keefer

Definitely platinum

In spite of the numbers being incredibly low, my personal preference is to proceed with preventions and vaccines if available.... I was an AIDS buddy in late 80’s through mid 90’s; and was hugely affected by writings such as Jonathan Kwitney’s Acceptable Risks; we don’t know what viruses are coming next, nor what mutations might occur in mpox ... each advance in virology is countered by those pesky buggers mutating... and it’s possible that what’s learnt through current round of vaccinations could help those that follow us whether next year or in a few decades... considering what else I put in my body on a daily basis I personally think that getting the vaccine is a perfectly acceptable risk.... at very least might give me the confidence to get out there and play before the next COVID lock down...

if you google “monkey pox vaccine walk-in London” you’ll probably find both the NHS and THT vaccine finder site; I got my first dose three weeks ago, and was able to book at Guys Hospital just 2 days prior; very slick, very efficient... planning to register for my second in approximately 3 weeks

I started the NHS Couch to 5k on 2nd of March; have worked up to an hour on the treadmill alternating 1.5 minutes jog, 3.5 minutes walk; and have dropped about 10lbs... For those who took up jogging later in life - any suggestions to improve progress or make this fun???

Good summary of my planned hobbies when I retire in 2024

Most likely just an empty bank account

@Lucky, @tassojunior, and @azdr0710 - THANK YOU! for all the suggestions... this week my sister is handling over responsibility to me.... definitely a lot of laughter since arriving, next week I settle in to normal routine and then get to see if travel outside the square defined by the house, Costco, and Fry’s is on the cards... heading back to the card table to get my arse beaten again; lucky we’re playing for pennies or my savings would be gone by the end of this trip

Flew in from London last night and already settling into life in Mesa.... gym at 6am, Panera’s for breakfast, three hours of majong, some make it yourself pizza place for lunch, trip to Costco as they forgot something yesterday, a boisterous round of triple-play, and about to collect some of moms friends for the early bird dinner special (which allegedly I get free)... this is more exhausting than my full time job....

Flying into Phoenix Tuesday to spend four weeks helping my mom (91) prepare to move to Virginia to be closer to family. Besides having four weeks with mom without distractions of partners or siblings, I'm looking forward to a break in what felt like an endless London winter, looking forward to a month eating healthy and using the local gym, and a month without distractions of work. That said, the retirement community is in Mesa (east of Phoenix). If I mentally time travel forward I know I'll look back (on what's about to come) as a wonderful time with my mom at this time in her life. But at this moment looking forward in anticipation I'm wondering if I'll manage a week before going insane. Any recommendations for diversions in Mesa itself, or does one have to trek to Phoenix or Vegas for bars and/or other diversions ?

no need for china patterns, if it was a true relationship you'd simply need a serrated knife to cut the tub in half... that said, I'd recommend you sit and have smelling salts to hand... they're bringing it back https://www.benjerry.com/flavors/dublin-mudslide-ice-cream

not the least bit fussy, but there's a good chance I'd sell my soul for a tub of Phish Food or Cookie Dough...

To be honest, after the week I've had (and month I'm about to have)... someone offering me an unopened container of Ben and Jerry's would probably be the most extreme turn-on I've had this year...

Though I've had a few private chats with various members, have never met anyone... and always wondered if the London contingent would one day be up for a meet at one of the London pubs..

And it wasn't very long ago that a strategically placed hole in sweats was a major conversation starter in your finer class of seedy venues...

we discussed burial/cremation options while updating our wills last year... I told my husband I was still thinking about where he should scatter my ashes and asked if he had any preferences... without missing a beat he replied "... Hampstead Heath... if there is an afterlife I want it to be fun..." for those who don't know, quite a notorious gay cruising ground since, well, forever... unfortunately if that's an option for the afterlife I'm doomed - as all the venues from my youth are now closed...

I've always been fond of Sagamore Hill -- it was Theodore Roosevelt home and the summer white house. It was biking distance from home when I was quite young, and thus almost always a destination during the summer months... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagamore_Hill

I concede London Transports choice of fabrics is more 1950's than Rodeo Drive or 5th Avenue, and possibly chosen by someone who has less fashion sense than I (as if that's possible)... But as a consumer I tend to applaud their use of fluid resistant (or highly absorbent) seating -- at the very least to prevent finding any surprises left behind by users travelling home after a night of heavy drinking

And then we have the (absolutely fabulous) cross-London Elizabeth line... the trains are unbelievably long, internally joined seamlessly as one long tube without separation... Canary Wharf to Soho in four stops (~15 minutes) and then on out to Heathrow... (images picked from google)...

clearly to protect from those glaciers descending from the north :-)

Snow, ice, and freezing fog descended on London today... tomorrows commute will be a joy... for now just putting another duvet on the bed....

I’ve been to Chicago, that sounds like normal summer weather

Just refilled water bottle, hit vending machine for a few granola bars, and bracing myself for homeward commute; after two decades living in Colorado I shudder to think how London will cope if we get a centimetre of snow this winter... warm fire and glass of scotch to be the reward if I survive the commute home

Temperatures dropped below freezing last night causing chaos with public transport... stuck on stalled train for an hour, followed by lengthy walk down to Greenwich.. am now sitting comfortably on a boat cruising up the Thames (clipper).... two more stops before first coffee