Big fellas doing just fine. Great to see.

Celebrated Christmas with my eldest son for the first time in 3 years, so it was a happy day.

While it's a tradition to be positive and full of Christmas cheer around this time, not to mention cherish those we love, I think we need to follow the actions of our self-proclaimed betters and engage in some serious navel-gazing and self flagellation.

It is clear that this website lacks diversity. And that is problematic. There is only one poster who identifies as a woman and while being bisexual is a plus, she isn't a POC and most posters here are straight (white - problematic) males anyway. Clearly the poster who identifies as Mariner4life is a homosexual, but there are no others who will dare to come out on this site. There are certainly no trans people and that is a tragedy. There is an oriental tooth doctor and a goat fucker, but they don't compensate for the overwhelming whiteness that pervades here. That is problematic and I would hope that the mods (mostly straight white males - also very problematic) fix this problem in 2019.

Nah fuck that.

This site is great. For me it's like Cheers: "Where everybody knows your name and you're always glad you came". You can act like a fool and speak utter crap and all is forgiven next time you rock up. I've had a very tough couple of years and unfortunately I sometimes let that out here and I apologise for that, but mostly I just love coming here every day and reading some very informed (and not so informed) views about rugby, other sports, movies, TV, fitness, movies and politics etc. The advice and kind words I've received here have helped me massively (even the dp discussion). It's a cracking site with a cracking group of people and I wish you all the merriest of Christmases and happiest of New Years and I thank you once again for putting up with yet another year of my shit!

God Jul alle sammen.

Great thread this one.

I’ve always been of the belief that if there is something you’re unhappy about or something you want to change then you should do something about it. Don’t die wondering. Stop complaining and do something about it. The sad problem is that there are sometimes factors completely outside your control.

I met the woman who would become my wife when she was a student in Aus and moved to her home country of Norway. It was awesome at first but I became utterly miserable with my life there as the years went on. I hated the cold, hated the dark and started irrationally hating the entire country and culture. I knew I had to get out of there and was all set to leave , but then my father in law got a brain tumour. Move delayed by 3 years. Then we finally moved to Aus. Worked like a maniac to make everyone happy. Was going well, everyone getting adjusted, wife making friends, gets to travel home to Norway with kids regularly, work awesome and talking about a move to the Sunshine Coast. Then she gets breast cancer. 4 years of hell follow with me not daring to even think worst case or talk to her about it. Then worst case happens and it destroyed me. Telling my sons that mamma was not going to get better was absolutely soul destroying. Those poor boys.

So I was at the location I wanted to be, but I’d lost my soulmate and was a widower and single dad and provider at the age of 38. In that situation you can talk to people or whatever but it doesn’t change anything. It won’t bring anyone back and it won’t make a tragic situation any less tragic. The sadness can be triggered by so many things and thankfully I had my boys there with me. They helped me more than I helped them.

So I focussed on the things I could influence. Exercise and eating right made me happy so I did that and did it properly. It helped me get through some very hard days.

Things gradually got better and my eldest pushed me into online dating. Could write a book about all that but I found an amazing new partner who complements my life and lifestyle perfectly. She and her daughter have moved in and we’ve since also made some wonderful new friends in the local community.

So I was bouncing back really well but unfortunately my eldest son went completely off the rails at the end of last year. He had been doing really well. Won a swimming scholarship to a top school, was very popular and had girls throwing themselves at him. But he suddenly got in with a bad crowd, started with drugs and went completely off the rails. Nobody knows exactly why he’s acting like this. Presumably his mother dying is a huge factor, but he refuses to talk to anyone and has thrown his lot in with the absolute dregs of society. He refused to go to school and was then expelled from the shitty school he insisted on going to. Now he’s living with some friends in a flat somewhere, refusing to find another school and doing God knows what. While I think he should come out of this ok in the end, I’m scared shitless that something will happen to him. It’s so hard because whenever I start feeling good about life, the reminder of his situation hits me like a train. If that ain’t enough, my younger brother has apparently disappeared. Tbh I have zero time for him but my parents are obviously beside themselves and I hate to see them so worried and stressed.

Sorry for the ramble and perhaps way too much info, but again the point I’m making is that sometimes total happiness is completely outside your control. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do everything you can to change or improve the things you can influence. I’m the fittest and healthiest I ever been in my life. I give everything to my relationship and my other son and new step daughter. I’m not happy with work so am looking to make changes when Covid is over. I won’t be fully happy until my son comes back to me, but until then I’ll do the best that I can to get the most out of life. What more can you do?

Had to chuckle that we were criticising the Boks for their bomb tactics but that was literally all we were doing for most of the first half.

Absolutely clueless shit. No depth, no structure. Been the same for a few years now. Guess what? It doesn't work.

@virgil said in Convicts v Marxist Land Thieves - Crucket:

Smart move by Warner to face the media for the first time with his wife and girls
Hard to kick him further when he’s holding one of his little girls.

I hate him even more for that. He's effectively using them as a shield. Cowardly tosser.

Let's keep this civil. As much as I love a good circle jerk, these threads are much better with the Lions fans involved. Don't want them to leave before the tests.

The only consolation is that Akira has been selected. Unfortunately he'll probably be subbed after 20min when Scott Barrett gets sent off.

Game was a bit ordinary. Looked like it was going to be 30 nil at half-time, but the yellow card (what the hell was that for?) changed things and then of course the ref kept blowing for tries and then changing his mind. They have to fix this shit. The entire crowd, Reds fans included, went apeshit when he annulled that TJP try. Ultimately people want to be entertained not witness that kind of bullshit. That was goddam farcical.

Anyway result was great and the Canes are a seriously impressive team. J Savea is an utter beast. I won't hear any criticism of the non-fat version. He was Lomu-like tonight. His brother was bloody awesome as well. 8 suits him to the ground. Hope his injury isn't anything serious. Barretts were of course ridiculous. What an incredible double-team. Fark we Canes fans are lucky right now. And I agree with above rating of Proctor. He was all class.

But, while the game was pretty shit, it was a magical evening for a little kid who desperately wanted a selfie with Beauden. I speak not of myself (even though I would very much like one), but my 8 year old son who refused to leave after the game. We were going to wait for TJP who was closest, but we saw BB further away and my son ran in that direction. He managed to sneak forward as only kids can and his day was made.

Seriously what a champion. He gave everything during the game (that dude seriously covers some distance during the course of a game), then immediately had to give interviews. But he then went straight to the crowd and was giving dozens of selfies. He was still doing it when we left, so God knows how long he was out there. A great player and true gentleman. Never thought my man crush could get stronger but it certainly did tonight!

Very good week training wise, particularly in the gym. Feel I've been phoning in the weights sessions a bit recently and want to make them count.

Was my youngest son's birthday on Thursday and looking through old photos kind of farked me up so went on a 14km run. Was very smooth and more importantly made me feel much better. Exercise really is the best medicine when done right.

@MN5 said in RIP 2022:

@Rancid-Schnitzel said in RIP 2022:

@Catogrande said in RIP 2022:

@Kid-Chocolate

Seems a great waste to me. He was the next big thing, had a decent range and as you say, could be genuinely scary. But after Godfellas, by christ he did some shite. Looked a physical wreck far too early and now gone quite young.

100%. They were calling him a Hollywood legend on TV this morning. That's really not true. He could and should have been, but I'll bet most people have never even heard of him. They were showing footage of Field of Dreams and but he wasn't even in that film much. I think I recall reading years ago that he only did one film a year. I guess that limited his output, particularly if that one film was crap. Shame.

Dunno about that, he was pretty damn famous.

But certainly not a “legend” which tends to get thrown about when anyone passes.

I did love his performance in Hannibal at the end.

If Jared Leto or Daniel Day Lewis had played that part they would have insisted on having the top of their heads cut off for real though cos they’re “method”

If people see pic of him then he'll probably be recognisable. I'm just not sure they know his name. There are a few actors like that. John C Reilly and Liev Schrieber are maybe good examples.

I don't even think RL was nominated for an Oscar for Goodfellas, which is ridiculous.

@Catogrande said in RIP 2022:

@Kid-Chocolate

Seems a great waste to me. He was the next big thing, had a decent range and as you say, could be genuinely scary. But after Godfellas, by christ he did some shite. Looked a physical wreck far too early and now gone quite young.

100%. They were calling him a Hollywood legend on TV this morning. That's really not true. He could and should have been, but I'll bet most people have never even heard of him. They were showing footage of Field of Dreams and but he wasn't even in that film much. I think I recall reading years ago that he only did one film a year. I guess that limited his output, particularly if that one film was crap. Shame.

@dogmeat said in Memes:

@Rancid-Schnitzel congratulations You've been @booboo after only five days

What makes it even better is you upvoted @No-Quarter 's post

As the kid's say, I'll take the L on that one. Jesus. Can't even blame alcohol.

Unfortunately have watched very little rugby this year but how has Jacobsen been going? Liked the look of him.

@MN5 said in Building myself back up:

Running of any sort should be outlawed

Says the guy who hitched up with a runner!

@MajorRage said in Building myself back up:

@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Building myself back up:

@MajorRage said in Building myself back up:

@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Building myself back up:

Been absolutely smashing it in the pool recently. Have really turned a corner and it's not agony every time I get in. Becoming seriously addicted. Wednesdays is 4km in the morning and 2km in the evening!

Weather has been absolute rat sheet here for weeks and being a massive poosey I did the half marathon on the treadmill. Fark that was boring. But - captain obvious time - was so much better on the knees and legs. I really get the point now. If I want to run for decades to come this machine is my destiny I reckon.

I'm not sure if I respect or feel sorry for somebody that can run that long on a treadmill. Isn't the treadmill the same as using a weight machines vs a free weights? It's been years since I stepped foot in a gym so not sure what the current thinking is, but I know it certainly used to be that free weights were much better.

I love running outside and would happily run in a blizzard as opposed to a treadmill inside. All part of it.

It isn't about preference or choice but potential necessity. I'd love to run outside until the end of time, but the difference in what it does to the body is absolutely massive, particularly in the very hilly area I live in. My knees get farked. Just a reality unfortunately. Got to adapt.

With running on a treadmill being so repetitive is that really better for you? As the impact is going to be centralised in exactly the same place every single time. Is that really better for you?

There is no doubt that the risk of twisted ankles etc is higher, but when you are going up / down hills round left/right corners isn't the impact spread out a bit more and thus less wearisome?

Genuine questions, and it seems my assumptions here are incorrect.

But the impact is much less, especially if running on a road. All I know is the difference has been massive for me.

There's also an old dude I chat to at the gym on Saturday mornings (he's like 75 and trains at 4am). He looks ridiculous for his age and swears by the treadmill for having enabled him to maintain his fitness. Buggered if I know what the science says but he's pretty damn good empirical evidence!

Ultimately, I would much prefer to run outside, but I don't want to be in pain every time I walk up stairs. Maybe I just have really weak Lil bitch knees 🤔

@MajorRage said in Building myself back up:

@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Building myself back up:

Been absolutely smashing it in the pool recently. Have really turned a corner and it's not agony every time I get in. Becoming seriously addicted. Wednesdays is 4km in the morning and 2km in the evening!

Weather has been absolute rat sheet here for weeks and being a massive poosey I did the half marathon on the treadmill. Fark that was boring. But - captain obvious time - was so much better on the knees and legs. I really get the point now. If I want to run for decades to come this machine is my destiny I reckon.

I'm not sure if I respect or feel sorry for somebody that can run that long on a treadmill. Isn't the treadmill the same as using a weight machines vs a free weights? It's been years since I stepped foot in a gym so not sure what the current thinking is, but I know it certainly used to be that free weights were much better.

I love running outside and would happily run in a blizzard as opposed to a treadmill inside. All part of it.

It isn't about preference or choice but potential necessity. I'd love to run outside until the end of time, but the difference in what it does to the body is absolutely massive, particularly in the very hilly area I live in. My knees get farked. Just a reality unfortunately. Got to adapt.