weddings and a honeymoon… part 2

We postponed our honeymoon til February and decided that we should go to the Maldives after celebrating Sarah and Graham’s wedding in Sri Lanka (we also had issues with waiting for passports to come back, so our original plan to go to India after Sri Lanka was replaced by the honeymoon – not a bad thing!).

After a 9hour and 50 minute flight, we arrived in Colombo and took a drive to the hotel in Mount Lavinia.  Not being used to the heat, I did not enjoy the drive and was happy once we got there to meet up with the 60 other people.  The hotel was really nice – pool, food and beach!!  I think everyone got sick at least once at some point during the week (I’m still not recovered – giving it a week and then I’ll go see the doctor about the stomach issues), but Sarah was spared – thank goodness!

The sea was a bit rough when we were there – I’ve never felt a current that strong until we went to the Maldives and Adam had to push me forward because the current was taking me away!  We had a great time celebrating the wedding and spending time with friends on the beach and by the pool.  I fell in love with hoppers (and now regret not taking a picture of them) – rice batter cooked like a pancake and an egg in the middle – DELICIOUS!

weddings and honeymoon… part 1

Since the last post, a few things have happened: 2 weddings and a honeymoon! Adam and I got married in November in small-ish ceremony in Bristol in the registry office followed by a delicious meal and fun dancing at the Riverstation.  

 

 

 

End of Week 4 – love summer colds

This week the summer cold decided to take hold of my training. Monday I ran 5km, Tuesday I slept most of the day, Wednesday I somehow made it to the pool and swam for 20 mins – albeit incredibly slowly and not very many laps (I also forgot my towel and dried off with a t-shirt), Thursday I biked for 50 mins (I forgot my socks and my watch), Friday I took a rest day, Saturday I ran for 45 mins, and Sunday I took off.  It was a week of forgetfulness and feeling ill.  BUT: I managed to get 4 workout sessions in.

This week:

Monday: Swam 40 mins (1.1km ish)

Tuesday: Bike 50 mins (might attempt 60, but not sure!)

Wednesday: off

Thursday: Run 30 mins

Friday: Bike 50 mins

Saturday: walking in Bristol!

Sunday: Bike/run.

I have 8 more weeks of training.  When I’m in Canada, I’m looking forward to going on an actual bike. A friend has offered his bike for training in London, but the traffic is just too mental for me.  I’ll continue to complain about gym bikes for the remainder of July!

since mallorca…

Since the marathon, I’ve done a few things… mostly not run!  I’ve gone on two runs in the past month (ish).  Both of them were great!  One was a 3 miler, the other was maybe 5 (or maybe less… I don’t know!)  I do know that I’m missing two toenails, but they are growing back (sorry if that grosses you out!).  I set up my bike on my indoor-trainer and have gone on it a couple times while watching Sex in the City on the TV.  It is much different to cycle indoors than it is to run outdoors!  It gets so dark out here that cycling indoors seems to be my “winter” option. It might also get me in shape for a tri (or perhaps a week-long cycle trip in Thailand?)

The week after the marathon, I went to Leamington for a conference for work.  Dad met me there and we were able to spend a great week together.  He was able to go check out Warwick Castle while I was busy discussing some hot topics with colleagues!  We made our way back up to Harrogate, and I think he was a bit terrified in the car.  Every time we neared a roundabout, he would grip the door handle!  On the Sunday, we made our way down to London to watch the NFL game at Wembley!  Our first NFL game live – we were hoping for a good one, and we got … well… the Pats won!  We got bored by the end and willed it to end!  We made our way back to the hotel with the 85,000 people who were in attendance!  Craziness!

After that visit, Halloween crept up!  I got creative on the day and found some cobwebs to wrap around myself and went out to town with a group of friends.

Bon Fire Night was the next weekend.  This is when Brits celebrate the hanging of Guy Fawkes who attempted to burn down parliament (please, do correct me if I’m wrong).  There were fireworks being set off by everyone all week and big ones set off on the Stray on Saturday night in the rain.  I really enjoyed the fireworks – maybe because I was right under them and they seemed huge!  They went on for about 20 minutes – my neck was getting sore from looking up!

The Sunday was the annual Remembrance Ceremony that is held at Stonefall Cemetery where there are over 1000 war graves buried, including 666 Canadian Airmen.

The turn out was the largest we’ve had.

This past weekend (finally, almost caught up!), Justina came to visit!! It’s wonderful to have family living in the same country so you can visit and chat about people we both know!  Justina got to experience the wonderful service on board the train – something happened that made the service stop in Harrogate and not continue on to Starbeck.  So she got to take the bus to me!  We found each other in the Co-Op and got some food and managed to get back home only partially soaked from the downpour.

Saturday we made Christmas cards all afternoon after setting up my living room with Christmas decorations!  Who knew it took so long to make personalized cards!  My friends were also not joking when they said they have art supplies… I have one measley little box of pencil crayons, markers and some paint brushes from high school.  These ladies had the STUFF! Stamps, stickers, scissors, double-sided tape, paper… I was impressed!  I made 15 cards in about 5 hours!

Sunday we made our way to York in the afternoon and did some touring around!  It was quite lovely out – sunshine and no rain!  We found a pub to grab some lunch and then walked around and found a book store where I purchased two of the Charlaine Harris books (True Blood – every heard of it… so good!) I’ve read the first one already and have to finish my school work before I’m allowing myself to even open the second one!  There are 8 more in the series that I need to purchase (bday gift hint??!!)

…and that brings you up to date with my life!  Well.. my weekend life!

drivin’ and being itchy

This week I had a management course at my head office in a town called Maidenhead which is on the Thames River 30 miles west of London.  It was about a 3 1/2hr drive down and a 5 hour drive back.  I do not recommend driving from that far south up north on a Friday afternoon ever.  Traffic like crazy and about three or four “incidents” or accidents on the road causing slowdowns.  I didn’t stop for the whole 5 hours in fear of what a 15 minute break would lead me into.  I was actually stopped on the motorway for about 5 minutes hoping that it would move because I did have ot pee, but didn’t want to get off the motorway.

I was happy to get home to some freshly cooked burgers on our new bbq.  Chris is very proud!  It’s also my last week of eating gluten – so beer and burgers seems quite fitting.   I go for my test sometime next week – I have to go to the hospital and wait in line – so I’m thinking of going early Tuesday morning and hope to get out of there in a decent amount of time (three hours maybe?)  It’ll be my first hospital experience here, so we shall see how it goes.

My hands and feet are crazy itchy and I didn’t know why until I read that it may be associated with gluten intolerance… very interesting.  I try to not scratch.. so instead I shake my hands and feet in the air really fast to let the air do the scratching for me!  I look really cool when I do it too!  I should get Chris to video tape it and we could post it (but that would take a lot of effort and I’m too tired!)

What else?  In Maidenhead, I had dinner with my old boss who is in the UK until May. Then he goes back to Canada and will eventually become my boss again when I go back.  It was so nice to talk to Canadians who understand what it’s like to live in the UK. You’d think it would be easy living here since we speak the same language, but culturally it’s very different.  I miss my family and friends and it was nice to chat about it with people who feel the same way.   They also gave me two fans for the summer and some soya sauce since they can’t bring it back with them!  So nice!

I’m taking a course in Strategic Management from this online school from the UK.  I’m not a fan of it mainly because there are spelling mistakes and missing information.  I probably should’ve checked if it’s accredited or not before actually paying and starting it. Ohwell.. I will learn for next time!

We are going to Dublin this coming weekend to see what St. Patty’s Day celebrations are like there.  I will post about it when we get back!!   Yay for another trip to somewhere new!