More adventures on holiday

I'm getting towards the end of my time here in London. Tomorrow morning we're flying to Dublin for 2-3 days, visiting another sister who lives there ... Then a couple of days after we get back I'm off to Lisbon for 5 days, and a couple of days after I get back from there I start the journey home, via Dubai.

I'm only going to make it to Ashtanga Yoga London a couple more times sadly ... But it has been lovely going there, despite the extreme heat and mats that are placed no more than 5cm apart!

Last Friday Judy took me to Wisley (the Royal Horticultural Society gardens) - it was just such a lovely day! All the trees and shrubs were changing to their Autumnal colours, which you really don't see in Australia - or not where I live anyway!

And then on Sunday my nephew Jo and I took little Hugh (my 6-month old great-nephew!) to Gloucestershire to visit Napier relations ... It was a lovely day too - my Aunt, the 3 lovely cousins and various of their children too.

I do like this picture - the cat inside staring balefully at the bouncy dog outside, teenage boy staring at his phone and young Hugh wanting to get involved in everything!

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London notes

Have been having an enjoyable time in London - in between bouts of cold and cough recurrences! The other day I went to yoga, and having sniffled and coughed my way through all of standing (including falling over onto someone in utthitta hasta padangustasana !!) and a few of the seated poses, Hamish tapped me on the shoulder and told me me that was enough and to stop!! (Please please stop!!) So I left it a couple of days, and went back this morning. Still a bit cold-y but a lot better!

I've been spending some time with my nephew and his wife. We've been going out to galleries, and then having delicious lunches! I feel like it's a bit of a foodie tour of London this time, although not talking about famous restaurants or anything! Went to the Goya Portraits exhibition today at the National Gallery ... That was wonderful. And after we went to a Spanish food place - Barrafina. Really yummy food!

Also went to see the film Suffragette with a friend. I wasn't particularly wanting to see it, but it was really good. Quite amazing to be reminded that 100 years ago women could not vote, or even decide what would happen to their children ...


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Hello London!

view of back garden from upstairs window

When I arrived in London on Sunday it was after an exhausting 3 flights from Bali, and I really wasn't feeling well. The dreaded cough had come back strong as ever, but luckily I was able to get the necessary drugs (!) from a doctor and after a couple of days on them things are getting a lot better.

This morning I finally made it to yoga at AYL. Lovely to see Hamish's friendly face - and he was on my case immediately! So many assists ... And then - last time I was there (5 years ago) he got me into Marichyasana D (on one side) for the first time ever. That's only happened a couple of times since then, but today he got me into it on both sides! So, even though I can't see it, there has been some (minor!) improvement over the last 5 years!!

Anyway, planning on going again tomorrow, and then on Sunday to meet someone who only goes on Sunday's ...

Yesterday my sister took me to this wonderful exhibition at the Royal Academy, by Ai Wei Wei. Apart from it being a truly wonderful and inspiring exhibition, he is such an inspiring human being! He's had so much thrown at him by the state but he's just stood there, unmoving, unchanging ... Really awe-inspiring.

Now that I'm on my feet again (!) I've been busy trying to organise meet-ups etc. Spending Saturday afternoon with Jo and Emma (nephew and wife) and their two small kiddiwinks which should be lovely. We're also all going to drive to Gloucestershire the weekend after next and visit some other relatives, which should be fun. It seemed like a long stretch of time when I was planning it, but now it's getting squeezed at all ends! Off to Dublin in just under 2 weeks, and then Portugal a couple of days after I get back from there. And then 2-3 days after that trip it's onto the plane for Dubai, and home!


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Last musings on Bali

I've been in London for a few days now ... Below is something I started writing but didn't finish from before I left Ubud.

As the week drew to a close the class got fuller each day with more people joining in ( I assume they all asked if they could!) Mats got closer and closer ... Luckily Dena was very good at reminding us to check we weren't invading the next space! Staggered mats etc ...

This afternoon is the last of the afternoon classes - where Dena focuses on a particular aspect, and how it can be worked on/considered in different poses ... One day she focussed on backbends, and how a back bend is also a front stretch. Another day it was on bandhas(sp?!) and how essential they are in so many different ways. And about downward dog, and how you could focus on different areas that I hadn't even thought of - like if you have tight shoulders, then focus on the stretch from the shoulders down into the arms. They have been really great - just hope I can remember some of the things she has said. Haven't been as good at writing them down as in previous years (to be honest I haven't written anything down!!)

I'm definitely going to sign up for one of her month-long 'intensives' in Byron for next year. At the moment they are booked up till May, and then they stop while she's away in Europe etc ... So, May!!


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Update from Bali

I've been in this little slice of paradise for about 4 days now ... Feeling very lucky. The hotel and surroundings are just so lovely. And it's a wonderful opportunity to focus on yoga for a few days ... I was going to say 6 days, but I did miss this morning's class (last night was a very 'coughy' night unfortunately!), but hopefully that won't happen again.

My balance in utthitta hasta padangustasana seems to be improving/coming back, amazingly! Just have to hope this continues - at least I now know that it can!

Below is the view from the yoga room here - quite different from the rice paddies view we had at the Ananda Cottages hotel, but beautiful in a different, more mysterious way!

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Up up and away

Sitting on a plane flying over Western Australia on my way to Bali - via Singapore! And really, don't ask me why I have to fly over Bali and on to Singapore, spend a night in the airport hotel there and then fly back to Bali the next day. I have no idea! I know it's something to do with keeping all flights on the one ticket - I am going on to London after a week in Bali - but it still makes no sense at all to me!

However, I've just had to give up questioning and do it! After a week of waking up at 2am virtually every night panicking about one thing or another, it's all happening! The housesitters did come and although the pussycat was pretty freaked out with all my packing etc., she does like them so I'm sure she'll be fine - much better than 6 weeks in a cattery for her. And although I had an awful coughing fit at 2am this morning, it seems to have subsided now and I've done all I can to avoid picking up yet another cold/cough on the journey. Out of my control now - just have to surrender to the Universe! If I'm going to have to be sick, then I guess Bali is a pretty nice place to collapse in!

Fingers crossed that won't happen though! I'm really looking forward to a week of yoga with Dena ... And then on to London visiting family and friends ... :)


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