FREE GYM #15 - Camberwell Leisure Centre

CELEBRATION OF 100 DAYS UNTIL THE OLYMPICS!! (or 114 days until it's over depending on how you look at it). This means free gym in Camberwell Leisure Centre (and all 'Fusion Gyms') for the whole weekend with games, prizes and freebies including a curious partnership with Nando's where one of their representatives stood in the foyer handing out discount cards and asking people; "Do you like CHICKEN?". Marketing gold - the perfect place to be promoting posh fast food to the hungry, fat and health conscious.

The gym was surprisingly empty - leaving all the more non-sweaty equipment for me! I liked the running machines which gave me a visual of how far round a countryside track I was in terms of km. I was quite proud after reaching 2km, until I remembered the hundreds of people struggling through today's London Marathon as I jogged slowly in an empty, nicely air conditioned weather proof gym.

It started peeing down before I decided to leave so I sought refuge in the gym's quaint cafe; settling down on a comfy leather sofa to hot chocolate and Sunday papers. I was the only customer all afternoon so I hope it stays in business - though if it doesn't work out, I'm sure Nando's would love  to move in.

FREE GYM #14 - The Tallest Hotel - The Smallest Gym

"We are Bristol's tallest hotel" proclaims the Radisson Hotel TV as you enter your room. Alas, their tiny gym can't boast the same credentials - packing equipment into a low ceiling box room.

Thoughtful extras include a bowl of fresh apples, a rack of over 50 white towels (you couldn't get more than 10 people in this room)...and an emergency phone (just in case you suffer from claustrophobia I suppose).

Despite the small proportions of this particular hotel gym - I would always recommend bringing your kit when out on business. Corporate hotels such as the Marriott are making a concerted effort to diversify their 'leisure' offer with the creation of connected (very swish) health clubs- which of course, are available to all paying guests!

FREE GYM #13 - Southbank Club - but not on 'The South Bank'

I know the South Bank. It boasts iconic structures such as Oxo Tower and the London Eye and is home to treasured cultural institutions such as The Southbank Centre, The Royal Festival Hall, BFI and The National Theatre.

Which left me rather perplexed when I came across 'The Southbank Club', impetuously impersonating London's cultural riverside hub while lurking by 9 Elms Market, in deepest darkest Vauxhall. 

Titular technicalities aside, I did enjoy the club, which seems to run a regular friendly squash league whilst boasting one of the biggest, most spacious warehouse gyms I have ever seen. It also makes use of three gigantic projector screens - very cinematic (bringing popcorn is not encouraged).

If you do decide to visit, they can be found on Wandsworth Road and were offering a free day pass to entice new members in February. Although this offer has expired - the extremely chirpy staff will be happy to give you a 'South Bank' tour...not quite a tourist favourite, but definitely worth a visit.

Google takes away CHARITY MONEY!

I hate it when blogs are neglected (last post was October 2011) but I was a little disheartened when GOOGLE TOOK BACK ALMOST £50 BUILT UP THROUGH HARD EARNED ADVERT CLICKS DESTINED FOR WATERAID. In Google's defense, their terms and conditions does state that one must not ask people to click on adverts (which I did) - but it was for charity...come on...it's like an unbelievably fat and rich man taking fresh milk from a thirsty, malnourished, disease prone baby.

Apparently complaining to Google about this kind of thing is like shouting at a blind, deaf and dumb dictator asking; 'could you possibly be as kind to give back that money you mistakenly took from your starving people?' Not even an answer, it's already in a large, black html hole and it's not coming back.

However, all is not lost! You can now donate directly to Water Aid through the Just Giving page to the left. It''s easy peasy and will make a big difference.

Thank you.

P.s. a special message to Google: