What a difference two years makes – Kathryn’s onto her sixth international competition now, and a World Record (and a new boyfriend) under her belt. I am still fat.
(But my abs must be shrinking automatically just being in the presence of these trim and well toned athletes). Its been an absolute pleasure hanging around here chilling out and watching the competition progress, the trials and tribulations, the equipment failure, the triumph of the human spirit, and a bit of kinky yoga. I even tried out my first ever static under Kathryn’s watch – I did a 2:45 Personal Best (by default, of course) which is not bad for a first one, I am told.
What is now different in Dahab compared to Slovenia is that this is depth rather than length, out in the ocean, in a deep cavity of 90meters. It’s less of a spectator sport than in the pool, but nevertheless exhilarating watching these athletes from an eclectic mix of countries and backgrounds try and smash their own, their country’s and the world’s biggest achievements. I camp out on the beachside café with Middle-Eastern style sitting lounges over looking the reef, serving the most fantastic moussaka and mango lassi, and go for a bit of a dip and snorkel whenever the heat beckons. The results - our Kiwi Katfish Kathryn took Bronze on first day at Static with 5 minutes 25 seconds, a National Record in Monofin on the second day with 58 meters, and a Gold for overall best achieving team – more on her blog.
But for me – Party! (and another Jeepatastic ride home)
If bleakness had a colour it would be light grey with a tint of purple.
This is now the depth of winter in old London town. Here I am sitting in my shoebox, a tiny spec amongst the millions of tiny windows lined up in the dark when you look across the city's skyline. The withered leaves have long been swept away and the trees stand bare in the faint neon flushed sky like skeletons lost amongst the buildings and mist. I am scrunched up in a brown striped, fluffy, oversized and overheating jumper I brought in the Netherlands last weekend, resembling more or less the Lion without Courage from The Wizard of Oz. The muddy bottom of my jeans hang drying behind the door and my horrible wet socks are contaminating the rest of the laundry in the hamper. Its not so much the cold or the rain that gets me, but the lack of sunshine time that's giving me a bit of subconscious anxiety. According to Daiv its a proper diagnosed disease called SAD , but then again I am also quite prone to hypochondria. I am just not coping with the early afternoon darkness at the moment and I am desperate to hang out in jandals. Alas it must be December when I am biologically clocked to be sweaty and tanned.
Despite the dreary weather, the Brits who are obviously very used to it keep up the sanity by continuing to gather up in toasty pubs and restaurants and markets and shops across the city, cheering aloud in the festive season, completely ignoring the sharp winds channeling through those damp dark alley ways and the occasional dumps of ‘slush’ on the sidewalks. Every where you go there are Christmas lights dazzling in your eyes, reminding you how bright and cheerful you should be feeling in these darkest hours. Everywhere you go the pints keep flowing and the roasts keep piping, people keep smiling and the irreverent jokes keep mocking. Who says the Brits don’t know how to have fun?
Its been 40 weeks in London, which means about 12 weeks to go before my visa's out and I'll certainly be on the road again. Thinking about the impending departure I have many mixed feelings. No way am I going to spend another winter in England voluntarily I tell myself, but at the same time I’m continuing to have the most ecstatic time here – every day is still fresh and exciting here, and every corner I turn there are still surprises and new things, I keep meeting new and interesting people, and uncover more and more about the whys and why-nots of people do things certain ways on these fair isles. And the endless parties, gigs, pub crawls…. If it wasn’t for administrative confrontations I would no doubt be spending a few more years here, and if not forever, but I am not a fan of bureaucracy and so I am going to pluck myself away before I can’t. This contagious lifestyle of being on a constant high is almost like being in another type of comfort zone, and I know in the long run I’ll be so complacent in this that I don’t extend myself further else where. So yes, it might just be a blessing in disguise. Looking at a March/April departure for a few months traveling then maybe six months or so in Germany, and home via India if it all works out. Watch this space. Meanwhile, Shanti and I are hoping to be in Turkey and Iran for the Christmas break - but only if the Iran visa comes through.... fingers crossed!!
Updates to come in the near future re: Amsterdam, Cambridge, Bonn, Croatia and Dublin. Meanwhile, videos of a few of London's collection of sporting events that I was lucky enough to observe:
London to Brighton Veteran Car Run 2/11/08
Held on the first Sunday in November every year pretty much since 1896, where the original run celebrated the official passing of the law which allowed cars (or Locomotives as they were then known as) were allowed onto public roads for the first time in Briton. Its a nostalgic spectacle of a collection of beautiful old vintage cars (the rule is that the participating vehicle has to be made before 1905!) which chug along at 20km per hour from London to Brighton - of course many don't make it there, some didn't even make it out of Hyde Park where the run starts, but hey, what a splendid morning for all of us cheering those old fellows along!!
Bike Polo in Brick Lane crica November 08
Urban East end boys answer to the aristocratic horse-sport, quite a craft really. Not surprisingly all the players are cute! First invented in 1891 by the Irish (who else would come up with this?), but enjoying a recent modern revival.
Football - Chelsea vs Burnley 12/11/08
On Deno's invitation I arrived at my first ever live football match at Chelsea's home ground at Fulham Broadway. The sheer size and atmosphere is larger than life - its the biggest ground and largest crowd this poor little church mouse has ever seen! Having limited interest in the actual game, its amusing people watching. I consider the fans behaviour like those overbearing parents at Saturday school matches, shouting and tormenting their own team when they are doing badly, while reverting to cheering madly and devoutly to chants during the intervals completely forgiving any mistakes the players would have made just five seconds earlier, and then acting like complete bigots by jeering and swearing when the opposing team scores. And when the home team lost the final penalty shoot, the crowd drops into dead silence and clears the stadium mournfully. Human nature at its most blatant and most honest and finest hour.
dwfn yw'r gwendid bychan yw y fflam Creulon yw'r cynhaef ond per yw'r dôn 'Da' alaw'r alarch unig yn fy mron Every day when I wake up I thank the Lord I'm Welsh
Darganfyddais gwir baradws Rhyl Gwledd o fedd gynhyrfodd Cymraes swil Every day when I wake up I thank the Lord I'm Welsh
Translation of this post is courtesy to Inter Trans
'm 'n flaen argraffau chan Cymru fel a teenager hysbyswyd at Catatonia , 'r 'n gyfriniol , dywyllwch - hued - namyn - chyneua - hearted , 'n gathaidd - yn lleisio quirky indy aig a cyrchedig 'r byd dendio - yn baglan canau cara ‘ Road Rage ' a ‘Don't Need the Sunshine '. Acha Difiau hwyr Chyflea off chan Paddington acha a 3 awr deithio i mewn i 'r asgre chan Cymru mewn arafa chludiad yn chwyrlïo ar gerdded chan 'r fachlud haul.
Fel 'n ebrwydd fel basiasom Caerdydd 'r chyweiria chyfundrefn a acenion 'r ffordd a bopeth chan chyflea enwau at cerrynt amneidiau at hyffordda chyhoeddiadau dorrwyd 'n ddwyieithiol i mewn Saesneg a Cymraeg ydy 'n anaelau 'n gampus , Synnais a iawn argraffedig ag a guy acha 'r ffôn 'm heneiddia a hun chofnod was yn lladd busnes ddelia i mewn Saesneg a was 'n gyfnesaf 'n abl at areithia Cymraeg 'n ffraeth yn sylwi 'r yn eistedd arfaetha am eiddo brawd s briodas i mewn Caerdydd 'r trannoeth.
M-8 cyffyrddedig 'm am 'r annwyd a 'n ddigysgod arllwys Abertawe gorsaf am 9pm, a cenfaint i mewn 'r dywyllwch a gwlych a 'n nifylog hwyr drwo chulha a yn am-droi ffyrdd ( do bu 'n waedlyd scary) drwo at Marloe Sands ble seiliasom ourselves achos 'r 'n gyfnesaf 'n dri ddiwrnod s exploration chan 'r Penfro Hwylio Gyda'r tir.
'n le ydy brofiad i mewn itself. 'r YHA Hostel am Marloe Sands ydy a superb hychydig brycha , jyst off bannod chan 'r Penfro Coastal Cerdd route overlooking a typical jiggered chlogwynau a 'r Skomer Islandseabird addoldy ) mewn lluniwr amaetha carega d] , a feddianedig ar y pryd 'n fwyaf at deuluoedd 'n angerddol am hiking , lawer chanddyn yn cymeryd 'n hwy 'n ieuanc blant chanddyn. 'i 'n ddiamodol 'n ardderchog at ddeffro i fyny at a 'n nifylog bore yn arogleuo 'r aig , ag 'r gwlych am-dro yn chwythu i mewn i 'ch bais. 'r gwyllt blodau a cellïau yn amgylchu gwna 'i a yn llacio chyflea at archwilia ar ôl a hun - catered brecwasta. Hun would , hagen , angen at bod 'n anaelau 'n effro am yn camu acha hun chan hyn 'n frwnt buggers – humongous slugs 'r faint chan a brifiedig ddyn s bodia , rhyw ddyhea a chyneua 'n frown , a others , cara darluniedig , ydy 'n anhydwf a 'n frown a 'n arfog ag a yn diflasu yn disgwyl chrau - 'n lliwiog cant. ( bydew , ]n 'n ddiniwed 'n sylweddol , namyn 'ch jyst all t chyfnertha yn meddwl hyn bethau ydy 'n waedlyd chornia 'n anhardd ).
--> So this is what I’ve figured out – if English people talk like they are joggling golf balls in their mouths, and Scottish people talk like they are slurping cold noodles, then Welsh people talk like they are chewing a couple of these giant slugs.--> Day 1: Pembroke, Coastal Path #1 & Tenby
Penbroke & Pembroke Castle
M-8 a Fi bumbled along ar hyd i mewn 'n hychydig 'n ardrethol car at Penfro a bustley hychydig dref i mewn 'r canol chan 'r Cymraeg chyngaws ag a 'n iach a vibrant bentref buchedd ble 'r locals ymddangosedig llaciedig namyn feddianedig ag 'n bwysig cenadwriau ar y cyd. Ar ôl yn cael afael chan rhyw 'n amheuthun espresso i mewn dref , Buais bydew perked i fyny ag 'm bushy chloren a off aem at archwilia Penfro Castella. Bu Norman Castella Birthplace chan Harri VII ar yn disgwyl 'r dref amgylchedig at a scary yn disgwyl moat a 'r 'n dalgryf structures 'n ddiogel adeiladedig acha briga chan hogof a was i mewn arfer i mewn 'r carega heneiddia , a wedi bod utilised fel a storage arwynebedd at 'r Castella er yn bod adeiladedig i mewn 1063. Odiaeth impressive!
Manorbier Castella ar hyd 'r hwylio gyda'r tir at Dinbych-y-pysgod Cathrenasom i lawr at Manobier Castella achos lunch , 'r chychwynfa chan 'n hike achos 'r ddiwrnod ( canfod Ddiwrnod route chan 'r Pembrokeshire Hwylio Gyda'r tir Llwybr 'n Genedlaethol Llusga ) Yn byddaru 'n ddramatig chlogwynau yn difannu i mewn i 'r ddwfn tourquoise aig boundless gorwel a fizzled i mewn i 'r awyr. 'r chulha yn am-droi cerrynt i mewn gwynebu chennym yn difannu drwo hun cama chan 'r allt a yn lledrithio drwo arall i mewn 'r 'n bell. 'r ceraint chyfarfuom acha 'r ffordd ydy jyst yn anwylo. 'r cail starring 'r blacksheep chan 'r deulu , 'r 'n unig ddua adar patrolling 'r coastline ar ôl 'r drefedigaethau chan Puffins a 'n arferol buchedda 'ma had ar ôl achos 'r haf , do Gwna fetha Puff the Magic Puffin! Ni arrivedi mewn Dinbych-y-pysgod ar ôl am 5 horiau chan yn cerdded ( a yn aros choelbrennau achos yn rhoi arswyd ) Dinbych-y-pysgod – a seaside chynira dref achos 'r locals , ddiffygion 'r 'n gydwladol swankyglamour namyn has 'r i lawr at briddo jolly balfalu i mewn 'r dafarnau a 'r hystrydoedd , bechgynnos cyweiriedig i fyny at ddilyn bliant lawn bowling themed hwyr barti , blwc adlonasom ar bysgota n naddion & da 'n hen steak a mushroom bastai am a 'n lleol , a M-8 couldn't choelia am 'r yn dechrau achos caen o leiaf 3 'n amgen cuisines a 120 ddidol ddysglau acha 'r ddewislen.
Fi 'n sylweddol did ca blina yn cwblhau 'r bîr bwyedig benfras sy 'r size of mybackpack!! Yn cael fethedig 'r bara bws chan 'r hwyr ( pryd dref s bara bws ydy am 1805: 'ch ve got at addef drawsgludo 'n brudd Dybia ) chymerasom a 'n rhad taxi bacia i lawr at Manobier , yn cymeryd 10 chofnodion at ca bacia at 'r yn dechrau chan 'n hike a took 5 horiau!!
Day 2: St David's & The Really Wild Food and Countryside Festival & Coastal Path #2 'n ddiau bit hychwaneg classier na Dinbych-y-pysgod St Dafydd s ydy Prydain s 'n lleiaf caer – ond caer amdani has a Cathedral. 'i 'n sylweddol ydy a 'n arddun cathedral , Fi 'n ddiau feddedig 'r unique farchog s beddau ag 'r 'n arddun canol - hoedau yn cerfio chan 'r yn cysgu farchogion ar warthaf 'n hwy beddau.
The Really Wild Food & Countryside Festival Sylweddol Gwyllt Bau a Borthiant Chylchwyl was an 'n ardderchog showcase chan 'n draddodiadol , 'n organic a 'n dirf indigenous borthiant. Llonaid chan cellwair , gwrteithia , a sizzled ag 'n bêr arogla chan arafa arlwyedig 'n arddun 'n lleol cynhyrchedig borthiant. Cellwair achos fynnod ydy 'r hun o'r tylwyth teg angel arglwyddesau chan 'r an intriguing arddangos am bennog yn genweirio , a odiaeth 'n gyffrous , bwyall yn ergydio chydymgais a chwilota racing , ble M-8 a fi s hychydig underdog acha 'r gwyrdd diced eventually enilledig ni 50 pence.
Ferret Racing - where we won 50p - be patient with this video...
The Axe Throwing Competition
Coastal Path #2
Ni stocked i fyny acha Cymraeg Cacennau sweetish bath chan pikelette bethau ), flap jacks a a dasgu chan 'n organaidd gwynnwy chwisgi a a 'n fawr llymeitia chan latte chan 'r 'n lleol gwesty i mewn arlwy achos 'n eilia ddiwrnod chan hiking yn cychwyn ar ôl lunch. A 'n anhydwf rhodia chan dref chychwynasom chlosia 'r hôlion chlosia St Non's eglwys a tiny carega eglwys chan 'r 11th canrif – 'n amlwg achos 'r 'n gysegr-lân bydew i mewn 'i ardda a 'n amlwg chynhyrchion ddyfrha ag 'n anad yn iacháu alluoedd – oooooh laaa laa.
Fel Chrapiais feinedd bib i mewn 'r arawd hystafell. 'r golygfeydd was yn byddaru a 'n anghredadwy , a 'n amrywiadwy 'n amgen at doe hyd yn oed er 'i gostega ar 'n dal chlogwynau a hudai yn bugeila 'r eithaf fabolgampauboblogi – bod a ]n yn crogi offchortyn chan an agos vertical sigla , ai 'r dulathau i mewn 'n hwy precarious lestri yn brwydro 'r annwyd yn fferru forthcoming donnau. Eventually caem brycheuyn overlooking driban chan hynysoedd ble 'r brofedigaeth chan alfresco was jyst bit hefyd 'n bybyr at gwrthladd – ddiolch daioni neb daliedig ni! Ar ôl a hychydig dor acha cerddasom a chyfarfuom tussocks chan glasgoch , bincio a felyna blodeua shrubs o'r cychwyn , a cyffyrddedig ag gwyllt ceffylau yn campio acha 'r allt briga.
Bugeiliasom fel 'r awyr amliwia fel 'r bnawn waned i mewn i 'r chyflychwr. Caffai been am arall awr s cerdd siwrnai caem at namyn 'n ddiolchgar caem 'r bara gwasanaeth chan 'r Celtic Coaster Special Bus Ride. Hun bwyo farchoga bacia i mewn i dref jyst at fedda 'r 'n arddun fygedig bennog a M-8 ravili ag amgarn chan 'n bêr dyneredig afrod caws. YUMMMMMM!!
Day 3: Dinefwr Castle in Carmarthenshire ble bendefigion chan 'r heibio i wedi gadael 'n hwy eiddo at bod ddisgwyliedig ar ôl at 'n glws boblogi. Newton D] – a yn rhybedio 'n fideo acha 'r buchedd chan 'r Cymraeg bendefigion a 'r ''underclass'' a sychedig a lleibiedig 'n hwy arses atyn. Bugeila 'm i mewn 'r gwin seler a yn ceisio at dadrys 'r ddewislen i mewn Cymraeg!! 'na aem off acha gwlyb hychydig hike i fyny at 'r 10th Canrif castella a 'n amlwg latter ddiwrnod gwigwyliau arferedig at chymer chyflea.
Awron 'i been arailedig at cath!! Hun wee edrych ar arall 'n ddigrif castella a chymerasom 'r 'n glws a arafa 'n dri awr farchoga addef ble 'n ddiolchgar na chennym baedda - i fyny unrhyw arall deithwyr.
There is something for everyone in London. Basically that’s what makes it a little bit bizarre. Yet when you walk into this place it just seems absolutely normal, and you genuinely believe that this is what your every Joe and Josephine would do every single weekend after they knock off from Happy Hour.
Take 500 people dressed in highlighted lycra, tutus, hot pants, afros, glitter, etc etc etc team it with flashing roller blades (not blades) and a dash of beer and a DJ or two, throw them into two rings (one slow for the less suicidal and one fast for the show-offs) and dim the lights – hey presto YOU’VE GOT ROLLAAAHHHH DISSCCOOOOOOHHHH!
Taiwan is my bones; New Zealand is my flesh. The World is - ahem - my oyster served in lemon juice, shredded red onions, and a dash of kaitaia fire and vodka, or what ever else that suites my budget at the time.
What a difference two years makes – Kathryn’s onto her sixth international competition now, and a World Record (and a new boyfriend) under her belt. I am still fat.
n an absolute pleasure hanging around here chilling out and watching the competition progress, the trials and tribulations, the equipment failure, the triumph of the human spirit, and a bit of kinky yoga. I even tried out my first ever static under Kathryn’s watch – I did a 2:45 Personal Best (by default, of course) which is not bad for a first one, I am told.
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