If the long weekends have left you with feelings of shame and self loathing, chances are… you were drunk.
If so, you’re probably now swearing off drinking, raving, chocolate and extreme patriotism – making a world of promises with yourself to be more wholesome and cultured.
Inbetween visits to galleries, museums, and our Grandparents here are a couple more things to do that don’t involve getting smashed… WHAT?!

Trapezing: www.gorillacircus.com

Walpole Park, Ealing, from 6th to the 18th of May
Acton Green, Chiswick, from the 20th May to the 8th of June
Regents Park, from the 10th June to the 22nd of August
Battersea Park from the 23rd August to the 12th of September

I did this last Summer with my friend Katie. I was pretty much unbearable at work all day as I was super excited and would not shut up about it. Everyone who phoned was treated to my high pitched: “I’MSOEXCITEDI’MGOINGTRAPEZINGLATER” squeals of glee.
As the moment loomed we started to think about it more and if I’m honest we got a bit scared. Not because it’s high, the ropes are thin, the net doesn’t look strong and the people running it looked about 14 with dread locks. We were scared we would be crap at it.
Being massive show offs, we had impressed them so much in the warm up by putting our faces on the floor and our legs by our ears that they chose us to go first and lead by example. Luckily we could do it and were able to do catches. It’s all about timing and listening to aforementioned dreadlocked 14 year olds who are actually lovely and not at all carni/Circ de Solei scary. It was exhilarating and gave muscles we didn’t know we had a workout.
There were a few people there who had been a couple of times and I was a bit worried that I might have developed an expensive new habit. These worries were unnecessary as I feel about trapezing the same as I feel about skiing and volcano boarding. I’ve done it once and the getting excited, ready, and actually climbing up to the top is not worth the 20 second rush and hoping that someone has got a good picture without me doing my mentalist face. I recommend you do it, do it once.

Cinema: www.picturehouses.co.uk

The Gate Cinema, Notting Hill

I’m not talking big brand, stale popcorn cinemas but nice local ones. The Gate’s beautifully decadent Edwardian decor is worth paying to see alone.
It concentrates more on foreign and independent films rather than big blockbusters so it’s more relaxed and personal. The small foyer sells Fair Trade and organic teas and coffee (they also have a fully stocked bar if you choose to ignore the whole point of this feature) which you can take into the screen. There’s luxury armchairs with drinks tables and double ‘love’ seats at the rear.
It’s all delightfully intimate; I swear the same girl sold me my ticket, took my ticket and ushered (unless they employ triplets). They are also well up for a bit of Orange Wednesday action if you are a cheapskate. You can impress your date with facts such as:
It used to be a Victorian whore house.
In WWII the doomed roof was blown off by a bomb.
In 1978 it was the first British cinema to show ‘Ai No Corrida’.
And stuff.