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.

... 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.

... 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.

... 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.

... 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.

... 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.

... 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...

... 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.)