Re-feeding, second day...and day of rest, too

Today started with a proper muesli (oh, yummers!) and ended with a bit of piano jazz from a 'local' who grew up in Manhattan and trained in composition and keyboard with Thelonius Monk's own teacher. He played mostly pieces written by Monk and then Duke Ellington - two giants from very different jazz eras (his knowledge, although Len will remember our one music course back in New Jersey so I did have some vestigial memories of the history...) who overlapped in early 60s and did spark off each other.

Because it was raining, cold and grey from the jump on this not sunny Sunday, we passed on the 7:45am departure for walking tour (call us crazy) and enjoyed first a wonderful breakfast which we will definitely make back at home (requests for recipes will all be honoured, please). Bircher muesli that was much more fruit than oat and bran, and exceedingly healthy AND tasty, for it. 

Then, as we both had a lot more energy than the preceding day, a nice bout of exercise in the gym before lunch just 4.5 hours later (it really does feel like they're pushing the food into us at this point, even if it's only a 1,000 calorie day according to the guide). Lunch was probably the best meal we've had yet - a quinoa souffle with egg and cheese (decadence!) coupled with green, all-vegetable sauce for decoration and brilliant contrasting taste, along with lightly blanched tomatoes that were so fresh and flavourful that Vicky couldn't take it, and I was forced(!) to take one of hers off her hands. The things we do for love...

...and then...it was time for the final grudge match against our sparring partners, brothers Andrew and Patrick (you'll note the seriousness of the blood feud in the eyes, here):

Unfortunately - for us - although we traded the first two rubbers, the gents cleaned our clocks in the last one, which honestly was the right ending for our spate of contests. They are clearly the superior players but at the same time, so gentlemanly and honourable that it was (almost!) a pleasure even to lose as much as we did.

It was my first day without a treatment, and I appreciated the relaxing - unfilled, open and dreamy/contemplative - space in the afternoon before yet another vegetarian meal with another new friend Gerry (fellow Londoner whom we will definitely see again at least for the real-deal Korean restaurant up in our ends) and then the piano recital. Early to bed in order to be set for...the end tomorrow.

Stats
BP: 101/66
Kg: 72.4