What makes you grin? Antidote to grumpy thread

[catsinthewelder]

I've just got back from the first day of my new job at the local van hire.  The pay isn't bad and is set to rise,  it's not full time yet but should become so and the boss is sound and is talking about licencing me up as a taxi driver same as they have 2 minibus's for hire.

 

I'm starting to feel very positive about this redundancy lark

[Sloth in a bowl]

7 weeks into couch to 5k and I did my first "parkrun" on Saturday. Parkrun is a free 5k run every Saturday at various places in the UK, except north Wales ot seems, so I went to one while visiting the rents.

 

Got my pace a bit wrong so had to walk a little bit (so annoyed at myself) but managed to get in a time of 28.22. They give loads of stats with the results: I was 223 of 425 runners, 56th female and 9th for the 30-34(f) age range.

 

I am chuffed and really want to go again, hope one starts up round here soon! Also lost loads of weight over the last couple of months so I am feeling great. Going to celebrate with cake obvs.

 

 

For somebody whom hasn't done a lot of running before, that's really good Louise, pretty much bang on for a 2 hour 1/2 marathon pace, hint, hint.

 

Did my first park run for ages on Saturday at Coalford in the Forest of Dean, intended to do an easy paced 28:00, but started chasing people, ran 27:01 and was knackered at the end.

 

Just preparing for a 10.7km run tonight if I can summon the energy. I'm trying to get a bit of distance up before going for speed and getting the inevitable leg injury.

[Sloth in a bowl]

For somebody whom hasn't done a lot of running before, that's really good Louise, pretty much bang on for a 2 hour 1/2 marathon pace, hint, hint.

 

Did my first park run for ages on Saturday at Coalford in the Forest of Dean, intended to do an easy paced 28:00, but started chasing people, ran 27:01 and was knackered at the end.

 

Just preparing for a 10.7km run tonight if I can summon the energy. I'm trying to get a bit of distance up before going for speed and getting the inevitable leg injury.

 

 

10.7km done in 60:44 not great but something to build on. Done the same route in under 54 minutes in years gone by.

[Richard]

I know this is in the Metro and therefore made up, but it amused me anyway. http://metro.co.uk/2014/08/10/eye-for-an-eye-chinese-motorists-who-dazzle-other-drivers-forced-to-stare-at-headlights-as-punishment-4827617/

[The Moog]

10.7km done in 60:44 not great but something to build on. Done the same route in under 54 minutes in years gone by.

I currently do 5km in 36 mins, so am in awe 😊

[Louise2cv]

Thanks, this is my new obsession. The hardest thing at the moment is the rest days! I am feeling very tired though so I might have to rest a bit more! I am pretty much finished with couch to 5k now so I aam going to start concentrating on upping the distance. I think one run a week further than the last, one a timed 5k and one up the hill for a bit of strength training. My 5k Monday was 28.11, no walking (I was so cross at myself for walking at the parkrun!) I need to work on pacing myself.

 

At the moment 10k seems impossible, but I suppose I felt that about 5k not so long ago!

[steve_earwig]

http://www.carmag.co.za/news/haunted-renault-explained/

 

Could only happen to a Renault

I read somewhere that on a Laguna (I think, could have been a Migraine) the body systems ecu is under the bonnet and can suffer from water contamination, resulting in a parked car sounding its alarm, washing its windows and cranking its starter. Probably best not to park one in gear then... 

[phil_lihp]

Nice to see others enjoying the Parkruns - I've been doing them for a few weeks, it's a great, social thing to do on a Saturday morning, you're done before 10:00AM and you can go along to any of them with your card once you're registered, it's quite a good thing to do when staying away places.  You do get quite competitive about your personal best, I managed 23:55 a couple of weeks ago which was a surprise as it's about 30 seconds off my previous PB.  Keep at it and you'll get faster over time.  Louise, you'll crack 10k in no time by building up the miles gradually, it won't take long!

[M'coli]

Just before we get too excited about distances, am I correct in thinking that 5k is 5 kilometres? Thus a marathon is roughly 42k...

Good stuff with the running, I've been warned off it due to a dodgy knee so it's back to the bike for me.

[phil_lihp]

Correct, 5k is 5km - just over 3 miles.  Once you get beyond about 10k it starts being measured in miles instead for some reason.

 

I doubt I'll ever want to do a marathon, I do a few half marathons but running that distance is pretty boring, not sure I could keep my mind occupied for 4 solid hours of running.

[mat_the_cat]

I've never run much over 5k before either, but am wanting to go a bit further soon. I've discovered these trails which are fairly close by, and on my way back from work:

 

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-6EWCYM

 

So far I've only tried the shortest route, but even that had some nice views which takes your mind off the climbs a little!

 

[mercrocker]

I know this is in the Metro and therefore made up, but it amused me anyway. http://metro.co.uk/2014/08/10/eye-for-an-eye-chinese-motorists-who-dazzle-other-drivers-forced-to-stare-at-headlights-as-punishment-4827617/

It is not made up, but inaccurate......The police have actually caught him jaywalking and are now about to run him over.

[dugong]

Landlady's clearing out the loft and asked me to look at some cameras she found.
 

'I need to take these to the car boot, but I can't be arsed. You like cameras, give us a tenner.'
 

She left them outside my door while I was at work, and found another box full this evening.

Had a look at it all and I'm now the proud owner of a Praktica LTL3 (worthless), plus a shitload of M42 lenses, a Nikon F3 (really), a Canon A1 and AE-1. All of which work and all of which have lenses.
 

FOR TEN SODDING QUID!



 

[cobblers]

If any of the lenses fit my Nikon dslr can I have them all for three quid?

 

I'm staying at my mums for the night because I've got a wedding to visit in the morning and it's a lot closer from here. I was bored stupid sat watching telly in the spare bedroom when I realised that I've got my T25 camper sat in her garage with a fridge full half full of ale and my tablet pc and bluetooth head unit with nice speakers to play music through and all the rest. So now I'm sat in the van in the garage and it's much better.

[DVee8]

A few months ago i was given this.It has been done for a while i just forgot.

 

It now looks like this

[twosmoke300]

yet no resto thread . Dissapointed

[Louise2cv]

Thanks, this is my new obsession. The hardest thing at the moment is the rest days! I am feeling very tired though so I might have to rest a bit more! I am pretty much finished with couch to 5k now so I aam going to start concentrating on upping the distance. I think one run a week further than the last, one a timed 5k and one up the hill for a bit of strength training. My 5k Monday was 28.11, no walking (I was so cross at myself for walking at the parkrun!) I need to work on pacing myself.

 

At the moment 10k seems impossible, but I suppose I felt that about 5k not so long ago!

Running up hill is HARD.

[phil_lihp]

But running down hills is fun!

[mat_the_cat]

Running up hill is HARD.

 

I agree.

 

But running down hills is fun!

 

I disagree. OK, it is fun but I have to walk down anything steeper than say a 15% gradient, otherwise it aggravates an old back injury. That, and lifting anything above around 20 kg are things I have to be very careful of nowadays. Thinking of trying 8k or so later today which will be the furthest I've done...

 

I've just applied for a new job which (on paper at least) I tick *all* the boxes for, so If I don't get through for an interview I must be doing something pretty badly!

 

Got an interview The first in 2.5 years! Then on the same day, I picked up this from Freecycle:

 

 

£800 of Makita brushcutter, binned in frustration when it kept cutting out when hot. First suspect is coil at £60 so could be a cheap(ish) repair. Suddenly I'm not minding today's throwaway society quite so much!

 

[phil_lihp]

You're right, running downhill is not good for the joints and a lot of the runners I know don't like downhill either.  I'm just odd.

 

Congrats on the interview and freebee, must be karma for getting the Stellar on the road.

[dollywobbler]

Running I generally regard as best avoided. It is a lot of fun if you're off your head on LSD. Apparently...

[The Moog]

Had a couple of good wins on ebay recently (inc £1.99 battery charger) and decided today to sort out my £4 gas bbq.

 

Striped it, removed as much rust as possible, primered, painted and reassembled. Popped along to flogas to get a 19kg bottle for £25.

 

Bobs your uncle fully working bbq for princely sum of £33

[spike60]

A 19 Kg gas bottle will cook sausages for an army!

[The Moog]

Other bottles needed £35 deposit. They did tell me it would last a few years... Although have got my eye of some dirt cheap space heaters that end in a day or so

[fordperv]

I am currently travelling in the back of mrs fordperv's grandads lovely 1998 volvo estate with its trailer in tow after delivering a party marquee

[cms206]

Got a new shite tie. All I need is a blue and cream Sherpa and I'm laughing!

 

 

[Mr_Bo11ox]

That tie is flipping GRADE A. I was so impressed I just went on eBay and bought an 'Ipswich Park & Ride' bus drivers tie to wear in the office. Inspired!!!

[cms206]

I'm not sure it says STRATHCLYDE REGIONAL COUNCIL enough on it to emphasise that it represents the region that was disbanded eighteen years ago. It's my second favourite tie now after my brown polyester Leyland Vehicles one which is always a hit in the office.

[twosmoke300]

Worked on a customers ( bucket of Shit ) 06 mondeo td Ci estate yesterday which had burst a coolant hose and broke down. His mate towed him in and on the back he had the usual "on tow " on a4 paper in the back window but underneath was written (again. )

On another sheet of paper was #neverbuyaford.

 

Make me chuckle

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

From Reddit:
 

I posted my Ford SUV for $11,500 OBO and this was the first, and only reply.