Seemingly trivial things that cheer you up

rjsterry

kingstongraham said:

rick_chasey said:

kingstongraham said:

surrey_commuter said:

bizarrely I had a breakthrough when taking the kids swimming. Try holding a float and only powering yourself with your legs you will soon realise how little you are using them compared to what you should be.

I thought it was the reverse - unless you are doing short distance, your legs shouldn't be doing much of the propulsion.

Yeah, I wonder if my legs are just sucking up a tonne of energy for minimum propulsion.

I only properly tried to learn to swim with my head under water in my 30s. I found it a bit like a golf swing - everything needs to work in synchronicity, but if you try to think about more than one thing at once, it all falls apart... It's not possible to think about breathing, arm extension, rotation and kick rhythm all at once.

My breathing on the side that initially felt unnatural is still better than on the more natural feeling side, because I naturally lifted my head out of the water to breathe on that side rather than just rotating. The revelation to me was that you should never be holding your breath, always either breathing out or in.

I went to an improvers day course, and they filmed me in the water - the difference between what I thought I was doing and the evidence of how much unnecessary movement I was making was very revealing.

I assumed that being taught to breathe out under water and turn your head to the side to breathe in was something that happened to everyone in junior school - I guess not.

Pross

rjsterry said:

kingstongraham said:

rick_chasey said:

kingstongraham said:

surrey_commuter said:

bizarrely I had a breakthrough when taking the kids swimming. Try holding a float and only powering yourself with your legs you will soon realise how little you are using them compared to what you should be.

I thought it was the reverse - unless you are doing short distance, your legs shouldn't be doing much of the propulsion.

Yeah, I wonder if my legs are just sucking up a tonne of energy for minimum propulsion.

I only properly tried to learn to swim with my head under water in my 30s. I found it a bit like a golf swing - everything needs to work in synchronicity, but if you try to think about more than one thing at once, it all falls apart... It's not possible to think about breathing, arm extension, rotation and kick rhythm all at once.

My breathing on the side that initially felt unnatural is still better than on the more natural feeling side, because I naturally lifted my head out of the water to breathe on that side rather than just rotating. The revelation to me was that you should never be holding your breath, always either breathing out or in.

I went to an improvers day course, and they filmed me in the water - the difference between what I thought I was doing and the evidence of how much unnecessary movement I was making was very revealing.

I assumed that being taught to breathe out under water and turn your head to the side to breathe in was something that happened to everyone in junior school - I guess not.

We had swimming lessons once a week for two years in junior school but I don’t remember them working on actual swimming technique. We did the distance badges and learned to jump or dive into the water, tread water, float, retrieve a brick etc. before doing our survival awards.

pangolin

rjsterry said:

kingstongraham said:

rick_chasey said:

kingstongraham said:

surrey_commuter said:

bizarrely I had a breakthrough when taking the kids swimming. Try holding a float and only powering yourself with your legs you will soon realise how little you are using them compared to what you should be.

I thought it was the reverse - unless you are doing short distance, your legs shouldn't be doing much of the propulsion.

Yeah, I wonder if my legs are just sucking up a tonne of energy for minimum propulsion.

I only properly tried to learn to swim with my head under water in my 30s. I found it a bit like a golf swing - everything needs to work in synchronicity, but if you try to think about more than one thing at once, it all falls apart... It's not possible to think about breathing, arm extension, rotation and kick rhythm all at once.

My breathing on the side that initially felt unnatural is still better than on the more natural feeling side, because I naturally lifted my head out of the water to breathe on that side rather than just rotating. The revelation to me was that you should never be holding your breath, always either breathing out or in.

I went to an improvers day course, and they filmed me in the water - the difference between what I thought I was doing and the evidence of how much unnecessary movement I was making was very revealing.

I assumed that being taught to breathe out under water and turn your head to the side to breathe in was something that happened to everyone in junior school - I guess not.

We got taught that in school but trying it again a few decades later some of the finesse had definitely gone!

rick_chasey

I wasn't a bad swimmer - I did galas and stuff until I got to 14 when everyone got bigger and faster than me and my growing pains meant I would get monster cramp in my calves.

So I just stopped and then all the pool swimming I did on holidays etc thereafter, I never had my goggles and I hate getting the chlorine in my eye.

Then 20, 21 years pass, so I guess it makes sense.

I think a lot of it is the breathing. Just getting calmer and getting better control of the breathe out underwater. My breast stroke is still fairly good. I find that much easer - and it's not that much slower than my front crawl.

surrey_commuter

briantrumpet said:

A day off teaching (they are all doing school exams) coinciding with a cracking day, so getting to do a favourite 83-mile route that I've not done for ages, complete with a splendid lunch-breakfast that included roast potatoes. Not only that, but despite recent health wobbles, managed a vaguely OK 17mph average, which is better than expected. And not only that, but my supper is already cooked and ready to be zapped in the microwave. A good day (well, at least so far...)

Looks like a nice place but imho potatoes (in any format) have no place on a brekfast plate and whilst scrambled is my favourite egg if having beens then poached or fried is a better option

TheBigBean

surrey_commuter said:

briantrumpet said:

A day off teaching (they are all doing school exams) coinciding with a cracking day, so getting to do a favourite 83-mile route that I've not done for ages, complete with a splendid lunch-breakfast that included roast potatoes. Not only that, but despite recent health wobbles, managed a vaguely OK 17mph average, which is better than expected. And not only that, but my supper is already cooked and ready to be zapped in the microwave. A good day (well, at least so far...)

Looks like a nice place but imho potatoes (in any format) have no place on a brekfast plate and whilst scrambled is my favourite egg if having beens then poached or fried is a better option

Where do you stand on black pudding and tomatoes?

TheBigBean

rjsterry said:

kingstongraham said:

rick_chasey said:

kingstongraham said:

surrey_commuter said:

bizarrely I had a breakthrough when taking the kids swimming. Try holding a float and only powering yourself with your legs you will soon realise how little you are using them compared to what you should be.

I thought it was the reverse - unless you are doing short distance, your legs shouldn't be doing much of the propulsion.

Yeah, I wonder if my legs are just sucking up a tonne of energy for minimum propulsion.

I only properly tried to learn to swim with my head under water in my 30s. I found it a bit like a golf swing - everything needs to work in synchronicity, but if you try to think about more than one thing at once, it all falls apart... It's not possible to think about breathing, arm extension, rotation and kick rhythm all at once.

My breathing on the side that initially felt unnatural is still better than on the more natural feeling side, because I naturally lifted my head out of the water to breathe on that side rather than just rotating. The revelation to me was that you should never be holding your breath, always either breathing out or in.

I went to an improvers day course, and they filmed me in the water - the difference between what I thought I was doing and the evidence of how much unnecessary movement I was making was very revealing.

I assumed that being taught to breathe out under water and turn your head to the side to breathe in was something that happened to everyone in junior school - I guess not.

No swimming in my school.

Pross

rick_chasey said:

I wasn't a bad swimmer - I did galas and stuff until I got to 14 when everyone got bigger and faster than me and my growing pains meant I would get monster cramp in my calves.

So I just stopped and then all the pool swimming I did on holidays etc thereafter, I never had my goggles and I hate getting the chlorine in my eye.

Then 20, 21 years pass, so I guess it makes sense.

I think a lot of it is the breathing. Just getting calmer and getting better control of the breathe out underwater. My breast stroke is still fairly good. I find that much easer - and it's not that much slower than my front crawl.

That's my biggest problem, I get panicky with my face in the water. For some reason I'm fine actually swimming underwater and I've jumped off some pretty big cliffs into water but in other circumstances I feel really out of control. It was always an issue as a kid and not helped by someone thinking the best way to resolve it would be to hold me under, probably only for about 5 seconds but it felt like a lifetime when you don't have control of getting back to the surface. The CIA would have all my secrets in a few seconds if I was waterboarded.

Pross

TheBigBean said:

surrey_commuter said:

briantrumpet said:

A day off teaching (they are all doing school exams) coinciding with a cracking day, so getting to do a favourite 83-mile route that I've not done for ages, complete with a splendid lunch-breakfast that included roast potatoes. Not only that, but despite recent health wobbles, managed a vaguely OK 17mph average, which is better than expected. And not only that, but my supper is already cooked and ready to be zapped in the microwave. A good day (well, at least so far...)

Looks like a nice place but imho potatoes (in any format) have no place on a brekfast plate and whilst scrambled is my favourite egg if having beens then poached or fried is a better option

Where do you stand on black pudding and tomatoes?

Yes to black pudding, tomato has no place on a cooked breakfast and always feels like someone trying to make it feel healthier. I'd generally agree on the no potato rule but potato bread is a definite bonus of an Irish breakfast over an English.

pinno

Scrambled eggs + beans = Royaume-Uni; nil points.

pinno

As an aside, I couldn't eat that ^. I would barf it up.
No wonder we are such a healthy nation.

Pross

pinno said:

As an aside, I couldn't eat that ^. I would barf it up.
No wonder we are such a healthy nation.

Depending on how it's all cooked there's not much on there that is too bad. Eggs, mushrooms and baked beans are OK. The sausages are probably the biggest culprit along with things being fried. I can't imagine Brian eats like that every day and like everything it's a case of moderation.

Munsford0

83 miles at an average of 17mph! Good effort Brian! And that looks like a top breakfast which I'm sure you burnt off and then some...

kingstongraham

Potatoes are fine on a lunch/breakfast - not on a breakfast.

rjsterry

Pross said:

rjsterry said:

kingstongraham said:

rick_chasey said:

kingstongraham said:

surrey_commuter said:

bizarrely I had a breakthrough when taking the kids swimming. Try holding a float and only powering yourself with your legs you will soon realise how little you are using them compared to what you should be.

I thought it was the reverse - unless you are doing short distance, your legs shouldn't be doing much of the propulsion.

Yeah, I wonder if my legs are just sucking up a tonne of energy for minimum propulsion.

I only properly tried to learn to swim with my head under water in my 30s. I found it a bit like a golf swing - everything needs to work in synchronicity, but if you try to think about more than one thing at once, it all falls apart... It's not possible to think about breathing, arm extension, rotation and kick rhythm all at once.

My breathing on the side that initially felt unnatural is still better than on the more natural feeling side, because I naturally lifted my head out of the water to breathe on that side rather than just rotating. The revelation to me was that you should never be holding your breath, always either breathing out or in.

I went to an improvers day course, and they filmed me in the water - the difference between what I thought I was doing and the evidence of how much unnecessary movement I was making was very revealing.

I assumed that being taught to breathe out under water and turn your head to the side to breathe in was something that happened to everyone in junior school - I guess not.

We had swimming lessons once a week for two years in junior school but I don’t remember them working on actual swimming technique. We did the distance badges and learned to jump or dive into the water, tread water, float, retrieve a brick etc. before doing our survival awards.

I have a clear memory of the breathing being a key part of the lessons.

rjsterry

TheBigBean said:

rjsterry said:

kingstongraham said:

rick_chasey said:

kingstongraham said:

surrey_commuter said:

bizarrely I had a breakthrough when taking the kids swimming. Try holding a float and only powering yourself with your legs you will soon realise how little you are using them compared to what you should be.

I thought it was the reverse - unless you are doing short distance, your legs shouldn't be doing much of the propulsion.

Yeah, I wonder if my legs are just sucking up a tonne of energy for minimum propulsion.

I only properly tried to learn to swim with my head under water in my 30s. I found it a bit like a golf swing - everything needs to work in synchronicity, but if you try to think about more than one thing at once, it all falls apart... It's not possible to think about breathing, arm extension, rotation and kick rhythm all at once.

My breathing on the side that initially felt unnatural is still better than on the more natural feeling side, because I naturally lifted my head out of the water to breathe on that side rather than just rotating. The revelation to me was that you should never be holding your breath, always either breathing out or in.

I went to an improvers day course, and they filmed me in the water - the difference between what I thought I was doing and the evidence of how much unnecessary movement I was making was very revealing.

I assumed that being taught to breathe out under water and turn your head to the side to breathe in was something that happened to everyone in junior school - I guess not.

No swimming in my school.

I think it's almost a dereliction of schools responsibilities to not teach swimming. It's such a basic life skill.

briantrumpet

Pross said:

pinno said:

As an aside, I couldn't eat that ^. I would barf it up.
No wonder we are such a healthy nation.

Depending on how it's all cooked there's not much on there that is too bad. Eggs, mushrooms and baked beans are OK. The sausages are probably the biggest culprit along with things being fried. I can't imagine Brian eats like that every day and like everything it's a case of moderation.

It did the job to get me home, and looking at the other lunch options, which were all £13-15 without a hot drink, this did the job nicely.

The most notable over-eating experience was in Italy, when we mistakenly ordered (between six of us) two kilos of tagliata, thinking it was like big tagliatelle... when we realised, we thought we'd cancelled it, and ordered some pasta instead (we still had about 50 miles to go). However, as we were going to leave, we discovered that out 2kgs of marinaded steak (for that is what tagliata is) was ready, and we'd have to pay the 60€ whether we ate it or not. Although we were pretty full already, we gave it our best shot, and it was the best steak I've ever tasted... we so nearly finished it, but riding after that mountain of food was, erm, interesting. Anyway, none of us barfed, and for the last hour of the ride we all were all turbo charged.

Pross

rjsterry said:

Pross said:

rjsterry said:

kingstongraham said:

rick_chasey said:

kingstongraham said:

surrey_commuter said:

bizarrely I had a breakthrough when taking the kids swimming. Try holding a float and only powering yourself with your legs you will soon realise how little you are using them compared to what you should be.

I thought it was the reverse - unless you are doing short distance, your legs shouldn't be doing much of the propulsion.

Yeah, I wonder if my legs are just sucking up a tonne of energy for minimum propulsion.

I only properly tried to learn to swim with my head under water in my 30s. I found it a bit like a golf swing - everything needs to work in synchronicity, but if you try to think about more than one thing at once, it all falls apart... It's not possible to think about breathing, arm extension, rotation and kick rhythm all at once.

My breathing on the side that initially felt unnatural is still better than on the more natural feeling side, because I naturally lifted my head out of the water to breathe on that side rather than just rotating. The revelation to me was that you should never be holding your breath, always either breathing out or in.

I went to an improvers day course, and they filmed me in the water - the difference between what I thought I was doing and the evidence of how much unnecessary movement I was making was very revealing.

I assumed that being taught to breathe out under water and turn your head to the side to breathe in was something that happened to everyone in junior school - I guess not.

We had swimming lessons once a week for two years in junior school but I don’t remember them working on actual swimming technique. We did the distance badges and learned to jump or dive into the water, tread water, float, retrieve a brick etc. before doing our survival awards.

I have a clear memory of the breathing being a key part of the lessons.

Different schools, different teachers. Slightly different era too I suspect as you're a few years younger than me. The swimming teacher at our local leisure centre had a bit of a reuptation, if you were nervous or jumping or diving into the pool she would simply push you in which is probably not a good way of dealing with the fear.

Pross

briantrumpet said:

Pross said:

pinno said:

As an aside, I couldn't eat that ^. I would barf it up.
No wonder we are such a healthy nation.

Depending on how it's all cooked there's not much on there that is too bad. Eggs, mushrooms and baked beans are OK. The sausages are probably the biggest culprit along with things being fried. I can't imagine Brian eats like that every day and like everything it's a case of moderation.

It did the job to get me home, and looking at the other lunch options, which were all £13-15 without a hot drink, this did the job nicely.

The most notable over-eating experience was in Italy, when we mistakenly ordered (between six of us) two kilos of tagliata, thinking it was like big tagliatelle... when we realised, we thought we'd cancelled it, and ordered some pasta instead (we still had about 50 miles to go). However, as we were going to leave, we discovered that out 2kgs of marinaded steak (for that is what tagliata is) was ready, and we'd have to pay the 60€ whether we ate it or not. Although we were pretty full already, we gave it our best shot, and it was the best steak I've ever tasted... we so nearly finished it, but riding after that mountain of food was, erm, interesting. Anyway, none of us barfed, and for the last hour of the ride we all were all turbo charged.

The big benefit of cycling over running for me is the ability to eat just before or during (providing you aren't doing any hard climbing or other effort). With running even a light breakfast needs an hour to settle before just the easiest pace run and something like that breakfast would need 3-4 hours. I made teh mistake of meeting a mate for a cooked breakfast before driving to a race over 2 hours away and even after the hour or so where we were getting our numbers and going to the start I could feel it sitting heavy for the first half of the 10 mile race.

briantrumpet

Pross said:

rjsterry said:

Pross said:

rjsterry said:

kingstongraham said:

rick_chasey said:

kingstongraham said:

surrey_commuter said:

bizarrely I had a breakthrough when taking the kids swimming. Try holding a float and only powering yourself with your legs you will soon realise how little you are using them compared to what you should be.

I thought it was the reverse - unless you are doing short distance, your legs shouldn't be doing much of the propulsion.

Yeah, I wonder if my legs are just sucking up a tonne of energy for minimum propulsion.

I only properly tried to learn to swim with my head under water in my 30s. I found it a bit like a golf swing - everything needs to work in synchronicity, but if you try to think about more than one thing at once, it all falls apart... It's not possible to think about breathing, arm extension, rotation and kick rhythm all at once.

My breathing on the side that initially felt unnatural is still better than on the more natural feeling side, because I naturally lifted my head out of the water to breathe on that side rather than just rotating. The revelation to me was that you should never be holding your breath, always either breathing out or in.

I went to an improvers day course, and they filmed me in the water - the difference between what I thought I was doing and the evidence of how much unnecessary movement I was making was very revealing.

I assumed that being taught to breathe out under water and turn your head to the side to breathe in was something that happened to everyone in junior school - I guess not.

We had swimming lessons once a week for two years in junior school but I don’t remember them working on actual swimming technique. We did the distance badges and learned to jump or dive into the water, tread water, float, retrieve a brick etc. before doing our survival awards.

I have a clear memory of the breathing being a key part of the lessons.

Different schools, different teachers. Slightly different era too I suspect as you're a few years younger than me. The swimming teacher at our local leisure centre had a bit of a reuptation, if you were nervous or jumping or diving into the pool she would simply push you in which is probably not a good way of dealing with the fear.

My primary school 'lessons' we early 70s, and really just consisted of swimming widths, then lengths when you could, and getting certificates for 25m and 50m. They didn't teach strokes, so I was stuck with breast stroke, which has improved over the years, though is still very 'old school', but good enough to have done a mile in 32 minutes when I was in form.

Wouldn't mind learning to do front crawl properly.

TheBigBean

rjsterry said:

TheBigBean said:

rjsterry said:

kingstongraham said:

rick_chasey said:

kingstongraham said:

surrey_commuter said:

bizarrely I had a breakthrough when taking the kids swimming. Try holding a float and only powering yourself with your legs you will soon realise how little you are using them compared to what you should be.

I thought it was the reverse - unless you are doing short distance, your legs shouldn't be doing much of the propulsion.

Yeah, I wonder if my legs are just sucking up a tonne of energy for minimum propulsion.

I only properly tried to learn to swim with my head under water in my 30s. I found it a bit like a golf swing - everything needs to work in synchronicity, but if you try to think about more than one thing at once, it all falls apart... It's not possible to think about breathing, arm extension, rotation and kick rhythm all at once.

My breathing on the side that initially felt unnatural is still better than on the more natural feeling side, because I naturally lifted my head out of the water to breathe on that side rather than just rotating. The revelation to me was that you should never be holding your breath, always either breathing out or in.

I went to an improvers day course, and they filmed me in the water - the difference between what I thought I was doing and the evidence of how much unnecessary movement I was making was very revealing.

I assumed that being taught to breathe out under water and turn your head to the side to breathe in was something that happened to everyone in junior school - I guess not.

No swimming in my school.

I think it's almost a dereliction of schools responsibilities to not teach swimming. It's such a basic life skill.

I used to think it was. Everybody I knew could swim. But then I discovered that in plenty of other countries very few people could swim and they don't all drown all the time, so I had to revisit my view.

Nonetheless, I thought everyone went to swimming lessons outside of school rather than in school.

surrey_commuter

TheBigBean said:

surrey_commuter said:

briantrumpet said:

A day off teaching (they are all doing school exams) coinciding with a cracking day, so getting to do a favourite 83-mile route that I've not done for ages, complete with a splendid lunch-breakfast that included roast potatoes. Not only that, but despite recent health wobbles, managed a vaguely OK 17mph average, which is better than expected. And not only that, but my supper is already cooked and ready to be zapped in the microwave. A good day (well, at least so far...)

Looks like a nice place but imho potatoes (in any format) have no place on a brekfast plate and whilst scrambled is my favourite egg if having beens then poached or fried is a better option

Where do you stand on black pudding and tomatoes?

tomatoes (tinned or fresh) are fine and go wonderfully with brown sauce which can also make black pudding palatable.

briantrumpet

Getting an unexpected £100 from Nationwide as part of their 'fairer share' scheme. Mind you, I'd prefer a slightly better interest rate on my balance... at one time it paid the £13-per-month account fee, but given the account gives me 'free' breakdown insurance, mobile phone insurance, and travel insurance, I probably oughtn't to complain too much.

pblakeney

TheBigBean said:

rjsterry said:

TheBigBean said:

rjsterry said:

kingstongraham said:

rick_chasey said:

kingstongraham said:

surrey_commuter said:

bizarrely I had a breakthrough when taking the kids swimming. Try holding a float and only powering yourself with your legs you will soon realise how little you are using them compared to what you should be.

I thought it was the reverse - unless you are doing short distance, your legs shouldn't be doing much of the propulsion.

Yeah, I wonder if my legs are just sucking up a tonne of energy for minimum propulsion.

I only properly tried to learn to swim with my head under water in my 30s. I found it a bit like a golf swing - everything needs to work in synchronicity, but if you try to think about more than one thing at once, it all falls apart... It's not possible to think about breathing, arm extension, rotation and kick rhythm all at once.

My breathing on the side that initially felt unnatural is still better than on the more natural feeling side, because I naturally lifted my head out of the water to breathe on that side rather than just rotating. The revelation to me was that you should never be holding your breath, always either breathing out or in.

I went to an improvers day course, and they filmed me in the water - the difference between what I thought I was doing and the evidence of how much unnecessary movement I was making was very revealing.

I assumed that being taught to breathe out under water and turn your head to the side to breathe in was something that happened to everyone in junior school - I guess not.

No swimming in my school.

I think it's almost a dereliction of schools responsibilities to not teach swimming. It's such a basic life skill.

I used to think it was. Everybody I knew could swim. But then I discovered that in plenty of other countries very few people could swim and they don't all drown all the time, so I had to revisit my view.

Nonetheless, I thought everyone went to swimming lessons outside of school rather than in school.

This. I was taught how to swim by my Dad long before I started primary school.

rick_chasey

Until the mid 80s it was mandatory for Dutch kids to learn how to swim.

Still absolutely part of the curriculum. But then there is so much water everywhere.

N0bodyOfTheGoat

briantrumpet said:

Getting an unexpected £100 from Nationwide as part of their 'fairer share' scheme. Mind you, I'd prefer a slightly better interest rate on my balance... at one time it paid the £13-per-month account fee, but given the account gives me 'free' breakdown insurance, mobile phone insurance, and travel insurance, I probably oughtn't to complain too much.

Same scam as some of family here had today.

mrb123

rick_chasey said:

Until the mid 80s it was mandatory for Dutch kids to learn how to swim.

Still absolutely part of the curriculum. But then there is so much water everywhere.

Is there a special badge for getting yourself out of a canal when stoned?

briantrumpet

N0bodyOfTheGoat said:

briantrumpet said:

Getting an unexpected £100 from Nationwide as part of their 'fairer share' scheme. Mind you, I'd prefer a slightly better interest rate on my balance... at one time it paid the £13-per-month account fee, but given the account gives me 'free' breakdown insurance, mobile phone insurance, and travel insurance, I probably oughtn't to complain too much.

Same scam as some of family here had today.

Not a scam, happily. Genuine payment, direct into my account, no rich Nigerian uncles involved 😃

briantrumpet

rick_chasey said:

Until the mid 80s it was mandatory for Dutch kids to learn how to swim.

Still absolutely part of the curriculum. But then there is so much water everywhere.

I assume that ditch vaulting is as well?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bre8DsQZqSs

briantrumpet

This almost makes me think about getting a mountain bike... my French home turf in all its glory: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=327883409529636