Thought I would start this as we kinda had something going but by naming it like this then people know what it is!!

Here we can talk absolute $hite or maybe have meaningful conversations from time to time as well... I'm opting for the former

Aly

Hurrah for random chatting!

I'm struggling to stay awake today - nothing much to do other than boring filing at the moment!

Have spent most of the morning planning in my head all the things we want to do while Mark is here in February.

ah cool another regional off topic thread

I decided to transfer the rest of my savings today, I phoned Interchange and they sent the forms through for me to sign and now my damn printer won't work
After trying everything I have now given up and come back to VJ for some sanity
Will try again tomorrow.

I'm glad others seem to have as much free time as I do

Who else is online whilst at work? I love my job but sometimes it's almost TOO quiet!

Yay for regional off topic threads! Canada's got a good one too. Don't they Charles? Does this mean I have to post twice about the same thing?

I'm online, just got in about 15 minutes ago. I was waaaay miffed this morning on my way in -- there's a little local coffeehouse across the street from my house and every morning I pick up a large cup of coffee (usually Three Bean Blend, one Splenda and a little half and half) on my way to the bus stop. I have the whole routine down -- leave my house at 8.56 (scooping up the FT dumped in the hedges by the paperboy), at the counter by 8.57, out of the shop by 9.02 (after a little chit-chat with the manager), walk a block to the bus stop for a bus that generally comes between 9.05 and 9.08.

But this morning I forgot to pick up the newspaper, and then when I got to the coffeehouse there was a queue of 5 people. There is never, ever anyone there at "my" usual time so I had to wave "hi" and back out of the door. Then as I was grumpily and groggily walking to the stop, I could see the bus coming -- early! I sprinted across the street in my heels and just made it.

I am now sitting down with a coffee, but still...

Haha - yeah I kept seeing other off topics and felt jealous!! I am at work and am really busy so prolly not the best reason for me to be sitting on here thing is - in the mornings when I am not so busy this place is dead!!! No fair!!!

Just think of it as early morning aerobics.

Sounds like "one of those days". All should be well now. You're back online.

Does that mean I don't have to go to the gym today?

Ah, the gym...

I suspended my membership for Dec/Jan as it didn't seem worth paying so much when I'd be away for four weeks. That totally excuses me from exercising until next month, right?

I walk a mile (partly uphill) to work and back, but it's not enough.

Hmmmm. Better play it safe and not go.

I do nothing - I don't even walk much now I am no longer having to trek around campus in uni - I sit on my behind in work all day tapping away at my puter and phonig car dealers and auction houses!! Ok so I have dextrous fingers but that really isn't helping my tum and thighs...

Awesome! Thanks, Krikit!

(*waves get-out-of-going-to-the-gym card*)

I lost a whole ton of weight when I got over here -- combination of diet and exercise, the old-fashioned way. Then...Christmas. Holy moley, Christmas. Cookies. Chocolate. 10 days off work lying on my behind eating cookies and chocolate.

I am now larded with fat all around my middle, even if my arms are still looking pretty good!

Same here... other than a brief 20 minute walk in the morning - downhill! *sighs*

I'm going to need to go on a really strict healthy diet pre-wedding so that I don't look like a hippo! Luckily it is always easier for me to lose weight in the summer, but I'll still need to do some major exercise to tone up my thighs *is depressed already at the thought*.

Ouchies - I think I kinda did the same though it was for longer than 10 days... I started early and now I am scared to try on my wedding dress!!!

It's the same every Christmas, too, no matter how hard you try to avoid it!

Supposedly you can still help your muscles when you're at a desk by lifting your feet off the ground, or pulling in your stomach - little exercises like that.

My middle's definitely a bit squidgy - I was doing pretty well with running regularly over the summer and eating porridge and eggs before setting off for work, but with the advent of cold, dark winter I started taking cereal bars to work so I could stay in bed longer and didn't go to the gym because I wanted to get back to a lovely, warm house.

See - now we all need to get together and go jogging or something... pity we don't all live around the corner from each other - we need motivation - I can only get motivated by other people - if I feel I am letting someone down I will stick with it!!

My gym is nowhere near my work or house, which makes it worse. I used to be a member of a Holmes Place gym in Holloway that I had to go by on the bus home from work. It was about three bus stops before my normal one, so walking home was also a cinch. However, when I look back at how much I paid... How in the world did I ever, EVER think it was normal to pay 49 quid a month for a freakin' gym membership? It's not like I was paying for flunkies to mop my sweaty brow as I trudged away on the elliptical glider, or that they provided cashmere towels, or there was some nice lady in the loo waiting to wipe my behind with silk loo roll.

I am much happier with $10 a month at Planet Fitness!

After I moved here I gained so much weight (partly from the HFCS in everything I think) that I could no longer fit into my wedding dress. I had to go out and buy a new one. I'm hoping I can lose enough weight to fit back into it for my daughter's wedding. (It's not a wedding dress wedding dress. So you can all stop thinking I'm a little touched in the head now.)

Absolutely. You're excused.

LMAO - yeah - that would be pretty funny trying to upstage the bride!! My dress cost £400 so really better fit into it!!!

And yeah - I begrudge spending money on going to the gym... I have never paid!! I have never been either... Jeremy and I are going to go together when I move

What did people submit with their Subject Access form to prove that they lived at that address?

I want to send off my Subject Access form in the next few months, but I have no official documents that give my address. I don't drive, so I have no driving licence. I don't have a medical card with my current address as I'd have to change doctors as I'm now out of their catchment area - and since I actually like my doctor and the surgery is very close to my work I'm reluctant to tell them I've moved. All my banking is done online and I have no recent official written communication from my bank.

I've sent off for a provisional driving licence and I've also paid for my bank to send me a statement in the post; should either of these two things be okay?

Could you IMAGINE? OMG.

I pay £47 a month. But I like the gym and it's close to work. I figure it's better paying for a gym membership at a gym I'll actually go to, rather than paying a lot less for one I don't.



That's the best kind of wedding dress - one that's multi-functional!

I intend on joining a gym when I get there, good way to meet people I think and you never know I might get some exercise in too
I have never joined a gym here (I did win 6 months free membership at a local one a few years back on a raffle but refused to pay the £50 a month to stay there). It seemed an awful lot of money to ride a bike or jog, even though I could watch skytv while doing it

I pad £25/month in London (student rate) at the gym. Here in LA I pay $40/month. It's pretty much the same anywhere.

I am loving the $10 a month here in New Haven (well, next town over). BIG improvement over even what the Council gym cost in Islington (I think it was 35 a month, no discounts for me!). Plus, the Archway Leisure Centre scared the bejeebus out of me.

I dont mind paying $40 a month. I did however begrudge paying £50 (Approx $95) a month for a basic membership where if I wanted to join clases then I would have to pay extra. After spending the last 10 months under medical treatment I am looking forward to getting into some kind of exercise programme again. I am so unfit right now, never been so lethargic and slobbish. I need to get my body back to where it was a year ago.

It must have been incredibly stressful to go through the treatment and the visa process at the same time! I hope this year is better for you.

At least my £47 membership does include classes.

Very stressful, glad that is behind me now, finished all treatment on Christmas eve. I can only look forward now, forward to my new life in the USA.
Going through a thing like cancer gives you a whole new outlook on life. I say to everyone live your life, do what you want to do, life is too short to hesitate, just go for it. I'm just happy to be alive and be given the opportunity to have a lot of years ahead of me
Never put off what you can do today!!!!

Great advice, Maggie. A nice antidote to all the whingeing I've been doing this morning!

*hugs* I hope that life has lots of good things in store for you!

It's a philosophy I try to live by - and if I didn't, I wouldn't be here! - but it's good to be reminded of it again, and it's fantastic that you have such a positive outlook!

Thank you . I am so positive, life is too short for regrets. Everyone should go for their dreams.
My favourite saying is "If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain"
I think that says it all.

YAHOO!!!! It's been snowing and now it's time to get the big bad mean machine out!! Yes, thats right, the SNOWBLOWER!!!! That means,,POWER!!!! YAHOO What we have here in the southwest side of Wisconsin is snow, and more of it. I sure hope my Maggie likes to make snow angels because shes going to have a lot of time to make them. ... oops, I'm sleeping, don't tell her.

hon
I will never stop you playing with your toys (machines).
Can't wait to make snow angels and snow men When it comes to the snow you will find out what a big kid I am

HOORAY FOR UK OFF TOPIC!!!!!!!!!!

Maggie -- your man is adorable!


Seconded!

He is, he likes his machines, what man doesnt? I love him to bits.

Mine is obsessed with machines of all kinds, including but not limited to: beat-up pick-ups, thrashed-out vintage Brit sports cars, trashy US cars (see my avatar?), motorcycles of every persuasion, tractors (!!!), ride-on lawnmowers, dead reel-to-reel decks, 70s amplifiers, 8-track players (!!!???), hell junky hi-fi of all sorts, and the new one, airplanes. Hooooooo boy.

News flash -- I am going to the gym, peeps. I feel lardy, and although I tried to make that feeling go away with liberal application of online retail therapy (J Crew's final sale has an extra 20% off sale prices!) and lunch (vaguely healthy tofu salad and roasted sprouts) sadly only sweating will do the trick.

Maggie -- your man is adorable!

I am not an object !! I am not someones property, I am not a possession


oh, hell, who am I kidding, I'm all hers!!!!

Glad you figured that out early -- makes it easier in the long run.

(J/K!)

Okay, really going to the gym now...

Haha - yeah I keep telling myself gym when I move... I just hope that I stay upbeat and don't get all miserable and lame while I wait for EAD and a job and whatnot!! I really want to take this chance of moving to be who I want to be and do what I want to do

Glad you are on the mend Sally!

So, I'm gonna drift off the current off topic!

I'm home now and packing for my trip to the UK!!!! I am beyond excited!!!!!!!!!!! I have my daughter pretty well packed already and am just starting in on my stuff, though I have lots set aside that just needs to be put in the case. Also some last minute laundry and then pack bags for my sons to take to their respective havens for the week I'm away! A lot of work, but so worth it! I haven't seen Griff in over 3 months! I just can't wait to see him!

He keeps telling me the weather will be sh!te, and I keep telling him I'm not going for the weather! Its the chips!!! But seriously, I'm from Buffalo NY where the winter is evil, so its not like some UK rain is gonna keep me away from my man!

Yay!! You must be so excited!!! I see Jeremy in three weeks today if I get through immigration - just can't let myself get excited because I am too nervous!! What time do you leave?!

And rain you will have.
Seriously, have a good trip Julez, see you when you get back. I will look after things here
Take care - Maggie xxx