The London Marathon 2013

Last weekend Single Girl World took a trip into central London to support all the runners in the 2013 Marathon. The Sun was beaming as we headed for the 25th mile!! We stood for 4 hours, shouting out peoples names and cheering them on! With only 1.4 miles left of the route, the runners were all in good spirits!! We even managed to spot Colin Jackson in the crowd interviewing runners !!

This year there were some amazing costumes and of course huge amounts of money being raised for incredible charities.

There is nothing better than shouting out one the runner's names and encouraging them on!! So much hard work, focus and commitment goes into preparing for the 26.4 miles around beautiful London!!! They have definitely inspired us to start running again and apply for a place in the 2014 Marathon. We cant wait to know how  it feels to cross that finish line with such a huge sense of achievement.

Congratulations to everyone who took part this year !!! Pop the kettle on and put your feet up!! You deserve it!!

Burns Night at The Grove Balham

Here at SGW we have friends from many parts of the UK and further afield, and this post is dedicated to our wonderful Scottish Friends.

We had heard about Burns night, but had never actually been to one. So this year we decided to change that!

Last night I headed to The Grove Balham with two friends(one of them is Scottish) and ate my first ever haggis! I wasn't sure how I’d feel about it but it was absolutely delicious, My Scottish friend said that it was as good as the one she got back home (Gold Star to the Chef at The Grove.)

                                           

That wasn't all the Grove had to offer... they also had a bagpipe player, who was AMAZING!!! I now want to learn how to play!

Before going to the Burn’s night I researched what Burn’s night was and what to expect (okay I say research but I really mean googled).My googling told me that I should expect to celebrate the life and poetry of Robert Burns with Haggis and Whiskey. The Grove didn’t disappoint I’ve already mentioned the delicious Haggis, they followed this up with Whiskey tasting with Ronnie!!

This was my favourite part of the night not only because I got to laugh at the girls as they tried and failed to drink the whiskey, but we learned all there was to know about Scotch Whiskey with thanks to Ronnie.Number one being NEVER drink the house Scotch and number two being Glenlivet is officially my favourite Whiskey!

                                          

It was our first visit to The Grove and we have already planned our next. The decor is amazing (the booth we were sat in was so beautiful) and the staff are so friendly, if you are near the Balham area I would definitely pop in, it’s the perfect place for Sunday Lunch with the family or quiet drinks with the girls... or dare I say it a First Date!

A big thank you to everyone at The Grove for a lovely Burns Night!!!

With Love from London,

J xx

p.s.  For anyone that doesn’t know Robert Burns (or as the Scots would say Rabbie Burns) is a famous Scottish Poet who was born and lived in Ayrshire and you can go and visit his home whenever you  want   (well that’s what my Scottish Friend told me)

St Dwynwen's Day.

Tomorrow (25th January) is St Dwynwen's day, so before the Welshies hit twitter to wish everyone a "Happy St Dwynwen's Day" I thought I'd give all you non- Welsh Folk a low-down on what the day is. 

St Dwynwen is the Welsh Saint of Love... So technically St Dwynwen's day is the Welsh Valentine's Day. 

As with much Welsh History the Story of St Dwynwen was passed down by word of mouth and so has an element of folktale about it. 
I remember learning the story in school and then later reading a more graphic version which wasn't as pretty and romantic. I'm going to share with you the "pretty, romantic" version of my childhood.....

Dwynwen fell in love with a man named Maelon, but her father had already arranged for her to marry someone else. Dwynwen was heart broken (as you can imagine she had met the love of her life!!!!) So she begged God to help her forget Maelon (we've all been there let's face it). She fell asleep and was visited by an Angel who brought a Sweet Potion made to help Dwynwen forget all about Maelon and turn him to a block of ice!!!! Legend has it that God then granted her 3 wishes (some say she prayed for them after seeing what happened to Maelon). Her first wish was that Maelon be thawed (what a girl), her second wish was that, through her God look after all true lovers, and the third was that she never married!!

It is then said that she retreated to the solitude of Llanddwyn Island and became a hermit until she died. 

So there you have it Ladies, no more sitting and pondering about what the Welsh "hashtag" trending is.... it's nothing more than a Welsh Love Story!!

From London, with Love
SGW 
xxxx

The Search for "Happy Ever After".

I'm not ashamed to admit that this week Adele has been on full blast, followed by Taylor Swift. I've eaten mountains of chocolate and been selective in who I speak to - choosing to weep in my own self pity.... The reason?

It's obvious isn't it, there's only one reason someone would listen to that many sad songs on repeat and eat that much chocolate when she is trying to be healthy and that reason is a boy!!!! 

I am a self confessed "Heart on my sleeve" sort of girl, and I've always liked that about myself. Until now, this week after a disastrous date (the less said about it the better) I have decided that wearing my heart on my sleeve is the worst thing ever. It's like being Alice in Wonderland and following the White Rabbit into the hole. Your head is telling you that this is a ridiculous idea but your heart... your heart is tugging you into the hole, and there is nothing you can do to stop it. 

You know all the right things to say when someone else is going through the same thing, but when it comes to you and your love life you do a brilliant impression of an ostrich, you bury your head in the sand so that you don't hear the advice your friends are giving you.

You just don't want to hear them utter those AWFUL, AWFUL words... "He's Just Not That Into You!” Those words rip through your romantic heart and tear all of your daydreams in two; you’d rather believe that he’s busy/ ill or missing in dating action than face the truth that he just isn’t that into you.

Please tell me I’m not the only one who knows without a doubt that my friends are right, but just can’t shake the feeling that this boy will be the one, the Prince Charming that Disney has been promising ever since I watched Sebastian and the other sea creatures surround Ariel and Eric and sing “Kiss the Girl”?

Well , this week I have been doing my best ever Ostrich impersonation, and have been refusing to listen to my friends very sensible advice (sorry friends) instead choosing to wallow in my own self pity, sit in my onesie and eat chocolate (which really does not help at all!!!)

It’s just today after waking up and reading T’s lovely post about kissing frogs that I have FINALLY come to my senses. I have the most wonderful friends and family, I have a laughter filled life that I absolutely cherish. So why dear Single Girls would I waste it looking round corners for Prince Charming, I've come to realise that a guy isn't going to change my life in the slightest, I will still have my friends and family and I will still be laughing, so why waste time searching for this happily ever after for my, when I have a Happy Present?

I've decided that for now I won’t chase that Happy Ever After, I will let it chase me....

Lots of Love J xxxxx

New Year, New You !!!

So 2013 has arrived, lets raise a glass to a New year and a new you!
Everyone always makes resolutions that they don't keep to! Always with good intentions and we just don't stick to them because life happens and change is hard.
Well, here's our advice :

In 2013 you should

1. Take care of your body! No fad diets, just balance the Chocolate with a Zumba class. Eat fruit and Vegetables and get fresh air ! Your health is the most important thing !

2. Share and make more friends! Treat people kindly and look after those close to you! Be loyal and good hearted!

3. Smile and laugh! Don't take everything to heart ! Really enjoy the good times with family and friends! This will balance out the bad times !!

4. Buy a camera and carry it with you ! Take snaps of things to remember and your experiences so you can look back on them in years to come.

5. Always do things that scare you a little. Try new things and don't let life pass you by !

6. Lastly, improve from your mistakes and learn lessons from them.

These are the ones we are going to follow this year because they are important to us ! Try new year resolutions that you can maintain and achieve !

Just be Happy and make 2013 YOUR Year!

Happy New Year !
Lot of Love
Single Girl World xx