Well, with 4 weeks to go, my training for the London marathon is going well. I've been focusing this time on my pace, making sure that I don't start out too quickly and burn out (which is what happened in the Gold Coast marathon in 2004). I've also tried running around the actual course that we will be doing on the day. Much of the marathon is run in East London, so it is a bit of a pain for me to get to (as we live in West London), but I've managed. I'm hoping to fit another couple of runs on the course in before the big day (23rd April, the Sunday after the Easter weekend).
Having received a guaranteed 'good for age' entry into the marathon, I didn't at first realise that it is quite difficult to get a place in the marathon. Most people get a place by running for a charity, which requires them to raise a minimum of 1000-1500 pounds (approx $2,400-$3,500). I was encouraged by my grandmother's brother and sister-in-law (who live here in London) to run for charity nonetheless; they suggested I run for the National Autistic Society (NAS), as their grand-daughter has autism. So I sent an enquiry email to NAS. They replied promptly that they would love to have me run for NAS, and sent me a running vest to wear on the day plus some extra info.
I have set up a website for people to donate money to the NAS directly. This site gives you more info on what the money may be used for, and you can use Visa or MasterCard to donate. It also allows you to leave a message for me :)
Note that this is entirely voluntary - I don't have to raise any minimum amount for the NAS, so any money that is donated will be a bonus for them :) If you would like to give, here is the website address:
http://justgiving.com/natalievasey
.... More updates to follow...
Monday, March 27, 2006
Commonwealth Games
Now that the games are over I thought I would share what it has been like over here during the games.
The BBC coverage was good but heavily biased towards the Brits. For the most part, you needed to forget that there were events where British countries didn't place.
And the whinging about the Australian performances was upfront. The jealousy palpable. I found it frustrating to watch the coverage when apparently professional commentators were taking pot shots at the Aussies when they performed below expectations. To make themselves feel better the BBC team added the medals of all the British nations together so that they could compete with Australia, only they were still behind!
Then externally from the coverage, some of the locals complained about the tactics of the Aussies. How dares they focus on training hard in sports where they can win lots of medals. That's wrong! Well, if we didn't win the medals in swimming and cycling we still would have topped the table. It's pathetic that people can be so racist at an event that is supposed to be bringing countries together.
The BBC coverage was good but heavily biased towards the Brits. For the most part, you needed to forget that there were events where British countries didn't place.
And the whinging about the Australian performances was upfront. The jealousy palpable. I found it frustrating to watch the coverage when apparently professional commentators were taking pot shots at the Aussies when they performed below expectations. To make themselves feel better the BBC team added the medals of all the British nations together so that they could compete with Australia, only they were still behind!
Then externally from the coverage, some of the locals complained about the tactics of the Aussies. How dares they focus on training hard in sports where they can win lots of medals. That's wrong! Well, if we didn't win the medals in swimming and cycling we still would have topped the table. It's pathetic that people can be so racist at an event that is supposed to be bringing countries together.
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Cricket
The recent efforts of the Australians in South Africa has inspired me to get back into cricket.
Last weekend I went for the first training session of the season for me. It was the first time I had picked up a bat in over 15 months (I had a bit of a hit in a nets session in January 2005 when I was back in Australia).
It was a good session. My bowling was understandably rusty but the batting was not too bad. I am looking forward to another session this afternoon.
The group of guys who were at training last weekend seemed pretty good so that is a good sign.
The season proper starts May 13, with a couple of trial games prior to that.
Last weekend I went for the first training session of the season for me. It was the first time I had picked up a bat in over 15 months (I had a bit of a hit in a nets session in January 2005 when I was back in Australia).
It was a good session. My bowling was understandably rusty but the batting was not too bad. I am looking forward to another session this afternoon.
The group of guys who were at training last weekend seemed pretty good so that is a good sign.
The season proper starts May 13, with a couple of trial games prior to that.
It's warming up
The weather here has finally turned to spring - a wet spring, but spring nonetheless.
See weather details for London at Metcheck.
See weather details for London at Metcheck.
Monday, March 13, 2006
Henley on Thames
Yesterday Natalie and I visited our good friend Jo, who lives up Reading way. Jo was kind enough to show us around Henley on Thames, a pretty village on the side of the river.
It was great to catch up with Jo and we had a nice walk along the path beside the river, as well as a delicious pub lunch near the Henley Cricket Ground.
The weather wasn't very kind. With a top temperature of only four or five degrees celcius we didn't want to do too much outside (hence my TV watching of late). But we intend on doing more outdoor activities as it warms up, though this doesn't look like happening this side of April!
It was great to catch up with Jo and we had a nice walk along the path beside the river, as well as a delicious pub lunch near the Henley Cricket Ground.
The weather wasn't very kind. With a top temperature of only four or five degrees celcius we didn't want to do too much outside (hence my TV watching of late). But we intend on doing more outdoor activities as it warms up, though this doesn't look like happening this side of April!
Too much sport is barely enough
This weekend, I have enjoyed a feast of sport on the TV. And we still got outside yesterday.
Firstly, it was great to see Penrith get over the more highly fancied Bulldogs. Before yesterday I thought Penrith would be a finals contender and that game reaffirmed my belief. I genuinely thought they had a chance going into the game. Yes, the Bulldogs made too many errors but the combination of Gower and Campbell in the halves put Penrith ahead.
The grand prix this morning was pleasing, with Mark Webber coming sixth. Williams might do alright this season, as long as they keep up with the other leading teams in terms of development.
Today I watched the cricket from South Africa, where Australia snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. More than that, they reached down the gullet of victory and snatched defeat from its stomach.
I'm not sure what Ponting and Gilchrist were doing with regards to the bowling changes but there was never any reason to have Lewis bowl out his ten overs. I don't rate Lewis and I don't rate Buchanan as a coach. I think he makes the team's life far too easy and any side who blows a game such as this should be hauled over the coals.
Firstly, it was great to see Penrith get over the more highly fancied Bulldogs. Before yesterday I thought Penrith would be a finals contender and that game reaffirmed my belief. I genuinely thought they had a chance going into the game. Yes, the Bulldogs made too many errors but the combination of Gower and Campbell in the halves put Penrith ahead.
The grand prix this morning was pleasing, with Mark Webber coming sixth. Williams might do alright this season, as long as they keep up with the other leading teams in terms of development.
Today I watched the cricket from South Africa, where Australia snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. More than that, they reached down the gullet of victory and snatched defeat from its stomach.
I'm not sure what Ponting and Gilchrist were doing with regards to the bowling changes but there was never any reason to have Lewis bowl out his ten overs. I don't rate Lewis and I don't rate Buchanan as a coach. I think he makes the team's life far too easy and any side who blows a game such as this should be hauled over the coals.
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Bits and pieces (of news)
Well, given my distinct lack of posts recently, I thought it was high time I get myself organised enough to write again :)
On the news front, I am going to Germany this weekend! Our good friends Justin and Virginia are travelling to Germany for a week, and I will be catching up with them while they are there. Unfortunately, Peter is really busy at work at the moment and cannot take time off to come with me :( I'm looking forward to seeing them, though, and will provide Peter with a comprehensive review of my trip when I return!
In other news, I have started running outdoors (finally!). Equipped with a special long-sleeved top, gloves and a thermal hat, I have been able to brave the cold (and the wind) for the past couple of weekends. Since we live on the side of a hill, the 9-mile (14½km) round-trip course that Peter worked out for me is a bit of a challenge, but it sure does beat running on a treadmill! I'm now halfway through my training for the marathon, and it's going well. I have entered a half marathon race on March 12 in Hastings (south of London). Weather forecast so far is 5 degrees. The recent cold spell (this morning it was -4 degrees: hello, spring! not!) has meant that I am comfortable running at about that temperature, so at least it has been helpful in that respect :)
Since Peter has already discussed our activities on Valentine's Day (our 1½ year anniversary), I won't go into details. Suffice it to say that I was thoroughly spoilt that day by Peter! My female colleagues were immensely jealous, while my male colleagues said to tell Peter to keep his spoiling efforts to a minimum.
A few weeks ago we had Rhys (my cousin) and his friend Nello come and stay with us for a week. They had come from Switzerland, and so quite enjoyed the 'balmy' weather of London in February :) They spent the week visiting friends they have in London and seeing the sights. We were planning to take them out to the Cotswolds on the Sunday they were with us, but alas, the weather was not kind, so we were limited to taking them to a town near Peter's work that is outside London. The pub lunch was a welcome distraction from the cold and pouring rain. They left us a couple of weeks ago to continue their world trip, with the US their next stop.
In travelling news, we have booked a trip to Vienna for the long weekend at the end of May. I have been to Vienna a couple of times before, but only for short visits. It is a beautiful city, and I am looking forward to showing Peter not only the great architecture and history there but also to taking him to one of their concerts. Hopefully by then the weather will be a bit warmer, too, which will be different from the last time I visited (a snow-drenched) Vienna.
We have also got a few other plans for travel, though nothing is firmly in place. It's a matter of lining our work up so that we can take time off together, and of deciding where to go! There are so many options, it is difficult to decide. But that is a good problem to have, I guess :)
On the news front, I am going to Germany this weekend! Our good friends Justin and Virginia are travelling to Germany for a week, and I will be catching up with them while they are there. Unfortunately, Peter is really busy at work at the moment and cannot take time off to come with me :( I'm looking forward to seeing them, though, and will provide Peter with a comprehensive review of my trip when I return!
In other news, I have started running outdoors (finally!). Equipped with a special long-sleeved top, gloves and a thermal hat, I have been able to brave the cold (and the wind) for the past couple of weekends. Since we live on the side of a hill, the 9-mile (14½km) round-trip course that Peter worked out for me is a bit of a challenge, but it sure does beat running on a treadmill! I'm now halfway through my training for the marathon, and it's going well. I have entered a half marathon race on March 12 in Hastings (south of London). Weather forecast so far is 5 degrees. The recent cold spell (this morning it was -4 degrees: hello, spring! not!) has meant that I am comfortable running at about that temperature, so at least it has been helpful in that respect :)
Since Peter has already discussed our activities on Valentine's Day (our 1½ year anniversary), I won't go into details. Suffice it to say that I was thoroughly spoilt that day by Peter! My female colleagues were immensely jealous, while my male colleagues said to tell Peter to keep his spoiling efforts to a minimum.
A few weeks ago we had Rhys (my cousin) and his friend Nello come and stay with us for a week. They had come from Switzerland, and so quite enjoyed the 'balmy' weather of London in February :) They spent the week visiting friends they have in London and seeing the sights. We were planning to take them out to the Cotswolds on the Sunday they were with us, but alas, the weather was not kind, so we were limited to taking them to a town near Peter's work that is outside London. The pub lunch was a welcome distraction from the cold and pouring rain. They left us a couple of weeks ago to continue their world trip, with the US their next stop.
In travelling news, we have booked a trip to Vienna for the long weekend at the end of May. I have been to Vienna a couple of times before, but only for short visits. It is a beautiful city, and I am looking forward to showing Peter not only the great architecture and history there but also to taking him to one of their concerts. Hopefully by then the weather will be a bit warmer, too, which will be different from the last time I visited (a snow-drenched) Vienna.
We have also got a few other plans for travel, though nothing is firmly in place. It's a matter of lining our work up so that we can take time off together, and of deciding where to go! There are so many options, it is difficult to decide. But that is a good problem to have, I guess :)
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