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.
Belly boy at Screamland
“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.
Ramen class, Sozai cooking school
With 2016 marking the 350th anniversary of the Great Fire of London, the City was ablaze this weekend in flickering light installations, scorching Catherine wheels and great balls of fire. Created by Artichoke, the masterminds behind Lumiere London, the London’s burning commemorations sparked wonder across the capital. As a City worker, I headed into the heat after work to experience my working environment in an entirely new light.
Great Fire of London commemorations
With Parkrun and Race for Life injecting fresh interest into the gruelling business of running, there’s never been a better time to pound the streets. Already addicted to Parkrun’s Saturday morning community vibe, I had the urge to try something new. Described as the happiest 5K on the planet, the Colour Run had me intrigued. But was it all a cloud of colourful hot air? And more importantly, how would I get the colour out my hair for work the next day?
The Colour Run, Wembley Stadium
Farming may seem a far cry from office life but with a growing number of city farms springing up, you can now swap the boardroom for the pig pen. With a never-ending cycle of feeding, grooming, exercising, cleaning and cuddling, volunteers from all walks of life are in high demand. Being a country girl at heart, I ditched the stilettos for wellies and got down and dirty with the pigs, goats, hens and rabbits at Stepney City Farm.
Rounding up chickens at Stepney City Farm
From Roald Dahl to Mary Berry, leafy Buckinghamshire’s charms have attracted their share of celebrities. And with historic churches, idyllic villages and acres of stunning countryside, what’s not to love? In a bid to blow away the corporate cobwebs, I set off early on Saturday to embark on my celebrity inspired hike from Great Missenden to Amersham.
Roald Dahl’s grave
Consuming 30,000 cups at our desks every year, tea is the essential elixir that gets us through the working day. Its restorative properties help spark ideas, relieve stress and provide a soothing moment of calm. But with sales of alternative tea soaring, has the traditional office brew had its day? I headed to tea bar and shop, Piacha, to get the lowdown on the new tea trends that could soon be sweeping through your office.
Piacha tea bar
As the cold and rain continue to batter our misery-laden, grey old island, my thoughts turned wistfully to freshly plucked, glistening seafood savoured on endless blue-sky summer days. And where better to seek wish fulfilment than at Covent Garden’s Big
Easy Bar. B.Q. and Lobstershack. Specialising in all American tucker from ribs and hogs to steak and seafood, the Big Easy Lobster fest grabbed my eye. But was it really worth shelling out my salary for? Claws at the ready, I set off to find out.
The Big Easy, Covent Garden
Offering towering mountains, coursing rivers and shimmering plains, Tibet sparks the imagination like nowhere else. A mecca for mysticism, its magnificent monasteries, fluttering prayer flags and chanting monks are as compelling as its dramatic scenery. Intrigued by this mysterious land, I slipped out after work on Thursday to explore Tibet’s Secret Temple at the Wellcome Collection.
Yarlung Zangbo River, Tibet.
Rising at 7.00 to run round a muddy field on a Saturday morning has as much appeal as sticking pins in my eyes. But shamed by my expanding midriff and spurred on by my alternative New Year’s resolutions, parkrun was calling. Enticed by the tidal wave of rave reviews, I dragged myself kicking and screaming out of bed to find out what all the fuss was about.
Shaking up Saturday mornings at parkrun