52 New Things - Week Three

Throughout September we've been running a 'Focus on Fitness' month at work. There are two reasons for this; to give us all a kick start after summer, and so we could know what classes are available locally. Over the month we have tried paddleboarding, a project awesome class, a 5k Saturday morning run (I didn't do that one) and on Thursday we had a yoga class to attend. 

Yoga has never been something I have been desperate to try. I don't think I am fit, bendy or stretchy enough but I know people who do it that love it, so I thought I should at least give it one go. I was glad I could do it with people from work as it meant almost half of the class were all new like me and I wouldn't stick out so much! 

The class took place in Kings College Boat House on the Embankment, Putney. This is literally down the road from my office and it was a lovely evening.

It was a relatively small class, with about 16 people (and 7 of them were from work). We set our mats up to face the window overlooking the Thames and the class began.

I had planned to grab some photos halfway through to pop on the work instagram but I got so engaged in the class that I didn't want to stop! This surprised me more than anyone but I really did enjoy myself. The class was tough, but not so difficult that I felt like I couldn't keep up, and I could see how you could push yourself more if you had been going for longer. The instructor was patient and calming and kept walking around the class to gently correct you if needed. I was on the back row and was really impressed to see some of the moves the people on the front row could do (headstands etc). I don't think I'll ever get to that standard, but I did think I'd like to go again. I can see how you would be able to see an improvement in yourself if you kept going a few times.

During the class, even though it wasn't a cardio workout I really got a sweat on, as did the majority of people there. I was a really good strength workout, and I think it would really help build some arm muscles (there was quite a big focus on downward dogs and planks). I don't think I'll be able to go every week but I am going to try the class again soon. So considering this was something on my list I thought I'd try so that I could say 'yes I have tried yoga, and now I know I don't like it' I'm glad to say 'yes I have tried yoga, and it was okay really'. I'll let you know in a couple of months how I get along and if I'll ever get to do the handstand pose!

52 New Things - Week Two

This weeks new thing to try was 'Go to a Rugby World Cup game'. I've had this in my calendar for ages, and wondered if I was cheating by including something I had booked months ago. However, it is something I have never done before, and if I didn't include a few things that I had already booked and paid for in advance, I'd be broke before 2 months are done. So now I have convinced myself it counts as a 'New thing', let me tell you all about it.

For this I had invited my brother Allan up to join me. He is more of a rugby fan than I am, so I thought this would be more of a treat for him than me. As it turns out I had a bloody fantastic time, and I think rugby is up there as the top sport to watch! But let me start from the beginning. We had tickets to the opening match of the Rugby World Cup, 2015 on Friday 18th September. It was the Fiji v England game at Twickenham Stadium. I had taken a half day from work and met Allan in London for a quick lunch. As this was the opening match of the tournament our tickets included entrance to the opening ceremony which was due to start at 7pm. As we had a few hours before this we decided to head to the fan zone in Old Deer Park, near Richmond first.

The fan zone is free to enter, and has a range of entertainment to check out, including fair ground rides, beer tents, and sponsors tents with different challenges or games. On top of this all the matches are played on big screens in the field. We were some of the first people to get there, and waited for it to open at 4pm (they opened a little late, but I'll forgive them). We checked out all the different tents, but I think it is definitely worth going during a match as it was pretty quiet and laid back whilst we were there. I think they'll be more of an atmosphere during a game!

Laden down with a few freebies and a new shirt for Allan we decided to walk on to Twickenham. It is about a 30 minute walk from Deer Park to the stadium, in pretty much a straight line, so we didn't get lost. When we arrived the place was buzzing. Everyone was in a good mood.

We went straight in to find out where we were sitting. We were right at the top and the view was spectacular. I know the highest tiers tend to be the cheaper seats, but I don't know why as we had a fantastic panoramic view of the pitch.

After a couple of trips to the bar, a few selfies and a boasting facebook update it was almost time for the opening ceremony.

To get us all warmed up Will Greenwood led the crowd in a beautiful rendition of 'Sweet Caroline'. I'm not sure why they picked that song, but it definitely got everyone fired up and excited for the opening ceremony. And with that it began!

When we arrived at the stadium the sun was shining, it was still light and there was a smattering of people in their seats. By the end of the opening ceremony the place was packed to the rafters and it was dark enough for the fireworks to begin! During that time we were treated to singing, acrobatics, a speech by Prince Harry, and then, with a final smattering of fireworks it was time for the pitch to be cleared ready for my first ever Rugby World Cup game!

The teams entered with a burst of flames, and after Fiji had performed their haka it was time for the match to start.

Now, I'm not going to give you a breakdown of the match, because if you were interested then you should have been watching it. Also, I don't know enough about rugby to give a full report but in my opinion it was a great match. England were in possession a lot for the first half, and Fiji really upped their game at the beginning of the second half. The atmosphere in the stadium was electric, and unlike football matches I've been to, no one cared who you were supporting. Everyone just wanted to watch a good, exciting match, and if the guy in front was waving a Fijian flag then good for him!

I thought the whole evening was fantastic, after being a part time rugby fan (if even that) I am definitely going to be following the whole tournament, I might even drag Stuart down to the fan zone in Deer Park to watch some games on the big screen. Walking home after the match I even considered whether I should join a rugby team, but that could be due to the copious amounts of beer I'd consumed blurring my thinking! Whether I do take up rugby or not it's going to take quite something to beat week 2 of my 52 New Things in 52 Weeks. 

Farne Island

Back in July Stuart and I took a week off work and headed to see his family in Durham. After a lifetime living in Milton Keynes his parents decided it was time to move and see what the North of England had to offer. Now, growing up on the Isle of Wight and living all my adult live in London, I can safely be described as a Southerner through and through. I'm afraid to say my view of 'Up North' was very much centered around films like 'Brassed Off' and 'Billy Elliot'. I kind of had the joking mindset that 'it ain't half grim up North'. Oh my goodness, I was so wrong. We went out each day to seek out new locations and each of them were more beautiful and scenic than the first.

One of my favourite places was Farne Island. We drove for about an hour and a half from Stuart's parents house, to Seahouses. Seahouses is small seaside town where you can catch boats to National Trust protected islands. Farne Island is famous for its bird colonies, and most excitingly puffins! You buy a ticket for a boat tour, there's lots of options available from the harbour, and then head out to sea!

Our tour took us sailing past a range of small islands first so we could watch the birds flying to and from the islands, and see them nesting on the side of the rocks. We even got to wave hello to quite a few seals who were laying around, wishing the sun would come out!

As we got closer to Farne Island we were treated to hundred of puffins flying above us and hanging out in the sea.

Then it was time for the most exciting part of the day - we were allowed to land on Farne Island to explore the place on foot. I can't explain how happy this made me. Years ago Stuart and I went to Pembrokeshire in Wales to visit Skomer Island. Like Farne Island, Skomer is famous for its puffin colonies. At the time I was so excited that we would be able to walk on the island and see the puffins nesting, however (this was before we had a car) by the time we had got to the harbour near Skomer we were told all the tickets for visiting the island were sold out. To top this off we had got the earliest bus that ran to Skomer so I felt it was ridiculously unfair they didn't put a few tickets to one side for people who had to get the bus - it wasn't even a standard local bus, it was one run by the people who issue the tickets to the island. Anyway that was a long time ago, and I'm (almost) over it now, honest! Farne Island, however, allows people on the island throughout the day, and again our National Trust membership came in handy as normally there is an additional charge to visit the island, on top of the boat charge -  but not for members!

The first birds that greeted us as we stepped on the island were the arctic terns. They nest on the ground and their chicks were all over the island, just sat there hoping not to be stepped on (don't worry, they were all behind the pathway with flags to mark any that were a little too close to the path). The way the parents protect the chicks is to scream at you, and if you look like you're getting too close they will dive bomb you! Luckily Stuart's mum had already warned us about this so we made sure we wore hats and didn't get too close. The chicks were pretty cute though!

Once we had got safely past the terns we could see where the puffins nest. So prepare yourself for many many puffin photos!

There are so man puffins wandering around on the grass and surrounding cliffs that I decided to try and challenge myself to get a clear picture of a flying puffin. This is harder than it sounds because there are so many of them in the air and they fly past really quickly. Seriously for such small, weird looking birds they've got some speed!

I won't bore you with the hundreds of blurred photos I ended up with but here are the only two that I managed to take which are just about passable!

Also on the island are a range of gulls and guilmots. When we were on the island it was peak season for chicks, so we were treated to a range of baby birds all screaming and clambering for food!

The real stars of the show, for me, were the puffins. I don't know why I like them so much. They've got these sad looking eyes and are fascinating to watch as they hop across the grass. They have to be the cutest birds I've ever seen. This trip certainly made up for my missed trip on Skomer in Wales all those years ago.

Then, before we knew it, it was time for us to say goodbye to the locals and head back onto the boat and back to Seahouses for fish and chips by the sea.

I really enjoyed our week up North, there was lots to explore so next time I'll tell you about our wander along Hadrian's Wall!