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:

FREE GYM #12 - East Dulwich Gym - Saving fish, one row at a time

Row row row rowing machine
Works cardio like a dream...
If you see a massive fish,
Don't forget to...row faster?

While on the rowing machine, has anyone tried the 'fish game' where your little fish will get eaten by a big shark if you don't row fast enough? No? Try it! I love the rowing machine. It's perhaps my favourite gym machine. When I get tired of the fish game I usually use the 2000m function and try to beat my previous time (P.B 7.43 minutes at the moment).

The picture of me looking serious is actually me fighting for the life of my little fish, which always, by the way, dies in the end.

If you squint, you may realise I have a WaterAid t-shirt on, which is the whole point of this blog, so get clicking on the adverts to raise more money for charity.

£32.72 raised so far!!

This blog refers to day two of a free 7 day pass from East Dulwich Leisure Centre - see previous blog post for more information.

Free Gym #12 - East Dulwich - HEATWAVE

Despite being one of the hottest days recorded in October...EVER I didn't feel bad about wasting part of it in the gym (usually for me, the equivalent of going to a basement gym on a sunny day is like going on holiday and never leaving your hotel).

This is because, East Dulwich Leisure Centre, with its high glass ceiling, ample space and brilliant ventilation is about as outside as you are going to feel inside a gym.

Plus, I'm not one to miss an opportunity. It's open weekend across all London Fusion Gyms, including East Dulwich Leisure Centre. Not only can you get in free, but if your friend is a member, they can request a 7 day free pass for their family member or friend. Luckily, my girlfriend has just joined so now I have a weeks worth of a gym, right next to my house!

After the gym session, I walked to the park with the papers, nestled myself in a nice bed of Autumn leaves and had a nice sleep in the sun (apparently hotter today than the Sahara says the Mirror). I briefly regretted not making more of the weather and taking a trip to the beach...but a quick look at the congestion below makes me think that perhaps a simple trip to the local gym and park was the right decision!

Free Gym #11 - Monument - Working Out is better than Working In

Dropping my bag off at Fitness First Monument, I really couldn't bring myself to spend a minute more in this small, smelly, dingy gym than I had to. So, instead of running aimlessly inside on a conveyor belt for my warm  up, I took to the sunny, saline scented riverside walkway for my cardio, preferring to work 'out' rather than work  'in'.

Just a 10 minute run between London Bridge and Tower Bridge turned out to be the most enjoyable exercise of the day, taking a flying visit to historical sites I had never bothered to see before...

Warm up outside next time - you never know what you might find.

Free Gym #11 - Monument - Beware of the troll

Illustration by Misha Waterton - Property of Shmoo

Slap bang in the middle of London, this basement gym hides broodingly away in the underbelly of London Bridge. Ugly, smelly, dank and awkwardly proportioned, you may be forgiven in thinking that London Bridge has acquired a troll.

The designers of this gym have given the majority of space to three squash courts, sparingly allocating thin corridors for running, stretching and weights. As the whole gym is more or less open plan, don't be surprised to see a squash ball flying past your face while on the running machines in the mezzanine above.

The worst thing about Fitness First Monument could be the solitary mens toilet. I feel almost sorry for it...no toilet should take so much strain. But the best thing is certainly the view of the Thames that you get whilst on the running machines. [see image]. Looking out at the rain and an angry swollen river, you may feel happy to be inside. Even if it's in a troll.

Free five day voucher - courtesy of Voucher Cloud phone app.

Getting lost - London is my Gym

When you are feeling down, or have experienced a set-back, I recommend stepping into your trainers and going for a run. Don't plan it, don't time it, don't pace it; just - get - lost. I guarantee that after that, you'll find your way back again, and have seen a whole new perspective along the way.

Free GYM #10 - East Dulwich Leisure Centre - Yummy Mummy Land

This £6.5 million gym has just opened and is already courting controversy. Butch men are complaining that gym bosses are sidelining them because the free weights are too light [only up to 20kg], catering for the droves of (obviously weakling) yummy mummy types who live in East Dulwich. Such a fuss was kicked up that the local newspaper had it as its front cover story. Luckily, an advert in the same newspaper the week before had given me a free pass voucher – so I could see for myself...happy in the knowledge that 20kg was quite enough for me (for now).

Located on the site of an old swimming pool, this gym is encircled by a full length balcony, complete with old ornate benches where people used to watch the swimmers below. The water is now replaced by a sea of shining equipment with my favourite running machines ever. The new ‘Fitness Life’ machines had big screens with the novelty of an attractive virtual female trainer egging you on. ‘C’mon’ she cheerfully said, ‘Only 500 metres to go!’

As I was enjoying my delightful virtual trainer, I noticed a man check out the blonde on the cycling machine next to him and nonchalantly move to an identical cycling machine behind her – eyes fixed greedily on her ass.

What better motivation than that? Ugh.