Rug

I usually use the Surrey Canal bike path too - but chose the slightly longer route of going down the Old Kent Road, then going through Nunhead to go home. Certainly not scenic, but straight roads and no troubles that I know of...

Not sure how much it costs, as I won it in a competiton - but Divertimenti (http://www.divertimenti.co.uk/epages/Divertimenti.storefront) does a great cookery school thing. Highly recomend that one. In terms of cookery books, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's "Meat" cookbook is awesome (probably not so for vegetarians), goes into great detail, loads of diverse recipes, but also more how to cook meat and give you ideas for yourself.

Have you tried JAGS - James Allen Girls School Gym. http://www.jagssportsclub.co.uk/. It's only ?33 a month. Been going there a year now and top notch as far as I'm concerned - pretty small and can be busy but always found it really clean, people polite etc... Pool is only 25m but it's UV cleaned so there is minimal Chlorine