HTMW Recaps: March 2019

I normally add a quote to the beginning of each post that sums up or enhances my writing. However, I’m going to use my monthly recaps as an opportunity to sum up the month – be it the mood, the weather, my feelings… Anything really. This month, my favourite day was our hike in Kent. I discovered how incredible hiking makes me feel. I returned from our day in the countryside feeling refreshed and relaxed, and vowing to hike more often for my mental well-being! My quote this month reflects on the power of walking for the mind, body and soul!

‘In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.’ – John Muir.

In January 2017, I announced I was going to start monthly recaps on my blog. If you missed last month’s recap, you can find it here.

Things picked up once March arrived.

I had prearranged plans throughout the month, including a coffee tasting, a trip back to Wales and a day booked in for a hike through the Kent countryside. It felt good to have things on again, after a quiet February. With my finances back on an even keel, I felt happy to spend a little more again and enjoy myself as the days lengthened and the dark winter months slowly faded into spring.

The Highlights

Heading back to Wales.

It was so lovely to go back to Wales for a long weekend for the first time since November last year. Although the weather didn’t play ball and we were subjected to lots of wind and rain, we still had a lovely time. Mum and I went out for coffee and browsed in the shops on Saturday and we all took a drive on Sunday. I spent an evening trying various types of gin with H and E, which was fun. It was chilled, relaxed and there was lots of sleeping. Perfect!

Two very different kinds of birthday party.

We celebrated G’s 31st birthday at Pianoworks in Farringdon on the Friday night, and had a really fun night out! Lots of prosecco and vodka had by all! It was so nice to catch up with O, S and A, who I don’t see as often as I’d like. The very next day, nursing a mild hangover, I went to my cousin’s 3rd birthday party. With fifteen kids running around, bubbles, pass-the-parcel and balloons everywhere, it was a slightly different birthday experience to the night before, but unexpectedly enjoyable none-the-less.

A hike in Kent.

Perhaps my favourite day of the month, in my favourite weekend of the month! E and I took an early train out into the Kent countryside and set off on a nine mile hike from Otford to Eynsford. We followed the instructions for this walk, which were really excellent and so detailed! It was nigh on impossible to get lost, and they were super simple to follow. I’d recommend this hike to anyone. It was easy with only a couple of small hills to climb and some really beautiful countryside and villages to pass through. I particularly enjoyed visiting Shoreham, a picturesque village on the River Darent. We stopped here for tea and lunch before continuing to Eynsford and catching a train back into London. If you’re a city dweller who longs for a break in the countryside now and again, then get out into Kent and take a hike!

Cheering at the London Landmarks Half Marathon.

Another early start, the day after our hike in Kent. I reluctantly agreed to join my work friends and colleagues to cheer at the London Landmarks Half Marathon. I arrived at 9.30am bearing a strong coffee and longing to still be in bed! However, as the runners came by, I found myself getting really into the cheering and I wound up having a great time! So much so that I’ve volunteered to cheer at the London Marathon at the end of April too…

A brilliant coffee tasting!

A and I found cheap tickets for this event in February and quickly booked on to attend. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it turned out to be a well thought out and very interesting experience. We tried some of the rarest, best and most expensive coffees from around the world. The coffees were paired with delicious food including an amazing Ethiopian lentil stew. Both A and I agreed it was a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon, and I’ll be keeping an eye out for other events from The Ingredientist in future!

Two delicious dinners out with my wonderful sisters!

I took E out for dim sum at Ping Pong Waterloo which is always consistently good food. We had a lovely evening catching up. It was nice to be able to treat her after she took me for dinner a month earlier. The following day, P arrived in town for the weekend and we went for dinner at Ceremony, down the road from my flat. We enjoyed some brilliant cocktails and amazing food, but were gutted to hear that the restaurant was closing! I was pleased I made it there one more time, but sad now that this excellent vegetarian restaurant is no more.

The Lowlights

Illness at the end of the month.

I ended the month in bed, wracked with aches and pains across my entire body and alternating between shivering under my duvet and throwing it off as I was too hot. This initial bout of illness was followed by a nasty cold and extreme fatigue and lack of appetite. The cold and an annoying tickly cough continue to linger on even now, more than a week later!

An anti-climactic ride on a 1930s tube train.

C and I were really excited to take a trip on a refurbished 1930s tube train from Northfields to Upminster one Sunday. However, the experience turned out to be slightly underwhelming, which was a shame. The lovely part was that we got to spend an hour or so chatting about lots of different things, but it was a shame that the trip itself wasn’t more exciting!

A horrific terrorist attack in Christchurch.

I was in bits for a few days over the awful attack on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. This country is extremely important to me, and I felt the pain and hurt every single Kiwi was experiencing. I cried a lot over this – for the victims and for the people of New Zealand. This attack was devastating. However, I’m beyond proud of how this little nation is dealing with what happened and how everyone pulled together in the wake of the attack. The strength demonstrated has been inspiring. Kia kaha, Aotearoa.

Posts This Month

The Great Barrier Reef: How to Snorkel Sustainably.

In which I outline why I visited the Great Barrier Reef, what I experienced and how you can visit in an environmentally friendly and sustainable way yourself.

What I Read This Month – March

The Russia House by John le Carre.

I chose this book to read as it was published in the year I was born, 1989. It seemed fitting to read following my 30th birthday.

I’ll be honest, it didn’t set my world on fire but it is a good, solid spy novel. A fictional depiction of life and times during the Cold War, when Britain and Russia’s spies were infiltrating each others countries and life for them was extremely dangerous.

As I read the book, I could imagine it being a great TV adaptation, much like Little Drummer Girl in 2018. However, I found myself drifting as I read. The book did not captivate me as other books did later in the month. It wasn’t fast paced, but there was a reasonably satisfying ending.

I’d recommend if you like a spy novel, but if you prefer something that will keep you a little more on the edge of your seat, then perhaps stick to James Bond.

Washington Black by Esi Edugyan.

This book was shortlisted for the 2018 Man Booker Prize, so I read it with curiosity. It started well enough and I was dragged into it. I enjoyed the story as it progressed from the plantations of Barbados to the ice fields and wastelands of the Arctic. Here, Washington Black loses his friend and master Titch to the elements. From then on, the story went downhill for me.

I frequently felt like I was merely an observer in this book. It was difficult to get close to the main characters and feel too invested in their lives. I found I could put the book down quite easily and wasn’t compelled to come back to it like I am when I read a really incredible book. The narration kept me at arms length. Towards the end I felt like Edugyan was trying to tie up loose ends, rather than focusing on keeping the audience interested.

I ended the book feeling frustrated. It had the potential to be so interesting, set in a fascinating period of history and exploring the awful practices of black slavery, but it fell short for me. It invariably felt as though the book had lost its way and was wandering aimlessly towards a conclusion. If you want to read some really good fiction on this period in history, covering slavery and race, then I’d recommend The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd instead. Alternatively, if you want a book about travel and adventure, I’d recommend many, many other books instead of this! The two I review below, just for starters…

Cycling Home from Siberia by Rob Lilwall.

I really don’t like cycling, so I always find it surprising that I enjoy books about cycling so much. Not the practicalities so much as the adventures that cyclists have as they make their way across the world. This non-fiction book was particularly interesting. The author provides insights into his religious beliefs as he makes his way slowly home from Siberia over several years.

Lilwall took an arduous, difficult and at times, out of the way route home from Siberia. He cycled through Japan, China, across South East Asia and through Papua New Guinea and Australia before setting his sights on the Tibetan plateau, Nepal and central Asia. He crossed Pakistan and Afghanistan, Iran and Uzbekistan, before heading into Europe for the final leg. His incredible adventures are interlaced with his journey of self-discovery. Lilwall doesn’t shy away from admitting when he’s exhausted and fed up. He is refreshingly honest and open about his faith which provides an interesting angle to the book.

I highly recommend this book. I could barely put it down and felt excited to board the train each evening so I could read some more!

Arabia: A Journey through the Heart of the Middle East by Levison Wood.

I’ve been meaning to read this book for months and when I finally got around to it, it did not disappoint. I have a long held fascination in the Middle East, and Wood outlines his journey around the Arabian Peninsula beautifully.

Wood travels to observe and explore other cultures, trying to get beyond preconceptions, judgement and stereotypes. He goes to countries that others might avoid to try and meet local people and paint a real picture of the place he’s travelling in. His adventures are fascinating and keep you hooked. In this book alone, Wood is smuggled into Yemen, travels through Saudi Arabia and meets the locals there. He also visits war-torn Iraq and Syria, even travelling to the front line with troops who are clearing out Isis. His book is educational without being stuffy. He avoids ramming his beliefs and viewpoints down your throat, giving the reader room to make up their own minds about things.

He is an inspiration to someone like myself, who longs to visit far-flung and little explored countries to provide unbiased insights into new cultures. Wood paints beautiful pictures of the countries he visits with the words he chooses to describe his experiences. I can’t recommend this book enough. For anyone who has even the faintest interest in the Middle East and its long, complicated history, this is a must-read!

Instagram Pictures of the Month

My photos this month are from London, Wales and Kent, with one throwback to my time spent in Doubtful Sound, New Zealand.

I choose these three images based on which got the most likes on Instagram and then tell the story behind the picture. Disclaimer: They are not necessarily my favourite photos!

The Most Beautiful Place in the Most Beautiful Country, Doubtful Sound, New Zealand.

I posted this photo after the attacks in Christchurch, hoping to depict how utterly beautiful and special this small country is. I wanted to share the grief I was feeling, but also encourage resilience and strength. It seemed like the perfect image to share given the circumstances.

Blue London, Tower Bridge, London.

An image taken from atop Tower Bridge, looking out across the Thames. It was a beautiful day, with bright skies and for once, the colour of the city shone blue. This photo catches the colour and moods of London that particular day.

Farewell Sunset, Powys, Wales.

I got Dad to pull over and climbed out of the car, camera ready. After days of rain and murky grey skies, the sun had come out to sink impressively below the horizon. A blaze of glory bidding me farewell until I next returned home. I snapped a few images. This was my favourite.

My Favourite Image: March 2019.

For 2019, I’ve introduced something new. I’m now adding my personal favourite image of the month in these recap posts. This means that you’ll now get to find out even more about my life in London or my travels!

Blossoms at St Botolph, Aldgate, London.

I walked from Fenchurch Street Station to Brick Lane. I was eager to stretch my legs after our ride on the 1930s tube train. The skies were dishwater grey and the blossom shone pink against this backdrop. I snapped this photo on route and loved how it turned out.

Coming Up in April

I’m away for two weekends in April. First up, I’m heading to Munich to visit C. I’m really excited to head back to Munich and to spend time with C. No doubt she will show me around. It’ll be nice to visit with a bit more money than I had last time!

Over Easter weekend, I’m going back to Wales to spend Easter with my family and a couple of friends. I can’t remember the last time I spent Easter at home! It’s going to be lovely.

I have other, tentative plans at present. No doubt the month will shape out to include a mix of my usual activities! Drinking, socialising, maybe a trip to the cinema, maybe a hike…

Be sure to follow my Instagram feed and stories for all the latest on my life!