Sunset

Unusually, I found myself strolling along the Southbank at sunset.

That is all.  Bye bye London.

London smog

It is well smoggy here in London.

Xinhua/Landov/Barcroft Media

But very pretty.  I love this city!

O the wild charge they made!

Last night I went to the Household Cavalry Barracks to watch a Riding Club London lesson.

For those of you who don't know, the Household Cavalry are the Queen's personal bodyguard with ceremonial duties which include trooping the colour.  They have barracks on Knightsbridge Road, opposite Hyde Park, where no less than 250 horses are kept!  Members of the Riding Club London may join lessons on these horses.  I went along to watch one...

Mounting of the Guard (me on the right) (joke)

Mounted bands: trooping of the colour

The entrance to the barracks is a curious little gate set in a wall on Knightsbridge Road.  Having signed in, I suddenly felt too shy to ask for directions so ran off with no idea where anything was.  Turns out the barracks are Quite Big and what I think is my "excellent innate sense of direction" is actually "no sense of direction at all".

Strange neighbours for Harvey Nicks!

Anyway, I followed my nose to the stables and was immediately struck - these horses are not just Quite Big but Very Huge.  Presumably because they have to carry mounted soldiers in full ceremonial dress?  It was funny to see some of the smaller riders next to their mounts!

Victoria and the aptly named Colossus

The horses were all very interested in the goings on...  

Who, me?

This pretty mousey bay was so excited at the prospect of a ride he did a little dance in his stable!

Aqaba 

Once in the school, the horses seemed to feel the light weight of their riders and, well, frolicked!  I thought of what someone once said: it's hard to lead a cavalry charge if you think you look funny on a horse.  And felt a bit vicariously nervous.  

The school

I couldn't hear an awful lot of what the teacher (Steve) was saying from behind the glass of the balcony but I liked his manner and all the riders I spoke to thought he was excellent.  Perhaps his magic touch was inspired by the (large) coffee Katharine delivered to him before the lesson began!  ;)

Tim, Katharine (who runs the Riding Club) and Lizzie keeping me company on the balcony

After the lesson, everyone trooped back to the stables.

Happy Aqaba and Ada

Yes, I have my own guard to wash me

Out of nowhere, some soldiers appeared and although they were very self-contained and kept out of our way, they obviously loved and knew the horses.  Colossus seemed to be a particular favourite with all these tough guys...  I could see why - no word of a lie, he offered me his hoof just like a dog!

Well hello, Mister!

I can't wait to come back and ride!  Thanks Katharine! 

Walking like John Wayne

I'm walking a little delicately this morning.  I think I started the rub on Saturday (riding) but noticed it and rubbed raw on Sunday.  I was very surprised to see a patch about half the size of my palm getting ready for CrossFit this morning...!

I should have time to work out anti-chafing solutions though because I just heard that my Derby saddle will be shipped to me in due course.  I am much more excited than I feel I can let on to anyone.  So, you know, totally cool.  It's just a saddle (!!!).

On a separate note, it's a beautiful day here in London.  I work in the City of London (the financial district) and on days like this you get to see the juxtaposition of old and new in the best light.

Guildhall (ceremonial & administrative centre of the City of London - in part medieval)

St Alban's was a church in Wood Street, in the City of London.  Of medieval origin, it was rebuilt in 1634, destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666 and rebuilt once again, this time to a Gothic design by Sir Christopher Wren.  It was severely damaged by bombing during the Second World War, and the ruins cleared, leaving only the tower.

It's just a shame that my iPhone struggles with light levels.  Hopefully I'll have a new camera soon!

when the sun comes up, you'd better be running

II ran in to work this morning.  All the way - 5.5 miles.  Not like Tuesday, when I hopped on a Boris bike just shy of Elephant and Castle, or last night when I ran home as far as Surrey Quays (I live in Lewisham and work in the city).

You can follow me on Strava, if you're a Strava enthusiast - if not, it took me 48 minutes and I averaged 8.5 minute miles.  Not terrible, not great.

Apps for runs/bike rides

Strava has almost rendered GPS redundant.  It maps your route, gives you splits, pace and a total time and it's free.  If you want to get a heart rate monitor and link it, I think you have to upgrade to a paid service.  Strava tips and tricks are here.  It's also worth noting that weak iPhone batteries scupper Strava if you go on long runs/bike rides.  Solutions for that problem include are considered here and here.

Controversies surrounding Strava (largely because it's a social site and allows users to race each other remotely) are here and here.

I love it.  I don't use it to race anyone but its great to record training with little thought or preparation.

Happy birthday Windham!

Not very many years young!  Give up rowing and learn to ride, I say x

I need to get out of this place

The worst thing about living in a city like London if you like the outdoors is that it's hard to get out when you're tired of the concrete jungle.  

How do you get out of the city?  Where do you go?