How has your RW changed your lifestyle?

[Pordzhik]

Out has gone all the fast food/frozen meals, nights out at the pub/clubbing/casino, beers in the fridge and spending all my money on the latest electronic toys and alloy wheels for me motor and knees ups in Ibiza.

When my wife first arrived she would insist on taking a walk every afternoon in the nearby countryside whatever the weather, she said it gave her nicer moods to walk a little and to see the trees and wildlife. I purchased a brolly (a first) and the walks began to give me nicer moods also. I had never taken any form of exercise before, so began to feel better and healthier.

We still get take-away food about once a week, but I now prefer to cook from scratch. We sometimes visit pubs, but it's usually only for one drink, she is not very interested in clubs (about twice yearly) and has no interest in gambling. Prefering visits to the beach with picnics, museums, country houses, theatre, ballet, zoo and circus or just driving out to some of the quaint little villages we have around here.

My games console hasn't seen daylight for over two years and I never did get around to buying that CD burner.

A change in my lifestyle was not totally enexpected, but I never imagined it would be so total.

I'm enjoying my changed life.

[Horoshij]

... in response to How has your RW changed your lifestyle?, posted by Pordzhik on Jan 13, 2003

I would like to  contribute a little to this thread. My life has changed dramatically, but not my lifestyle. To make you understand. I had a long time and lucky marriage before I met Elena. My wife died in a tragic and traumatic car accident, and I was suddenly alone with my little daughter. After three years I realised that I wouldn't find anyone I would like to marry here in Norway. All the attractive ladies were already married. Then I found Elena in St. Petersburg.

During the years I was alone, I kept my way of life from my first marriage. I had my daughter to think of. I taught myself to be a rather  good cook, and had to cope with all challenge of daily life like buying clothes to a young girl.

When Elena came to me, she adopted my lifestyle, but she filled my life with joy and pleasure. In some ways it's changed. She wants very much to spend as much time as possible with me. She doesn't like to look at sports on TV, so there went the football matches, speed-skating and skiing (on TV). She likes romantic movies and film, I prefer a little more action, but now we are looking at Hallmark.

She likes to work in the garden, and even when I'm tired and want to go inside to relax a little, she continues, (Remember summer days never get dark here.) and  that makes me ashamed to finish.

She likes dancing while I'm like a piece of Norwegian wood. We have been to a dancing school together, and I like to dance with her. Sometimes she dances for me at home, and it makes me sometimes wonder if she has a suspect past as some kind of  night club dancer, she is so good and sensual.

Yes Pordzhik, she is jealous. We met her "old" girlfriend this summer, and I liked to talk with her. She spoke only German (and Russian of course) and it was a pleasure for me to revive all knowledge of the German language. My surprise was big when I discovered that Elena started to regulate my possibility to speak with her friend :-).

It's a lot more to tell only I don't have more time.

Haroshij

[Cold Warrior]

... in response to How has your RW changed your lifestyle?, posted by Pordzhik on Jan 13, 2003

You mean no more pints with the lads. No more Man United on TV, Ruddles in the fridge and tikka masala from Tesco. I'll have to reconsider this venture.

[Pordzhik]

... in response to What!!!!!!!!!!!!, posted by Cold Warrior on Jan 13, 2003

As she's in Kiev so often, I still get to play sometimes.

I wouldn't dream of watching Man U, unless they are taking a caning from the Gunners! I take it you've lived here at some time?

[Cold Warrior]

... in response to Naw......., posted by Pordzhik on Jan 14, 2003

My dad is American. My mom is British asian living in London. Hey the Gunners are a one man team. Without Henri they are dead. Back a real team like Man U.

[Pordzhik]

... in response to Re: Naw......., posted by Cold Warrior on Jan 14, 2003

Back the local team, got to give it to Beckham though the boy's got real class, if only he didn't talk like a girl, you know where he comes from of course?

What's the story? How long time did you spend here?

Wasn't you thinking of re-locating back here?

[Cold Warrior]

... in response to Loyal Londoners, posted by Pordzhik on Jan 14, 2003

My dad worked with the British crown as a tax inspector in british Guyana in South America. I was born there. After my parents divorce dad went back to New York and mum to London. I shuffled back and forth usually spending summer in London. After a stint in US army I eventually ended up in Venezuela where I spent about 6 years working for BP and some other oil companies as an engineer. Had dozens of girls in Venezuela but never managed to get married. Probably like the Hugh Grant character in - 4 weddings and a funeral.

Always thought Venezuelan girls were the pretties in the world until I came across the Russians. Apart from beauty I was amazed by the intellectual level. For example, my ex girlfriend in kiev was 22 years old, had a degree in Psychology,fluent in English and German, a good painter and pianist with an appreciation of everything from Bach to the beatles.

BTW  the name Cold warrior was give to me by the Gurhkas in the UK when I did some training with them. It was an honour for me. I think they are the finest and fearless men I've met. My maternal grandparents are descendants of Gurkhas with over 100 years in the British army.

[Pordzhik]

... in response to Long Story, posted by Cold Warrior on Jan 14, 2003

Have been enlisting into the British army since 1815, after some battles fought between them and soliers of the East India Company in Bengal the British were very impressed with the fighting skills and bravery of the Gurhkas. It's become a kind of father to son thing. We have some stationed here in Kent. The Gurkhas are very highly regarded here.

That's an interesting history you have, where in London did you live?

[Cold Warrior]

... in response to Fearless men from Nepal, posted by Pordzhik on Jan 15, 2003

my parents live in Wanstead. They used to live in Richmond but moved up north to get closer to the A11(I think) since they spend the weekends at a cottage in Norfolk.

the 2nd RGR Gurkhas are at Shorncliffe,Folkestone in Kent.
I trained with them in Catterick.

[Stevo]

... in response to How has your RW changed your lifestyle?, posted by Pordzhik on Jan 13, 2003

ggg

[SteveM]

... in response to How has your RW changed your lifestyle?, posted by Pordzhik on Jan 13, 2003

Seems like there are some of the same things to report, but here's my list:

1.  Instead of using the area in front of the fireplace for box storage, we actually use the fireplace.

2.  We eat in the dining room instead of the kitchen 3-4 nights a week, by candlelight.  My sons' friends are amazed at this practice.

3.  People who haven't been to my house in a couple of years walk back outside and check the house number when they see what the inside looks like now.

4.  I spend a whole lot less time in Best Buy, and a whole lot more in Home Depot.

5.  I actually wind up doing some of the things on my to-do list.  The kids actually get to the doctor and dentist every year, and broken stuff gets fixed.

6.  Total hours of football watching has declined (of course, this may be attributable to the Redskins' performance in the past couple of years).  In various moments of coziness, laziness, or romance, I have actually watched at least one hour of the following:  The Bachelor, Home & Garden Television, a Lifetime Channel movie, and, in a fit of depravity, the Anna Nicole show.

Most importantly, I am enjoying life more than I ever imagined was possible, with someone who is more amazing than I even suspected when I married her.

May you all find the same, except for the part about watching Anna Nicole...

Steve M.

[MarkInTx]

... in response to Re: How has your RW changed your lifesty..., posted by SteveM on Jan 13, 2003

I can second the Best Buy vs Home Depot thing... only in my case its Lowe's....

I also took my wife to Micahel's recently, which is a mega-craftstore.

She warned me as she walked around the rows and rows of needlepoint, crafts and fabrics that I may have made a BIG mistake...

I could be in real trouble when she gets her own driver's license!

:-)

[SteveM]

... in response to And the part about the bachelor :-), posted by MarkInTx on Jan 13, 2003

Don't worry about Michael's, or the fabric stores for that matter.  On the one hand, you will see receipts with twenty items you never knew you needed.  We are amassing an awesome collection of plastic flowers and fruit, collectible plates, and other things whose necessity had not previously been obvious to me.

However, when Natasha saw the $28 holiday wreaths, she was outraged.  Did a better one for about $8 from the same store.

Same has been true, only more so, for curtains (I believe the correct name is "window treatments", actually).  Bought her a sewing machine a year ago.  Now, we have home-sewn living room, dining room, kitchen and two bedrooms, all for probably less than $100 in fabric.

So, the home furnishing expense category has definitely grown since I got married, but the results have been generally well in excess of the cost...

[ChrisNJ]

... in response to How has your RW changed your lifestyle?, posted by Pordzhik on Jan 13, 2003

Whats a "brolly"?

[Alfred]

... in response to Re: How has your RW changed your lifesty..., posted by ChrisNJ on Jan 13, 2003

Brolly = Umbrella.  (I had to check that one myself.  Enter Brolly into Google and it takes you to an umbrella company.)