sundays are my saving grace :-)

most people hate sundays because they mean the end of the weekend and the start of (gulp) another work week. however, i love them...here's why:

- i'm guaranteed to get a run in, preferably along the thames. you just can't beat running alongside the river with all of london's treasures in plain sight. it's like i have a date with the city.

- st. peter and paul church on amwell street. i started going because it was close enough to be convenient but offered enough of a walk to make me feel productive, and i've kept going because it's an awesome parish! it's small, it's cold (we wear our coats during mass), and we even sing some of the american catholic songs i grew up with.

- weight training aka carrying bags of groceries home from tesco. i like shopping at tesco because it's uncrowded (thanks waitrose next door!) and unpretentious. also, they have my favorite two-bean burgers...

- family time. usually at least one of my parents will call or skype me on Sundays, so i get a little love to start the week with. :-)

sunday = Jen day basically. i can do all the things i like and still have time to lay around if i want. today was no exception, although it was more of the active variety. i woke up early because the sun was shining in my windows brighter than i think i've ever seen here. i was forced out of bed and onto the street for a run. well worth it though, the embankment path was packed with runners and tourists. i can safely say that i inadvertently starred in at least three home movies of big ben before 10:30 this morning.

mass was next, followed by a pizza lunch (leftovers from self-date night at la porchetta last evening), then i met Beth to catch the 38 bus to hyde park corner. except we got a bit lost getting off the bus. luckily we found our way and 20 minutes later, we met her friends Chelsea and Michael for a walk around the lake.

the sun was still shining, there were ducks and gulls and pigeons on the lake path, and the daffodils are starting to peek their shy heads out of the ground. beautiful day. and Beth's friends were a blast to talk to. we walked for at least an hour then headed to the pub for my first proper sunday roast! i chose the roast beef, because it came with horsey sauce. :-) to drink, i had a brothers pear cider, which was really nice and also 7.5% alcohol.



we decided to take the tube home, central line, which got more and more crowded with each stop. at one point, so many people tried to cram into the subway car that i actually started laughing. i think they thought i was crazy but whatever! our faces were practically mushing against the windows! that's funny. and anyway, it's sunday and i was in a good mood. :-)