My love affair with Jack Bauer

What a weekend. I had a most enjoyable supper with my fellow fitness buddies on Friday night and then a glorious/horrendous 7 mile run along the embankment with bootcamp on Saturday morning. I have officially lost my marathon glory fitness. I really struggled and should have been able to do it a lot quicker. However having a month off exercise will do this to one's fitness so I shall not despair but move on and think of it as a stepping stone to regaining super lottie fitness once again.

After bootcamp I drove to the country and slipped into 24 world where after a 2 year break I reignited my love affair with the wonderful Jack Bauer. We parted ways approximately 2 years ago after I sacrificed two weekends and one week to his sexy deep american voice and hedonistic action man charms, which left me exhausted, serious eye strain and only series 1, 2 and 5 down (don't ask about the order issue). However after some time off from the destructive relationship, series 3 was calling me (as was the new 40 inch TV and Blu Ray machine to watch it on) so I once again delved in to the 24 hours or 17 hours actual running time (the episodes are not a full hour as they have to have commercial break spaces) of a frantic, heart racing and stressful relationship with Jack.

It was amazing. He totally pulled me in and before I knew it, 7 episodes in and I hadn't left the sofa because Jack had me hooked. Jack was trying to locate a deadly virus which terroists were threatening to unleash around the USA while also simulataneously combat a heroin addiction. I was in love and in lust once again. While my poor boyfriend studied for his finals (best of luck Ben!) I was holding my breath and gasping in shock at the turmoil and suspense Jack was dragging me through once again. I think the real low point was though when I had watched 6 episodes in a row, I stopped to get a drink from the kitchen I actually thought the rustle in the garden was not the dog but a SWAT team about to swing in through the windows yelling "Get down!!! Everyone down!! Do not move!!" Only for Jack to run in, pick me up and run with me out of the building which had been targeted for a huge bomb. As we reach the front door the bomb can be heard reaching its final beeps for countdown, we both leap out of the house running at full speed down the lane as the house explodes sending a huge explosion of fire and debris around us. Jack, the hero, jumps to cover me as we are sent flying up in the air by the impact of the blast.

But no, the rustle was the dog chasing a bird in the bushes.

This is what 24 does to you. It sends you to another world. I am now totally and fully fledged in love with Jack again. I don't know how he manages to play someone so bad and messed up who is simultaneously an absolute hero. Plus you'd know he'll never die if you were with him, no matter how dangerous it got, the "guy has more lives than a cat" I quote from series 3. Although there is a pretty high risk of kidnap and torture as the bad guys know how to get to Jack and its always the wife/girlfriend and children card. Its a toughie but a life of danger, thrills and all-american hero for company who seems to never sleep and never goes to the loo - sign me up. Its the voice, definitely the voice. Oh and maybe the sprints while shouting into the walkie talkie.

I have two episodes left and then its going to take all my strength to not start series 4. As much as I love Jack I don't think I can cope with another weekend of our tortuous relationship.

On that note, enjoy your Monday

It was all going so well

I was due an embarrassing experience. I had gone for about a month without one, so in fairness, based on past experience and statistics I should have seen this coming.

Yesterday London experienced what can only be called tropical storms throughout the day and consequently this morning my cycle ride to work was littered with puddles. I cut through Hyde Park for the final part of my cycle, its quiet and no road traffic and I like to escape the pollution and looming buses on my tail for 5 minutes. Hyde Park has many bridal paths which today resembled mud slides due to the floods that covered them yesterday. I had to cross the bridal path to get to the cycle path and there was no other way across. I could just see it happening like some freaky premonition. "Just take it slowly, you'll be fine" I whispered to myself clinging on to the handle bars for dear life. I slowly edged over the bridal path and then as I exited I got cocky and tried to turn onto the normal cycle path and woosh, whole bikegoes from beneath me in the mudslide and I land boom on my side flat down in the mud slide.

At this precise moment about 50 members of the Household Cavalry on their early morning exercise in Hyde Park came sprinting past. I stupidly screamed like a little girl as I landed in the mud with a splash and consequently they all turned round to see me lying in the mud with my bike on top of me.

"Are you alright?!"

"Everything ok there?"

About 20 of them started to run towards me as I tried to wriggle from under the bike and covering myself in more mud. They were then promptly yelled at by their leader to "Leave her alone, you and you can go and see she's ok. The rest of you carry on."

Oh great. I thought. I was in that fragile state where I wasn't sure to laugh or cry and once I managed to get out from under my bike the sheer humiliation of the episode took over and I leapt up yelling out "I'm fine, I'm fine, please just stay where you are, I'm just um... going to go" I limped off with my bike absolutely coverered in mud. Plus it was yellow mud from the bridal path so mixed on my black leggings just looked like I had had some awful loo accident. Really all this before 8:15 am???

Cycling off I realised my handle bars had gone wonky and a bruise was already forming on my right bottom cheek from the impact.

Just to top it off, I got in the lift at work only to be joined by one of the senior partners I'm currently trying to impress who looked at me rather dubiously as I stood there looking like I'd dropped in to Glastonbury for a mud rave on my way to work. I did manage to explain and hopefully my "bravery" will be seen as some skill in any future potential promotions.

So far the rest of the day seems to have gone by fine, although I am dreading putting my leggings back on for the cycle home. One things for sure, I am avoiding that bridal path on the way home.

Thank goodness its Friday!

Bikini Inspiration

Its such a horrid grey day today. I am feeling tired and deflated. I feel so sorry for my boyfriend who is in revision hell. His finals start next week for the culmination of his 4 year medical degree and even though he won't say, I'm sure he's feeling it. I haven't seen him for over two weeks now also and I'm missing him and aso weirdly feel like I should be with him in his hour of need. Even though, again, he would never say so to me. I am seeing him this weekend as I'm going to his parents house in the countryside. Even though he'll be working all weekend at least we'll see each in the evenings/meal times!

Luckily he's pretty good at cramming and working very hard when he needs to. He also has one of those photographic memory things, so last minute revision has always been something of his speciality.

It is very strange though to think that after 7 years of being a student he is going to be a working doctor (hopefully, touch wood) in the matter of weeks. He gets his results the day after his final exam, so fortunately no painful wait. That morning is going to be nerve wracking - I think I will just spend all of it staring at my phone. He'll probably be incredibly calm or sleep in due to getting horribly drunk the night before in celebrations. Either way, I am very proud of my darling Benjamin. He has managed to juggle and deal with a lot of things over the past 4 years (medicine is his second degree) and to think he will finally be finished and having some well deserved time off in just a couple of weeks makes me feel incredibly happy for him.

My focus for the next few weeks will still be the bikini, bikini bikini. I think I owe it to Benjamin to look incredibly hot on our lovely celebratory holiday in Italy with his family. Ben's mum is renting a house for us for a week in Puglia, southern Italy. Ben's Aunt also lives out in the area so she will be around too. Ben's Mum, sister, brother and I are going out to celebrate Ben's finishing and also to celebrate Pippa (his little sister) finsihing her GCSEs. I've seen pictures of the house and it is decorated in a "Italian and African style and pieces"  hence why I need the african print bikini I purchased earlier this week. And the african print sundress to wear over said bikini. Oh my goodness I can't wait.

So to keep the focus some bikini inspired pictures to keep me going! I don't think I'll ever look like the girls in the "group shot" but Kelly Brook is maybe achievable, although I will never have her boobs!

The bikini mission continues...

Have a good day

Cardio day - ouch

Cardio day today at bootcamp, I am now feeling very stiff and tired. I pushed myself hard and every time I felt pain or tiredness I pictured the bikinis and it worked. Spurred me on to keep going and push through the pain barrier. The session consisted of sprint drills, threshold running and cardio moves. It was tough but I’m glad I pushed myself hard – feel that burn.

Yesterday, I was walking along Oxford Street in my lunch break soaking up some Vitamin D and having a meander and what do I stumble on but the Marks and Spencer sale. I only went in to have a little look and lo and behold, what do I find but the dress I had my eye on for the past month or two reduced from £69 to £30. Well that is rather lucky, I thought to myself so tried it on and sure enough it looked fab so promptly snapped it up. Bargain. It’s for a wedding in July and potentially another wedding in August (different friendship groups, so I can wear it twice if needs be) I have a total of 5 more weddings this year. Last year I invested in 3 fabulous fascinators and three dresses and swapped them around for the 5 weddings I had last year. I have already attended 2 weddings this year and have still managed to not buy anything new. However the wedding I have in July is for a couple within a group of friends who will have seen at least all three outfits once, if not twice for one. So I'm feeling quite smug that my new planned outfit has been purchased as such a bargain. I now need to order a black fascinator and need to locate a summery black jacket to go with the dress and then I'm done. The dress is a fab coral colour - I love brights and is a shift style with a belt. I wear this style a lot as I have a tiny waist and long legs and I like to wear wide fascinators and they work best with this shape of dress too. It’s an Audrey Hepburn/Chanel inspiration look.

I think an Epsom salts bath may be needed this evening to ease my poor legs. Oh and I also have to construct my outfit purchase matrix to decided what I can and cannot buy for my dream Italian holiday wardrobe. Anything to stop me raiding the secret cookie jar and secret chocolate in secret chocolate hiding place.

So glad there is no more running now until Saturday

Enjoy the sunshine

Woman on a mission

Just like the song, I am a woman on a mission.

I am two days into my fitness bootcamp and I am feeling the burn. Cardio day yesterday and conditioning session this morning. I was so exhausted last night after the extreme lack of sleep over the weekend and then 5:55 am start on Monday, I passed out in bed at 9:15 pm last night. Rock and Roll.

But up again this mornig at 5:55 am and I worked very hard this morning. I even devised my own incentive programme. Yesterday in my lunch break I purchased two new bikinis (size 12 but I do think that because of my height the bottoms need to be a size 12 to fit properly?!) Anyway, new bikinis purchased I tried them on at home and they look ok. I look now, how I looked this time last year for my summer holidays - pretty good but room for improvement. I know I can tone up and jiggle down so am on a mission to make my body look amazing for the bikinis. No muffin spill, no jiggly inner thighs and a taught tummy - this is my mission and I have chosen to accept it.

I have approximately 6 weeks until the holiday in Italy and the two week bootcamp is the perfect super boost start.

So after an hour of squatting, lunging, jumping, planking and crunching I feel slightly stiff but good. My plan is to also eat well over the next 6 weeks. No rubbish and healthy suppers.

While life may be slightly dull for the next couple of weeks, it will be worth it. I also think that a couple of months with a reduced social calendar will also be good on the old bank account. And that means cute beach outfits to go with the new bikini and the two dresses I have my eye on in Oasis. One is aqua marine and long with frills - perfect summer holiday dress, it must be mine. Accessorize have at the moment the cutest beach wear, I have my eye on a striped jersey bandeau dress, some blue jersey sailor shorts, an african print bandeau dress and a frilly white broderie skirt. Not too much then??? Not sure will be able to purchase it all. However the house we are staying in in Italy is just too beautiful, it would be devastating to not be dressed well all week.

Luckily my boyfriend has also given in to two months of whining in his ear. He originally booked our flights with no haul baggage (darn you ryan air and your stuid overpriced "extras") and told me for a weeks holiday I needed to make do with the space of what can only be described as a large weekend bag for a weeks worth of amazing summer clothes for my only summer holiday this year and a sweets bag worth of liquid toiletries. I don't think so Mr.

However at the prospect of not being able to bring back his beloved olive oil and balsamic vinegar and the above whining, he has caved and I am reunited with my large Samsonite.

I'm sorry but for the one week of the year where you are not restricted to office wear, British weather, at your slimmest, tanned and looking generally amazing and you have to take out minimal clothing - not on my watch.

For the time being I will not be buying anything and then will probably devise some sort of hierarchy spreadhseet for my wish items and select accordingly. But first the bikini mission must be executed and so far so good.

This evening? Packing and the sky plussed episode of Glee I recorded last night

Have a lovely day

Monday morning comes again

My boyfriend and I!

I wish. This is the photo I was speaking of which made my entire month, my friend is such a legend. I think we make such a fabulous couple.

My weekend: was so lovely. Spent in Warwick with some of my closest girlfriends. We hired a cottage for the weekend and spent the whole weekend eating, drinking and talking. There were not any pimms shots but a lot of gossiping and putting the world right and chilling out. There were however 2 late nights so all in all I was exhausted yesterday. I have now had 5 weekends in a row of being out of London and spending Sunday night driving back feeling horrendously hungover.

On the way back from Warwick we stopped off at Bicester Village for some shopping and I managed to pick up some nude flats from LK Bennett, which are fabulous and should serve well at some weddings and summer parties coming up. I love LK Bennett shoes they have this amazing talent of transforming your feet into wonderful elegant objects.

After two nights of a lot of wine and food I was feeling awful on Sunday evening and dragged my flailing carcus to bed fairly early. I spoke to my boyfriend for a bit, really missing him at the moment as haven't seen him now for over a week. Also feeling dreadfully sorry for him as he ploughs on with endless revision for his finals. How do you revise 4 years worth of teaching for a 2 hour exam? Nightmare.

And this morning: was day 1 of the two week bootcamo before I leave for the countryside. It was a cardio day and involved doing timed running laps, sprinting and circuits. Has anyone ever seen The Little Mermaid, the Disney film? After the session I felt like the little crab Sebastien when he gets thrown through the laundry process and lunch process at the castle - well and truly put through the mill and pulled and twisted in every fashion. I haven't felt so exhausted and pooped since the marathon! But feeling good now, I am going home this evening to sort out and do more packing. I think a bath is needed in order to sort out my weary muscles and send me to sleep nicely this evening. I rarely do baths as I can never be bothered with them. Plus as I stand at nearly 6 foot I don't really fit into baths so either my shoulders get chilly or my knees get chilly. However epsom salt baths are incredible and send you into a complete coma afterwards, which this evening, I have a feeling will be encouraged by my weary self.

My best friend Claudia was with us this weekend and she is 5 months pregnant (and looks amazing). She succumbed this weekend to buying some gorgeous little baby clothes for her little one who is due in September.  She also  purchased a Cath Kidston changing bag. Claudia is going to be one of those uber trendy yummy mummys. We spoke over the weekend about how we always thought we would be pregnant at the same time as each other when we were younger (we've known each other since we were 8) but she is slightly ahead of me now. However I feel confident that I may be pregnant with my first when she is on her 4th!

Sun is shining and I am wearing my favourite 50s skirt today at work with my mary jane wedges, I feel very spring like and Doris Day inspired. Nothing like a favourite outfit to make you feel wonderful.

Enjoy your Mondays

Friday feeling

I don't know why but I have been in such a good mood today and I'm really not sure why.

After much consideration I have decided it is down to several things:

1. My friend sent me a photo of my face super-imposed on Kate and Will's enagagement shot. It looked incredible, i am going to try and upload it here I was so impressed and frankly I loved it! I have been a fan and have had a huge crush on Prince William since the age of 10. I have always loved him and was slightly devastated when he made it official with Kate. I even went to the steps of applying and getting into St Andrews University but luckily decided against it as it was so far away and I read somewhere there was no nightclub. I thought these were a necessity for University life and it turns out they were. But hey ho it wasn't meant to be.

2. I am going away for the weekend to Warwickshire with my close group of girlfriends from school. The days of Kings School Peterborough (KSP) were made incredible by the very strong friendship group I landed in of 8 fabulous girlies. We have remained pretty tight ever since and every now and then we like to do weekend things which normally result in many laughs, stories and last time shots of pimms. I really do not reccomend the latter. I will do a full report on Monday of the escapades. However as we know, what goes on tour, stays on tour!

3. It's friday - in general amazing. I have had a busy week. No uni work achieved but I have been busy every night and in bed late (for me) every night which has left me drained and feeling horrid. However just knowing its nearly the weekend has helped no end

4. Bank holiday weekend next weekend - I'm spending it in the countryside with my boyfriends family. Cannot wait to relax.

5. I have signed up for a 2 week fitness bootcamp which starts on monday and will be for an hour every day before work. It promises to be challenging and fun and the good kick start I need to getting beach perfect for the beginning of July. One of my very best friends is also getting married on 11th June so obviously I need to look amazing for that too.

I will be reporting on Monday of my warwickshire tales and hopefully will not be in too much pain from my first bootcamp session.

Happy weekend everyone

Post number one

I have a slight confession; I am not a virgin blogger. I don’t want to be a show off (ok maybe slightly) but I ran the London Marathon this year in April and I wrote a blog for that on a fitness website. However I feel slightly guilty as I love blogging but my running escapades have reduced rather significantly since then and now I’m the only one blogging about general life stuff and not about running and being super fit on said website.

However fitness is a big part of my life. I love it. I am tall and always have been; nearly 6 foot so was graced with long legs and a long body. This was snapped up by my sporty parents at about the age of 3 and I was a club swimmer for most of my youth and teenage years. This was until my parents moved me to the local grammar school from the sheltered all girl prep school I was at and I had boys around me. I was taller than all of them, posher than all of them and my shoulders were about twice the width of theirs. I toned down the swimming and unfortunately also my figure. During my teens I embarked on dancing, ballet, tap, modern, anything that involved being girly, dressing up and wearing pink. However my quest to impress boys didn’t really work and I always felt huge and bigger than them all. It didn’t help that the boys in my school were all complete losers and it was only during A Levels when the boys in the year above noticed me that I started to get compliments and fleeting romantic moments. Then at University I continued to dance and spent a lot of my time doing cheerleading for the University squad. I was obsessed with Bring It On and loved the dance aspect. We ended up being quite good and won some competitions. However my love affair with sport also returned and I embarked on playing lacrosse when I could and netball too.

After University I did a ski season as part of my gap year and then moved down to London. I was rather chubby at this point, edging on a size 14-16 which felt really horrid, so joined weight watchers and started outdoor workouts in the Fulham area called Fit For a Princess. Just up my street. It worked and I haven’t really looked back since. I played lacrosse again for another year for Clapham Ladies but as my boyfriend was living in Southampton playing on Saturdays was tricky as we embarking on a 4 year long distance stint as he started medical school. The outdoor fitness classes started my affair with running and that led to the marathon (although I think I will explain more on that another day).

My boyfriend Ben has also been a huge influence on me. When we met at Univeristy (the first time round for him) I was a bubbly blonde who was obsessed with pink and being uber girly. We have been together 6 years now and I have now progressed to being a more slender, toned down and classier version of my former self. He has helped me to achieve my fitness dreams, career dreams and along the way I have returned to my old school demure and classier roots. I love him so much for that.

I’ve done my early twenties and I have to say I struggled slightly, I learnt how to manage my money (although I’m still shockingly bad), I moved to somewhere where I had few friends and my boyfriend was 60 miles away. I had no career direction and needed to join Weight Watchers. However I came out the other side with a fairly balanced bank account, a career in the making, a good fitness regime and diet (although this is also questionable), settled in my flat which I bought in Fulham, lots of amazing friends and a boyfriend who I cannot adore more.

So here we are, marathon done and dusted – 4:49 and no walking or stopping if you’re interested, holiday in Italy the second week of July, nearly half way through my masters and standing on the edge of what feels like a life precipice. My boyfriend Ben is about to finish and hopefully pass (touch wood, fingers crossed) his medical degree and I am hoping to get on a graduate scheme at work to further my surveying career while I finish my masters. I am moving out of my treasured SW6 flat the end of May and going to live with my boyfriends mum for two months while Ben finishes up his exams and then we move to Wimbledon together in August.

So hop on board and join me for my next chapter, life as a 27 year old in London. I need to finish my masters, commute for 2 months, still see my friends and boyfriend, attend several hen dos and weddings, find a flat and go on holiday (which is less than 2 months away and perfect my bikini body before I go).

It promises to be a bumpy ride but an adventure none the less.

Enjoy, I will be trying to.