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

He may not be much with a map, but he can sure locate a girl's bum straightaway!

Hoh Yus! and I've not only got a built in 'bum locater', but it works for 'chests ' too and finding the bar

Do you have one of those step-counters which you attach to your belt, hon?

I've got one, still in the packet

Hello Haylle! Nice to see you back here.

I do have a step counter, it's what's helping me to get off my backside because I can clearly see that I've only got 300 steps by 4pm or something and I'm ashamed of myself.

Yesterday I did over 10,000 - my son did over 16,000 on the same walk, *and* managed to do a mile more than me. I persuaded my mum to bring her dogs on a walk with me (because they and she never get out for exercise) - I anticipated driving to the local country park, wandering around for an hour and then driving home for a nice Sunday roast. We ended up going with both my parents and their three dogs, my niece and myself and J, with two dogs. We walked to the park, walked through it, seeing rabbits, cows, geese, ducks and two sorts of deer then had a nice cup of tea at the visitor centre before walking home a different way. We were out for about four hours and five miles and my dogs are still lying around the house like bad smells!

I let Beauty off the lead for the first time to have a runabout (in a field with no rabbit holes, just in case!), she seemed to really enjoy it, came back when called and didn't break a leg. I thought it was a good time to try because there were four people around to catch her if she cleared off into the distance.

All I can say is no wonder they retired her.

That sounds really nice, you must feel accomplished. That's a better feeling than most.

*pictures taking her two little kids, to insane cats, and IT husband for a similar outing...*

FM: The quote about ruining a good walk comes from Spike Milligan.

5 miles? Yeah, I'd say about 1h 10mins, for a group.. Groups always move slower than individuals.

It's actually Mark Twain: http://www.quotedb.com/quotes/1082

I still can't do five miles that quickly. They'll all have to dawdle. I'll blame my asthma. I don't think I'll be too far behind though, it's just that it normally takes me 30-40 minutes to do two miles, and I normally take a break half way round. Mind you, by the time I get time to actually do any group rambling, I might have speeded up a bit.

J starts out quick, but because he does three steps to my two he's likely to get tired and slow down more quickly. Since I've been doing more walking he's been starting to lag behind me on the way home. It's very strange when he's not 10 feet in front of me all the time!

I managed to go for a walk when I got home from work, so I've nearly done my 10,000 steps today - I can't see myself doing another 1000 this evening, I've normally taken the counter off by around 8. Maybe tomorrow I'll crack it.

And yes, I do feel accomplished. I've felt more contented than I have for a few years. I won't say happy, because I'm happy a lot, but contentedness lasts longer.