks (OK, months) off and be back at square one? However, the road to the half marathon will be a long and painful one, but it must start with a first step. Today I managed 21 minutes of running. And I reminded myself how much I can enjoy it. The weather was perfect (freezing and sunny) so I got to see Crystal Palace Park in all its glory. Lots of folks were going about their Sunday stroll (or jog, or skate, or cycle), and it's a nice way to feel part of a community. I like the smug feeling I get when I get home, and it's nice to feel like I've 'used' my body after so much lolling around. I did though remind myself of all the things that will get in the way of me achieving this task, or prevent me from enjoying it. And in no particular order they are:

- I will only enjoy going out at the weekends, which isn't enough for decent progression
- I will sign up for races before the big event, and then get so excited when I do them I will relax into a false sense of security
- I will spend a long time asking people with much more experience for tips, and then promptly ignore them because of course I know best
- I will 'let myself off' for good behaviour before reaching the target, as I have no discipline at all!

But hopefully recognising all that will at least go some way towards me finding ways to avoid it all. And if I'm going to be eating cupcakes all year the only motivation I should need is to avoid ending up like the side of a house!

Busking? Check!

Goodness me, time flies! December, as usual, was a whirl of social fun and wrapping paper, with possibly not enough time spent on 'the list'. However, I can finally say I have completed something! Yes, December 23rd saw me, a santa hat, my recorder and a merry band of ACCA carol singers standing in front of the Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square, playing to an audience of....well, none really. Apart from two commissioned photographers (thanks to Stuart and Sara). Who so far have failed to deliver photographs (but will do in January, so watch this space for evidence!). Stuart did throw me some spare change, so I can officially say I collected some money for charity, which went to a Big Issue seller on my way back to the office.

I have to say it was great fun - reminded me of years gone by when playing carols in shopping centres was a regular festive fixture. The playing wasn't quite as slick - a 30 year old plastic recorder is not the finest of instruments - but the carol singers did me proud (thanks to Sam, Maureen, Amrit and Shivani!). And the 8.5 minutes went very quickly. Pride was slightly dented by the overly-concerned mother dragging away her intrigued daughter, but overall a very enjoyable experience. So final thanks goes to Richard, whose idea this was in the first place - first mission accomplished!

Something that nearly made the list (suggested by Tori I believe) was volunteering for a charity. I didn't include it, as it's something I've been meaning to do for a long time, and was slightly ashamed I'd never found the time. But I signed up for a couple of shifts with Crisis Christmas this year, and having found it a great experience hope to make it an annual event at least. So another tick for me.

January will definitely see the jumper being knitted, juggling being practiced, headstand being progressed and cakes being baked (Father Christmas was very kind to me with cookbooks, cake tins and other paraphanalia, all of which will come in handy). Then I'll need to plan what will be next...2010 is going to be fun - happy new year everyone!

Help comes from unexpected sources...

On what turned out to be an unexpectedly lovely evening this week, I've possibly made my first steps to understanding eliptical orbits and their impact on the seasons! I stayed with sis #1 at friends of hers in Selly Oak on Tuesday, ahead of a funeral on Wednesday, which might explain the excessive consumption of JD. Or it might just be that the chap of the house is a big fan, and happened to be well stocked with caffeine-free coke - oh, the joy! Anyway, I digress....

Said chap was trailed as knowing everything I might want to know about science and religion, which turned out to be true. At least for a Tuesday in Birmingham. And with the help of a green rubber ball and an apple (with the stalk being the North Pole), I took steps towards understanding how it all works. Now I won't say my first steps - others have gone before, and my problem is always one of retention. Light bulb moments are common, but they fall out of my head. And so look out Stuart - on Sunday I'll attempt to relay my new-found knowledge and see if you understand too. And then we'll progress. Thanks Fishy!

On other subjects, me & Shaun are like 'this' (crossing of fingers going on here) now (see earlier post), after a second mention on the BBC Six Music breakfast show this morning - it was about porridge, prunes and cardigans, all subjects on which I'm an expert. So maybe I can invite him out soon...

And I now own juggling balls...and can drop them really really well! Aside from having two friends that have offered to teach me, I'm liking this site for being nice and simple. Watch this space for progress...

Just like riding a bike...!

Actually, I think I have probably been on a bike more recently than I have picked up my recorders. It must have been at least 15 years since I've played anything remotely musical (maracas don't count, I'm fairly sure!), and I have this afternoon utterly surprised myself by being not only able to play the notes but to even sight read a tune. Admittedly, only Christmas carols so far, but in a very recognisable fashion, apart from the recorder being a tad flat. I guess when things are drilled into us enough at a young age, we retain some level of competence (I was about 9 years old when I learnt to read music). I am excited though - so bring on the busking, which will be 11th December somewhere discreet in Trafalgar Square, if there is such a thing, with maybe a mince pie and a flask of mulled wine. I will need carol singers, so feel free to come along and witness me possibly officially crossing off the first thing on my list! Bring a camera...

Other contenders though are juggling, which I'm hoping to attempt this weekend coming (might take me a while though, my hand/eye coordination is notoriously bad), and the jumper, for which I have purchased the wool and the needles. Crochet and Christmas cards are where my creativity is being focused at the moment though, but it would be nice to have the jumper done before the spring arrives at least!

Other progress includes having Shaun Keaveny name check me on the BBC 6 Music breakfast show (so maybe I could arrange to buy him a drink sometime - it's either him or Clare Sweeney at the moment!), deciding my scrapbook could be an online one, with a little help from a friend, a little more work on the dolphin, and identifying a photography group that should help my skills and motivation there.

Areas I'm definitely slacking in are the running and the writing...still, there's plenty of time...

A good headstand starts with a dolphin

It's been a long while since I've been in a yoga class that teaches the headstand (sirhasana). For some reason it seems to be avoided generally in the UK - maybe it's to avoid the comedy factor of a room full of vaguely zen-like individuals toppling over onto each other, or maybe there's a litigous reason associated with the same scenario. Either way, I think the last time I seriously attempted it was in India in 2004. I have, maybe only once, achieved the delightful state of weightlessness that is supposed to come with a well balanced headstand, but if I recall correctly that was for maybe a second or two before a less-than-graceful wobble and a return to earth.

I'm not naturally a well-balanced person (I hear chuckling!), and any asana that requires balance is invariably frustrating for me. But with the headstand there is the added problem of my not having much upper body strength. And this is where the dolphin comes in, designed specifically as a preparatory posture to get those biceps, triceps and shoulders working. For the first time in a long time this morning I incorporated it into my yoga session. I'll await the resulting muscle ache with some trepidation!

There is a long list of benefits associated with inverted postures, and particularly the headstand, including: relieving anxiety; preventing asthma, hay fever and menopausal imbalance (I'm not quite there yet); rectifying glandular disorder; and other things to do with reversing gravity in the spine and the legs. All good reasons to persist methinks...I'll just need to remember that patience is a virtue.