jordylass.com

New Year Trip to London with an iphone

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 09:03:10 +0000

I love to visit London and just after New Year is a great time for me to go. After last years very successful visit I decided to go again this year. I had 3 nights in a Travelodge, booked during their sale.

The highlight of this trip was a visit to the National Theatre to see the Pitmen Painters. I feel ashamed that I knew nothing about this extraordinary group of men before looking for something to do while in London. I thought the play was exceptional and although I was watching it in London I was very pleased to be able to understand everything they said, I overhead many of the audience asking their companions to translate. I'm not sure it will be as well received in Broadway if the accent remains true.

Lines that stick in my mind,

"Ya dee dee art, divvint ya" Translate, "but you do teach art don't you".

Leicester Square at night

I also went to see Blood Brothers, Mel C really held this together and was a pleasure to watch, but I think maybe on future I'll go more for plays than musicals.

Charlotte was off with her friends the whole time, luckily Kate likes the theatre and enjoyed these 2 shows as much as me.

Before going to London I did some research on some apps for the iphone and the ones that I used almost exclusively while I was there were the Time Out app, I'd have a check in the morning for what was on and it would show things that were closes to me. The first day I wandered along to Shoreditch high street and took an eery walk through Dennis Severs House. It has been lovingly recreated to show a bygone era and I thought it was wonderful, like a living art gallery.

Dennis Severs House

The next day I went to the Geffrye Museum I wish i could have stayed until the next day to be able to see the 12th night ritual there. It's highly unlikely that I would have heard of either of these places without the time out map, and they were both within walking distance of my hotel. I've taken the app of my phone now, but would put it back on for any trips down south.

The Geffrye Museum

The other app I used all the time was the London Bus, the guy who wrote this also has an excellent London Tube app. I used both, but as I prefer the buses, both because they are free for the kids and you get to see a bit more of the city, that app really helped me out, where ever I ended up, I could ask it to take me home requesting that it only used bus services and it would provide a mp of the nearest bus stop which stands to use where to change, how long the journey would take, etc. I thought it one of the best apps for the iphone that I've had the pleasure of using and well worth the 59p which it costs.

It was a great visit, very cold but lovely to look around and I'm pleased to report that the little Italian cafe off Leicester Square is still there.

Christmas Traditions

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 09:47:32 +0000

I was reading an entry on Lifehack about Christmas traditions. It made me realise one of our family traditions, which is new PJ's on Christmas eve. As children we always had new nightwear ready for us after our bath on Christmas Eve, and now I wrap these for my children to open and wear on Christmas Eve.

Another 'tradition' I gleaned from somewhere and trying to incorporate in predictions. After Christmas dinner we all make predictions on a global and family scale. These are written down and packed away with the baubles, we open them up on Christmas Eve to see how close (or not) we were.

I like their idea of scratch cards and may introduce a couple of those this year as something to look forward to once the frenzy of present unwrapping is complete.

Whitby, Robin Hoods Bay, fish and chips and a caravan

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 07:31:00 +0100

I manage to get away more in the caravan now than I have been able to in the last 5 years I've owned it. I couldn't go much because Kate didn't want to go and she was too young to leave at home. Now she can be left, (as long as there is 2 days of leftovers ready for her to heat up) I can see a little more of our beautiful country.

Last weekend I headed to Whitby and stayed on was a farm on the outskirts of the town. I'd bought tickets for a pre Edinburgh Fringe show at The Coliseum, they were only £7.50. The audience was made up of about 30 people, and it turned out to be a lovely evening, a really friendly intimate gig.

The next day was a walk along the headland above Robin Hoods Bay, according to Ordnance Survey this was only 5 miles and rated a one in terms of steepness, well I wouldn't like to do their 3!

A busy walk along The Cleveland Way!

At the end of the walk after changing out of my hot and sweaty boots the delight of Robin Hoods Bay awaited, we were thirsty and had a drink in the first pub we came to, but it got a bit windy and we headed off to the town.

I had heard of Robin Hoods Bay, of course, I've passed the signs many times on the way to Scarborough as it's only about 1.5 hours to get there I don't know why I never visited before. I also can't understand why no-one has mentioned it too me. It is, without exaggeration the most perfect village I've ever seen. The one thing that spoils it, is that it is so delightful it is overrun with tourists and holiday makers. The village is a small quaint fishing village, is has the steepest hills and smallest hideaway cottages in a mish mash of streets, cobbles and hills. A lot of the cottages are available for self catering hire and out of season I would imagine it is an idyllic romantic get away.

The quaint Robin Hoods Bay

Whitby was nice and of course we sampled the fish and chips which were good, but coming from just up the road, I don't think they deserve the title of best fish and chips, as it was a local fish shop that won the award this year, I may have a drive over this afternoon in the interests of fair comparison. I did eat crab there from the award winning Mister Chips, and it was wonderful, I don't often have crab, it's way too expensive, but I prefer it to Lobster and this was no let down.

I've found that getting out and seeing something different at the weekends really stops the weeks rolling into each other without distinction. Otherwise I seem to move from Easter to Christmas with very little recollection of anything I've done.

Fat Cyclist bike riding experiences

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 12:16:21 +0100

Not that I'm a bike riding expert by any means, but starting to ride a bike as a fat 42 year old has given me an insight others (younger, thinner) may go without. I wouldn't have stuck at the bike riding if I didn't enjoy it, certainly not purely for it's exercise sake. But, I don't just enjoy it I love it, I feel put out when I'm the last one to the top of any kind of incline but the breeze on my skin and the glorious views as I cycle more than make up for that indignity.

As a fat cyclist I can't help but project onto other people, one of the cycle rides I regularly do is from 2-4pm and we travel along a route used by many school children when they finish at 3.30pm, as I glide past I steel myself for the 'lard arse' comments, although so far I've heard none, it doesn't stop me holding my breath each and every time.

Charlotte Cooper wrote an article about cycling as a fat person which is very helpful, she suggests

Get a bike that fits

Even though we were active cyclists as kids, for many of our adult years my girlfriend and I believed that we were physically incapable of riding. The reason? We had mountain bikes. There's no polite way to put this but there was simply not enough belly space, and our wrists had to support our whole body weight. A holiday in Germany awoke us to the possibilities of upright European bikes: they were built for us, easy to ride and suddenly we felt like superwomen! Since then we have bought big, heavy Dutch bikes, which are smooth, extremely comfy, never break down, have big wide saddles and are hefty enough to get us where we need to go. The lesson? Don't underestimate the power of fat-friendly design when considering a bike.

I've had a look at the Dutch upright bikes but can only find them with about 7 gears which may be OK around London, but I find I need every one of my 21 gears particularly the very low granny gears for the off road cycling which makes up most of my routes. Those beautiful bikes look so ladylike and sedate though that I'm very tempted by them.

Things to worry about as a fat cyclist

the bike will break - it hasn't happened yet
the clothes won't fit - I've found a couple of suppliers in the USA (Junonia and Aero Tech) that has cycling clothes over size 20, and Corrine Dennis in the UK goes up to 20, but they are so expensive that for now I just wear comfortable clothes.
I'll fall off - I did for the first time yesterday, it was very slow and quite graceful and it didn't hurt, which was my main fear.
people will laugh at me - maybe they do but I haven't seen them yet, and all comments have been friendly and pleasant.
I will push the bike more than I'll ride it - mostly I ride it, and the more often I ride it the less I have to push it.
It will hurt - OMG will it. My fanny (English not American) was so sore that I had to sit on one bum cheek for about 3 days after, it is still uncomfortable now after a ride, but not like those first few rides, I must have built up sensitivity or something, so stick with it, although it doesn't feel like it, it does get easier. I also find that my wrists and base of my thumb really hurt from the weight being pushed forward onto them, this is where the Dutch bike will be much better, if all your cycling is urban go for that model.

I cycled for about 9 miles yesterday and with the beautiful weather hoping to get out on my bike a lot more, I have a caravan trip to Whitby next weekend and already downloading some cycling routes to try when I'm there.

So, fat bottomed girls get on yer bikes and enjoy the freedom.

Article - A year without sex

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:13:58 +0100

I found this article thought provoking and wanted to share it, but loved the comments at the end.

down the scale

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 10:53:02 +0100

I bought a bike off eBay, it's going to cost me a bit of initial outlay, hat, gloves, shed to keep it in, and soft saddle, but hoping to enjoy some lovely bike rides during the summer.

My weight continues on a steady downward slope, I'm feeling much more energetic and have loads of stamina. On the downside I've developed spots :( and twitchy legs.

If you have a couple of hours go and listen to Gary Taubes lecture on Good Calories, Bad Calories - gives an alternative view on why fat people and insulin, it's a very intersting lecture.

Coconut Oil

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 11:45:45 +0100

Low carb eating is going very well. I've become a coconut oil addict, and it really does seem to be just melting the fat off. It's very expensive though. I can get it from the Asian Supermarket for £1.80 for 500g, but it spits like crazy in the frying pan, it's fine to make up some little treats with though.

Coconut oil chocolates

5 tbsp melted coconut oil
1 Tbsp Cocoa
1 tbsp peanut butter
handful dessicated (grated, unsweetened) coconut
Stevia to sweeten
Mix all together, split into small cake liners and put in fridge until hard.

Katie is really enjoying eating these, although when Charlotte tried them she was gagging, "ugh, they just taste like fat". Charlotte hates the feeling she gets from fatty food when it coats her mouth and lips, she was funny to watch though.

I'm trying not to get too hung up on the weight, as I'm a strong supporter of size acceptance and Health at Every Size, but I feel so great, full of energy and vitality eating very few carbs and the side effect is that I'm losing weight so it's all good.

This afternoon is my cycling group. the weather is lovely, so I shall lather up with sun screen put on my 3/4 length gym tousers and enjoy the breeze in my hair, and hope this time I don't have to push the bike up more than one very steep hill.

Easter Holidays

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 10:41:41 +0100

The kids are back for their Easter break, and get a whole month at home. I love having them around and being able to spend some time with them.

Unfortunatley they don’t feel the same, they are at an age when they don’t want to hang out with me, and going away to school means they don’t have friends locally. I always try to find things for them to do when they are home, but have to admit, it’s like dragging teeth getting them to do anything. I had a chat with them yesterday when I told them I'm going to stop offering activities, I find it quite stressful trying to find things they'd enjoy then presenting it in an attractive way. I informed them they are capable of discovering entertainment for themsleves and that I will happily taxi them along to the things they want to do.

Today I have an appointment at the gym to start a new membership, our local council run gyms are very good. Although the one clsoest to me is old and shabby, there is one not too far off that is a lovely modern gym. As a student it's very reasonable at £13 per month, and £17 if I want to use the classes and pool. I may take the full package as the new pool (Sunderland Aquatic Centre) is spectacular, and has a lovely diving pool with diving classes for youngsters.

I have a free range turkey that I bought on Christmas Eve (when they were marked down) that I must get out of the freezer today for our lunch on Easter Sunday. We may have that on Saturday though, as thank goodness the boot sales are back on, and my Sunday afternoon meandering can start again.

Anniversary

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 10:41:36 +0000

I've kept this blog going for a year.....

The entries have been somewhat sporadic depending on what has been happening for me, but a whole year! I could barely believe it when I read back over the posts.

I love to read other people's bogs, as you can see from my blogroll at the side. I may glance at a few others, but those blogs get my full attention. My current favs are Fussy and The Discomfort Zone, I like the style of these, they are both well written, entertaining and even occasionally educational.

My plan for the next 12 months is more of the same. I need to write more content and learn to write better.

Those 12 months have gone over quickly though, some things have stayed the same, but many have changed.

I bought a car off eBay, it's a rubbish car and I've spent more on it at the garage than I did buying it, but it’s still just about going.

I began training as a podiatrist, that was completely out of the blue but something I had wanted to do and although I like it.it’s not going to get me to the states :(

I've been back to Peublo Ingles, another amazing experience and I won’t leave it so long next time.

Anniversary

About Me

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 10:41:29 +0000

This is a blog about my life; studying, cooking, eating, traveling and doing it all the cheapest way possible.

I'm just a normal woman, mum, grandma, housewife.

A lifetime ago I had my own high earning business, and at first I loved it, I liked being at the sharp end, the adrenaline and more probably power that came from doing something exciting everyday.

Because I was self employed I had to work a lot of hours. Then I started to notice I couldn't hold a conversation with anyone because my phone would ring. I couldn't sit down to a meal and eat the whole thing without having to answer a call midway. I didn't like what it was doing to my family, my business had became more important than everything else, so I sold it.

What a culture shock we were in for, we downsized very, very quickly. We went from being able to buy anything we wanted to having to justify every purchase.

During those initial dark months The Old Style Money Savers were my lifeline, they helped me learn to cook and bake my own bread.

This mantra from Martin lewis became my own and was the one biggest thing to help me save money, it’s still something I think of when I want to buy something.

The other great help is deciding between want and need, I need to pay the mortgage and buy food, I don't need beer, a laptop or a mobile phone although I want all of those things.

Everyone's wants and needs vary of course, some people do NEED a car/laptop/mobile for work. So my mantra is altered a litle from "Do I need it", to "can I manage without it", and I find there is very little I can't manage without.

My one weakness is justlifying my purchases, can I manage without it, mmm yes, probably, but as it costs £200, I can save that over a year just by using it. This is an area I have to be very strict, it is the area I know I cheat when I want something.