Tag: health

How to clear a cold in a week in the middle of the winter

It’s the time of the year where a little bit of overindulgence, a bit more alcohol and less exercise can translate into catching the flu or a cold. In the winter in the north hemisphere, less sun exporusre, less vitamin d and inactivity can prolong the effects of a minor cold or bout of unwellness.

However there are ways to lessen the effects. Here are some recommendations on how to bounce back from a heavy cold in a week.

Days 1-3: Make hearty soups and salads. It may sound a long stretch of time to go without carbs however they don’t need to be excluded from the diet. Some tips if you are feeling too unwell to make too much fuss over cooking;

Include some brocken targatelli pasta or rice in your broth, and make sure there are carrots in your meals at least once a day and often if possible. Add lemon to soups and salads. Your body will thank you for the extra vitamin c and d. And always have your food hot.

Between meals have hot drinks with lemon and ginger, if your drinks cools down, pop it in the microwave.

Days 4-6: Walk for 5,000 steps or more, outside. The fresh air and the exercise will generate endorphins that will make you feel good and boost your immunity. Keep drinking hot drinks and eating hot food. This will help your body clear out the infection. Continue keeping your home or yourself, if the cost of living crisis is affecting you, warm by airing it twice a day and keeping windows shut the rest of the time. Get your heaviest blankets out for the living room area when you are lounging about in the evening. Use tealights and turn the lights down to make the space feel cozy. Even if you are feeling better, it is important to stay warm and help your body do its magic.

Day 7: Start your day with a 15mins of yoga. It will unblock your stiff joints and stabilise your mood. If you are an active gym goer, add 15mins of core and 15mins of weights. You will feel great and bouncy and generate energy for what starts to feel like a normal day. Continue drinking and eat hot and staying warm. Sometimes a little spice in the food will also help your body clear out the infection. Make your home feel cozy and pack away any medication you may have been using. You done it and well done!

Why the love for rowing is constant

Even when you don’t row…

I’ve been away from rowing for the past few weeks, which is fairly unusual.

This British winter hasn’t been kind to us. From strong winds, storms, unusually low temperatures and rain, there been only a handful of days when I went out on the single scull.

Yes I rowed in Athens in balmy 16C in March but that was one of the few occassions.

Omilos Ereton, Athens

So having returned to London, we are finally seeing warmer and milder days.

On my first day back at the docks, I found myself snapped back to where we left things at.

An inspiration pointing chat by the head coach, followed warm chats by fellow rowers, picking up where we left off.

As always, the rowing community proved itself again. It’s open, warm and focused on learning.

Onwards to hoping for a much more rowable spring months ahead.

Hidden gems; Mudchute nature trail

Mudchute Park is located in the heart of the eastend on the Isle of Dogs, near Island Gardens DLR station.

Walking through the park to the left from the station, cross the open field to the deep green tree end and you’ll inevitably arrive to one of the formal or less formal entry trails to the farm.

Photos from a recent walk through the nature trail at Mudchute Park

From there find a sign to the nature trail and follow it through even though it looks like a dead end.

The trail is well maintained giving adequate space for cyclists and walkers, yet not both at the same time.

Throughout the route you’ll find no sight of traffic or houses but the odd airplane on its way to City Airport.

At the end of the trail you’ll join the rolling hills of the farm and park and can treat yourself to the generous picks of the Mudchute Cafe.

Things I would have done differently if I knew we’d have covid-19.

Ibiza – a beautiful island, full of hidden gems. Sunsets by the lapping water, jumping off the rocks. I would have gone to raves and danced til the morning.

Oman, Malaysia and Myanmar – I should have jumped on a plane in November 2019/January 2020 to see a couple of familiar faces and smell the sweetness in the air.

Friends and parks and parties – could have gathered together more, drunk more together and danced, dropping the pressure of prioritising what we now know are very unimportant things in life.

Philosophy – read more ancient Greeks and a lot more Edward Said, a whole lot more of Said. They are good for the soul and got it all worked out. If everyone spent one hour a week doing this, the world would be much more prepared for this than it is now.

Notting Hill Carnival 2019 – I would have gotten out of bed at 7, arrive by 9 and put that big costume on offer to me to dance the day away. Still got to dance, but not in the band bc couldn’t get there due to overcrowding which also led to soundsystems being switched off early. Hot days in London…my carnival family which I miss so much.

It’s a tough time for everyone looking ahead from 2020.

May all your moments and wishes evolve into your reality.

Love to you all for a peaceful quiet Christmas and a kinder year ahead.

Lockdown urban London photos with people

Well here we go again, only this time things are a bit different.

In London, there are noticeably less people out after dark, but shopping malls and cafes are still serving take outs and grocery essentials.

This means the earlier photos from the lockdown in spring bear a significant difference to the way urban landscapes look now.

For example, there are a fair amount of labourers and cleaning staff going out and about their business as usual. Spaces look less derelict and more like Sundays before London got crowded millennium onwards.

In urban green spaces, people don’t consider being in fairly crowded conditions, a threat from covid anymore. Benches are open and cyclists have equal access to parks.

The level of interaction with larger crowds is a personal preference.

On a recent cycle with Simon around trendy Hackney Wick and guardian reader pretentious Hackney on Victoria Park, the crowds were heavily dense in many public play areas and entrances.

Away from the long queues outside to pick up coffees and take outs in places where some think it’s important to be at, our was certaintly picking a fish and chips from a good old reliable affordable local chippy just east of Victoria Park to the Wick.

No queues, no wait, no hassle. After a five minute walk, we were enjoying dinner on a bench in the park.

In my next blog I will write about meaningful ways to spend preparing for Christmas holidays and Christmas day itself.

Many get carried away with meaningless cultural traditions, missing the point. Culture can be as oppressive as American culture’s cultural non existence, when it adds no experiental reflection or mindful rest.

In a time of self reflection I couldn’t be luckier having met four days after landing back from a two month trip away early August 2019. And here we are still are today.

Back in the park, we sat watching the lowering sun introducing the mist, the temperature drop, the sensation of colours struggling to define themselves in this new reality.

I suppose this time, it is also the first time of the year’s season under covid for our urban neighbourhoods too. Well I say, we can only pay homage to this another new reality for the family albums to come.

Really, what’s there to complain about? And why not to?

  • Canary Wharf, Canada Place, London
  • Wharf Market, Jubilee Place, CW
  • Bow Gate, Victoria Park
  • Hackney Wick
  • Skate Park, Victoria Park
  • Bridge over the canal, Bow

Sharing chuckles

Got to share what’s been sent around, that made me chuckle all aloud!

Different vibes, same love.

Enjoy!

His sense of humour rocks

What happens in SOAS, stays there

Pro-life hosts

British Halloween

Girl rowers gotta row

Real men said it 😁❤️

Happy New Year of the Metal Rat

Some friends are forever

Sean Walsh is still a twat, but that’s funny

Borderline Personality Disorder explained, do tip after! 🤣

Awh my sweet sporty valentine

Hope you enjoyed the mindless fun. It is needed more than you’d think.

May to the summer solstice

It’s been a while since the last post in the midst of Covid-19 which has become the constant, a bunch of close ones and I have followed the doctor’s advice.

Stay healthy, maintain the distance, and make sure you make memories.

Making memories is what differentiates today’s reality from psychological isolation.

With that, I discovered the invaluable constant.

Through my eyes, a number of things materialised over the past few weeks…

The comfortable space of just being, without obstructions from noise.

That comfortable space on the sofa, the giggles, the awe, the excitement, the unexpected dance, the beer out of the bag, the bag of chips, the walks, the SUPs, the sculls and the steers.

This is the story of the past six weeks.