I'm moving past the feeling again

London Loves Lidos

Today I made it out of the pool and into the lido, the London Fields Lido in Hackney, to be precise, and it was quite an experience.

Walking onto the pool side I was greeted by a sea of coloured lockers and a beautifully blue pool, it immediately felt like I was on holiday. After getting changed I edged into the water and the coldness of it took my breath away, even though it was a sunny day, and I hastily plunged into my usual training routine.




It felt like I was swimming in the sea. Swept around by the waves and hit with the briskness of the cold water, my usually pretty good technique was rendered mediocre at best, my already slightly dodgy backstroke becoming a complete shambles as I veered across the entire lane width, mesmerised by the brilliant blue sky overhead.

After a few lengths however I settled into my training, and also realised part of the reason I'd been struggling was that it was a 50 metre pool, and I'm used to a 25 metre one.

I was pretty disgruntled when the lifeguard told me I couldn't do breaststroke in the fast lane, but moved to medium quietly and encountered no problems except an annoying old man doing a very slow backstroke.



In the same way treadmill running is nothing like street running, swimming in a lido felt completely different to pool swimming, like half way between pool and sea; and I think made swimming a lot more difficult.

Plus points included the beautiful view of the sky overhead and the fresh air, minus points included being blinded by the sun and finding bits of leaf in your swimming costume after.

It was also pretty pricey £4.50 for non-members, a far cry from the 60p at my local pool. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable experience and one I think I'd do again, especially now it's summer.

American Atrocity

So American Apparel aren't exactly new on the scene. An LA clothing giant, their ubiquitous pull string hoodies are sported by most arts students and copied by countless clothes manufacturers.

Their provocative adverts which come across more as soft porn are contested by some and celebrated by others, but are also a prime example of the flippant attitude our generation has adopted towards sex.

Their hiring practices are based on aesthetics and no secret is made about this, but this is absolutely ludicrous when you look at founder Dov Charney himself -




It makes me sick. I, personally am going to continue not to wear what this skeezy guy thinks is hot, hip or not.

R.I.P

Skirting the issue

Having landed myself an internship in an office with a 'smart casual' dress code, I have become reacquainted with my old friend, the pencil skirt. Whilst somewhat OTT for everyday college attire, the pencil skirt is the office woman's wardrobe staple, defining and cinching in the waist, hiding the tummy and creating an hourglass figure no matter what size you are.



However, the pencil skirt also severely restricts leg movement, especially if the bottom of it is seamed and you are teaming it with the de rigeur four inch heels, I remembered whilst sashaying my way down the street attempting to reach the bus stop on time.

The pencil skirt/heels combo also results in an inevitable wiggle, which although admittedly pretty hot, if you have time to saunter, wastes time and ultimately slows you down. I wish that men had such issues to contend with.

Odious Oyster

Today I was presented with this...

...eurgh.

Sunday Salvation

As a student with limited culinary skills, I spent a good few months sorely missing the weekly tradition of the Sunday Roast. Luckily quite recently I stumbled across the Montague Arms in Peckham, a cosy pub filled with an array of antiquities and taxidermy offering a delicious Sunday menu.

The first time I looked at the handwritten menu I was not expecting much, another pub offering not fit to compare to the home cooking I had grown to love. On first bite of my roast beef I knew how wrong I had been. The meat was juicy and flavoursome, the vegetables varied and plentiful and the yorkshire and roast potatoes first class. As if this weren't enough this sumptous feast was followed by home made apple pie and cream, which I somehow managed to make room for (it would have been a crime not to).

Other options on the menu I've worked my way through are lamb (so tasty) and Sportsman's chicken, i.e chicken wrapped in bacon in a cider and apple sauce; but I wasn't too keen on that; the bacon was a bit stringy. There's also a steak pie which looks lovely, and the option with most meals to go 'jumbo' for a little extra, something I would urge anyone in their right mind to do.

Quite frankly, my Mum's Sunday roasts are just not the same anymore, they are no longer one of the highlights of my trips home (not that I dare tell her). The prices for these delcious dishes are also excellent, most costing around £6-7, including desert. I would recommend this place to anyone, but suggest you get there early as it gets busy quick, which is completely understandable.

Cat Flag

The Barbican

Is such a strange building.



I love this postcard of it though, it looks so space age with its brutalist angular shapes. The first time I went I was baffled that I had to go through an estate to get there, and continue to be baffled every time I return it's buried in such a weird place. It's like some sort of eerie concrete nightmare, which is unfortunate really seeing as I'm fond of the Barbican art gallery. I can see why it was voted as "London's ugliest building" in 2003.