The curse of Boff. Again.

hurray, have discovered 2 more things I can do:

flipping pancakes - managed triple flip this morning (or should that be triple toe-loop? maybe watching too much winter olympics...)

shopping. No don't laugh, am usually rubbish at it but went and bought 2 gorgeous cardies this mornign in about 5 mins - normally would have faffed around for days if not weeks before carefully purchasing one and then worrying about extravagance.....

once a thoroughbred decides to co-operate, is most amazing sensation ever. When I win the lottery I shall truly indulge myself

anyone noticed we are slightly off thread ?

you should try riding my dog horse

thoroughbred, crazy fiends that they are, great fun across country but tend to boil over in the school. Thoroughbred mare, especially if chestnut, don't even bother

Artistic and rhythmic. We would have been about the same vintage! I never did acro competitively although I loved doing it.

I'm really wondering if I knew you now - small world...

Frakkin - I'm 24 so yes.
I suppose it is possible our paths have unknowingly crossed in the competitive arena.
Scary thought isn't it?

Were you artistic?
I did artistic gymnastics and sports acrobatics. Can do rhythmic gymnastics with the ribbon only and only for display purposes

feel better now, cheers

Colleague of mine once provided some 'technical assistance' for James May (drew all the equations for calculating a car's flight path over buses if I recall) and said he appeared to be in a place where he would Feel No Pain, even if placed under a tank. So it might be more satisfying than productive.

Helen: 'how to get a loopy TB to do ANYTHING other than kick up its heels and head off into the distnace with me pulling ineffectually on the reins' Yes, that's riding work. See, there's something for your list

and boffinmum tanks for James May is a great idea, especially if the little hamster bloke is right there with him

ps frakkin how d'ya get the gnu to agree to go in the cabinet?

what have I been doing with my life? I can't actually do anything in comparison to you lot, this is most distressing. Can the weekend away involve you all teaching me ? Esp how to get a loopy TB to do ANYTHING other than kick up its heels and head off into the distnace with me pulling ineffectually on the reins...........I did do a fencing lesson at centerparcs once, does that count?

this'll be why when DD1 is asked what I do she says 'talking on the phone and playing on the computer'

stayed off this thread today to try and get some work done but can feel myself getting sucked in again helllppp

Oh golly do I know you from nationals or regionals, tavvy? You're about my age aren't you (early/mid-twenties).

Oh it's great, and I'm just starting to go through it again with DS2.

The other thing that's well worth showing your nosy 5 - 10 year old is an ancient channel4 series called 'The Secret Life of Machines' featuring fantastically eccentric 1980's inventors with mad hair, corduroy jackets and low production values explaining how things like lifts, fridges and sewing machines were invented. Top TV.

I did ballet too - sometimes still do. Pointe work and everything + about ten other styles of competitive dance. Was also a competitive gymnast. Used to do a lot of shows and was into drama, musical theatre and elocution (not that you'd know it)

Gizmo - I love that book. Makes you feel so clever when you can actually answer how a combine harvester works to an inquisitive five year old.

I have worked (and lived) with engineers for far too long to get away with not knowing how things work, Frakkin. I heartily recommend Dorling Kindersley's 'The Way Things Work' book for basic understanding of everything from a combine harvester to a screw. Meanwhile, the photocopier (which is a lovely combination of basic physical principles) can be found here

Fixing it all, however, is a bit different. And none of this will help me if I get in a dispute over a point of honour with any of you - I shall have to rely on throwing dead trout.

Wow you know how a photocopier works?! I am actually extremely impressed by that. Can you fix them too?

I can't fence although I wish I could. It looks cool and so much more elegant than blasting someone with a shotgun or handgun. Only marginally more elegant than sniping though - I am very impressed by snipers. I can, however, do kata with a sword. Not much help if someone's going to attack you.

I did indeed do ballet (still do) and I was a competitive gymnast when I was younger but have never done circus riding, which is what I think would be required for standing on heads on horseback!

It sounds as if the traditional interview process is totally wasted on you, Tavvy. What is actually needed is a series of duels, with weapons of your choice.

Tanks - fab

I can also sword fight. My dad and brother between them collect weapons and my dad taught my brother and I to fight with them.
So lets ad a duel to the program of events as well. In ballet shoes of course, standing on our heads, on horseback given I think Frakkin said she could do gym and ballet too.

Boffin - as a seasoned nanny employer by now can I ask your opinion on something? Can't really do it on a public forum but would really appreciate an impartial opinion if you have a spare minute.

Ok, that is it...I have had far too low expectations of my nannies in the past. In the future I shall expect them to prove they can spatchcock a chicken in 4 different languages.

If anyone were ever to ask me about extra curricular skills, they'd get

Ride work on a loopy three year old TB without dying
Skin a sheep
Tickle a trout
The lindy hop
Do a fair impersonation of HM The Queen's christmas broadcast ('my family and I')
Make pretty much anything out of baler twine
Sing 'Dove Sono' from Figaro. Badly.
Explain the inner workings of a gas meter, photocopier and telephone
Sirsasana

It makes me a bit sad that I've only acquired a couple of those skills in the past 5 years...basically I never learn anything fun any more.

I'm going driving tanks for our joint hen/stag do in the summer. We figured it was so unfair that his female friends and my male friends were excluded from the traditional one that we're having a NON-traditional one.

rally and driving fab - i did that on a hen do - i came 3rd!!!

Italian is my half lanuage. I can get by in it but wouldn't feel comfortable speaking it to a child.

I also have working knowledge of Spanish, German, Welsh and Creole Reunnionais. My Latin and Ancient Greek are pretty passabel plus I can swear in lots of other langauges...

A bonfire! And some rally driving.

No pleasing my mb ever. I'm required to have no skills over than cooking and acquiesence. Having a personality is frowned upon.
Using it is a hanging offence.

Frakkin - what's you half language?
Guessing your other two are French and English.