Summer Madness

It's that crazy time of year again when all the summer sports are competing with each other for our attention - the social calendar is in full swing!  And on top of that we now have World Cup fever in the middle of all of it too.  I'm finding it very difficult to decide what to focus on right now, and work is way down on the list!
But on Friday afternoon there was no question where I wanted to be - Henley Qualifiers.  For the uninitiated these are time trials that are held on the Henley Royal Regatta course, to decide who goes through to race at Henley Royal Regatta the following week.
There is no dress code (having to wear a skirt or dress that covers your knees!), expensive Pimms, or exclusive member's enclosures to worry about, this is purely about rowing and everybody there is either racing, or supporting somebody else that is, and the atmosphere of anticipation is great.

I was supporting a number of girls from my club, Mortlake Anglian and Alpha as well as some great, slightly older, girls I row with who were also attempting to get through!  As the stroke girl  Hilary said "If we get through I will possibly be the oldest, lightest and smallest competitor ever to row at Henley Royal - she is 51!  Unfortunately they were pipped at the post, but did put on a great performance.  Oh well, there's always next year!

Increased need for ice-cream!

So now I've increased my training I obviously need to increase my intake of antioxidants to counteract the damage I am doing to my body.
Antioxidants are alright on their own (berries, peppers etc.), but why not have a treat at the same time?!  It is summer after all!

Cherry Active Ice-Cream


100g Cherry Active dried cherries
50ml Cherry Active Concentrate
300ml double cream
300ml milk
6 egg yolks
175g caster sugar

1.  Leave CA cherries to soak in the concentrate while you make the ice-cream.
2.  Mix together the milk and cream in a pan then bring to the boil.
3.  While they are heating whisk together the egg yolks and sugar until they are pale and light.
4.  Pour in the cream, whisking all the time, then transfer back to the pan and cook for another five minutes, stirring constantly.  Pour into a bowl and leave to cool.
5.  Place in an ice-cream maker and churn until nearly set.  Gently stir in the soaked cherries and concentrate. then freeze.

My New Toy!

Early mornings at this time of the year are just the best - there is nothing to beat being on the river, paddling under all the bridges whist on top of them the traffic is building up and people are getting frustrated at being delayed.  And meanwhile I'm just gently floating on by....
But now another challenge has been set and I've had to treat myself to a new toy to enable me to take part (well, that's my excuse!  On July 24th a crowd of us are taking part in the Dunwich Dynamo!  Described as "A turn-up-and-go, challenging, slightly-scary, free-entry, overnight- on-tarmac, just under 120 mile bicycle ride to the lovely lonely Suffolk sea at Dunwich".  As usual the friends that are not taking part have told us we are crazy......... and they are possibly right (I will confirm this, if and when I ever return)!
But in preparation I realised my trusty, and rusty, old mountain bike was not going to be fit enough for the job and a road bike was what was needed - I had always wanted one, and now here was my perfect excuse.
So, I picked the brains of my mate Charlie who is experienced in these things and he came up with the perfect bike for me, which I duly then ordered from Evans.  On Friday the call came through that the bike had arrived and was awaiting my inspection.  So off I went to try out my new wheels.  Interesting taking a bike for a test ride when you have no idea what it should feel like.  Even more interesting when you get about a mile away from the shop and realise you have no idea how to change gear!  So there I was in Syon Park flagging down any cyclist who I thought looked like he might know a thing to two about bikes (as it turned out I realised this was  pretty good way of pulling a fit bloke - must mention it to Liz!).  So I was off, at speed, and happy with my choice.  Only other decision was whether to have SPDs fitted - they're the clippy things that stop you getting your feet out quickly, just before you fall over.   Thought I should go for it big time and really look the part, so told them to fit those too and I would pick it up on Monday.
Not quite so confident today - called them early this morning to suggest maybe normal peddles whilst I get used to the bike (I shall probably be falling off enough without the clippy things).  While I was waiting for my bike a young guy was being given instructions on his new purchase - a £2500 full suspension mountain bike.  While this was going on a little old man was waiting to be served, watching in bewilderment.  Finally it was his turn to be served and he asked to see their range of bicycle clips for his trousers!  Isn't life so full of extremes.
On leaving the shop I decided I would head straight for Richmond Park (where all the serious cyclists do their time-trials) and have myself some fun.  What I actually did was scare myself quite considerably - hills that seem perfectly fine in a car suddenly seemed like a skiing black run, with no snow-ploughing allowed!  And although I knew how to change gear I didn't really understand when!
So, having scared myself one final time on the last hill going down to the river to head home, I bump into my neighbour Tim, a keen cyclist with Twickenham Cycling Club.  He is so impressed with the new bike he insists we take it around Richmond Park for a spin - telling him I've just done that does not put him off.  So finally I get to ride it with an instructor at my side, and at last I feel like I might be on the way to knowing how to ride a bike!  Which is lucky really, with only about 7 weeks training to go!