Why is it that those who drop their “h”s always (wrongly) call it haitch? That’s always puzzled me.

I wouldn’t mind joining that hug 🙂

Errm, maybe I should apologise for winding everyone up – being ill and bored at home is really no excuse 😳

Everyone is entitled to choose their way of life, my only gripe really is when people expect help to pay for children they chose to have.

Thanks for your input. I shall tell the wife to quit her job this very instant. She can look after the kids and make my tea.

What nuggets of wisdom do you have for us once we lose the house because we can’t make the mortgage payments?
You had two choices really:-
1. Have expensive house and no kids
2. Have kids and cheaper house
Bit late now though!

In reply to DrP, I did go back to work when my children were about 8 and 10 years old – I was lucky enough to get a job in their school! I stayed there for 17 years, then fancied a complete change, so moved 80 miles away and now work as a cycle instructor.

Have you discussed this subject with your now, presumably adult, kids? Most interesting listening to my son’s thoughts!

Interesting idea, my children have never commented either way, I’ll try to remember to ask them.
Back then, (my children were born in ’81 and ’83), I think the difference was that most people didn’t have kids unless they thought they could manage on one income, which generally meant having a house you could afford, no foreign holidays, one car only for the working partner, oh, and no luxury mountain bikes!
I accept that society has changed, and mothers want/will go out to work, but I don’t think one should expect someone else to pay for your childcare.

Childcare costs? Never a problem in my day – kids had the huge benefit of having mothers who actually wanted to look after them!

I left my husband many years ago, took the kids and some basic bits of furniture and never asked for a share of the house, but about a year later he offered me half of it’s worth – I wasn’t going to refuse it, I had a low paid job and he earnt lots. The kids came and went between both of us as they pleased, and he funded them through uni. I reckon we were both very civilised about it, although he still doesn’t want to speak to me 17 years later!

According to Endomondo, average of 550 minutes a week last year, and but only averaging 460 so far this year.

Trams aren’t gonna be any use to get there for biking – they don’t allow bikes on them!

I’ve got the Specialized Jett on two of my bikes – comfy for me, but we’re all different!

Awww, what a cutie – congratulations 😀

I’ve used a Terra Nova Laserlarge 2 for a few years – very light, extremely spacious porch, lovely tent. Errrm, not sure this helps as I don’t think they make ’em any more 😳

Lezyne Road Drive. You’ll never want to use anything else.

Edit: Goes up to 160psi 🙂

Having seen the photos, the answer is yes, that’s perfectly acceptable, and a chance not to be missed – will you get to taste their wares afterwards?

I don’t use BaseCamp, but I import files to Garmin Training Centre and save them from there – not sure if that’s any help!

Endura Baa Baa in womens size? I love mine, but I’m, errr, somewhat larger, so can’t comment on the possibility of it fitting.

Open Street Maps or Open mtb maps – both free, but not much of a birthday treat then really!

UKT10 – £10 off – expires midnight – min £75 spend

Was it Valentine’s day yesterday? I didn’t notice.

Taught a 60-something year old lady to ride a bike, along with half a dozen other adults 😀

Sleeping too long is quite often a sign of depression. Waking up in the night could be stress

Oh…

enjoy it…..once you have kids you will be permanently tired and never get enough sleep

Thank goodness for kids that are grown up and flown the nest!

No, i can’t ever have enough sleep. When on hols, I tend to get between 10-12 hours a night and feel fantastic for it. I tend to need a lot of sleep

Ah, so it’s not just me that feels 10 hours is needed. It’s odd in my case though, as they I thought it was said that you needed less as you get older.

But it depends… 2 slices is a round of sandwiches; 1 slice is a round of bread.

So it’s a pretty useless term then, as it can mean different things!

I’ve never understood if a “round” referred to one slice of bread or a sandwich made of two slices?

I’m glad you put that winky in – I was about to go off and sell my mountain bike!

I know for a fact that Project has ridden his bike with ladies over 50 – on more than one occasion.

Project- are you just going to stop doing anything when you hit 40 then?

Errrm, Project, can’t you remember what it was like to be 40 something? 😉

Salomon Elios goretex mid-height boots all day, every day for me – perfect!

Got a nice route starting from Ogden Reservoir, shortish (8 or 9 miles) not technical, but nice – can send you the .gpx file if you want?

You’ve got to go on the ferry – complete with cheesy music 🙂

Drove to work in my Astra instead of cycling.

I’ve had Talk Talk phone and broadband for over two years with no problems – apart from the fact I just can’t get them change the date of my DD payment – the day before payday is not really good for me!

I had this injury about 16 years ago, and wimped out of the operation at the last minute. (The solution for mine was to use a piece of muscle from the upper arm, and tie it through a hole drilled in the collar bone.)
I had pain on and off for a few years, and discovered trying water skiing about a year after was not a good idea.
It’s pretty strong these days, but just occasionally it feels like it’s moved into the wrong place, but a bit of arm-waving-around seems to solve that problem.

I have no idea of current availability, but my (probably) 5 year old Logitech laser mouse is just divine – nice and chunky and perfectly formed 😀

So how can you stop incidents like this happening?

Cycle to the doctor’s of course, so you can be “productive” when you see him 😉

If only!

That reminds me – I wonder what’s in that plastic box at the back of the shelf…

Can you find another couple to ride with? Then the blokes can “race” and the girls can enjoy a pleasant ride 🙂
There’s nothing worse than having to play “catch-up” – I should know!
Dunno where you live, but we have a quite active group of ladies who “enjoy the scenery” here in the North West – we love pootling* up hills, and down hills.
* for pootling, read walking 😀