Strange brew

Thank your god it's Friday and all that. And that I'm tucked up in bed.

The weather is atrocious (cold, wet, windy) and I'm heading to sleep as tomorrow I am going on my first outdoor climbing trip to Portland - the climbing mecca of the south coast. Or something like that. I don't think I have mentioned it on here, but I have started climbing again.

Back in the harness again

Nothing too strenuous mind - I'm doing routes akin to climbing a ladder. I know my physical limitations at the moment and I am taking my time getting back into it. I have done two sessions so far and have enjoyed both. Portland is more out of curiosity and if I really don't like it, there's always the view to enjoy.

It has been a strange old week. Mostly because amongst the routine and general busy-ness of work, there's been the matter of my 6-month post transplant re-staging. 

I had yet another bone marrow biopsy on Wednesday - a different part on my hip bone this time but the same hideous, painful procedure and another MRI scan earlier to check on my bones. I know I have to go through it all as it is necessary to keep an eye on me but sometimes, just sometimes I really wish I didn't have to go through any of this. 

I know I laugh and joke and make light of it but in reality these are fairly heavy duty medical stuff to go through. I not only find it all physically challenging but pretty hard going psychologically too. I'm not asking for sympathy, just asking for a bit of slack. And understanding. 

I'm rather hoping that my complete remission from three months ago continues but you never know with this disease and as the 6 month mark is key, I'm keen to pass this particular test. I'll let you know in 2 weeks what the result is.

In the meantime, Mat and I made the most of the nice early evening weather earlier by traipsing over to the Kyoto Garden in Holland Park - a beautiful Japanese garden in central London. Mat was hoping to get some planting ideas  for our own garden and it was definitely worth the trip as it is beautiful - small but perfectly formed. And a peacock even made an appearance. Strange brew indeed.

More news to follow this weekend. Watch this space. 

In the meantime, enjoy the pics of the Kyoto Garden below.

2012 Olympics here we come!

Save us a seat!

We have 2012 Olympic tickets! My application was one of the lucky ones who got randomly chosen by the Olympic ticket chooser-machine-computer-thingy-whatever and Mat and I are either off to see the Judo or the Field Hockey competition. Confirmation will be made at the end of this month.


Not exactly the glamour sports but having had a conversation with someone who had experience of applying for tickets to the Sydney 2000 Olympics, we were advised to go for the least popular events to boost our chances of getting tickets. And I refuse to pay silly money - bankruptcy is never a good look!


Still not quite sure how it is all allocated but I am pleased that we will be there for a once in a lifetime experience. And we found out that the Olympic Cycling Road Race route will go past outside where we live so we can be there waving our flags and cheering on the cyclists - and it is all free!


All very exciting and something else to look forward to in 2012...

Regular blogging resumption...

Yes, yes, yes I know I have been a bit slack with my blogging. But now that life is relatively getting back to a bit of a routine, I hope to resume regular blogging again.

Although in saying that, this post will be on the short side as I am a little tired and need my sleep following a fun packed birthday weekend for Alex in Buckinghamshire and a lovely family lunch in a beautiful village in Kent on Saturday. It was all go and a great time was had by all where we met some fantastic people and chowed down on delicious food. Nom, nom, nom!

It's weekends like this that make me appreciate even more what beautiful countryside we have in the UK. When the sun is shining and the birds are singing, the green rolling hills of our fair isle is hard to beat in terms of scenery. Abso-bloomin-lovely in my opinion and worthy of comparison to the beauty of exotic rice terraces.

Get me, I'm getting poetic. I think it is time for sleeps.

More blogging soon. Over and out for now. 


 

One year on

One year on and still eating cake

As you may or may not have been aware, this time last year, specifically the 19th May I was told my devastating cancer news. Well, a year on loads of things have happened, my hair is turning into a mini-afro and I am pleased to say that I am still here.

 

Lance Armstrong calls his day of cancer diagnosis 'Livestrong Day' and me being shameless, thought I would adopt this for me also.  I am sure he wouldn't mind :-)  He would understand I'm sure. Since that day, I have tried to live as strongly as I can each day although it hasn't been easy. In fact, sometimes it has been bloody difficult and downright impossible.

 

Anyway, as the years go on I hope to mark 19th May in some way although my head was a little all over the place this year because of one thing or another to 'commemorate' it fully. I dressed up with the intention of going out with Mat but I wasn't really up for it this time around.

I even wore high heels for the day. Only because I remember being told that because the tumour was pressing on my spinal cord they had to deal with it asap otherwise I may be paralysed.  And the only thing I could think of at the time was not being able to walk in high heels ever again if I was in a wheel chair! All a bit ridiculous now but it's strange what goes through your mind at the time.

 

Mat bought me a 'Konditor and Cook' Apple and Strawberry Crumble Cake (see above) complete with lighted candle to mark the occassion which made me smile. It was delicious but strange to eat a crumble as a cake?!

 

As you may have gathered we got back from our amazing Indonesia trip all ok. Our stop-over in Singapore was eventful only for our visit to 'Raffles Hotel' or specifically the Long Bar there for a 'Singapore Sling'.  Yes, it's a cliche but it would have been rude not to. I probably wouldn't go again as it is a little touristy and contrived but it had to be done really - another one ticked off the tourist list!  As an aside, the band playing on our visit were very cheesy but in a good way albeit circa 1976. I half expected the Bee Gees to turn up in their white suits during one of their sets they were that retro.

 

Anyway, depending on what religion you may or may not believe in according to 'the Rapture' the end of the world happened yesterday. Well, either I got left behind or I am living in some weird purgatory state. No matter. I've got a few things left to do in this world yet and happy to wait for the Rapture to come and get me until then.

 

 

Mellow madness at peaceful Pemuteran

Four new blog posts today including this one! Sorry for the delay but dodgy internet connections and expensive wi-fi connections are all to blame. Start from the bottom up :-)

Wed 11^th May

I think the hardest thing I have had to do today is decide which fruit juice to go for. Watermelon or papaya? Pineapple or lime? Decisions, decisions.

It has been quite busy for me today. I got up. Had a delicious breakfast. Showered. Bimbled about a bit. Put my bikini on. Sun cream on. Hat on. Sat on the beach on the sun lounger. Adjusted the sun lounger. Read a bit. Walked around for a bit. Went out and had lunch. Then walked around for a bit more. Back on the sun lounger. Had a virgin colada. Spa session. Said hello to the turtles. Walked around the surrounding area. Then dinner. An episode of ‘House’ on the laptop. Then sleep.

It’s tiring being this mellow ;-) Mat’s itinerary was pretty much the same except there were a couple of dives and snorkeling sessions thrown in.

We like it here :-)

HAIR UPDATE

As an aside and just in case you were wondering, my hair has taken on a life of its own. It is growing nicely but it doesn’t quite know what it wants to be. 

Some of it is straight but the bulk of it is curly. Yep. Curly. As in woolly. As in like sheep. Mat finds this highly amusing. I have this curly horn thing going on just above my left ear!

Please try not to laugh too much when you next see me. I’m blaming it all on this heat and humidity.

North Bali bound - Pemuteran here we come!

Tues 10^th May

As our final Indonesian destination is only a three hour drive away from Ubud, we thought we could kill two birds with one stone by incorporating a side trip to various temples and some of Bali’s other attractions on our way there. We figured it would make the trip a little more interesting and our driver was more than happy to do this.

Talk about a good idea!  We took in the Hindu temples at Pura Taman Ayun, Pura Lunur Batukau and Pura Ulun Danu.  Really loved Pura Lunur Batukau only because it was so peaceful and serene here. There were only a handful of tourists including us and the beautiful lakeside setting made me feel quite spiritual. There were a few Indonesians making offerings at the temple which added to the atmosphere and serenity of the place. Never mind Ubud, if I wanted to find myself and get spiritual enlightenment, I would go here, no questions. 

Pura Ulun Danu however was another story. Full of tourists and tacky little shops, it would have been beautiful and serene but I think this had long gone. There was even a photo shoot going on with a few models being told to “make love to the camera” by an Indonesian David Bailey type so there they were, wearing what looked like wedding gowns with one on a boat desperately trying not to fall off and another reclining like a dying swan on the beach. Perfect smiles set. Beautiful.

Bali Botanical Gardens was also worth a visit. We marveled at the fantastic exotic plants and flowers although a lot of the orchids in the orchid house had not flowered yet. Shame as I can imagine them to be absolutely stunning. A few were out but it would have been great to see some more.

Lunch was at a local warung near Pura Ulun Danu where our driver had lunch with us. We had Indonesian teenagers eating to our right and a motorbike repair shop to our left and the food was absolutely delicious.  I’m not sure what our driver was expecting when we said we would treat him to lunch but I bet he was hoping for the Bali equivalent of the Ivy or at least a 'restaurant panoramique' but instead we take him to a warung!  Never mind. I think he enjoyed it all the same as testified by all the empty plates.            

                                                                                                           

We then drove through yet more breathtaking rice terraces, visited a coffee plantation and the beautiful mountain areas around Munduk. Absolutely stunning.  This is the Bali I wanted to see.

And at around 4pm we arrived here at our resort in Pemuteran where it’s rather nice.  There are only a handful of resorts here on the beach, a few warungs outside the resorts and a small town. Fantastic. This is what some parts of southern Bali probably looked like around 30 years ago before the mass influx of tourism. Sadly, I can see this place going the same way although I am hoping it doesn’t for a while yet.

We are at the Taman Sari Resort where it is all rather lovely. Beautiful manicured lawns and gardens, villas, suites and rooms. It is the sort of place where you can imagine some celebrity would go to recuperate from their plastic surgery in secret as a lot of the villas are secluded and this place is so peaceful.  Not being a celebrity and not having had plastic surgery we are in the cheap seats but very nice all the same!

Mat is doing his diving at Reef Seen which is a five minute walk from here and apparently highly regarded. More importantly, they have baby turtles!

Pemuteran is home to the Reef Seen Turtle Project where turtle eggs and small turtles are looked after until they are ready for release in the ocean. It’s a non-profit organisation and helps with turtle conservation. The baby turtles are soooo cute, I think we may end up with one in our hand carry as Mat is beyond in love with them. I prefer Badi the badass big turtle they have who loves and almost begs you to stroke his shell. Apparently, Badi is too tame now to be released back into the ocean so they are keeping him at the sanctuary.

There is also an artificial reef that they have set up here to encourage coral growth. I haven’t ventured out to see it yet but Mat wholeheartedly approves.

I think we are going to like it here.

Ubud - Eat, Pray, Leave

Sun-Mon (8-9 May)

Firstly, has someone closed France? As in its borders? Anyone? Marc, do you know? Are they not letting its citizens in so they are having to go elsewhere? Like here in Bali for example? Have we missed something in the news? Everywhere we go we are hearing French being spoken and French accents trying to speak English. They are everywhere. Even the couple next door are French. I hadn’t realised the French liked Bali so much!

Anyway, our first full day in Ubud completed (Sun 8^th May) and I’m still a little unsure as to what I think of the place. I feel a bit like Switzerland - neutral and neither here nor there about it. Although it is very nice here. We arrived at Denpassar airport around 11.30 Saturday night and got to our hotel just before 1am.

Mat and I had purposely avoided the southern Bali holiday hotspots of Kuta, Legian etc because we wanted to avoid the tourist crowds and the hedonism that goes with it.  We sort of have and we haven’t here. Ubud is so far removed from the Indonesia that we have been experiencing these last two weeks my head is a little bit discombobulated.  Parts of Monkey Forest road and its surrounding street have so many little chi-chi shops it looks a bit like Weybridge high street. 

The most striking thing for me is the sheer number of tourists here - and this is supposed to be a quieter part of Bali. I have mentioned the French but in addition there are dozens of Americans, Australians, Italians, Brits, Japanese, Spanish and a load more besides. There is no distinct demographic either as Ubud seems to attract a real mish-mash of people. I can see why as it is a very easy destination to settle into. Tranquil rice terraces, temples and shrines galore, more hotels & villas than you can dream of, even more spas, shopping mania, loads of restaurants and bars and of course, Indonesian friendliness and charm. Although I do feel the Indonesians we have been meeting here seem a little more distant, still friendly but a bit more jaded perhaps.

We are staying at Okawati Hotel. It’s ok but I think in it’s time it would have been more splendid. Lots of stone carvings and statues, nice garden and pool, friendly staff but all a little 1980s for my taste although I am sure some would call it ‘vintage’. Apparently, Okawati (the lady who owns it) was one of the pioneers of the homestay here in Ubud and her hotel just grew from there. It is very well set, a 2 minute walk down a couple of little roads off the Monkey Forest Road so still central Ubud but away from the hustle and bustle and noise. And the breakfasts are to die for and delivered on to our balcony on time too. Lovely. 

Speaking of food, we have had some great meals here. Given the number of tourists, competition is fierce and so the quality of warungs and restaurants here are very good. Our satay meal on Saturday night was absolutely delicious. And we discovered a warung off one of the main streets where you choose how much you want to eat and a lady decides how much you should pay. Love it - price dependent on whether you have had big boy portions or not. Mat and I were on the lower scale just in case you were wondering!

The other noteworthy observation here in Ubud is the deep sense of religion and spirituality about the place. As I have mentioned there are Hindu temples galore and shrines every few yards and bundles of offerings to the gods every few steps. All in between the gods of Paul Smith, Ralph Lauren, Versace, Billabong to name but a few...

Om santi, santi, om.....

This ‘Eat Pray Love’ book/film has a lot to answer for. There are so many western ladies here travelling alone and being all ‘om’ and looking to get ‘spiritual’ amongst the rice terraces with their very own Javier Bardem it’s incredible. Ladies of a certain age, younger ladies wanting some R&R from the excesses of Kuta and ladies wanting their chakras realigned...in more ways than one!

You can spot them a mile away. Wearing clothing with Hindu gods on, carrying a yoga mat and that air of ‘peace’ and ‘finding themselves’ about them.  There is even a ‘Bali Happy Movement’ here.  It’s all a bit disappearing up your own backside if you ask me but each to their own.

           

As Mat pointed out, given the ratio of single women to men here, Ubud is a single blokes dream destination. I’m feeling vulnerable right now... Om...

We spent Monday morning by going on a long walk through the Monkey Forest and surrounding villages around Ubud. It was good to leave the crowds behind but it all got a bit too hot towards the end. I was glad to be wearing my hat otherwise I’m sure I would have fainted as the heat here is unrelenting.   

The macaques in the Monkey Forest were very cute to watch but one of them got a little too friendly with Mat as it scampered about on his head and wouldn’t let go! It started gnawing at his hand too which was a little worrying but fortunately Mat’s skin wasn’t punctured in any way and he was able to shake the macaque off. Budget George Clooney attracts simians too!

The rest of the day was spent relaxing by the pool, more spa treatments for me and more toot buying. I’m hoping our last few days in northern Bali will be more tranquil.