Who needs all this waffle - the world of the one line blog has arrived.
I found myself signing up for this a few months back not entirely sure if it had any legs. I then I saw it mashed up with Google maps and a new addiction has been born. Check it out Twittervision
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Monday, April 09, 2007
Hmmm....I must have misunderstood something because today it says
---
1y 13:32 smoke-free,
9,145 cigs not smoked,
£1,060.82 saved,
1m 1d 18:05 life saved
Which is correct...the one year bit at least is correct.
When I looked at it yesterday it looked like it was missing a few days. But calenders are weird things as Easter constantly (inconstantly) reminds us.
---
1y 13:32 smoke-free,
9,145 cigs not smoked,
£1,060.82 saved,
1m 1d 18:05 life saved
Which is correct...the one year bit at least is correct.
When I looked at it yesterday it looked like it was missing a few days. But calenders are weird things as Easter constantly (inconstantly) reminds us.
One Year Today
Well, well done to me. Today its my First Anniversary of packing in smoking. So yippee.
The quit-o-meter disagrees with me about this for some reason and I will post what it has to say about it in a few minutes when I boot back into Windows.
I can't read what I wrote in my last post about the effect of the forthcoming English smoking ban.
Of course I haven't the foggiest what will happen to the "pubs I like". They could very well prosper.
I do know the one thing that really nearly stopped me following up my decision to give up smoking on the 9 April 2006 was the sight of Patricia Hewitt leaning over the dispatch box licking her lips with glee as she announced the full-on ban (even though it was a reversal of the government's earlier policy of a partial ban).
I have never much liked the direct action route to advance your causes but perhaps a "letter-tray" campaign might stir things up - you send stubbed out cigarettes in envelopes to members of the ghoulish anti-smoker politburo and see them have kittens on Question Time and the like..
The downside is that some people think even fag ends emit death rays so you could still end up being lynched.
Thanks for the flickr picture to sluggo
smoking ban smoking terrorism
Saturday, April 07, 2007
smoking ban in action
"I don't smell and I'm not going to die horribly, but you know, it'd be nice if smokers at least took turns going outside for a ciggy rather than leaving me alone for most of the night." says in the text accompanying the photo - my mind flashes back guiltily to the days when the non-smokers would be dragged over to the smoking section.
Its also interesting that these memories of non-smoking sections in pubs are fairly numerous and go back a long way - combined with good air conditioning there was plenty of opportunity to get all the supposed benefits that the progandists say have snowed down on the Irish and Scottish since their bans were imposed.
I think the ban will kill off certain pubs - they happen to be the pubs I really like with or without a fag in my hand.
Its also interesting that these memories of non-smoking sections in pubs are fairly numerous and go back a long way - combined with good air conditioning there was plenty of opportunity to get all the supposed benefits that the progandists say have snowed down on the Irish and Scottish since their bans were imposed.
I think the ban will kill off certain pubs - they happen to be the pubs I really like with or without a fag in my hand.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Just come back from a short stay with my folks in Portugal.
It looked like a possible escape route for smokers - there is a large Brit ex-pat thing going on there. I went to watch a game in the Bull Pub in Luz and it made we wonder about the forthcoming smoking ban. Would it tilt people into wintering in Portugal or even moving full-time?
Apparently the Portugese are bringing in there own ban - it applies to any bar or cafe less than 10m sq. This size encompasses the vast majority of venues...but what does it matter anyway? I was getting sunburnt yesterday whilst England had snow. A smoking ban inside cafes in Portugal is like a ban on nudity in South Antartic. People will continue sitting outside just like they do now. And none of the urban elite need be effected as they sit in their open-plan offices.
Meanwhile Scottish bars are reporting a downturn in business since the ban - you're not even allowed to sit outside there.
One thing that is leading to the downturn is that people are moving on a lot quicker ratrher than making an evening of it down the pub - presumably they going home to blow smoke on the kids who in turn will grow up to vote only for parties that are less vindictive in their policies.
If I had to choose between Scotland and Portugal for a holiday it would be a terrible wrench but I might just choose Portugal.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Another week another pound shed.
One thing I depend on quite a bit is sugar-free chewing gum so I am quite galad a gum war has broken out with Cadbury's introducing their Trident range of gums to the UK.
I love them but R is sticking to the old ways as usual.
One mystery has been solved - why did Wrigleys ditch the tradition foil wrapped stick of gum in favour of wallets. It was in preparation for the packets used by Cadbury's. The Cadbury's ones are better designed though- the gum doesn't fall out into your pocket like the Wrigleys packets do.
One thing I depend on quite a bit is sugar-free chewing gum so I am quite galad a gum war has broken out with Cadbury's introducing their Trident range of gums to the UK.
I love them but R is sticking to the old ways as usual.
One mystery has been solved - why did Wrigleys ditch the tradition foil wrapped stick of gum in favour of wallets. It was in preparation for the packets used by Cadbury's. The Cadbury's ones are better designed though- the gum doesn't fall out into your pocket like the Wrigleys packets do.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
The Glamour of Smoking Wears Off Quicker
...than the paunch around my tummy. I am now 10st 12lbs which is another slight drop. Or a eight stone 2lb drop since the post before last - if you haven't realised it was a typo.
I did have a Cream Tea yesterday which isn't exactly Kosher but I really enjoyed it. Luckily it was near Hampstead Heath so you didn't get much for your money.
I have yet to work out an exercise routine. I have fantasies about doing power-walking three times a week. Had to make do with a slow dawdle over the Heath with R taking in the smudgy views, the peace and quiet and the kite flying.
Thanks to Max # VinylUnity.com for the real life Ozzie devotee
...than the paunch around my tummy. I am now 10st 12lbs which is another slight drop. Or a eight stone 2lb drop since the post before last - if you haven't realised it was a typo.
I did have a Cream Tea yesterday which isn't exactly Kosher but I really enjoyed it. Luckily it was near Hampstead Heath so you didn't get much for your money.
I have yet to work out an exercise routine. I have fantasies about doing power-walking three times a week. Had to make do with a slow dawdle over the Heath with R taking in the smudgy views, the peace and quiet and the kite flying.
Thanks to Max # VinylUnity.com for the real life Ozzie devotee
Sunday, February 11, 2007
So I am now less than eleven stone. How ridiculous. For a long period of my life I weighed around eight - which is equally ludicrous.
So what is eleven minus eight? Three isn't it? How many babies is that?
Now that I am less heavily pregnant it might explain why my pipe cleaner legs seem to get less tired now.
So what is eleven minus eight? Three isn't it? How many babies is that?
Now that I am less heavily pregnant it might explain why my pipe cleaner legs seem to get less tired now.
Sunday, February 04, 2007
diet takes extreme turn
...or it will do after I weighed myself yesterday. I clocked up eleven stone again. I refuse to even bother putting my waist measurements down here.
There's a nice curry in the fridge though so I had better postpone things till tomorrow.
There's a nice curry in the fridge though so I had better postpone things till tomorrow.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Slowly the pounds fall off...or down
Today's weigh in was 11 st 70kg 37.75ins which is slow but steady progress I guess. Surprised its not more with all the radical fruit chomping lunches replacing the spag bol and chips.
Meanwhile the smoking stats mount up. Am I just greeedy or does £850 and sixteen pence seem a bit measly considering the scale of the effort?
9m 2w 4d 02:50 smoke-free, 7,329 cigs not smoked, £850.16 saved, 3w 4d 10:45 life saved
On the plus side my breathing has improved immensely. A lot of voice work involves breathing in an out (money for old breath) and in my later years involved with that kind of thing my breathing was no longer smooth- there were sudden jerks and spasms within it that disrupted the flow. I begun to doubt my capacity to reach to the end of a long speech without the tone deteriorating towards the end.
Last night I seemed to be able to draw in and exhale vast breaths without any kind of disruption (I was a bit bored whilst R was at work....kept me amused anyway). I had noticed some improvement before but it was the first time I really gave my lungs a work out and the result was vastly better.
On the train the other day I couldn't help notice a lady with a very wrinkly face but otherwise quite youthful physicality probably 60 years plus. She was on the mobile:
"Hi I am on the mobile so better be quick.....yeah fine, I've given up smoking...yeah its going great I feel much better....a week...well not there, not there actually, so four days in all then...but I feel great it seems to be going well."
Poor thing - only Day Four. In 9months 2weeks 4days time her face might be completely unwrinkled. Lets hope she makes it
Meanwhile the smoking stats mount up. Am I just greeedy or does £850 and sixteen pence seem a bit measly considering the scale of the effort?
9m 2w 4d 02:50 smoke-free, 7,329 cigs not smoked, £850.16 saved, 3w 4d 10:45 life saved
On the plus side my breathing has improved immensely. A lot of voice work involves breathing in an out (money for old breath) and in my later years involved with that kind of thing my breathing was no longer smooth- there were sudden jerks and spasms within it that disrupted the flow. I begun to doubt my capacity to reach to the end of a long speech without the tone deteriorating towards the end.
Last night I seemed to be able to draw in and exhale vast breaths without any kind of disruption (I was a bit bored whilst R was at work....kept me amused anyway). I had noticed some improvement before but it was the first time I really gave my lungs a work out and the result was vastly better.
On the train the other day I couldn't help notice a lady with a very wrinkly face but otherwise quite youthful physicality probably 60 years plus. She was on the mobile:
"Hi I am on the mobile so better be quick.....yeah fine, I've given up smoking...yeah its going great I feel much better....a week...well not there, not there actually, so four days in all then...but I feel great it seems to be going well."
Poor thing - only Day Four. In 9months 2weeks 4days time her face might be completely unwrinkled. Lets hope she makes it
Sunday, January 21, 2007
(Thanks to jonnfez for this image)
Another week another weigh-in.
TBH it was another disappointing morning. The afternoon was better but not for dietary reasons.
The result was 11st 2.5lb 71kg Waist Measurement 39inches.
If anyone is brilliant at metric-to-imperial conversions they may question the quality of these stats.
If anyone has taken a look at the quality of the scales I bought from John Lewis they also might express a degree of scepticism. I, too, have fallen into the trap of blaming my tools. I have difficulty seeing the result displayed on the scales. I was considering donating them to a charity shop and buying myself some digital ones but then it occurred to me that though it would give more refined results it would be equally difficult for me to see the results. The solution ofcourse is a Speak-Your-Weight Machine. A posh-sounding imperial one - not one that doesn't know what a "stone" is and has a Mid-Atlantic twang.
The measuring bit is also difficult. When R does it she seems to say I've lost loads of inches but I do it and the loss is minimal if at all. It all comes downto "when is a waist a waist". I should defer to R's judgment as she is a bit of an expert with knocking out clothes and things. But perhaps I feel the need to overcount the inchs in case I slackened my efforts.
The over-counting trick didn't work today as I went to Chelmsford City to watch AFC Wimbledon thrash the title contenders 3-nil. I got confused and bought a cheese sandwich then got even more confused and ate a jumbo hot dog with loads of ketchup.
I think the lack of calories has done something to my brain leading to sudden bursts of dietary confusion.
(When I was looking around for pics for today's blog I came across this little story on flickr that shares some of this blogs interests. Apart from the heart-stealing.)
Another week another weigh-in.
TBH it was another disappointing morning. The afternoon was better but not for dietary reasons.
The result was 11st 2.5lb 71kg Waist Measurement 39inches.
If anyone is brilliant at metric-to-imperial conversions they may question the quality of these stats.
If anyone has taken a look at the quality of the scales I bought from John Lewis they also might express a degree of scepticism. I, too, have fallen into the trap of blaming my tools. I have difficulty seeing the result displayed on the scales. I was considering donating them to a charity shop and buying myself some digital ones but then it occurred to me that though it would give more refined results it would be equally difficult for me to see the results. The solution ofcourse is a Speak-Your-Weight Machine. A posh-sounding imperial one - not one that doesn't know what a "stone" is and has a Mid-Atlantic twang.
The measuring bit is also difficult. When R does it she seems to say I've lost loads of inches but I do it and the loss is minimal if at all. It all comes downto "when is a waist a waist". I should defer to R's judgment as she is a bit of an expert with knocking out clothes and things. But perhaps I feel the need to overcount the inchs in case I slackened my efforts.
The over-counting trick didn't work today as I went to Chelmsford City to watch AFC Wimbledon thrash the title contenders 3-nil. I got confused and bought a cheese sandwich then got even more confused and ate a jumbo hot dog with loads of ketchup.
I think the lack of calories has done something to my brain leading to sudden bursts of dietary confusion.
(When I was looking around for pics for today's blog I came across this little story on flickr that shares some of this blogs interests. Apart from the heart-stealing.)
Friday, January 19, 2007
I am floating in a lettuce leaf atop an ocean of low-fat yoghurt. The land of chocolate seems very very far away.
Honestly, the diet isn't getting to me, really.
Today there have been good pieces of news from here and there and I think I can have my weekly pint tonight. It's quite an enticing prospect.
It should be good. A problem with only being allowed a small amount to drink each week is you don't want to waste your units on any old muck. I definitely want a decent beer. I think the idea is to visit the immensely characterful Sussex Arms ( I was there on my birthday, sorry, I mean the Readers' Meeting, last September).
Thanks to Jeff Youngstrom for "Half a glass of Water" at flickr
Diet Yoghurt Beer
Saturday, January 13, 2007
For the drop...and beginning to bounce
Technorati Tags: Blubber Diet Anorexia Dreams Rabbit
After the rigours of my present diet something had to give I suppose.
Hopefully not the springs on my weighing scales.
Todays weigh-in was 11st 2.5lb 71.25k 39.50ins
Everything behind the decimal points is a bit fictional but some progress has been made.
Anorexia looms in 2020 at this rate.
(When I came back to edit this I suddenly remembered I was dreaming of a rabbit or rabbits).
Now that I have radically twiggyfied will I feel at home amongst the beer bellys of AFC Wimbledon's away support as we attempt the impossible - overthrowing Gravesend and Northfleet in our quest for FA trophy glory.
There's a particularly well known fan called Salad - for reasons that aren't immediately obvious.
The Quit-o-meter today
---9m 4d 03:46 smoke-free, 6,980 cigs not smoked, £809.68 saved, 3w 3d 05:40 life saved
Thanks to khalloran and pixietart at flickr for the images.
Technorati Tags: Blubber Diet Anorexia Dreams Rabbit
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Well well well.
After the considerable effort and sacrifice of the last seven days I am proud to announce that I HAVE PUT ON 3LBS.
Yes I have gained weight. Cut out sugar exist predominately on fruit. Cut out fat and fat bearing products. Engage in extended brisk walks. And yes...weight is gained. If I continue with this I will have gained two stone by the time I see the doctor in June.
Bugger.
Diet Fat Hungry Disillusionment
After the considerable effort and sacrifice of the last seven days I am proud to announce that I HAVE PUT ON 3LBS.
Yes I have gained weight. Cut out sugar exist predominately on fruit. Cut out fat and fat bearing products. Engage in extended brisk walks. And yes...weight is gained. If I continue with this I will have gained two stone by the time I see the doctor in June.
Bugger.
Diet Fat Hungry Disillusionment
Blogger has changed as anyone who uses blogger knows only to well. It has introduced "post labels". Not quite sure what the point of them is. I just tried the ones I placed below and they don't seem to go anywhere. Also they all seem to be a single link...even though they don't seem to link to anything except this post.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
I saw an interesting item via redditt this evening. What do portions look like?
After a couple of weeks "adjusting" to skimmed milk I was pleased to see that a whole new set of portions was being called for.
slimming weight loss diet
After a couple of weeks "adjusting" to skimmed milk I was pleased to see that a whole new set of portions was being called for.
slimming weight loss diet
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Roast vegetable goodness
A minor culinary masterpiece tonight. Roast vegetables served with bouillon and worcester gravy. The frazzled green beans were a delight - almost oriental. And the roast cabbage was to die for. The secret is to roast it in chunks - don't let the leaves separate - the outer ones dry up but the inner parts are wonderfully moist.
I then had some sliced kiwi fruit and a drop of low fat yoghurt with the slightest hint of pure maple syrup.
It was delicious. It was two hours ago. I am starving.
I then had some sliced kiwi fruit and a drop of low fat yoghurt with the slightest hint of pure maple syrup.
It was delicious. It was two hours ago. I am starving.
Monday, January 01, 2007
I just noticed that at the top of this page there is a button marked "next blog". I wanted to see if this linked to my other blogger blog. Well it doesn't it goes off to see whats happening next door. So I went for a gander.
If looking for something to occupy your hands you could do worse that look here.
Interested in a bit of Malasian politics? Look here.
Find Walmart demonic and Angelina heavenly? Here.
Not sure what to do on News Year's? This blogger observes "Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions."
Another hobby when you bore of the knitting without having to buy large amounts of material then this blogger might have something to offer.
I could have gone on clicking on "next blog" quite merrily but this spoilsport had contrived to remove his button. As if that was going to make me stay at his site. There's always one who spoils things for the rest I say.
(They're not really neighbours - when I got stuck I went back to my page and started again and the next blog button went to a different site. I am not sure that's the right thing...it would have a stronger community feel if we were stuck together like real neighbours. Then we could all borrow virtual sugar off each other. Or given my present circumstances borrow artificial sweetener off each other.)
If looking for something to occupy your hands you could do worse that look here.
Interested in a bit of Malasian politics? Look here.
Find Walmart demonic and Angelina heavenly? Here.
Not sure what to do on News Year's? This blogger observes "Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions."
Another hobby when you bore of the knitting without having to buy large amounts of material then this blogger might have something to offer.
I could have gone on clicking on "next blog" quite merrily but this spoilsport had contrived to remove his button. As if that was going to make me stay at his site. There's always one who spoils things for the rest I say.
(They're not really neighbours - when I got stuck I went back to my page and started again and the next blog button went to a different site. I am not sure that's the right thing...it would have a stronger community feel if we were stuck together like real neighbours. Then we could all borrow virtual sugar off each other. Or given my present circumstances borrow artificial sweetener off each other.)
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