Canoeing on the Lea River

Over a week ago, on the Sunday, CBC and I had made plans with his brother to fulfil our Olympic water-based ambitions.  

So duly, on Sunday afternoon, we headed to the Olympic park to go to Moo canoes aboard the Milk Float to hire some Canoes for a few hours.

The Milk Float is a narrow boat which doubles up as a bar and eatery as well as hiring canoes.

On top of the Narrow boat, it is covered with fake grass, deck chairs and bunting so you can relax in the sun. CBC and I arrived first, so we snagged ice-creams.

Our partners in crime arrived...

We spotted the Boat's cat!

And looked out at the pretty views..

Cat began to wash its bum as they do when you watch them.

Next, we went to fetch our canoes and made our way along the Lee River until we reached the pub, the Princess of Wales in Stoke Newington where we moored up and had some lunch.

That's why they are called Moo Canoes...

The Princess of Wales was rather popular.

I dressed for the occasion and wore my Seaman's cap adored with pin badges.

I regretted wearing CBC's waterproof coat as the sun was out.

The other members of the party partook of beer.

I ordered some curly fries with pulled pork and sour cream and the veggies ordered these lentil and beetroot burgers which I ended up eating some of.

The bar had some really fun decor such as Books wallpaper, these fun typography tiles and

A fox lampshade!

Soon we realised that we would have to return back along the river as we had a deadline for returning the canoes.

I've never canoed on a river with narrow boats before (or stonking great craft like this), so I was rather disconcerted by this one arriving.  That said, I have sea-kayaked with a dirty great Ladrolinja ferry behind me in Croatia which I recall was terrifying so maybe not so bad! They have right of way so you always need to go to their right. As they were already on the right, we just stayed still...

But we had to sit in the mire...

I made sure I had my camera on me on the return journey as it spent the way there in the waterproof bucket. The journey continued pleasantly along the river and we zoomed ahead of our companions!

There were many vessels along our journey which we ogled with great interest.

Ahoy there!

We passed under several bridges.

Passed yet more narrow boats.

Many examples of of intriguing graffiti pervade the area.  These robotic owl twins seemed to fix us with beady eyes as we passed.

I enjoyed the Silmarillion- a Tolkien fan no doubt!

We loved Boaty McBoatface the second!

More graffiti adorned the underside of this bridge. I was intrigued by EdwineGums!

I'll choose to ignore the addition to the sign!

There seem to be lots of teeth in the graffiti!!!

A serpent with a Santa hat? Why not?

And here we saw the Olympic Stadium as we reached the Milk Float again.

The runners-up in the race!

After we'd returned our canoes and I'd removed my aqua shoes and donned my gold Toms shoes, I looked for CBC and found Red Riding Hood on the bench.

Next, we headed to the Crate Brewery for a drink and some food (in some people's cases) where we saw the next lot of Grafitti artists in action.

The Kashmiri Dhal pizza was really tasty although I only had one slice to try it as I was still full of curly fries. I honestly don't know where those boys put their food!

There was the finished Graffiti after we had eaten.

Next, we headed to the Olympic Aquatic Centre where we had booked for a 7pm swim.

The pool looked really big and exciting. Whilst we were there, there were some Team Life Guard competitions going on in the other half of the pool.

Unfortunately, I discovered I had left my swimming costume somewhere and ended up buying a Speedo one from the shop which I wasn't best pleased about. Idiot!
The swim was good but we all could taste Dhal pizza as we were doing it- not the best choice before swimming. The lanes are divided according to speed but I couldn't seem to find one to match me. Dead slow was too slow, but the next lane was too fast! Alas.

As we walked back through the park to reach our car, I glimpsed the Doctor Whoesque  Toclafane again above our heads

FYI, if you are interested, Moo Canoes are quite expensive and cost £50 for 4 hours each.  The Olympic swim session cost £5.  I enjoyed the canoeing but I did think it was rather overpriced. Nonetheless, I am glad we did it, seized our last bit of Summer sunshine and got out there and got active!

Have you done either of these activities?

xx

She was a skater girl

I'm taking part in A blogging good read over at Oddsocks and Pretty frocks (with the lovely Alex, currently clad in beautiful green!).  Go and have a look to see what we thought of the books! I also forgot that I took part in Style imitating art over at Salazar's: 14 shades of grey, based on a gorgeous Matisse stained glass window!

Also wanted to say Hi to my lovely new followers!  Thank you for following me! It's amazing I reached 82!

I've wanted to go to Somerset house for so many years it's untrue!!!

When I first heard about it, it fulfilled some sort of wonderful romantic image for me, skating with someone you love, holding hands round the rink.  Skating also reminded me of a wonderful sequence from one of my most favourite books, Tom's midnight garden, in which Tom and his friend Hattie skate down the frozen river Ely.  I always pictured the scene in my head- glorious snow-covered beauty as they swished down the river together, free and delighted.

A couple of weeks ago, a friend of CBC's invited us to his birthday, skating at Somerset house and then drinks/food afterwards.  We duly went along.

What a gorgeous place it was.  It was every bit as romantic as I imagined, even though it was super-crowded with Jack Wills gilet-wearing teen-girls!  I had my usual "I can't remember how to skate, don't come near me!" panic at first but really enjoyed it!  The setting is absolutely wonderful.  Gorgeous historical buildings but with an open-sky.  The lights really set the mood.  A variety of music accompanied the skate.

It felt really Christmassy too as a huge glittering Christmas tree flanked the rink, decked with satin bows, twinkling lights and sparkly baubles.  The quality of ice-skates was really rather good.  Much better than those I have ever used at indoor ones.  Much fun was had by all.  I recommend going.  We paid £14 each which seemed quite expensive for an hour, but that was just enough time not to get too cold!


Following our session, we walked back down the Strand, via the royal courts of justive which were lit up most splendidly!

We went to drink and eat in the historical pub- The cheddar cheese which is over 500 years old!  It's really exciting, a proper old-world tavern! You go in and it has all sorts of meandering passages that lead to different rooms and cubby holes to drink/eat in!  There's even a proper room with a roaring fire where you can tuck in! 

Here's CBC posing on the steps in one of the many subterranean passages!

Sights like these make it all the more exciting!


Have you been to either place?  Did you enjoy it?

English heritage?

Hey there! 
Welcome back to cold old England!  Did you realise I had gone AWOL?  Ah the delight of scheduled post to foil would-be burglars! (Not any of you!)  I spent 4 delightful days in Florence, Italy which I will share more about soon (spent the whole evening on the phone so can't write much of any interest!). Must. go. to. bed!

First day back was good in some ways (reception and singing assembly) and horrible in others (Year 6).
After school was ridiculously fun as we had a FOOTBALL INSET (teacher training session)- it was freezing outside but super fun running around kicking balls and learning how to teach it better!  I was the goody-two-shoes of the meeting as usual, answering questions and volunteering to do things (hahaha, managed to tackle and steal two footballs with one toe from two seperate people! Miracle as I am rubbisisissishs at sports.  I then showed my usual form when having to do headers, chest shots and thigh shots and ducking whenever the ball came near me!).  We really are a competitive lot though!
It wasn't great in this outfit though!  I had forgotten we had this INSET and was wearing the following which I felt tenuously embraced some facets of the heritage look (Check out Sophie, she's rocking Houndstooth brilliantly on her blog) with the cashmere shawl in muted port colour and these miniature houndstooth trousers (a great charity shop purchase- they're from Karen Millen but I love this sort of cullotte trouser!) Worn with another thrifted black top, Zara cardie and Alice in Wonderland necklace!

 And specially for Nicole, I added some heels when I got home for you (I know they're not what you specified, but they were the first I found), Dalmation print blockheeled shoes to pretend I have a pedigree dog to go with the country look! Not that I'd advocate turning your dog into a pair of shoes you understand! Ignore the junk shoved between armchairs

 Oopsie, unpacked suitcase to the side!

Hope you are ok and I will try and catch up with you all soon!  Thank you for nice comments, especially those reassuring me that I didn't look a muppet in my sultry-lady pose!