h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Oh that Noggin - totally unable to 'follow instructions'. Meaning that, although he didn't get me an ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE one of his gifts was *something for the kitchen* . So we had a good laugh about that. And his other gifts were lovely - the new Terry Pratchett book and a very nice Mike Oldfield cd.

I actually gave *him* an electrical appliance! A hair/beard trimmer, which we will try out this week. Also a wool/cashmere scarf, some nice 'eau de toilette' and a couple of other small bits and bobs.

Our dinner yesterday was FAB. The slow-roasted meats (duck, leg of lamb, boneless pork ribs) were melt-in-your-mouth tender and the roasted veg (potatoes, carrots, red onion, entire head of garlic) were equally delicious. And also some stuffing, made with sherry and pine nuts. All of it was totally .

My friend Eric came over with a few bottles of and we all got suitably and . Then we retired to the sofa to watch the Alistair Sim version of Scrooge on dvd and took turns nodding off and waking each other up.

Today we *had* planned to go out for a much-needed walk and see Eric's new paintings at the outdoor art market, but somehow we've got all lazy again . . .

Anyhow, this has been the most wonderful Christmas ever. I hope all of you had equally wonderful ones.

logicus - seems we missed you online yesterday. Perhaps see you later on today?


az

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It's probably down to being a bloke. We tend to assume that the term "electrical appliance" refers to all those things, and only those things, that run on electricity.

Hope everybody had as good a christmas dy as I did.

Noggin

It's all that linear thinking! There is a time and a place for LOGIC and, frankly, Christmas prezzie buying is neither.


az

yep missed me today aswell just sent email, pretty one even if i say so my self. should be on later today.

hi darling,

Just got your email and have replied - can you receive emails?

The photo of Henry was gorgeous - thank you. He certainly looks very happy to be back with you.

Well, let us know how you are doing and if you got my email.



az

hello???

anybody home?


Am off tomorrow to spend two days in Granada with Noggin - it's my birthday present!

We're going to be staying here!

http://www.hotelcasacapitel.com/

And we'll be visiting the Alhambra:

http://www.alhambradegranada.org/galeriasDeFotos/sala1_en.asp


Hope everyone else is well and happy . . .

az

well a weeks past since your birthday, since it has been likely that you have knocked some years off your age ,nows the time to wish you happy birthday, so at least for one instent you can feel a week younger just dont let noggin see you

So has the proposed lifestyle change begun yet az?

hi logicus, Kelli,

I wonder what's happened to Fathom. I think he is off work now - hope everything is okay with him.

Meanwhile, you *would* remind me about the new lifestyle, Kelli!

Actually, I have made a few changes and plan to make more next week when I am back into a more or less full-time work schedule. Any suggestions?


az

ps
Did you see our Granada photos?

http://public.fotki.com/azahar/granada/

It looks too warm for you to have been so well wrapped up!

Suggestions? The best message I got from the tv thing was the 'eat little and often' principle. Plan to eat something small every two hours or so, it evens out your blood sugar (and therefore energy levels) through the day. If you have planned, healthy snacks available then the even blood sugar reduces the cravings for naughty things and stops those crashes.

My top tip of the day

Oh and exercise more

Kelli,

Next time you're online click on my Yahoo IM - I have something silly to show you.

az

presently drinking with Noggin while he writes an email to Fathom to find out how he is . . .

hi Fathom, (in case you're lurking)

Found another one for you . . .

U195960

Actually, Noggin found it.

Come back soon - we miss you!


az

Something silly eh?

*Goes to poke az on IM*

One of the pups can now clear the barrier we errected halfway through the kitchen so that they would have a defined 'bedroom' to encourage them not to poop in the house. It leans slightly and it seems she can only go one way so we'll have to take it down An end to the days of being able to cook in peace...

Another one for you, Fathom (wherever you are . . .) U247766


Kelli, I guess you could always put up one of those accordian 'kiddie gates'.

Time to go and exercise now . . .


az

The kiddie gate isn't possible, that is why we built the barrier out of MDF. She is a bright little thing! She learned to drag her bed over to the barrier and then balance on the corner of it which allowed her to get her paws over the top, followed by a jump-and-scramble to 'freedom'.

They are getting better behaved as the training starts to work, although the timeout room is now the downstairs loo, it used to be the non-doggy end of the kitchen. If they start doing something we don't like (being aggressive, jumping up, mouthing etc) they go into the timeout room for 30 seconds to a minute. The message is slowly filtering through

I love them to bits, how could we have lived for so long without them?!

So what exercise are you doing?

k

Mostly stretching and toning stuff atm. I've given up on Pilates for now just because I find it too boring. So I'm easing into an exercise routine gently (to save my back). Some stretching, some small weight stuff for my arms, abdominals and leg work. Now I only do it for about 40 minutes but want to get up to an hour.

My back has actually been feeling quite good recently and I'm wondering if it has to do with giving up riding my bike. Meanwhile, I'll have to find some other good 'aerobic' activity.


az

morning az
I'll have to find some other good 'aerobic' activity.
Az three words ,a good session will make you breathless ,brings color to
you cheeks , best enjoyed with a partner ,a run tht is not what most of you are thinking sex makes you fat in the end .

I'm afraid I can't run any more, logicus, for the same reason I'm no longer riding my bike. Happily this doesn't exclude *all* aerobic activity, but I also need one I can do on my own . . .


az



For Fathom: U232164

Where are you doing your exercise az, is it at a gym?

If it is then you might want to see if they have any fitball type classes. They are giant inflatable balls that you can sit on and do a variety of exercises, including the weight work and sit-ups. They are really good for improving core stability (strengthening the muscles that girdle the stomach) which might help with supporting your back. When I went to a health spa with J last year he did one of the classes and immediately bought a ball to use at home. Of course he has been on it about twice since then but I use it regularly

My knees are playing up today so I might give my lunchtime run a miss and do some rowing instead.

Gradual changes are the way to go anyway

hi Kelli,

No, I can't afford to go to a gym, so I just do a work-out at home. As I said, with small weights (for toning my arms) and some mat stuff (abs, leg work with strap-on small weights). And I make sure to do a proper warm-up and also stretching afterwards.

Have never seen the ball thingy. But while doing my exercises now I keep in mind the Pilates 'core stability' postures and breathing - always tightly holding the abs in and up (which is not easy!). I'm also doing this when I am just walking around town, shopping, whatever, and I find this is also a bit of a mini-workout.

Anyhow, I am curious about your diet. Can you tell me more about it? Now that I've got the exercise thing happening I want to start making further changes. The trick will be making meals that are good for me without starving poor Noggin, who could actually do with putting a bit of weight on! He's one of those extremely annoying 'naturally thin' people and it seems that no matter how much he eats he never puts on an ounce.


az