injuries....

Back pain, muscle injuries, a feeling of numbness, aching and intense soreness have never really been of much concern to me - until just before Xmas. A combination of bad posture, stress, carrying too much weight on one shoulder and possibly even a strain, all joined forces to give me a lovely neck inflammation - or rather a tendinitis. A frozen muscle in my neck - possibly the levator scapulae. Doctors seem to have many words to describe this kind of injury and yet have very few ways to cure it. The straightforward, common answer is to prescribe a full blown course of anti-inflammatory drugs, which only really just calm the problem but don't address the cause.
I found that a mild anti-inflammatory drug like aspirin (mild in comparison to what they offered me), combined with heat patches, massages and hot baths did soothe the pain,perhaps only temporarily, but nevertheless in a gentler manner. I have never taken strong drugs and will carry on down that path unless my pain threshold can simply no longer cope. A few sleepless nights with a thumping head nearly led me to my limits, but it never quite got bad enough for me to reach for the hard stuff. A visit to a great osteopath settled a minor imbalance in my verterbras and provided a much needed relief to my strained muscle.

Most importantly, this painful episode reminded me how our bodies are so important, they are the most fundamental elements of our lives and yet we often take them for granted. Health is key to all of us and this has made me evermore aware that we need to take great care of it. I also felt suddenly quite old, powerless and weak. As a matter of fact, we often associate back and muscle pain with older people (after all, that's what my mother would always complain about), but actually this affects people of all ages and in good physical shape. Worryingly, it affects more and more younger people, which I would guess, is mainly down to unhealthy lifestyles and an increased time spent sitting in front of computers.A few decades ago this wasn't so widespread, so normal. Hence, with this new normality, back and muscle pain have become other normalities.

doing nothing

A fascinating concept, to state the least. What is nothing and how on earth do we 'do nothing'? Without delving into philosophical, psychological or in depth discussions of nothingness, I simply want to highlight what this term evokes for me.

- doing nothing as a -not so- innocent child's immediate answer to his parents, authority or to someone's intrusive question.
- doing nothing as anyone's answer to boredom, being idle, not actually 'doing something' - by this I mean, working, walking, cooking, any form of physical, sensual or mental activity.
- doing nothing as a meditative state, a conscious decision to switch off from the outside world and attempt to reach another mental state.
- doing nothing at an intermediate level - being aware of one's scattered state of mind and purposely choosing to quieten down, take a step back from active life.


As a matter of fact, none of these are really 'doing nothing'. They all form active, conscious decisions to be in a certain way, both physically and mentally. A pure form of nothingness would be death, or perhaps enlightenment, when body and mind become yolked, or when outside happenings no longer matter. Floating on a yogic cloud or living in a little bubble detached from the outside world. Bliss.

But going back to Lottie's concept of 'doing nothing', the beauty of the idea is to step back from the buzz, the confusion and speed of urban life and actively seek to switch off for a few minutes or more. Purposely sit, lie, stand in public places, with no reason but to do nothing. Passively engage with people, street-goers, shoppers and stressed out workers, to trigger some kind of thought, reflection on their overly busy lives. Why rush and stress out unnecessarily when life can be so calm, simple and pure? Living in a city makes this evermore important and we too often forget this. It's a skill. I want to see more mass gatherings of 'doing nothing' - not for any obvious (political, campaigning or artistic) purpose, just as it is. Perhaps a regular flash mobbing of nothingness?

mememe

A shameless piece of self promotion...
http://ethicaljobs.blogspot.com/2007/11/inna-costantini-press-co-ordinator.html

is ldn a cool city?

By 'cool' I don't just mean fashionable, trendy. How eco-friendly is this city? Is London a cool shade of green? Our lovely mayor would have us believe it's an incredibly, positively, clearly green place to live in, with tons of cycle lanes (er, really? where?), tons of buses (and they don't pollute, do they?), a congestion charge to deter polluting vehicles from accessing the city (20% less traffic just makes the streets bearable as opposed to overly congested) and we Londoners are just a bunch of eco bunnies. Right. So a trip to manic India may have him pledging one million new trees to be planted in London after the Olympics, along with a whole bunch of green initiatives. I'm in no way contesting anything he says, but really, in reality, London is a huge city, spread out, congested, with only recently implemented recycling facilities, a fairly new surge in cycling and with climate change only recently been on the political agenda. These are all positive developments, but we're hardly Denmark are we? And let's be honest, most people only vaguely care about the environment. Unless recycling bags are collected from people's doorsteps, 90% of people just won't bother. If Ryanair offers free seats to Europe, most people will say why not? A recent poll in the Ecologist - the eco bible for many greenies- stated that over 50% of its readers would actually consider flying with Ryanair if the flights were free. So really, we're all a bunch of hypocritical, selfish bastards. We care as long as the change doesn't affect our pockets or comfort. ken Livingstone wants to ban flights to france. Perhaps not the answer to ecological issues, but it's one drastic way of actively engaging with green issues. That might make London a little cooler. We'd need to build another channel tunnel though - and perhaps also an escape route for Ken once his days are over.

some ideas

I've been thinking about putting together a collection of photographs for an upcoming art show with ELP, showing a greener east london.
My idea was to display buildings, streets, urban landscapes featuring greenery, plants growing on the side of buildings, street trees, urban oases in unexpected places, vegetation sprouting out of dusty corners of concrete - an urban jungle, literally.
I want to produce a montage or collage of different views of east ldn, all featuring urban greenery of some kind. How does nature fit into urban space, how does it find ways to sprout up out of nothing - from clumps of earth to tiny pockets of dust withing built up spaces. What makes nature take over man made constructions, streets or unkempt places? Why do we even try to fight this?
As much as 'green roofs' and permaculture are a beautiful and welcome advancement in dense urban design, it does remain an irony that we want to contain, control and re-green spaces and add them onto closely determined areas. Urban nature is there to stay and flourish, whether we like it or not.

what is ugly?

Not a new topic - but something I read in this month's Ecologist, sparked a few thoughts from my end...
So what is ugly? Many things - too many from my point of view. But then again, they always point towards the very opposite, which is beautiful - without ugliness, nothing would appear to us as beautiful and we desperately need a bit of both to fully appreciate life.
First ugly things which spring to my mind would be:
Dead public spaces - gardens, parks and streets where all sense of life, nature or humanity has been removed, or perhaps never existed. Tree-less streets, concrete blocks, paved up front drives, yards and gardens left for abandon - all these pockets of valuable space, which could be used to enhance life and urban nature, all forgotten in the midst of urban living.
Rubbish laden streets. A disrespect for public space, for others and ultimately, for oneself.
The commercial takeover of shops, old boutiques, old fashioned areas etc by corporates, branded coffee shops and other standardized outlets. New 'urban villages' spring up all over our cities, pretending to be authentic community living; they are merely imposters in a virtual, globalised environment.
Overpriced gourmet food - another commercial take on what should be simply local, fresh, seasonal produce. The system is so warped that we now have to pay more for what essentially costs less. Carrots flown in from israel are cheaper than those from a farm in Kent.
Production and consumption as lifelong aims. Surely there is more to life than being a simple bee in a hive,which never gets to taste the honey - the very nectar it helps to produce. In a simpler way, the obsession with work and success and the limited enjoyment of anything outside it.

And there are many more 'uglies'. Time to focus on the beauties in life....

bikes

I loved reading this
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/our_experts/article2581828.ece

According to Dr Stuttaford, the Times' expert doctor, cyclists in London give people a bad impression of cycling:
"Cycling in London and other large British cities, but not in mainland European towns, has been cornered by the nerdy cyclists who, wearing their distinctive uniform, weave in and out of traffic, ignore the lights, trespass on pavements and shout abuse at cars that impede their progress."

So according to him, we're all nerdy cyclists who shout abuse to cars and pedestrians! Oh and the typical Times reader would "cycle in his everyday clothes, doesn’t squeeze himself into Lycra and has impeccable road manners. The public road is not a private gym."
haha, typical....

yoga'd up

A friend of mine has just set off for a yoga teacher training intensive this week - a big step and a hugely exciting one, but it has also led me to reflect on my own decision. I'll be following her steps in a few months' time and I'm quite apprehensive to see how she gets on. My own experience will be somewhat different (my course is in Goa, India, over 2 months, the schedule's slightly less harsh with 7 am starts rather than 5.30 am, a smaller teaching group with foreign teachers) and my circumstances aren't quite the same. I'll be apart from long term boyfriend - leaving Europe for Taiwan to do his army for 2 years, which will set my back both emotionally and physically - and I hate to admit it, also financially (no more sharing bills, cosy flat, food, and being treated out for dinner is something I'll have to do without for a while). To top that up, I'm planning on a few months' break from work, London and possible all the other things I have been used to so far. Scary.
I'm both excited and extremely daunted by the prospect of trading my comfortable routine for a new, unknown environment. Change can only be good but god knows what will happen to me in a few months' time....

This is what I'll be doing next year: http://shaktispirit.com/training.htm

Is London a healthy city?

Following my previous questions on positive effects and benefits of exercise - or even just physical activity of some kind- I came to wonder whether London was actually a fairly healthy city. In comparison with other British cities it may seem congested, dense, polluted and constantly busy, but London organises an array of sporting events - not to mention the upcoming Olympic Games. The city is host to hundreds of charity runs, sports groups, clubs, and probably the widest choice of activities from rock climbing to taichi and yoga. London also seems to have picked up the cycling bug, with a 400% increase in cyclist in the past 4 years. I see joggers out at any time of day or night, all over town - from early risers on a chilly Saturday morning to night runners in Hyde park- and I believe London may just have the highest concentration of fit, healthy people in the country. Is this a fact? What about other cities? I hear that in Birmingham health levels are deteriorating, with obesity being a serious issue. So serious in fact that stairs in one of the inner city shopping malls are branded with signs stating how many calories can be burned by using them instead of lifts! They've reached the point where any form of activity -even walking up a few stairs- is crucially needed. In this case, London rates much higher. I see escalators often being ignored in favour of old fashioned stairs, which many magazines advocate as an excellent 'mini step' class - no better way to tone and lift those buttocks. Hmm, not quite I had in mind, but the thought is there. I can just picture those lovely ladies, determinedly going for stairs in hope of a better bottom. No matter what, the activity bug is there, firmly rooted in our psyches - and today this can only be a good thing. When one lives in a built up, busy city, what better way to move your limbs, clear your head and relieve stress, than a daily dose of exercise. And I believe London isn't too bad at encouraging this.

Running shoes on

What a wonderful way to start the weekend - so I heard many people say. Out of dozens other events happening in London that very weekend, two thousand tree lovers, enthusiasts, gym bunnies and yummy grannies chose to take part in a very unique event - an annual 5k run for trees round Battersea Park. And what a beautiful morning it was -perhaps even too warm for a mid September day, but who really cared? Most seemed delighted to start their day - their weekend- with an early run round Battersea park. But why? As a friend rightfully told me, 'because it feels great'. Right, so the actual running might be ever so slightly tiring, painful, even a drag for some, but if half an hour of slightly tiresome, strenuous work makes one feel so wonderful for an entire day, then it can only be worth the effort. Seeing so many glowing, happy faces - both before hand and after- confirmed this fact. It is true that the atmosphere of an event of this kind adds to the buzz - it gives a sense of community, mutual respect, a positive feeling of all supporting the same cause - a bond even, but much of the happy faces can be plainly explained by the benefits of exercise and the release of endorphins.
I found wikipedia has a great answer to what they call a 'runner's high':
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endorphins#Runner.27s_high

So exercise demands some kind of effort and whether one enjoys the actual strain of dynamic activity, it makes one feel great - both physically (increased strength, stamina, better body tone etc) and mentally (partly a consequence of the latter, increased confidence, stress relief etc). And this seems to be a widespread, highly publicised fact - how many ads, posters or press articles have I read along the lines of 'exercise, feel great'. So why don't we all get out there, ditch the car, get walking, jogging running, and moving our limbs? I would see so many more happy, glowing and relaxed faces if everyone did.

happy bunny

I'm kind of a happy bunny today. Birthday - a quiet one- lots of cards (an unusual thing nowadays), texts and emails, afternoon yoga class, bike ride through busy central London, chocolate, a sugar high and a busy weekend ahead, yeay!
Tree-Athlon on saturday and I'll be going to this on sunday (hopefully...):
http://www.visitlondon.com/events/detail/1125847

If not, I'll be staring at the sky for the Thames Festival celebrations, or being nosy during open house weekend! Looks like a busy one!
http://www.thamesfestival.org/
http://www.openhouse.org.uk/london/home.html

Matcha yummies

ooh, yum! Some aimless internet browsing his evening brough me to this site: http://www.lovescool.com/archives/2007/05/15/best-bakery-recipe-finalist/#more-388%20
Japanese matcha cookies, just how I love them! Not only do they just look beautiful, I now just want to throw on my apron (which I am yet to own) and start baking. I am thoroughly drooling....

A blog and a bit - is this writing?

Following a deep, long chat with a budding writer/friend of mine, I was thrown into a whole debate around the worthiness of blogging. She dismissed blogs as simply being light, superficial chat, unworthy of any critical acclaim.
For me however, they open up the world of writing to so many people that they deserve some kind of recognition.
I see blogs as being a simple, honest, unpretentious ways of keeping notes of events, happenings, random views, rants, debates, ideas - basically a virtual diary. Blogging doesn't have the pretense of many full-blown articles: they aren't really meant to be pompous, in-depth features with facts and figures or deep philosophical meaning, but are rather informative, personal views and accounts. My friend seemed outraged by the fact a book had been published out of a collection of blog posts. Indeed it doesn't claim to be high literature - or anything with some kind of depth- but I still believe blogging is a style in itself - a 'lite' version of writing perhaps. As a matter of fact, I really don't see anything wrong with it. Many authors have in the past published critically acclaimed diaries or short stories, and this is very similar - it just touches the realm of the virtual. I don't see how a notebook or a word document is superior to a virtual, online account of one's life experiences. Blogging is writing after all. It is open to anyone, it's free and has no class or intellectual barrier. There lies its appeal and worth.

Detox

I think I need a detox. I know I've been going on about this for a while but I think it's due very soon. No matter how healthy my diet is throughout the year, some things just need clearing. Start with the skin - sleep, water, fruits, veg and vitamins are a pre-requisite for healthy looking skin, but there's no point being so saintly if you're going to undo all that goodness with booze, caffeine, chocolate and sugar. Right so I'm no alcoholic - I hardly drink- and I don't consume much caffeine either, but I admit I have lacked discipline when it comes to chocolate. Even the dark, low sugar, organic -and supposedly satisfying- kind does seem to leave its mark. As much as the media has lauded the benefits of consuming dark chocolate, it remains a food which is high in toxins. Cocoa, to be consumed, needs to be roasted, cooked and processed. Even the darkest of chocolates are high in fat - not the best type of fat either. The toxins and saturated fats found in chocolate seem to irritate my skin, causing breakouts and rashes.

Right, so that's one thing out of the way. Caffeine, sugar and a lack of a regular sleep pattern also affect my health. So I may not exactly be acne prone, but I have noticed that some foods irritate my skin. Saturated fats for instance. A two week trip to India (full of ghee laden treats, cream and whole milk products) created an outburst in skin trauma. Even locals asked if I had been bitten by mosquitoes on my face! Quite embarrassing. Sugar is definitely another culprit, so as the lack of sleep.
It is thus time to act. I need to clear away all this crap from my system and engage on a positive cleansing routine. Inside and out. This means no sugar, no chocolate (noooo!!!!), alcohol or caffeine for, what, a week? Longer if I can resist. Summer is the best time for this - I am less hungry, thirstier, fruits and vegetables are plentiful, fresh and tasty, so it shouldn't be too hard. What about supplements? Vitamin C and spirulina should do the trick. Oh and regular exfoliation. When do I start again? Hmmm...

July Critical Mass

Oh well. I've done it again. The good old friday night bike ride around central London. "Less cars, more bikes!"
Ok, so it's all becoming very similar now. Same route, escorted by a troupe of policemen on bikes. Same old hippy bikers. It's still tons of fun though and the mobile sound systems add a few lively beats to the ride. It was all very peaceful tonight - apart from a poor guy who decided to stage a sitting protest in the middle of Clerkenwell Rd, on his own. Bless him, he soon realised he was better off on his bike than off it.
Going past the Foundry, we were greeted and cheered by a mass of couriers and fixie enthusiasts, all waiting for us to clear off and start their alleycat race. Quite an impressive band of guys -and girls- they are. All a bit scary, just far too serious bikers.
Well the highlight of this fairly uneventful ride was the appearance of the wonderful filmmaker, Lucas Brunelle, whizzing past on his sexy bike, with a double camera attached to his helmet. Nice.... I bet he'll be following alleycat later and I can't wait to see his next video on youtube. If I'm lucky, there might even be a glimpse of me in the background taking pictures. I doubt it.
Second highlight of the evening: a super smooth, super quick ride back home, crossing paths with a couple of alleycat racers, going ridiculously fast. Ah, the joys of inner city cycling on a friday night....

narrow minded f****r

I don't like swearing that much, but sometimes it's good to just let it all out. I know a few patronising people out there, I know some people just like to feel in power, but this is just really pathetic. Ok, so here's the story. Sunday afternoon, Clerkenwell, Roseberry avenue. The whole area is cut off to traffic for a street festival. Roads are clear of cars, cyclists are free to go down Roseberry avenue. So I reach the traffic lights at Mount Pleasant. No cars, so I don't stop at the red light. A delightful cop in a high-vis jacket, with obviously nothing else to do that day, whistles and shouts 'stop - now'! Next to him, another biker (who I later realised had just been lectured by that cop), red and puffy. So, not quite getting what he was on about, and quite naively, I stop. 'off your bike!' 'come here'. 'now!". WTF??? What's the aggressive tone for on such a beautiful day? Still not quite getting it, I laugh, thinking the guy must be off his head. Not one car in sight, it's been sunny all day after weeks of rain, the guy can't be serious. And then he gets into a long, pathetic lecture on how I -like the other poor cyclist- just went through a red light, why should he be paying his taxes to see people like me have accidents (isn't that my problem, not his?), he threatens to arrest me (laughing didn't do me any favours) and starts shouting out loud - 'what makes you so special as a cyclist??'. Twice. Pedestrians walk past, laughing and wondering what can possibly be wrong with him. The guy seriously has issues. Just get a life, get on a bike and stop harassing cyclists for going through red lights when roads are blocked off and they aren't endangering anyone. Humiliating and narrow minded bastard. I'm convinced not all cops are like him - but what an utterly annoying man.

I'll be doing my bit for all the cyclists out there and joining critical mass again this friday - any good excuse to go through a few red lights and piss off a few cops and cars.

compromising

I need to make a compromise. I love cycling - it's my main mode of transport. I love yoga - it's now one of my main interests. Cycling tightens up hamstrings, knees and thighs, which in turn makes stretching harder and more challenging. So basically, the increasing time I spend practising just ends up counterbalancing the damage I inflict to my legs. However, in turn, cycling strengthens legs, which gives more power in some postures. So what do I do? Do I need to choose between two equally important activities? I choose to keep on riding and keep on stretching. I love challenges, so let's see how long I can keep this one up. Don't yogis also travel on bikes?

Recyclo-holics

Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed the rise of people obsessed with green living, be it as a fashion frenzy or just because they're dark green? Well I know a few leafy greens (late summer kind of green) and I have to admit turning one shade greener myself. But not to the point of recycling every scrap of paper, composting all my organic waste and growing potatoes on my balcony (I said I would, but it's so much easier to just buy them, no?). Such an attitude towards a green life is highly laudable, but not an easy feat for most people- and it's sometimes a little scary too. Compulsive recyclo-maniacs who make a point of tearing every inch of paper or carton off packaging, to pop into their 'green' bag, making sure all their shopping choices are 100% recyclable and ethical. I mean, that's great for mother earth, but have some fun chaps!
There is something highly satisfying about recycling, knowing all your waste will be re-used in some way or another. It kind of justifies your actions as a consumer. The consumer re-consumes instead of consuming itself. hmmm?
Well, my green bag is getting bigger every week (how much do I consume??) and I have found myself tearing off Onken yogurts carton packaging: it started out of curiosity -and boredom, having finished a whole pot in front of friday night tv- but now I take it off religiously and conscientiously place it in my recycle bin. I also take the bottom card round off! Christ! Am I turning leafy green? Well, I can assure you that I'm not one of those people who recycles post-its.... yet....

Urban gardening

http://www.hippyshopper.com/2007/06/nodig_potatoes.html

Ok, not quite... But I've just read about a cool new way of growing your own veg on your balcony... Providing you have a square metre or two, why not plant a few potatoes? Welcome to a new breed of 'urban potatoes'. I've already got a few herb pots and I've tried growing some salads and green veg last year (urban ants ate them), but now potatoes sound ideal - they come in 40litre re-useable bags and for under £15, I can have three sacks of organic pots on my balcony. Very exciting. Perhaps I can even have my own balcony allotment soon. Anyone doing 'no dig' carrots too?

Fixie mania - part 2

why are they all so obsessed with fixies? The growing numbers of bicycles in London and the onset of the warm summer weather seems to have just pushed the fixie fetish one step further. Fixed wheel bikes are now the number one cool mode of transport in east london. I've also heard them being called 'hoxton fixies' - which means they're just a new breed of fetishised fashion accessories for hip young Londoners. Not only do they need to have the right, shiny fixed wheel bike, the matching bike messenger looking outfit -bag, trousers, shoes, even the hairdo !?- they tend to hangout in the same 'authentic' places as the rough lot. What a bunch of posers. Yet, they're pretty cool looking posers. A bit like posh kids going for the trashy torn jeans greasy hair look, or art students going all political and squatting (as opposed to those who have little choice but to live in derelict houses). But then, what's all the elitism all about? Shouldn't it be somewhat heartwarming to see so many people adopt your style? Maybe not the lifestyle but at least the physical outlook. It shows they look up to you. It's a mark of admiration and aspiration (and respect?) that so many bikers are copying the whole bike messenger approach to cycling. And besides, how could anyone mistake a biker copycat with a real guy who spends the whole day on the streets? It's unmistakable - the radio, road worn bike, dirty clothes sweaty look etc. So why the whole debate around 'fakengers' and 'hoxton fixies'? Stop being elitist and precious and just be pleased that people just think you look so good.

http://www.movingtargetzine.com/article/fakenger

Rising early ... again

Although I'm really not an eary bird or morning person, I can only confirm the article I read a few weeks back on the great reasons to get up early. After a couple of early wake up calls - yoga self practice sessions, a 5 am train to paris - I've felt , or rather been reminded, that getting up so early is a blessing and a fantastic way to start the day. Body felt refreshed, mind clear, free of built up stresses (these came later in the day) and an empty stomach brought a feeling of lightness. Bliss. Summer and early mornings are such a good combination: the light breaks at 5am, the air feels fresh and if it wasn't for the many late nights, I would be up at the crack of dawn every day. It's definitely the best time of the day, so clear, quiet and pure - maybe I'll try to switch my routine this summer.

net-aholics anonymous

stranded... with no internet.
Oh my god, I am officially addicted to internet. What do we call it - 'net-aholic'? web-aholic? God knows, but I feel completely powerless, useless, lonely and terribly frustrated. Why? An old, unpaid bill, forgotten in a pile of mail... After a few warnings, no internet, phone or tv, a lovely 're-connection' fee and a 24 hour wait to get back online! Do they not understand that I am completely reliant upon the silly
thing. What do I do for a whole morning without access to email, firefox or online news? And more importantly, what did I do before, a few years back, when I didn't have 24hrs web access? Was I Iess distracted, more focused or perhaps even smarter, wiser? Let's hope not. Come to think of it, I did read more, sleep more and go out more. However, I now read on my laptop (yes, reading articles online is just as valid as reading books or newspapers), I write more, work more (maybe not such a good thing when I find myself checking work emails on my days off) and play more with programs like photoshop, FCP and the like.Not a bad thing, but my interests and hobbies seem to have changed a lot on the past few years, or should I say evolved, or progressed with time. What worries me however, is that the lack of computer or internet suddenly creates a huge gap, lull, sense of insecurity with my abilities. What am I without my computer as an extension of my abilities? What am I able to do? What do I want to do? In this particular instance I discovered that a morning of 'unconnected' peace was very soothing in many ways. Frustrating at first, but as hours went by, I found the extra time useful - besides an extended yoga self practice, I deep cleaned the flat, gave my balcony a mini makeover, repotted and watered my plants, started a new book and even found time to play with kitty. Pleasant time to spend a morning, but perhaps not my ideal way of living either. I'm a net-aholic and shamelessly admit it.

early risers

Getting up early is for me, like millions of others, a hard task. Especially if you're used to work at night, like me. I love being an early bird though, and when I do make the gruelling effort to get up early (when I mean early, it's usually 6am- anything before that is just cruel), I feel so good all day - well mostly. And here are 10 good reasons to make the switch from being a night owl to an early bird:

http://zenhabits.net/2007/05/10-benefits-of-rising-early-and-how-to-do-it/

critical mass 25/05

an update...
Ok, so the police was there in force -as usual- camera crews were around, toggers all over and hundreds of cyclists - more than I've ever seen on a ctitical mass ride. hum, ok, I've only done two so far so perhaps not the best comparison. Still, rumors were that the BBC feature triggered heaps of interest, and keen bikers came out to support free cycling in London and just have a fun ride around. It was mostly harmless, free spirited and light, just as it should be. The slow journey took us from waterloo to trafalgar square, down to buckingham palace to salute the queen and stop a limo and a 4/4 on the way, and piss off quite a few black cabs. The best thing about the critical mass rides is the traffic chaos caused throughout central London. Shouldn't that just make people think, reflect on how ridiculous traffic has become? Why drive when you can cycle or walk around?
Well for me it's always a scene of visual amazement, amusement - a display of bikes of all sorts, from cool to just weird, and just a few hours of fun, laughter and freedom in central london. Oh and the ride somehow ended with an improvised game of cricket in the middle of charing cross road! Wacky and cool. Brilliant.

We are a mass

wo-hooo... on my bike again later for the critical mass bike ride... This one promises to be quite memorable - and there might even be a few wrangles with the police along the way. These bike rides happen every last friday of the month, and take cyclists on an improvised journey around london. Reclaiming the streets, making way for a swarm of bikers - some cool, some with perhaps a little too much hair and leaflets, but hey, they're all sharing the same free spirit and all want to take over the streets for a few hours. How harmful can this be?
BBC News has just reported some possible activity with the police later, so should be a fun one.... Lets see what happens....
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6690513.stm

Too much

God I can't bear it, there's just too much going on online - I can't keep up! Between msn, skype, my 4 (main) emails, my flickr page, my blog, youtube and now facebook, it's crazy. So many sites, so little time, so much time to waste. Or is it? What exactly are they for? Entertainment? Education? Work? Friendship? I am confused. As much as I love spending time online and find the internet truly fascinating, useful and amusing, I'm finding myself more and more drawn into the whole thing and I'm a little scared. I'm spending far too much time online, updating my profile, pictures, emailing friends, chatting to family, writing, editing - and is it all worth it? Can I manage without it? Probably. And then I'd be missing out on a lot, and probably wouldn't be half as efficient. It's a love-hate relationship. Me and my macbook.... And now, my facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=581020232

What's happening to our trees???

Yikes - where are me trees?
The news is out and it's not nice - and definitely not green. We're losing our street trees. Following an upcoming enquiry by the GLA (greater london authority) the media has massively picked up on the fact we're losing a huge number of our street trees. Up to 2% a year in London I hear: it may not seem like much, but if you think about how long a mature tree takes to grow, it's quite scary. And 2007 was meant to be a green year, I've read everywhere that 'green is the new black' etc. So why are they dissapearing? One of the main causes is building subsidence issues for insurers, roots damaging water pipes, CCTV operators and mobile phone companies arguing that branches obstruct vision etc.
At the same time, Ken Livingston is going on about making London greener, reducing traffic, pollution and noise, but what's the point if we have no trees? Plant a new one in the right place perhaps? Is it all about 'correct' urban planning? This is definitely a long term solution, but then it takes years, decades, to grow a sapling into a beautifully mature tree - which defeats the point of cutting it down in the first place. Can we not work around them, rather than chop them down when causing the slightest disturbance? Unbelievably, some people really dislike trees - hate them with a passion when they happen to be in front of their house, their sole presence being problematic. Arguments against trees range from shade, falling leaves, branches or unruly roots. Because trees are living and thus can't really be controlled in the way some would like it. Still, I don't see it as an excuse to cut down a tree which may be older than your own mother, or even your house. Pure selfishness and ignorance. I'll opt for a green city, not a bleak concrete mass.

A slice of eco-heaven

Munch munch.... I've just been treated to a fabulously satisfying and ethically correct dinner - nowhere else than the hyped Konstam restaurant in King's Cross, made famous by the BBC series, Urban Chef. The place s modern, stylish and yet feels incredibly cosy - the jars of homemade jams and preserves stacked on the sheves give the place a homely touch. So what about the food? I'm not a restaurant critic or expert, but the dishes were delightfully presented, so seasonal, and very satisfying. A simple starter of leek, potato and dill soup was so creamy I could have easily slurped a second bowlful. Having spent ages to make my mind up, I then opted for seabass with cauliflower puree and greens. Seabass from the Thames perhaps? That's where I get confused... In theory -according to the TV series and PR blurb- all the food served in the restaurant should be sourced locally - and when you're based in Kings Cross, this means withing the M25. So I slyly interrogated our charming waiter on whether my seabass had been lingering near the Houses of Parliament for long: "well, not quite" he answered. "It comes from further east, close to the Thames estuary, and I can assure you it was caught last night". So not quite from London, but close enough. Besides, how would I know - it was delicious, melted in the mouth and was probably fresher than fish from Borough market.
The owner, Ollie Rowe's ethos is to source all (or at least a majority) of his produce locally. Sounds like a crazy idea, but it's definitely the way forward for ethical, seasonal and healthy food. Why bother eating anything out of season? Food will inevitably taste far better when it's fresh, seasonal and local (less food miles also means pollution and encourages more sustainable farming). The 'made in London' etiquette may seem to be a bit of a crazy idea -and a clever pr stunt- but it works well, fronts a real trend for good, seasonal produce, which just makes sense. Throw in some creative recipes, top chefs, cool interior design and you're got a winning combination. Yum, my stomach's rumbling again...
http://www.konstam.co.uk

A whole load of greenwash?

So we've heard all about it - this year, everyone should be green, ethical and environmentally aware. Our 'eco-consciousness' seems to have hit a new height and everyone wants to be seen as being green. Green is the new black and so on... Aren't we all already bored and blase by this? Of course, it's only right that we should become ever more aware of our own environment, we should be thankful for living in what is a relativel clean, healthy, moderate climate and surrounding and need to do what we can to protect it. The fact celebrities and high profile personalities are supporting these issues seems however, to make it verge on the border of a 'fad'. Making something trendy or cool, only dooms it to one day becoming out of trend and out of the public agenda. Although most, including myself, see green issues as here to stay and become engrained in our psyche -in the same way as being organic or vegetarian have- there is always a little corner of my mind which says that maybe something better, cooler, trendier, might turn up, grabbing and diverting the public's attention to this something else. Of course, all genuine and real greenies out there aren't as fickle as trends and will carry on campaigning for all that is green. Thos mere trend folowers (who incidentally, loved the carbon offsetting, conscience clearing, buying the 'I am not a plastic bag' bag - those who simply love buying), may just latch onto a new trend and ditch their compost bin as easily as they bought it. Well, it was smelly and somewhat unpractical wasn't it?
Let's hope this doesn't happen. Although all the bad press carbon offsetts have been getting lately aren't doing the cause any favours. It makes it just too easy to dismiss green issues and switch back to our high carb diet - carbon that is. So I'm all up for ignoring any greenwash paranoia and keep doing my bit to help - and that'll hopefully go beyond my weekly recycling bag...

Fixie mania

East London's become the kingdom of fixie heaven - for ones 'in the know', this means fixed wheel racing type bikes. It's always been a trend for bike enthusiasts, but in the last year it seems to have somewhat grown into a fad. Right, so sales of ordinary bikes in London have doubled, if not tripled, in the last couple of years (some say it was related to the tube terror attacks, others argue it's the rise of tube fares and the sheer convenience and freedom of riding a bike in town). No matter what, general awareness and interest in bicycles has hugely grown in London, and supposedly cool hoxtonites and east londoners haven't missed out on that one. Ok, so who am I to comment - being both an east londoner and a newly fixed wheel convert? What I have been witnessing, much to my amusement, a development of what I call 'bike porn'. Like car show offs, bike show offs like exposing, touring their newly purchased 2 wheel drive, flashy, shiny, expensive and of course, fixed. "I'm cool, I can afford to live in a cool part of town, so therefore I adhere to the coolness of owning a fixed wheel bike". Well nearly. Why have they become so popular? Is courier chic the new trend? When is biker chic going to grace the pages of Vogue or Elle? Soon perhaps; sporty is in, so why not? So couriers ooze coolness, confidence, power and freedom - they own the streets, swerve between traffic, avoiding cars, bendy buses and flirting with danger. It's the beauty of relying on nothing else but your legs - and alert mind. Then there's the coolness of being fit, though slightly scruffy - being on the streets all day doesn't help... So yes, many couriers live in east london. Many couriers ride fixies. Many artists and trend following/setting designers also live in the same part of town (it's cheap, arty and of course, cool). So inevitably, fixies have become part of the uniform. In the same way as drinking organic lager at the foundry or doing your vintage shopping down bricklane has. There's nothing wrong with that, but somehow, it seems to have lost - or at least seems to be losing- part of its unique, special charm. As Sheldon Brown's website beautifully describes: "When you ride a fixed gear, you feel a closer communion with your bike and with the road. There is a purity and simplicity to the fixed-gear bicycle that can be quite seductive." So true. wow.
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixed.html

Un-ethical Coke

Another reason to give up coke...
Not that I drink any coca cola, but here's yet another reason to really NOT buy it. Of course, it rots your teeth (or arguably damages your brain if you opt for the sugar free version) makes you hyper, bloats you and just generally doesn't have any health benefits, but it's also totally unethical. Nothing new perhaps but I picked up a leaflet the other day, explaining and condemning Coca Cola's actions in India. Coke Justice claims that Coca-Cola is destroying lives, livelihoods and communities, by highlighting a 'pattern of abuse' emerging from their factories in India - water scarcity, pollution of land and water and pesticides in drinks. Their global campaign has already put much pressure on Coca-Cola, and has led them to lose money from sales and legal fees in India. Hardly anything compared to what they earn globally, but it's a start and definitely another dent into their somewhat frail reputation. I really like this campaign and think more should be done to support it - www.cokejustice.org

East versus west

I've always been a big fan of the east London, of EC1, the City and beyond. Some friends swear otherwise. 'West is best'... A half hour cycle trip to the other side of town only reinforced my sense of belonging to the east side. Although people make their niche wherever they are, the polished, clean west part of town just isn't my thing. I've been there on quite a few occasions, admired the charming, well kept, terraced houses, cool cafes and shops, but the hoards of tourists and visitors -like me!- are just a real turn off, which was perhaps made worse by two close shaves on the road with typically pretentious, disrespectful drivers.
So back to the east side... As soon as I hit Clerkenwell road, I had the strange sensation of feeling at home again - as if I'd left town for the afternoon. Whizzing past the quiet, empty Guardian offices, overpriced loft spaces and studios, a wave of peace and happiness took over. Then past down the ever busy Old street, the concrete maze which is the Barbican, the superimposition of modernity and a few old landmarks (the jellied eel van off Aldgate doesn't count). The real grey, gritty, dirty stuff. Go further east it gets worse, but that's the London I love - both transient and present, filthy and fascinating, dirty and yet arty. I hear it's one of the most 'rooted' and historic place in town. Home sweet home, east London.

Sugar Rush

Easter eggs, warm weather and bank holidays - it all seems too good to be true. First day off and I already feel I've overdosed on sugar, drinks and general merriness. Three more days to go, god knows how (un) rested I'll be after a supposedly long break. A trip to Borough Market this morning - for an overpriced tea session-seems to have topped it off. A sugar laden cupcake and macaroon, washed down with mild coffee, seemed at the time like a great late morning boost, but less than two hours later - and a few cycling miles away- my artifically, sugar induced high, had worn off, leaving me even lower than at the start. This seems to be a regular pattern for me and for those who often succomb to sweet treats - and Easter is just one other excuse to unleash the sugar.
It's a widely known fact that sugar is a great boost - it's immediately absorbed into the bloodstream- which is why all the branded energy bars, are full of it. Fine when you're physically active, but it's a simple fact that most of us would rather simply sit around and scoff leftover easter eggs. And the more sugar we ingurgitate, the worse we feel in the long run.
So ditch the sugar, don't polish off all the easter eggs (in one sitting) - go for a walk in the sun or on an egg hunt instead!
On the delights of sugar:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar#Sugar_and_hyperactivity

Urban ramblers

A day of urban loitering in east london.

I've just been on the most amazing voyage of urban (self) discovery. Touching the urban space, the old paved streets, crumbling brick walls and smelly city farm animals. A beautifully sunny spring day, a feeling of absolute freedom, exploring some dark, filthy, litter strewn underpasses, paths, only to once again be reminded that beauty and art both lie in the most unexpected, ordinary places.
Encounters with the unexpected local street people, also improvised tour guides, alcohol induced ramblings, street explorations and learning more about the areas we think we know so well - but don't. How often have I walked past the old school of Weaver Street, without even stopping to think what it could hide behind its imposing brick walls. I discovered an oasis of calm, peace, art and wildlife. A mini eco-sphere with cactuses, animals, mediterranean plants and banana trees - in the midst of concrete-ville, Bricklane and the City. A home to wild animals and artists alike. A beautiful, enchanting, inspiring site.
The urban exploration walk led us to another urban oasis of the east end, spitalfields city farm, with its goats, sheep and single pig, and its genteel, genuine approach to enjoying the city. It acts as an alternative space for residents, children, families and volunteers, to escape concrete and see that deep green roots cane be laid wherever one chooses to.
We circled about 500 metres altogether and yet discovered, within such a small space, a vast world, land of diversity, knowledge, art and natural beauty.
A stone's throw away, Bricklane seems like a rather alien, bland and superficial world. A road of shopping, a fake pretense to 'alternative' consumerism and authentic east end experience....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/innac/sets/72157594582658746/

www.malinky.org

Feeling low...

It's a sunny day, spring blossoms and bulbs are out, trees are being planted as I write this, and yet I'm feeling low. Chocolate overdose or general lack of motivation, creativity? Perhaps the daunting prospect of chun's latest thesis chapter which I keep putting back?
I think I'll blame it on the building site outside my flat - waking me every morning at 8am,with a loud drilling and background builder's banter. Not that I have anything at all against builders but loud shouts and indelicate talk isn't the most attractive way to wake up every morning - and this has been an issue for the last 8 months. Yet I can't blame them for feeling down today, but what I definitely maintain, is my utter annoyance at having a crane staring at me every day, knowing I cannot walk around freely in my flat, without worrying if some dirty old builder may be watching. I am not biased or mean, that's the truth. My truth. How much longer will it last?

last week...

haha, nearly week 4 and where's the progress? I'm not usually a quitter but I must say this is getting really hard. As much as I loooovvvee chocolate, this stuff is sickly, rich, thick and not really kind on my overall health... Also, I admit that I've been consuming chocolate under other forms, and in perhaps slightly gentler versions - do cadburys dairy buttons count at all?

So I propose the following - I will dig into Montezumas until samurai chun returns and then the whole thing will be transformed into a big chocolate fest - brownies, fudge cake - you name it and I will make it. Any takers?

ps - the damage is much work - this was last week's photo- I am ashamed to upload this week's.

http://www.joyofbaking.com/chocolatefudge.html

choco diary - week 3

Nearly week 3 and the damage is getting quite bad - on both the bar and my health. Spots are out with a vengeance, I'm feeling a bit sickly and drawn into a whole cycle of chocolate addiction. Why is it I can't stop? What chemical substance or ingredient creates a need for more, yet more, even though I know I've eaten more than I should? The sensual, melting feeling, bittersweet taste and intense sensation make it highly addictive, but I know it goes beyond the purely sensual pleasure. Maybe the lack of sex or attention? Probably not. Now into the serious stuff. Research has shown that there are substances in chocolate (alongside polyphenols and some magnesium, which are undoubtedly good for you) -Phenylethylamine, Theobramine and Tryptophan, which all make it pleasurable and hence, addictive. In this case, I'm not having the sugar-laden variety, so the addiction lies -partly at least- in these somewhat magical substances. The other part, I reckon, would be emotional. How many ads, mostly aimed at women, draw onto the sensual pleasure of chocolate, something personal and selfish. Very true - I don't crave chocolate when I'm with people; it only happens on my own - and what a terribly selfish habit. Is it perhaps filling a gap in my mental state, a deep insatiable well? Whatever... Just shut up and eat the bloody thing.

on the 'psychological effects of chocolate':

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chocolate#Physiological_effects

choco diary - week 2

week two... and I'm doing pretty well. Ok, so I've nibbled well into the second square, but I'm quite impressed at my self discipline and my regular, but modest chipping into the kilogram chocolate bar. I will admit that I have other bars of chocolate open at the same time (did I say 'bars', oops, meant singular...), which may partly explain why I've been behaving. I doubt it'll last very long - the behaving that is.

check out all the other good stuff at Montezuma's website.... yum.... http://www.montezumas.co.uk/

choco diary - week 1

Week one

Chun's left for a month - and has done so in style- he's left me with a big fat slab of 75% cocoa, organic fairtrade chocolate - one Kilo bar to last me for a month. Will it though? Having counted all the squares, my calculations are that I would have to consume over 200 grammes a week to finish it by the time he gets back - which equates to a daily, constant munch - nearly a standard bar a day. Quite ambitious isn't it? Shall I be selfish and stuff my face, delve into utter sensual pleasure, in order to finish the damn stuff, or shall I discipline myself and religiously section off a few squares a week? Such a tough question asks for an equally tough answer.
The next few weeks may very well end up being the most unhealthy, choci-fied ones in my whole life, but who knows, this could be a wonderful, life changing experience, in which I discover the benefits (or disatrous after-effects) of eating humungous amounts of chocolate.

I must note that this may not be my only source of consumption of chocolate ....

it's hot, let's switch off

yup, it's been a really hot month -mostly- we've had birds tweeting at night, early blooms and sprouting bulbs, so why are we still keeping heaters on, opening windows and walking around in T-shirts at home? I'm not complaining, but Christian Aid is claiming that if we all turned our thermostats down by one degree, it would help us combat drought in Africa (www.climatechanged.org ). Seems a little ambitious, but it does make my parents -whose central heating has broken down for now 2 years- seem like saints. Bless them...