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

Ian,

just wanted to say well done on the weight loss (your post on N&F), glad to see you're keeping up the good work!! You're an inspiration!

ruth xxx

Ruth, thanks very much, you're very kind!

But the Metro????

Ian

Its a bit leike the old days over on F and N right now, blood being spilt by the minute. Ian

WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE METRO???!!!

It's certainly an improvement on some of the other tabloids, it could me much worse, I could read the Mail!

I've been reading the developments on N&F board with interest, I'm afraid I really have gotten past caring now about contributing though, it's amusing to see everyone getting so wound up though, like I used to!

have a nice weekend xxxx

Hi Ruth, had a great week-end!

Got some new gear, Marcy weights, thanks to Mary.

I hope you never get past caring to post me. 'Tis a dleicate thing relationships, even more so when they're in cybersapce. Once I get used to someone, I like to hang on to them. Well not if they don't have a fun factor.

Have you got the flat the way you want it?

I'm just about to embark on some major changes to my house, I'm not looking forward to the mess, or the bills. The jobbing building trade is far to bouyant round here, extension prices are around £1k a sq meter, so builders are getting more then their just rewards right now.

I'm probably going to have to start to work more hours agian soon. Do about twenty a week, if that. Daughter off to uni, anly another year and my son will probably be off. I set up this business so I could work few hours and be near home. Due to external pressures, it won't remain viable if I don't come up with a new plan. Trouble is I'm bored. There have been no stimulating advances in my area, for years. So I might plan for myslef a mid life crisis. Buy a sports car and get a medallion. Nope that's not me. Well perhaps a drop top of some kind. I'm a bit wary of buying another car, as the Morris Minor is the most relaible one we have right now. Won't be buying another new Merc, that's for sure. When it was hot the air conditioning packed up, now it's cooler, yes you've guessed it the heater has packed up. German quality, what German quality. It's the third one I've had, the previous ones were excellent, but this one has lowered my bank balance, and raised my BP.

Whoops a bit of a sound off there! Still thanks for listening. Anyway you must tell me a bit more about yourself, when you have a mo.

Ian

Ian

I was pleased to hear you got some weights, I think once you start using them regularly you'll see progress quickly, which should spur you on to keep at it. I think that's one important reason why I find the exercise easier to stick at than the healthy eating, it takes weeks and weeks for me to lose weight by eating a certain way, but my fitness etc. changes within a week or two when I push myself. Anyway, best of luck with it!!

My flat's coming along nicely, although I'm still waiting for my sofa to be delivered (the flat is rented unfurnished so I've been gradually getting all that I need) It's been delayed by a couple of weeks and it's seriously getting on my nerves now, I NEED to slouch! Know what you mean about house modifications though, my Mum's in the middle of getting a new kitchen put it, but with moving a window here and doors over there kind of thing. It's chaos at her house but it's beginning to take shape though. She got lucky with finding decent builders so the headaches haven't been too bad. What exactly are you going to have done?

As for your merc traumas, my Dad got one when he retired but he also got a German Shepherd puppy not long after that, and the two didn't quite go together. He traded up the merc for a Volvo estate, and having driven both, the Merc isn't a patch on the Volvo! It has a lot more poke and it just all round a much better car. (in my humble opinion!)

So anyway, what is it you'd like to know about me? Ask away!

xx

p.s what was all that stuff on the NF board about Mary and John calling her an irrelevance? I think it was Flipper who said that she'd read on another board the thread that lead to that, but which board? where?!!!

Well now you asked me to ask, I don't know! Durrr gone a bit thick.

Actually a bit down in the dumps today, went to a child's funeral yesterday, and I've got a couple of tough letters to write, one to the Merc supplier, so I'm just getting my liver up now.

I put a note on you defense of NP, on the H and N board, I think it sums up one of the reasons I like you!

I like a good knock about debate, but it went too far, I don't like insults being exchanged.

Peace seems to have broken out!

Ian

Blimey, I'm not suprised you're down after having to go do that.

Oddly enough I had a fairly severe attack of the blues yesterday as well, and managed to spread the misery quite nicely. There's a bloke I've been getting on really well with recently, and I managed to piss him off nicely yesterday! He must think I'm a bit of a mad woman now, and I don't blame him.

Today though is a different day, and I had some really good news. I saw the Gynie this morning who told me I don't in fact have PCOS!! All the tests were normal, including my insulin (was suprised about that) and it seems that it's not that I'm over or under producing any hormone, but more likely that my body isn't absorbing it as it should. I'm to go back on the pill though which should help with this, and aside from that I'm in the clear!! It's such a relief, I can't tell you!

I'm starting my course of cognotive pschycotherapy tomorrow too - now that the body is set to be sorted it's time to sort out the mind!!

As for the NF board, I don't remember seeing it ever get quite that blatantly insulting towards people. I read through all of the threads that I'd missed to see if Nige's attackers were in anyway justified but they just seemed to be ganging up on the poor bloke for the fun of it!

Still, it was getting quiet there for a while so it's a bit of excitement for us all at least!

xx

Well I'm reet chuffed!

Excellent news, about the PCOS! That has cheered me up, just done a good humoured mickey take on one of Nige's detractors. I've really warmed to Nige, unfortunately I saw him walking into this one. Tried to get him to steer clear, but he had the bit between his teeth. Anway, I think he's a robust chap! Lets face it the message board wouldn't tick over so nicely without him. Hope he doesn't notice this thread, 'cos to his face I take the mickey.

I don't like stabbing people in the back, only light jabs in the front.

I feeling abit better this afternoon, lunch and a dabble with the Tele crossword has helped. Mind you that's a bit depressing, I used to think of myself as reasonably intelligent, but the lady who won the corssword comp a couple of weeks ago, did it in six minutes! I nearly ripped up my copy in disgust.

H and I are having a long week-end and going up to Rivington, which is known as the mini Lake district. Should help recharge the batteries a bit. I'm looking forward to it, we're staying with H's brother, he's a real character, professional footballer, then coach, now he teaches. So there will be much bon ami, just can't drink the beer! Boo hoo!

I'd find it a bit uncomfortable going to see a trick cyclist, probably as I think I have a weird brain! Well my family thought I got madder with each knock on the head, my girlfriends thought I was mental, my chums were mental, so I sort of blended in. What is worrying, is some of them are running fairly significant and important bits of our police and defence, and I know what they're like. I was writing to one of my old school chums on the occasion of his forty eighth birthday, I reminded him of a lecture we both received saying neither of us were going to live very long, well we've not done too bad.

So there you are, well back to work now, still haven't written those letters, just getting the bile up!

Ian

Nige did have the bit very firmly between his teeth, but I really can't blame him. I've been there before myself, and it can be soooo frustrating trying to converse with people who are being deliberately obstructive!!

I'm very fond of all the regulars on the NF board these days and would defend any one of them. I really like the fact that we choose very different ways of going about things but can still support and encourage each other. It's all very grown up and lovely.

Anyway, will keep you up to date with developments at the head doctor's, a friend of mine who's an occupational therapist has a bit of experience in cognotive therapies, and reckons that it's just the ticket to sort me out.

hope you have a good break
xx

In much better condition today myslef, I was slipping into a bit of a black mood yesterday, which seems to happen to me once or twice a year, so not to bad a problem. Probably the funeral sparked it off.

hope you get on alright today, last day at work for a while, ye hah.

Ian

Hey you peeps. I've finally managed to log in here after changes to h2g2. I left a message on the N & F board to say I wasn't going to be around on Tuesday or Wednesday, but it doesn't seem to have appeared.

You'll be pleased to know that I have opened my gob and the bit has fallen out. I'm now browsing my biochem textbooks!

See ya! Nige.

Ah ha! I noticed the board was a bit quieter, mind you, I haven't seen a JR post for a bit which stirs things up. So what's the recommended reading then professori?

Of course with your reading, I've had a few days off, and I saw the note on Susie's mum, so a few regular contributors not available.

I notice you haven't asked Mike why he's calling himself Stinger yet!

Ian

My karaoke buddy (who did a degree in Biochem) recommended "Biochemistry" (now in its 5th edition) by Berg, Tymoczko and Stryer. This is a biggie hardback which I haven't started reading yet. It looks like it is aimed at the biochem grad, so it's probably unsuitable for the lay person. He also recommended "Metabolism at a Glance" by Salway. This is also quite techy, but easy(ish) to understand, with lots of diagrams.

Tiny recommended "Lore of Running" by Noakes and "Introduction to Nutrition and Metabolism" by Bender. I haven't received the last one, yet. Noakes' book is another biggie but has made good reading so far.

I got 'em from http://www.thebookplace.co.uk/ the on-line outlet of Hammicks.

Go on. YOU ask Stinger why he's so named.

Hi Nige, I have had to do a bit of thinking about a lot of things recently, and one thing I have decided to do is to learn a bit more about it all works. I gave up blodge befor O levels, so it is going to be a struggle, but I think it'll be worth it!

Had a great session with a trainer last week-end!

Ian

Ian

Did I read that right? You had a great session with a trainer?!! As in you not only had a personal tranining session, but actually enjoyed it????

Well, blow me down with a feather!

xx

Hi Ruth,

I know frightening isn't it! If a couch carbohydrate like me can be enthused, then it could happen to anyone. Dun dun durrrrrrrr!

I have decided to set myslef some goals! One of them is to redo something I did when in my late teens. To do it I've got to get a heck of a lot fitter! So I'm motivated, but it's a long term goal, as I was only fifteen stone then, and able to climb up a rope using my arms only, so I doubt whether I'll get quite that fit again. I'm not going to take up rock climbing again, but fell walking and ridge bashing would be good.

I had a great time last week-end, including hiking up and down Winter Hill, about 1500 ft, just north of Manchester. Wonderful views. I was reminded that climbing up and down hills used diferent muscles to walking along the flat, some of them started to complain.

There was a slight downside, I ran into two tortilla, and two pinst of beer, which I thought jolly restrained, and even though I went on teo ruddy good hikes, I managed to put on a kilo last week end. Dagnabbit!

The trainer was a great bloke, measured all my stats, and gave me a session on how to lift weights properly, and put a fitness prog together. I bought and learnt how to use a heart monitor too.

So as you can see this is deeply worrying!

Hope you have a good week-end.

Ian

I can't ask him, I'm still embarassed about the Mad Lee episode. Everytime I go near his posts I get stung now, I think they're written with formic acid. Anyway it was you who revealed it by calling him Mike on a Stinger post, honestly I can't cope, Mary has had an attack of schizophrenia too!

Did I see soemwhere you were lifting 18 kilo dumbbells, blimey you're a better man then I am Gunga Din. I get fatigued doing my exercises and mine are only ten kilos!

Ian

That was a typo. They are only 18ish lb each. That makes me the wuss! Eileen has a 10kg (22lb) dumbell belonging to her son that I use when I'm at her house.

I wouldn't say that's too wuzzy! I drop don to quite light dumbbells for some of the exercises, like pec decs and lateral flys. I only have two two and half kilo weights, and I think the bar weighs one nd a quarter, so six and a quarter. Ian