Running September

Two highlights. 

I ran my first half marathon this month. Just like a lot of other things in life, it seemed initially unsurmountable, but with practice, help from a running club and a schedule of weekly runs, became something I was able to ultimately do, even with a bit of a huff and a puff. It was an awesome experience on the run day, with people around the borough coming out of the houses to encourage us runners and a complete carnival atmosphere. I finished the run in 2 hours and 5 mins, which experienced peers believe is a good start.

Second, my folks came down with Covid. Despite being double vaccinated, my dad tested positive and came down with a fever. It threw us into a bit of a panic as we tried to figure out help remotely. Ultimately, it was a mild infection and within a few days both (including my mom, who never tested positive, but showed symptoms) recovered. It was a scary experience while it lasted, but we are grateful that it passed without major issues.

Augustus

August is a month of vacations and recuperation. As schools break for summer vacation and as office folk take time off from work to travel, it is usually a time for most to relax. 

This year, the ongoing pandemic, though in its waning phase has had an impact on plans. In the UK, given the high vaccination rate, travel has opened up. But folks are still hesitant, as there are varying lockdowns in the rest of the world.

We took a week’s vacation in the Welsh coast within the U, which was a welcome break despite the bleak weather. 

Most people not from the UK do not realise that Wales is a semi-autonomous country within the UK, with its own unique mores, customs and even language. Till we went there, we didn’t realise that a number in people there don’t even know English! But it is a beautiful area, with a mountainous geography, a vast coastline and some unique food.

We spent half our time near Swansea, at a place they call the Mumbles. It reminded us much of Goa in India, with its laid back culture, narrow roads running the coastline and touristy atmosphere. There is a long coastal walkway that hugs the cliffs along the sea, and we spent many a day taking in the sea views and relaxing in the beaches (for the minimal time that the sun showed its face). A local brand of Ice-cream called Joe’s is rather popular, with its creamy texture and its variety of sundaes was a worthy eat. 

We also spent a few days in a rather comfortable BnB in Avergavenny, at the foothills of the Brecon Beacons national park. The city itself is rather quaint with a pretty market, but has a lot of walking trails nearby. However, a car is much needed to explore further around, which we didn’t have access to (courtesy of much delayed driving license issues due to covid). Yet, a very restful and calm place. 

We returned home to news of Afghanistan’s fall to the Taliban and consequent mayhem all over the media. It’s sad to see a country fall into such chaos due to decisions of people in far and high places. 

On the weather front, it seems as if winter is approaching early this time. London has hardly had a summer this year, with just a week’s sunshine and rainy weather most of this month. Already the days are getting shorter and cold winds have started blowing. Hopefully, if we keep the virus at bay, it should still be a better winter than the last. 

We closed the month with a trip to Dover on the bank holiday weekend. The White Cliffs were quite a climb, but the sun and weather were surprisingly glorious, and we got a beautiful view of the sea, the flow of the ferries and the Calais coast on the far side.

June solstice

After being locked in with a prolonged winter, June was the month the Sun decided to show its face. It wasn't for long though, as a week of soaring temperatures brought along 2 weeks of thunderstorms. 

June is usually a fun month for us. Both M and I happen to have our birthdays this month. But we had a quiet celebration, much like the last year. London is still yet to unlock fully - even though restaurants and malls have reopened, indoor events are restricted. We decided to keep it a low key affair, which was a slight disappointment to M (who wanted her friends around), but she took it in her stride.

And this month I scaled my run duration too. Till the last month I had gotten close to a 10k. This month I doubled it. I also managed to use the runs to see more of London - ran all over Ealing and then did 2 weekend runs all the way into the City, to see the Palace and Westminster. London is gorgeously beautiful in the early mornings, when few are around and then greenery is fresh. I love running around Kensington gardens and St. James Park. If only India had such greenery in its cities.

We also got our second jabs this month, to become fully vaccinated. yay! No side effects this time around. Just waiting for the vaccines to be available for M. 

As the lockdown lifts and life starts going back to normal, firms have started calling employees back to office. I expect to go back in sometime next month. A lot of peer banks have already gotten back in. It usual now for calls to have a mix of in-office and remote teams. July should also see most of the US folks back in. It will be a welcome return to some semblance of normality after nearly a year and a half. But the virus hasn't disappeared yet, and that worries those of us who have to use public transport in.

We have taken advantage of the last of the lockdown days to get busy with board-games at home. Blokus is great fun. So is 3D labyrinth. Cluedo not as much. And we've got 3 sets of Legos and multiple puzzles yet to solve. Ah, the simple pleasures of home.

Mayday, Rainy Mayday.

For a month that was supposed to herald the beginning of spring, it was anything but. It drizzled, it rained, it poured, it hailed. The sun played hide and seek behind perpetual clouds.

Yet May had some fun moments. 

M learnt to cycle. I learnt how to run longer distances. We went on long walks. 

Work wise it was hectic. Quite a lot of interesting and good work

I read a couple of good books. One was the Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson. A small one, particularly by Brandon's standards. But a well written one that kept me engrossed. I have begun to love his books (particularly the Stormlight series, that is rather epic). 

Read/ listened to another on Audible - Steven Johnson's 'Where Good Ideas come from'. By far one of the best books on innovation I have consumed. I love it's vast foray into the history of innovation, and how he weaves common threads around adjacency and serendipity to highlight how one truly innovates. Something for repeated reading. 

Riding high

Yesterday news a momentous day. M learnt to cycle without balance wheels.

She has been cycle with supports for a few weeks now. And we had been hesitant to remove it.

But a stray jibe from a friend bought out some rage. And provided the incentive for her to try.

We thought she would take a few more weeks of practice. But didn't.

I held the seat behind for her to get on. She gave a little kick on the pedals. And off she went!

She didn't realize at first that I had let go and was just running behind. But soon was confident to go cruising on her own.

Bought tears to our eyes. A milestone reached. Yay!

Of springy steps. And breathless despair.

First, the good.

It's spring time here in London. The sun plays hide and seek, but shows more of its face than before. Temperature remains in the single digits, but early double digits are here.

The parks are green. The restaurants have opened for takeaways. People have started meeting up outside. Workplaces are slowly reopening with limited capacity. 

We did a short visit to Windsor. It was a beautiful and verdant 'long walk' beside the palace and the quaint town. It was great to get some travel-bug back. 

Puppies are M's new obsession. With her friends she has been playing with quite a few. G and I are far from being comfortable with one in the house though. 

Then, the not so good.

India is in the throes of despair from covid. Widespread struggles for oxygen and medicines. Lost of friend, a batchmate who I once shared many a laugh with. Many colleagues down. Trying to support while being remote, but it's hard to see the despair. We pray for better days.

Past the Ides of March

It's hard to believe we are already a quarter down this year. 

Spring seems finally here. After much hide and seek, the Sun showeth its face. Or maybe not. One can never be sure in this weather. 

But carpets of daffodils and crocuses are here in the parks. Fresh leaves blooming slowly in the trees. Animals and insects slowly coming out of hibernation. 

And hopefully so are we. Out of lockdowns, that is.

The schools have reopened. To the delight of the kids who have hated being cooped up at home. To the mixed delight of their multi-tasking parents, who have yearned for some quiet, but also find it a little disquieting without the little cackle.

The vaccines are here. Slowly everyone we know is getting one. They do have some pretty strong side-effects. But hopefully are worth the stronger pains avoided.

At work, everyone seems overworking. This blurred boundary between home and work time has made life a little crazy. Anxiety is an equal epidemic. For those at work. And for those without.

Ah, what would we not give for a semblance of normality. The simple freedoms of the past. Little appreciated when we had them. Much wished for without.

Ah, February. With a hope of spring.

 It's hard to believe it's February already. And its coming to an end too.

The lockdowns in the UK seem to be finally coming to a close, with schools reopening in early March. M is so looking back to restarting her school session in person next week. She misses playing with her friends in person; online sessions are a substitute to learning, but perhaps not to the fun!

However, travel seems held up till April or May. Sad, since we were hoping for some Easter travel. We also had to move our planned India travel to later in the year. Hopefully, that should work better with the vaccination schedule. Have moved our travels three times now - hard to believe that it's soon going to be 2 years since I left India.

Spring is here at last. Yellow daffodils are blooming. Purple crocuses are everywhere. The Sun is showing its shy face from the clouds at last. It's great to see it back! We have started doing picnics in the park, albeit socially distanced and with adequate precautions. 

We also started walking more as a family. We did a 15 km walk this past weekend to the Gunnersbury park down in Acton. It's incredible how M has become comfortable with long walks. We have also started coaxing her to get onto her cycle, which she has been avoiding for long. Hopefully a new helmet and guards should help. 

An uplifting start

I have decided to write at least one post per month this year. This is the first in its series. Beware, writing can seem incoherent. That is just me, being me.

The new year has begun to a busy start. 

At home, a new lockdown that has shut schools and made learning remote, means a packed home schedule now. I am stumped by how hard school teachers work, all the more when managing unruly kids via an online medium. But all are learning - the kids, the teachers and the parents.

The kiddo has started reading books actively. Both her mum and I are secretly hoping she will turn into a book worm. Like us. That said, she also read Harry Potter 2, and got scared of the notion of a monstrous snake hiding behind walls; which resulted in many a sleepless night.

At work, a flurry of global announcements easing up crypto markets for banking access has everyone is preparing for an institutional rush. That means a packed work schedule. Thankfully, I am lucky to have an uplifting start to this year. There is much to be grateful for.

Vaccine rollouts for covid have begun in the UK, and globally. The start seems slow, but the governments seem to be working hard to increase the pace. The third lockdown, as is currently ongoing, seems to have moved everyone into a post-fatigue state. There is fatigue from nearly a year of lockdowns, but also hope for a semblance of normality as vaccines rollout.

Also the last month of the Trump Presidency in the US. The attack by Trump supporters on the Capitol at the time of the certification has defined the end of a crazy tenure. Everyone is just happy for the tide to be turning with the Biden Presidency - and he seems to have kicked-off putting a hold on most of his predecessors shenanigans across covid responses, climate change and immigration.

Weather wise, we saw the first snow in London, since we arrived here 18 months back. Ah, what a delight. Making snowmen is fun. Even if they melt away the next day.