Search found 361 matches

by Dee Jay
7 Jan 2009, 9:46am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Is this charity ride doable by a fit-less newbie?
Replies: 38
Views: 3879

Cath, hi and welcome.

I hope your dad is doing well?

I will add my encouragement to the excellent advice you have already received.

My story: not cycled since I was a child, started in January '08, wasn't overly fit at the time, joined a (junior) cycling club as I wanted us to cycle as a family. I was doing well and then I had to have major surgery at the beginning of June. My fitness levels had never felt so low. I started again: walking to the village shop (!) - the day I came out of hospital, then two months later added Pilates, after a month I did low impact work-outs. After three weeks of doing all three I got back on my bike- this was the beginning of October. At the end of October I did a 2 day ride on Dartmoor - about 74 miles.

I would also say that when your fitness goes you feel that you will never get it back again. But, fitness builds - and is lost - relatively quickly. You will be amazed. I have had the current lurgi since the 18 December and I am only just beginning to feel better and I haven't cycled since our last Moon Ride on December 14 and I am concerned about getting back in the saddle. My cycle club leader who is extremely fit has also had the lurgi - has anyone not had it??? - and I was both comforted and appalled to hear him say that he thought that it would take him four weeks to get back to his pre-lurgi fitness levels.

So, Cath, not only do we know what you are going through, but we are doing it with you.

And .... you have no idea just how much this is going to perk you up during your time of difficulty.

My last piece of advice: find a cycling buddy who is fitter than you.

Keep us posted!

(Very brief synopsis of the Dartmoor ride:

http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?p ... ht=#148630 )
by Dee Jay
3 Jan 2009, 10:43pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Tomato soup recipe
Replies: 9
Views: 1606

What a timely reminder!

I am having a(nother) 'soup making day' tomorrow as most of the family has a sore throat and we're all on soup.

Tomato soup is a favourite, and I shall use the last of the Xmas ham.

Thanks.
by Dee Jay
2 Jan 2009, 3:50pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: 007
Replies: 13
Views: 1625

You know, I never really noticed Pierce Brosnan until I went to see 'Mamma Mia!'. I now think he's rather lovely, actually.
by Dee Jay
23 Dec 2008, 2:41pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Felicity Kendall
Replies: 226
Views: 60023

Me too!

:shock: And not quite in the spirit of this thread, but inspired by the same Channel 5 programme from the night before, I shall be watching 'Keeping up Appearances' later this afternoon!

OK ... and back to Felicity!
by Dee Jay
23 Dec 2008, 2:31pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: A bicycle-photography trip
Replies: 20
Views: 2645

Lovely pix, Brian. I love all the steely colours.

And yes, after being in bed since Thursday with the lurgi - the worst bout of anything I've had in decades - I am also deeply jealous of your 40 miles.
by Dee Jay
22 Dec 2008, 6:08pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Strictly - a man's year this time round?
Replies: 38
Views: 4122

Ooh, me too! Now, there's an idea ..... :idea:
by Dee Jay
22 Dec 2008, 6:05pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Felicity Kendall
Replies: 226
Views: 60023

I've just issued instructions that the sofa be left cleared and plumped for my 7.30 arrival; my appetite has been well and truly whetted by last night's taster!
by Dee Jay
22 Dec 2008, 3:52pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Felicity Kendall
Replies: 226
Views: 60023

The excerpt described ^^^ was on Channel 5 last night in The Funniest Xmas Telly Moments or some such!

And in an aside: a friend was a given a Xmas tree this year as it was too small for the original purchaser's needs! And they bought another one!
by Dee Jay
22 Dec 2008, 3:41pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Is it too exciting?
Replies: 15
Views: 1605

Cunobelin wrote:
Mick F wrote:I think you'll find it's the lovely Dervla Kirwan.
Absolutely great in Goodnight Sweetheart with Nicolas Lindhurst as the time traveler.


So it is!


I must admit that I took a moment to work out which one she was! I think it's the dark hair? And yes, I also thought about Dervla in Goodnight, Sweetheart.
by Dee Jay
22 Dec 2008, 3:34pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Strictly - a man's year this time round?
Replies: 38
Views: 4122

I agree with both Low Plains Drifter and Eileithyia, in various ways: I do love dance of all descriptions, and I do love sequins and glitz and glamour. However, I would really prefer to see ordinary folks, rather celebrities take part in this competition, as I do loathe celebrity culture.

I also think that all contestants should be banned from using the words 'my incredible journey', 'a dream come true', 'the best Christmas present ... ever', 'the best partner/mentor', or variations thereof, as I found *that* completely tedious.

I only watched small amounts of both 'Strictly ...' and 'X-Factor', with the children, but it was always to the accompaniment of my husband sounding rather like you, LPD. :D Mr Dee Jay is an old-fashioned sort of bloke - a '76 punk rocker - who always reminds me that the best thing about recessions is that the best music is always produced during times of adversity.

Bring it on!
by Dee Jay
16 Dec 2008, 12:08am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Pictures of Nigellas bonbons!
Replies: 3
Views: 507

Ooh, yum! Those look *gorgeous*!

Did anyone hear the lovely Nigella on the radio today? Talking about her Christmas lunch menu?
by Dee Jay
15 Dec 2008, 1:00pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Newspaper article/blog more effective than trad campaigning?
Replies: 0
Views: 801

Newspaper article/blog more effective than trad campaigning?

Another - perhaps - cheeky post in 'Campaigning'!

It was listed - at the top - in the fashion pages in yesterday's Observer Magazine. Mentions like this often do far, far more than any amount of 'proper' campaigning. No?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/ ... ssing-down

http://tourdeville.co.uk/

More a blog than a website ....


And yes, I had a very chilled day reading the papers yesterday! :lol:
by Dee Jay
15 Dec 2008, 12:49pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: The Observer 14 Dec: Cycling in New York
Replies: 0
Views: 336

The Observer 14 Dec: Cycling in New York

Lovely piece in yesterday's Escape - travel supplement:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2008/d ... orl-travel

I love NYC and would love to do this ride.
by Dee Jay
13 Dec 2008, 9:17pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Moonlit ride tonight
Replies: 18
Views: 1515

Well, 4 grown-ups and 4 children turned up to do the Moon Ride. We shortened and modifiied the ride (only 6 miles) to avoid the flood debris and get back before the temperature dropped and the ice formed.

A quick drink - a plate of chips for the kids - and chat in the pub and now I'm thawing out after our ... ahem .... 'exhilarating' ride.
by Dee Jay
13 Dec 2008, 8:55pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Shortening web links
Replies: 6
Views: 782

.... and here is the thread you were looking for ...

http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=6046