Time to hit the trail

Am SO excited - I finally got a proper backpack for day hikes, etc. Nothing fancy or big, but enough for an overnight somewhere. Purchased at our friendly neighbourhood Millets, where Vicki was incredibly friendly and helpful, without being pushy. So - I sent a comment e-mail to say so. So often I think people are quick to complain, but unlikely to compliment. So, thanks Vicki - and I'll think of you when we finally go on our next ramble...

Friday night cocktails

Had a very enjoyable Friday evening at my friend Cat's - over from New York for 6, er 12, er 18+ months (and hopefully longer - let's see how much convincing we can do!). She hosted an open house casual Friday night gathering. I love going to things at hers because she's always got a great mix of guests with interesting stories & lives & fun things to talk about.

More interesting, however, were the 2 thirty-somethings at the party who were found, um, cuddling in the coat room... I half expected someone's mom to come downstairs and tell us off for loud music!

So - thanks Cat for the bash, and look forward to the next invite...

The dream is over...

I had such great hopes after the Italy - US game... but Ghana was too much... ah well - bring on World Cup 2010! And c'mon you Socceroos!

If it's June, it must be graduation season

Indeed - and congratulations to both of my siblings-in-law on their graduate school graduations this weekend... to Jess, well done on the PhD, and I still want to read your book (and look forward to it finally toppling Dan Brown off of the Amazon best sellers chart) and to Amy, congrats too on the MBA (look forward to you finally toppling Amazon in the big business world)

Yawn - up too early...

Belated happy birthday to MY DAD / aka Poppy!

(for anyone who can't figure it out - the picture is both of us at Rachel's Bat Mitzvah last month...)

Is summer finally here?

I don't want to tempt fate, but summer may have finally arrived this weekend... fingers crossed! As such, we had a sporty outside-y weekend as much as possible - lovely... (umm - except for the work I was supposed to be doing). Yesterday went for a run for the first time in ages - a bit scary, as I'm doing the British 10k in only 4 weeks.

Then today I went for my first cycle of the year - and discovered a) you really don't forget how to ride a bike, phew b) most people on the towpath are selfish and clearly deaf. HOW many times did I ring my little bell to warn of my approach. WHY do people think that means "stop, wander to the left and right to determine where the sound might be coming from, but in all cases remain walking 2, 3, or 4 people across?"

And I'm only a moderate cyclist. In fact, I don't think I can even call myself a cyclist when I'm still scared to go on the road. And I've not yet taken the plunge & ridden to work. But still - pedestrians are annoying. Except when I am one.

At least I managed to arrive safely (and without taking out any of the meandering walkers, or "pavement plaque", as my friend margot calls them) - at our luncheon destination: Stein's - "London's first and only Bavarian Biergarten". Ok - so I wasn't there for the beer, but the potato salad was yummy... and I exercised on my way there, so it has no calories, right?