We interrupt our Hannibal re-watch for a couple of announcements.
Flat Richie Surprise Visit
In case you were wondering why we hadn’t heard from Flat Richie for a while: He arrived here in my house for a short stop over today. No reason to worry. The package didn’t need refilling, and the chain isn’t broken or anything, and neither is Flat Richie. He’s fine and still in working order. He just stopped here for logistics reasons and will now be sent on from Ireland to his next destination. Since it was an unscheduled stop, I did not take anything from the box. I didn’t even read the log. I’m keeping myself unspoilt until the package eventually returns to me later this year. I just had a quick check whether everything was ok in the box.
However, I took the opportunity to have a quick tête-a-tête with Guy.
And while our Richie is flat, another Richie is mountainous. Alright, the segue is not really that smooth, but well…
Mountain Richie
Top of the world? I hope he’s not in Nepal!!!! 🥶
But otherwise nice to see him on a little holiday, doing something he enjoys doing. I also hope he’s there with a group of nice people, having a proper holiday.
In other news…
It is now 50 days since I gave up smoking. My quit support informs me that I have now NOT smoked 1,000 rollies. And I have saved €100. Tbh, the number of cigarettes is impressive. The amount of money saved – not so much. The support e-mail also fails to mention that I have instead gained 18lbs (8 kg). Flat Richie, meanwhile, still weighs less than 2kg and will go into the post as soon as I have finished this post.
Back tomorrow with the round-up. Re-watch returning (probably) on Sunday.
Congrats on the 50 days! (I honestly have similar experiences with “health” — if I successfully put pressure on one problem, a different one expands. You are a very determined individual, though, so I’m confident you’ll get where you want to go).
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Thank you Serv. (And you have exactly pinpointed the problem. I may have stopped one addiction – but only because I have started a new one. The realisation of that is so disheartening. It doesn’t feel as if I have achieved anything. I have merely shifted the problem from one area to another.)
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fwiw, because as you know my own health is never a matter of huge concern to me — we live hugely unnatural lives. We use our bodies in ways they are not designed to work, we sit all day long, we mess up our sleep schedules with alarm clocks and electric lights, our atmosphere and our food are full of chemicals, women are oppressed, our personal situations are so often frustrating etc., etc. Some kind of coping mechanism is going to be necessary for most mortals.
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That is a very good point. Modern lifestyles are just not conducive to healthy living. Except we all have a brain and a will. Looks as if I have no will whatsoever, though. (And maybe no brain, either 😂.) I wish it was as easy as making a decision and sticking to it. (Mind you, that is how I stopped smoking. I decided on Wednesday evening “That’s it, I’m not smoking anymore” and I simply didn’t. Instead I ate. And now the eating feels like more of an addiction than the nicotine…
Sorry for all this moaning. Forget it. I’m just letting it all out.
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You’re entitled to feel miserable, you’re in nicotine withdrawal. But I don’t think it’s honestly a matter of willpower. There’s this thing called decision fatigue. Most of us suffer from it from time to time. And I can honestly say, although I’m not comfortable with the amount of Coke I’m drinking at the moment, it’s still true that knowing there’s a can of it waiting for me at home after a particularly exasperating encounter often gets me through. I’m not going to beat myself up for it.
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Prompted by your use of the phrase, I just read up on ‘nicotine withdrawal’ – and was surprised to find all my current issues listed there. I had no idea that nicotine – or rather: giving up nicotine – had such an influence on mind and mental stability! It explains a lot – and it actually makes me feel a bit better now.
I had not heard about decision fatigue, but the concept makes sense. And Coke is a good example. In fact that is one of the new “addictions” that have replaced my nicotine addiction…
Your last sentence is actually the most important one of all – not to beat oneself up for it. Good point. I have to keep my eye on the prize – and forget about the side issues.
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oh, wow — well. Yeah. You’re supposed to be borderline homicidal, paranoid, anxious, constipated, as well as gaining weight and craving strange things. (If that’s a consolation, glad i could help. Sort of?)
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You did 🙂
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Listen if you weighed like 300 pounds I would say you have a food issue and even that isn’t fair to say that so the chocolate 🍫 (a lot of us are chocoholics) is a sub for the nicotine
The nicotine is now gone and once your body adjusts to no nicotine the chocolates cravings will subside
Remember 25 freakin years of smoking is not gonna disappear in 51 days so take the first step of quitting positively piss and Moan here about it
Take support and congrats from everyone here b/c you should be proud of yourself and dare I say it relax and ease off yourself. It’s hard not know I beat myself up about my body all the time but you’re amazing and enough said
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Enough said indeed, Michele. Thanks for the pep talk. I appreciate your efforts and the fact that you are entertaining my negative moaning. As I said elsewhere – I think I have learnt something today, i.e. that it is alright to feel bad, and that I have to stop beating myself up for detours. I think that it can only get better.
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👏👍😘😘😘😘😘😊brilliantly stared
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Oh shit I meant stated sorry ! 🤦♀️
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I hope you are smiling, he’s got stubbly going, no full beard there and a cute smile!!! Do you have any idea where he’s slaloming or whooshing (I don’t ski so I don’t know the proper terms) ?
The weight gain is temporary, the overall end is 50 days!! You will be celebrating soon in less than a month!
Congrats though on the 50! Well done indeed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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No idea where he skis. I don’t even know whether he is in the European time-zone. I think, in the past he has said that he likes skiing in the French alps?
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Well done on the fifty days!! The weight gain is annoying, I’m sure, but let’s focus on the other number in that paragraph: a thousand ciggies not smoked. In other words, you have beat temptation ONE THOUSAND TIMES. So do you appreciate how fantastic you are? Because you should. That is a mountainous feat and you did it. So here’s three cheers for Guylty: hip hip hooray, hip hip hooray, hip hip hooray!!!
The photo of the sun and the landscape is gorgeous. The guy could be anybody tbh for as much as we see of him, but I hope he’s having a fantastic time and can really relax and let his hair down (the little speed demon).
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Kate hahahaha ” the little speed demon”‘ so true!!!!
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That’s an interesting way of looking at it – and I have to admit it might make it easier to see what I have done so far, as an achievement.
Yep, I hope he’s having a good time, indeed, and starts the new year on a high *haha*
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thing is , when you quit smoking you not only nibble instead of having another ciggie but your taste returns so food starts tasting better! you’ve done brilliantly to do 50 days and hopefully this’ll be the end of that habit long term x
lovely to see the cute pic of Richard ski-ing and i’m glad he’s had a holiday. I kind of forget that twitter for him is a work related thing really , so it was probably nice to have a break from it! I’ve always wanted to have a go skiing but i’m also a terrible klutz and with my job i simply can’t afford to be off work for a long period of time! it reminds me of when my one practice did a team building day out involving It’s a knock Out and i just said -nope! they all went and came back with bruises and twisted ankles!
can’t wait to see where Flat Richie lands next 🙂
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Three cheers for you, I am proud of you. And for the gain of weight: 50 days without smoking is a very good excuse. I am non smoker and has gained some kg this winter too so what is my excuse?
Maybe RA is in the french Alpes again? He deserves his winter holiday
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Thank you Bea 🙂 Well, this time of year is always a time for storing extra energy on our hips. New year, new resolutions. Diet action starting soon.
I was wondering whether it was the French alps, too.
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Happy 50 days Smoke Free!!!! Yes the amount of money IS substantial! Go buy yourself something with it!!!! Or collect it in a smoke-free jar and set a date to go spend!!!!
BTW, it’s my understanding it’s NORMAL for smokers who quit to gain weight. I’m struggling right now as well.
I’m glad to see our Richie is taking some downtime. Sometimes, it seems he goes from job to job, no break, and just go go go. Just reading about his agenda exhausts me!!!
Now I need to go buy clothes, I’m that tired!
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Oh, good idea re. investing the cigarette money in something nice for myself. I might continue saving for a little while longer though. (Until I have found a job again – at the moment I am glad I am not spending extra cash on something as superfluous as cigarettes…)
I saw all the options you are thinking of buying, on your blog. Fingers crossed that they get a few discounts!
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If I get one thing, I get one thing…. if more… good for me. We’ll have to see where the fundage sits when the bills are paid!
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50 days is wonderful, Guylty. Yes, weight gain is to be expected, alas. But being a bit heavier is still a lot healthier than smoking… you probably don’t feel any better at the moment but your body will be thanking you! Dare I ask, has V. stopped now?
Very intrigued to find out where flat Richie goes next! 😃
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One of the reasons why I find it so difficult to be elated about my achievements so far, is that I really do not feel any healthier at all. If anything, because of the weight gain, I am feeling worse.
No, V is still smoking. He’s trying not to smoke in my presence, but he still smokes in the house.
As for Flat Richie’s journey – he stopped over here because I was basically along the route… 😉
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Congrats Guylty! 1000 cigarettes free – that number really puts your achievement in perspective. And yes, no beard!!! Things are looking good
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The number sounds more impressive than it really is, though. But well, one day at a time, right?
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Stop beating yourself up! The number is very impressive and you are 51 days further better in smoke free health: the weight will settle down wait until you hit 5-0 it gets really hard then and love your progress and know you are loved here and supported and keep crafting
Writing and drinking your tea!!😻😻😻😉👏👏
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Congratulations Guylty, what a fabulous achievement! Quitting smoking is tough – the tobacco companies make sure of that! If you need any reminding of what you have achieved health wise (aside from the money you’ve saved) and what you stand to gain in future, this might help!
https://makesmokinghistory.org.au/why-should-i-quit/benefits-of-quitting
It was so good to wake up to that Instagram post of Richard, to see him looking happy and relaxed doing something he has made clear he loves. And no filter, courtesy of those big goggles!! I’m very happy to see the stubble back too. ❤️
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Thank you for that link. I read it with great interest. Mind you, I am currently in a “glass half empty” phase, and reading it all reminds me that I have ruined my health for so long, it’s probably too late now… But well, I’m off the smokes now, so that’s good.
It was a really nice post from him – it almost felt as if he was writing us a postcard from his holidays. “Hello all. The scenery is here, wish you were beautiful. Lots of love, RA” It was nice of him to think of us 🙂
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Are you (mis-)quoting Jimmy Buffett? 😱😘
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Who’s Jimmy Buffett? Nope, don’t know him. But the little back-to-front pun was deliberate 😄
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He’s a singer/songwriter and one of his songs is called “The weather is here, I wish you were beautiful” so that reminded me of him immediately. Do you know the song Margaritaville? If not, you don’t know him. He’s got an absolute cult following but isn’t at all mainstream successful. 🦈 🦜🍹
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Ah – no, I have never heard of him or this song.
I know this little gem of a pun from a post card that I was once sent by a friend.
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Oh dear, I’m sorry S! I didn’t want it to have a negative effect on you!!! I hope your “glass half empty” phase becomes a glass half full very soon ((hugs))
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No no no – I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that as a complaint to you Mezz. It was actually really informative, and I know that it is meant in an uplifting, encouraging way. I was coming at it from the wrong angle.
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Oh that’s fabulous G, congratulations! That’s no easy road I know. Your metabolism has slowed down somewhat but your body will adjust with time and some tweaking with your diet. As long as you lower the calorie intake that the nicotine used to help you burn off (by raising your heart rate) you should be able to get back on track. Easier said than done it’s true, but I’m confident you will see it through until you succeed.
Seeing RA in his happy place = bliss ❤️ Goodness knows the man deserves it. Also, Hooray the stubble is back 😍
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I need to get back into the swing with my diet. One of the reasons why I am not overjoyed with my no-smoking achievements is, that while achieving that I have completely reversed my weight loss achievements from last year. And that had been so hard… I am quite unhappy that I will have to start from 0 again, and I have been consoling myself with chocolate… I wish I had RA’s discipline. I mean, just looking at the skiing photo I am reminded that he is not that much younger than me – and a thousand times fitter. Boom, and again I feel guilty… (I knew why I chose my internet name…)
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Take it for what it’s worth, but most people who have studied it have concluded that weight loss is a great deal easier for men than for women.
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I am not surprised to hear that. And it makes sense. Physiologically they do not *need* to store fat for any reproductive reason. Hence they get rid of it quickly… Mother nature. So unfair.
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I get mad at my husband because he’s NEVER hungry. I could not give food to him for days and he wouldn’t ask for it. For him to follow a diet is so much easier than it is for me and then he’s surprised if I’m in a bad mood when I can’t eat what I would like. 😦
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It’s just majorly unfair. My husband basically is still (almost) the same shape he was 25 years ago.
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Ok 1 he doesn’t have kids he can just jet off to French Alps w his overpriced ski gear and sunglasses and granted he deserved to swoosh swoosh but he still doesn’t have to worry about bills and real life stuff like us mere mortals do. I would not compare our lives to his he probably wishes for more normalcy or maybe he’s happy living in a bubble ?? You have a great family and you live In Dublin!!! And there’s Jag the awesome cat !!!!😘😘😉😻
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Well, it’s not just about the skiing, the fancy gear and the plush hotels. If I had discipline and will-power, I could easily exercise EVERY day, FREE of charge, with NO equipment. It’s called “walking/jogging/running” and I have a beautiful private park right outside my front door… but I am just too weak…
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I hear you. Your are not alone there are plenty of commenters here myself included who are right beside you
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You’re not alone. I hate exercising too, Guy is the only thing that makes it bearable for me.
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The thing to take from it all, is, that one has to somehow make exercising attractive. I haven’t yet found a way of doing it. Maybe if Mr A suggested he train with me…
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I have to lose weight too. I did it a few years ago, but I am back to the starting point. The problem is finding the motivation to start a diet, my mood becomes horrible when I feel deprived of the food I like. And eating healthy food usually means eating thing I don’t like at all (and I also don’t like cooking, especially when I know that the result won’t be tasty). At least I began exercising a little thanks to Guy. My mother in law asked me to walk on the treadmill or the cross trainer with her and I said yes as long as we could watch Robin Hood while doing so. I only have the dvds in English and she doesn’t speak it, but she accepted all the same, so while we exercise I also translate the most important thing of the episode so she can understand the plot. So far she likes it, even if she prefers Robin, and she gets mad at the sheriff 😀
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That is so cool!! A two for one deal there: Guy and exercise plus some bonding time!! Sheriff is hysterical! Wait til she gets to S2 of Guy when he really comes into his own w Marion!! 😘👏👍
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I know what you mean, Eugeal, although I have to say that in my experience there is a lot of very nicely tasting alternatives when on diet. I remember when I went on my first *serious* diet about 12 years ago. It was WW, and the first day I started, I was so depressed. I thought that all the joy had been taken from my life. I just couldn’t imagine that you could be on a diet and still eat nice food. Then I very quickly realised that you can. There are amazing, tasty, yummy, mouth-wateringly delicious recipes out there that work on a diet. For me the difficulty is to overcome my ROUTINE of snacking on chocolate and crisps. Exercise is a real difficulty for me because I just find it so difficult to make time for it.
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My problem (apart from giving up snacks) is that if you want yummy and tasty recipes that work on a diet you usually have to spend a lot of time cooking and preparing them and I hate wasting time cooking, especially at lunch when I’m alone.
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It also isn’t great if like me you can’t cook 🤦♀️😛😩
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I think I could cook if I put some effort in it. As it is I end up eating horrible things just because they’re easy and quick to do. 😀
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Yes Eugeal I think that is the thing that I
eat bad things b/c it is fast and convenient and I am a lazy cook (not saying you are just to be clear) I can make spaghetti 🍝 and quesadillas but anything elaborate ugh!
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Michele, I’m the laziest cook ever, I think 😀
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Oh no I could tell you stories of my laziness and cooking is just one thing
But bless you for being so sweet 😘😘
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Michele I’m lazy in everything too (except when something interests me, like writing Guy fanfictions or taking silly pictures of mini Guy and friends :D)
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Mini Guy and friends soo cute and sweet!! What fanfic do you write?
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I write Guy fics (most of them Guy/Marian). I’m Eugeal on AO3, but I post them even on other sites/forums etc 🙂 It’s from 2015 that I write about Guy and I wrote LOTS of them 🙂
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Cool! I will definitely check them out! I love Guy and Marian 😘😘👏
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That’s a very good point, Eugeal. Although I have found a few tried and tasty no-fuss quick recipes that are really good. Ha! Actually this conversation with you has reminded me of them. I think I will get back into it with renewed energy.
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Can you share them, please? 🙂 I’m always willing to try foods that are quick and easy to cook 😀
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Yes I s confvthat!
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I think I meant second that! Sorry
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LOL – that’s not even Ottokorrekt, that’s negligent misrepresentation 😂
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Guylty, Um yes you are right negligent indeed on my part, my mood hasn’t been the greatest this weekend, I binged watch news shows to catch up and got depressed… And there’s MIA Daniel too..
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Sorry to hear about the bad mood! The news are definitely not very pleasant to watch these days. And I hear that BS is still without Daniel. What a waste!
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Yes no Daniel not even a glimpse of kidnapped Daniel which doesn’t bode well. I think Hector put it in perspective and Rhys looks very bored I have to say more than in S2. Mina barely has a part and no Diver talk at all on Ep 6. Just s-h-I-t in my opinion…
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Sounds bad all round!
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Yep I will admit it contributed to my bad mood along with the shit storm of the US government shutdown but each episode becomes more disturbing and more convoluted in my opinion than the next. You are missing NOTHING…
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I’ve posted a few here on the dedicated weight loss blog for RA fans 😉 https://rabbbww.wordpress.com/author/guylty/
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Congrats on the 50 days! I know it will pay of for you in the long run.
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