Love for a London Lido

Image from Tired of London Tired of Life

Well, yahoo, my first triathlon is now completed. My legs still ache a bit and I am looking forward to a few days off at least. Although I do now feel at  a bit of a loss…what to do now?!

Luckily I have a race coming up in a few weeks so that will keep me occupied, and of course my next triathlon…I finished third in my age group, which was a pleasant surprise, and means it’s worth doing again (even if that news might drive my husband crazy).

I pretty much went from swimming two lengths non stop to being able to swim 2-3k over the past few months so I’m extremely happy that the hard work paid off. I have now grown to love swimming…especially when training for it means you’re lucky enough to swim in Parliament Hill Lido, when the sun is going down behind the hill on the heath.

It is truly beautiful and in an incredible place. The lido has a bit of an art deco feel to it and going into it feels like  stepping back in time. Built in in the 1930′s it’s 60 metres long which is great for training, as it means you do siginificantly less laps which somehow makes it seem easier. The pool also has a metallic liner which makes the water silvery and incredibly clear.

It’s also very peaceful on a cold May evening. I had a bit of a disaster the first time I went…I was so cold I panicked and couldn’t find my breath and rhythm and went home quite despondent. and convinced I was going to pull out of the tri. Getting back in there was pretty tricky, but the rewards were worth it.

You can’t help but love London when you’re in some freezing cold water with the sun setting over you…and be extremely grateful for the little husband sitting on the bench by the side who’s come along for moral support.

All that for a £2.50 entry fee. I cannot think of anything else which costs £2.50 that can bring that much joy (except perhaps for the sausage and egg mcmuffin I had the day after race day. I know. Bad, but oh so tasty, times).

 

Images above from CarolineNo

The beautiful image above is by Martin Smith and avaiable to buy here.

Bold and Graphic

Image from Livethemma

Image from Bambula

Image (c)  Idha Lindhag

Images from MesCaprice

Oh how I do love some simple geometry or bold graphics. It does brighten a place up somewhat, and therefore your day!

Quotation Station

With only a few days to go until my first triathlon this quote seems especially apt. I’ve seen quite a few sunrises over the past few months, some when I reeeeally haven’t wanted to…here’s hoping it has paid off.

Hope each sunrise brings you all something new too! 

Found via Dear Inspiration

Prints of summer

Judging by our antics last summer, which led to my friend coining a phrase for when you pop out for a picnic and end up rolling around on the blanket drinking gin mixed in a latte and trying to pass it off as a cocktail (‘it’s all gone a bit Primrose Hill’ means things have got unexpectedly out of hand), I think this print is perfect!

So, in honour of my special pal Linz, here’s to the upcoming summer (well, I am ignoring the rain and living in hope).

Print by ExLibris Journals from BlogandBuySale

Styling for some tiling

Image from MoreDesignPlease

Image from Remodelista

Image via Yatzer, photo: Vangelis Paterakis (found via Solid Frog)

Image from The Guardian

Image from StudioIlse (Found via Julia Scott)

Feeling a bit of the old square stuff today. Tiling used to be so old fashioned, but there are so many different ways they are being used at the moment – and they can really add a feature to a room. A nice alternative to jazzy wallpaper, and almost a piece of art in themself. Plus they’re easy to clean, so it’s almost inviting you to have a party.

I’d love the top green tiling on an outside patio space with some old school wooden furniture.

Sunday dreaming

Now this would be an excellent way to spend a Sunday. Add a pile of Elle Decoration, a good book and a few cups of fresh coffee and it’s quite possible I would never move again.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Image from Country Living

Ohh Deer!

Eeek I’m having a phone disaster…my blackberry and I have parted ways. It’s the end of a beautiful friendship.

I can cope without it for making calls etc (phewee I am uncontactable!) but I do use it all the time to keep notes or ideas of things I spot to put on this here blog. So whilst I wait for a new one to arrive, I am having to resort to the old school way of taking notes and whipping out my pen.

These lovely ones from OhhDeer would be excellent for the job, and also help inspire me along the way.

Found via BlogandBuySale

‘Stuck on Repeat’ design by Sandra Diekmann

‘Stuck on Repeat’ design by David Stelfox

Setting the Benchmark

On the theme of British furniture, after visiting the Conran exhibition at the Design Museum recently, I was blown away by the items on display from Benchmark. Apart from being a brilliant business concept by the mighty Terence Conran (he created a furniture company to design and make the furniture which in turn helped to supply his shops and restaurants) the company keeps traditional techniques and crafts alive and also trains up apprentices to ensure the skills live on.

In this economic climate there is more of a turn towards the traditional, and a demand for items which last longer and offer more value for money.

So whilst there is always a place for IKEA, and yes furniture like this seems pricey - it will always be cost effective, because it will last a lifetime.

I do like these chairs, they look like they’re a smiling face…

Of course for me though, working keen bean that I am, my favourites are the Conran designed desk above, and the lamp below.

Images and furniture from Benchmark

Gray and Turner

These beauties are from a brand new British brand G&T, from Bethan Gray and Thomas Turner.

The tables are all very high end, with an emphasis on craftmanship and understated luxury. The contrast of the wood and the marble creates a beautiful contrast, and the marbles gives a real solidity to the design. They look like something you would keep forever.

My absolute favourite though is the ‘Brogue’ table, which uses techniques traditionally used in shoemaking to punch holes in the leather, which is then stitched around the side of the table. Beautiful.

Now, as per usual I don’t have the odd £800 knocking about to purchase one of these, but I can continue to dream. And it’s nice to know that British furniture is not only still going strong, but remains some of the most innovative.

Images and furniture from G&T

For more information on Bethan Gray, and her many designs and achievements click here.

Cushion for the Pushing

In my dreams, I have a vast outside space attached to my house in which to relax in (and not just a terraced square patio on the lower ground floor which people throw their cigarettes into). These nice and stripy cushions would be perfect for lazing about on, on a hot summer’s day. They add a bit of an italian feel I think, not sure why. So perhaps they need to be lounged on with a glass of Prosecco…

Perhaps mixed in with these bolsters, all on a nice deck somewhere!

Images and cushions from Pillowlink via Etsy