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

Hello AJW
It's been a lengthy absence - I don't know exactly why although I have been away twice since we last 'spoke'.
I hope that you've been using the time profitably
I'm off to Morpeth tomorrow even though the temperature seems to be dropping lower and lower here (and there I suspect)
I hope you had a good weekend
Helen

Hi Helen,

Missed you

Sorry not to reply for so long: I've been experimenting with Newton's laws of motion again; I was knocked off my bike last month & broke my wrist

Al

Gosh!
Lucky it wasn't any worse! My eldest son was knocked off his bike in London on two occasions - fortunately for him too it could've been worse. He has a scooter now and I found it totally scary being on the back!
No rowing for you then - I hope you're back to fitness soon.
I was hoping for some better news
Helen

I had some aspirations that way myself!

Still, as you say, it could have been worse.

I might get the cast off in a couple of weeks, so the rcovery will start about then.

The back of a scooter is probably the scariest place in London; all of the vulnerability, but no control...

Al

I see you've studiously avoided my reference to 'news'
Weren't there any nice nurses then?

Very 'nice' indeed

But strangely perhaps, there were other things occupying more of my attention....

Al

Hello Al

Just wondered how you were and how the wrist is holding up - no pun intended!


My Spanish classes finished last week but I'm thinking of continuing at a higher level after Easter - perhaps learning something about verb tenses

Pilates has also finished but will restart after the holiday. I enjoy it but it doesn't seem to be doing much for my lifebelt

May pop down to the West Midlands tomorrow although forecast isn't so good. I was up in Newcastle last week and took the opportunity to go to the M&S Life Store. Mixed feelings about it. I was very impressed by the kitchen department - some very stylish equipment - but it was like being in a very large warehouse and they could really do with some effective staff training. Apart from one extremely helpful young woman, I found the rest quite poor.

Let me know how you are when you've a moment
Helen

Not too bad, if somewhat inactive

The cast's off now, and I've started physiotherapy.

After a couple of days doing the exercises I can now touch my little finger with my thumb. That I count that as an achievement (and opening a packet of crisps as a major feat of strength ) shows what these things can reduce you to

My arm looks depressingly twig-like, although the splint they gave me is reassuringly labelled extra large. Still, I'm only wearing that outside now.

Don't worry about the lifebelt: you never know when it might come in handy, and enjoying yourself is the main thing...

I don't like the lifebelt so I've decided to do something about it - joined Weightwatchers last night I'm not counting points and some time today will have to work out what each meal will mean. Pity I'm so rubbish at Maths lol
Hope the arm's improving and that you're soon back to full fitness.
Helen

Hmm, it probably means replacing "meal" with "snack"

The arm's doing OK: Andrea the physio is pleased with progress anyway.

Having mastered the art of squeezing a sponge into submission, now I've got to get myself some play-doh to squidge around...

Al

Hmm - Andrea eh? Do you watch 'Footballers' Wives' at all?

The diet is going ok - I don't feel hungry and I haven't changed the type of food but it's certainly making me think about what I eat and making me more aware - weigh-in is on Monday evening - I'll let you know

I've decided to join the gym as well as doing Pilates but only for the treadmill, bike and cross trainer. I don't like weights much and she wasn't sure what the rowing machine would do to my neck lol

Still reading a lot but recently purchased a laptop which, as usual, has not been straightforward in terms of operating - I don't know who it was who coined the term 'plug & play' for example!

I'll be up in Newcastle on Tuesday - we're all going to the airport to meet my youngest son on his return from his year long round the world trip. It'll be strange haivng someone in the house again even though it's only until he finds a job and gets back on his feet. The dog'll be pleased
Have a good weekend if you're still there.
Helen

thought that might set you off.

I'm afraid (actually quietly proud) that I've never seen "Footballers' Wives" so sorry, but the reference eludes me.

Glad the diet's going OK: being aware of what's going in vs what's going out is probably the key; good luck for the weigh-in!

There's no point at all doing weights if you don't like them: you can gain effective strength just by doing what you want to be strong at. A rowing machine shouldn't do anything to your neck, as long as you don't set the resistance too high, but you can get fit without it...

Al

Hello :o)

I've just realised how long it has been since I've posted - the nights are drawing in again!

No excuse I'm afraid - the time's just rushed by!

How are you? I expect the injusry has healed. What about the football?
May hear from you then :o)

Helen

Hi

It has been a while, but they're only just starting to draw in...

The wrist is still attached: mostly it's OK although I still get a bit of gyp near the extremes of the range of movement. They've got me on "Occupational Therapy" at the hospital, to bring the strength back up. For now that involves squeezing putty, transferring water in a squeezy bulb and playing solitaire with an oversize clothespeg.

I've started rowing again: very slowly as the fitness has just about gone after all thins inactivity!

I think the Czech Republic will probably win the football. On balance the right team won the England match. There's no point complaining about Swiss refs: wrapping your arm around the home goalies' neck will get a goal disallowed pretty much anywhere. (Although one bloke at the office would probably want me hung, drawn & quartered for treason for saying so.)

I won't take any advice from you re betting! I'm afraid I lost interest at the end. Not sure I can summon up any enthusiasm for the Olympics just now - it may change. We know someone in the Ladies' Rowing so will be watching that with interest.

Never mind the nights drawing in - it's damned chilly here. I've just seen London on the tv and the sun's shining there.

I'm glad things are getting back to normal albeit slowly. At least you have youth on your side!

I have managed to lose a stone since Easter and I'm feeling much better for it - my clothes are beginning to feel comfortable again :o)

Pilates has finished for the summer but I haven't found anything to replace it yet - I seem to be involved in more sedentary occupations at the moment.

Off to get lunch now - speak soon
Helen

Actually I'd drawn Greece in the office sweep, so I lucked out: having told myself "That's a quid I'll never see again" when I picked out the paper slip. So I was consoled when they won, but I'll admit they aren't particularly entertaining to watch.

Just goes to show that prognostication is not among my talents! I don't follow my betting advice either, except for "Don't do it" that is.

The women are looking pretty good for the Olympics, going by the World Cup results at least. (Which one do you know by the way?) Hopefully the mens' four will dort itself out now Ed Coode's on board.

Glad the weight loss is working out: just make sure you stop before you can hide behind lampposts

Al

Alison Mowbray - she's been on tv a couple of times on Saturdays.

Still losing (Monday night is weigh in) - I aim to stop when I get to about a stone and a half loss. I may celebrate by having fish and chips :o)

It's really cold here today yet when I was in the garden before lunch the sun came out and it was really hot! - the weather people have just said it equates with November! Travel agents must be doing good business.

Have you had any success on the women front? I went into the James Cook Hospital to visit an ex-colleague last week. They all seemed large and middle-aged - the nurses I mean. I don't know what the world's coming to!
Helen

Can't say I've met Alison, although I've bumped into the Kaths (the coxless pair) around Marlow Rowing Club on occasion.

Looking good: there'll still be some of you left then. Might as well enjoy the fish before everyone else has eaten them all

And there are still people who don't believe climate change is a problem.

I think I'm one of life's natural loners, but you obviously have to pick your hospital: if it's affiliated to a University, you get more fit student types hanging around. There may be a ward to ward variation: our night nurses said they preferred the mens wards as we were easier to look after and didn't moan as much, although that might just have been an (entirely successful) effort to cheer us up.

Al

I'm off to the West Midlands on Monday - going a little earlier than planned to babysit on Tuesday while they go to a funeral. My son and his wife are coming up next weekend - we plan to come up to Newcastle to visit a) the Life Store and b) my youngest son and his girlfirend who are settling in Newcastle - not necessarily in that order!

I noticed the name dropping again btw Perhaps I should mention that my husband played for Henley Rugby Club years ago? lol

Oh well, enjoy (if you get this before you go, and if babysitting during a funeral is an enjoyable thing to do...)

Presumably, you mean the M&S shop in Gateshead rather than the "Grossology" exhibit at the Life Centre...

I've never had the slightest talent for rugby, so you're safe there.

Al