Springy

So I think Spring started back around Mothering Sunday, in late March, if this photo on the day in Hampstead is anything to go by.

We were even able to sit comfortably outside Chaiwalla, where Tom, Dan and I took Jacqui for tea.

Excellent chai, second-rate samosas. We ordered two rounds of each (hungry) and I took home two clay cups (allowed). Would def. stop by for the tea again...

But late March really put on a show...

...so much so, I thought this excellent cherry tree deserved a hug.

That same week I spotted interesting houseboats docking along the Thames path where I run at lunchtime, near work...

...plus more amazing spring petalling going on along my walk to the bus.

Now, this was part of a detour I took in Richmond a few days ago. It already felt rather fairytale...

...and then the path abruptly ended at this metal gate. How Secret Garden is that? It turns out to be Petersham Gardens, which is open 11-4 today, as a very prosaic plastic-encased sign told me when I peered thru the bars.

And on the way back, I noticed my New Year's Eve friend 'dipping down to drink' had sprouted a 'fro. There's an incredible amount of green in all shades busting out everywhere - reminds me v much of spring 2005, when we landed in London...

Baby's first race, next Saturday

Got my number in the post on Friday for the Love Run 10k in Battersea park this Valentine's Day, my First Race Ever – not counting the ritual humiliation of elementary school 'fun' days and highschool P.E. Yes, my friends, this one is self-inflicted. I just made it to up to 10k this weekend after a few weeks' gradual training. That's 20 mins and a couple of miles longer than I've been used to doing over the last year or so.

Here's hoping the weather doesn't see fit to have another wintry laugh on us. I didn't get to run for 5 days b/c the sidewalks were still so icy. But especially on the first day, the snowfall made everything seem wondrous...bit like this:

(Click to view larger image)

Wintry

New year's eve run

A dusky run that revealed a tree limb masquerading as some sort of many-horned animal dipping down to drink

Boxing Day walk, with a stop for tea by the playground and a grey-filtered view on our way back to the river

New year's day, bathroom ledge (I'm a little hungover)

Typical twilit view from the bedroom, with mysterious purplish office building peeking through

Hello sunshine

Just a reminder on a grey day of how the light in London can look when it wants to.

Marble Hill Park often makes me stop mid-jog and dig my cameraphone out of its cosy little arm-pocket...

Potato buddies?

Two carefully placed potatoes nestled at the base of a tree near the river. Enh?

Is this part of some Wiccan ritual? That's my best guess after coming upon this strange little twosome at the end of a good run (first really good one I've had since getting back on track after a three-week cold/flu/misery). They don't look like they fell out of a bag, they were definitely arranged this way.

Maybe some kids happened to have two nice Maris Pipers on them and thought, 'Hey, let's give the tree some balls, henh-henh!' (My second-best guess, but since when are spuds the must-have accessory for today's randy teen?)

Just another reason why it's fun to have a decent cameraphone...

Bosky

That's the word that came to mind when I happened upon this small herd of deer (there were 10, total) during a lunchtime run in Bushy Park yesterday, though I soon realised 'musky' was the word I wanted.

I love seeing the deer when I run. Otherwise I'm not so fond of Bushy Park, because large areas of it are unshaded, tufty grassland, difficult to hike through and monotonous in the scenery.

But still, it's a park, and being able to get out for fresh air on a fine workday, away from traffic and shops, is a huge perk of the job location.

The first time I saw deer while running, I was picking my way through a long column of trees and found myself among a big herd that included stags - giant prongs and all! Several of them lifted their heads and stared at me, completely still, until I jogged past. It was most unsettling.

Even more intimidating was the time I and a few gals from the local running club went deep into the park as evening fell, and we suddenly realised we were far too close to a herd during mating season. One stag started roaring - it's like a really angry 'moo'. Then we saw two of them run and lock horns. Breathtaking, but a bit scary. I keep a respectful distance from my deer friends these days.