Soothing salt cave therapy after work in Earlsfield

Hailed as the new wonder treatment, salt cave therapy is now all the rage amongst stressed, burnt out London office workers.  Claiming to work wonders on the skin, reduce stress, cure insomnia and even improve your mood,  is this saline wonder treatment all it’s cracked up to be?  I ventured out of central London to find out.

Buddha Statue at the salt cave therapy centre in Earlsfield

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Santa dash shenanigans at Ruislip Lido

A flash of red and white snakes through the undergrowth as a fleet of heaving Santas thunders past in this year’s Santa Dash.  Struggling to grapple with wayward beards and flouncy red tops, they brave the grey drizzle of an early December Sunday morning.  Feeling festive, I decided to cheer them on as they braved the elements.

Father Crhistmas at the Santa Dash 2018

Father Christmas at the Santa Dash 2018

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Boldly bouldering at the Arch Climbing Wall after work

With the clocks about to plunge us into semi-permanent darkness, opportunities for outdoor adventure after work are in short supply.  Unable to face the prospect of re-joining the gym, bouldering suddenly caught my fancy.  Now more popular than rock climbing in the wilds, bouldering offers all the thrill of the great outdoors but with crash mat, café and central heating included.  What’s not to love?

close up of man bouldering at the Arch Climbing Wall in Burnt Oak

man bouldering at the Arch climbing wall in Burnt Oak

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Whipping up Nobu’s famous black cod miso at Sozai Cooking School

As the acclaimed dish-du-jour of Japanese restaurant, Nobu, black cod miso is reserved for wealthy City workers.  But for those who can’t afford to splurge £42.50 on a main course, why not learn to make this Asian foodie delight at home for a fraction of the cost? If you’re yearning to upgrade your culinary skills, Sozai Cooking School is now helpfully offering black cod miso cooking lessons after work.

preparing black cod miso at sozai cooking school

learning to cook black cod with miso sauce at Sozai cooking school

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Running the Supernova London 5K at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

Following last week’s post on Obesity in the workplace, I felt it was time to dust off the running shoes and pound London’s pavements again.  Going for glory, I opted for the Supernova London 5K race at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.  After all, if it was good enough for Jessica Ennis-Hill.……

The ArcelorMittal orbit illuminated at night at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

The ArcelorMittal Orbit lit up at night at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

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Set adrift in float spa bliss at floatworks

Reduced blood pressure, better sleep and stress relief on a par with medication drugs: it seems there’s no end to the benefits of float therapy.  In an increasingly over-stimulated working world, could an hour of sensory deprivation be the answer to workplace stress?  Intrigued, I popped down to  floatworks in Vauxhall to drift off for an hour in a parallel float spa universe of blissful relaxation.

interior view of the floatworks float spa in Vauxhall, London

floatworks floatworks float spa reception area

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Exploring Okuda’s street art after work

Scurrying back and forth to work under sludgy February skies, I decided it was time to inject some colour into my life.  And what better way to do so than to experience Okuda’s street art exhibition, Lost Olympus, at the Stolen Space Gallery.  Mixing with surreal, mythological characters proved just the company I needed to lift the spirits on an otherwise mundane, Thursday evening after work.

Refugee Goddess by Okuda, Stolen Space Gallery

Refugee Goddess by Okuda

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A post-work tonic at the City of London Distillery

It’s official, gin is the new vodka with £1 billion of sales recorded for the first time this year.  And where better to sink a post-work G&T or two than the City of London Distillery.  Rising up from its ashes, you can now work your way through more than 380 gins in their clandestine, basement bar.  Flexing my tasting muscles, it was a tough assignment but someone had to do it.

close up of the bar area at the City of London Gin Distillery

City of London Gin Distillery

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All the fun of the scare at Screamland Margate

As the witching hour of Halloween beckons, our thoughts turn to scary stories of haunted houses and morbid mazes. And where better to indulge your fangs this October than Dreamland Margate’s multi-award winning Screamland.  Offering spine-tingling sensations and horrors galore, it’s a night of fiendish fun for all the work team.    Those of a nervous disposition may wish to look away now.

Bell boy reaching out to grab someone at Screamland

Dreamland-Margate Belly boy at Screamland

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Making oodles of noodles at Sozai Cooking School

“In Japan, only a lunatic would bother to make noodles” declares our teacher as we pound flour and water through gritted teeth.  Not being the world’s most patient cook, I wondered if I’d live to regret tonight’s class. But having spent many a lunch break slurping the hearty fare in Kanada-Ya, I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to try out Sozai, the UK’s first Japanese Cooking School.  Raring for Ramen, I dashed over to Aldgate to uncover the culinary secrets of the Far East.

teachers preparing food at the Sozai cooking school

Ramen class, Sozai cooking school

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