The Genuine BESH Palais. To misquote Carlsberg, we're probably the barrenest TTC-ers in the world...

[HesterShaw]

We are Barren. We are Evil, on account of having left procreating until our 30s. We are Selfish, thinking only of careers and money and cars and holidays. And lastly, we are Hags. Welcome to the BESH gin palace. Babydusters and instadiffers need not apply.

Oh, Twink :( it does hit you out of nowhere sometimes, doesn't it?

There is a Mystery Man outside my front door. I'm not answering it because (a) he's probably trying to sell me double glazing, and (b) anyone who chooses to fiddle with the cat flap instead of ringing the door bell or, y'know, KNOCKING ON THE DOOR is not worth answering the door to anyway.

I have just completed my second bike ride of the week. Two by Thursday is pretty poor, but at least they've both been 25-milers :)

I rode my bike yesterday. My undercarriage is sore.

That happens, Hest. Padded shorts and a hard saddle are the way forward, as well as chamois cream if you're going a really long way. Also, in cycling parlance, HTFU

It was an emergency dash. I just threw on my nearest clothes and didn't even get breakfast. I had a photo opportunity I couldn't miss. I hit the food wall spectacularly, a "bonk" as I believe the pros call it :)

Ah, that happens. I did that on my Stevenage ride a while back - not fun!

HTFU is nothing personal, by the way, all the pros (and many non pros) say it to each other. That, along with Jens Voigt's catchphrase "shut up legs" will get you quite a bit further than you expect...

I read that as John Voigt then. You know, Angelina's dad....confused me :)

No offence taken. Just let it be known that actually I AM VERY HARD OK????

Draf do you live in Stevenage? I worked there for years before moving Oop Norf.

Jens is much better, Hest!

No, Dot, I not, but it is close enough to get the train for a sportive. Lovely cyling country round there though the hills nearly killed me

Cav wins: Wiggins struggles.

How long is there left of the Giro?

Poor Bradders has a chest infection. Cav is truly great and I luffs him and he has a naughty twinkle in his eye.

Cav is brilliant. There's about a week and a half left - they're about halfway. Wiggins can still claw it back, but honestly I'll be surprised if anyone other than Nibali wins it.

Cav has a fine package

And a wicked sense of humour and twinkly eyes and proven fertility.

I have no idea who Cav is and thought a giro was the old name for jobseekers allowance. Pls to be educating me?

Proven fertility?

Oh winks, Cav is the UK's number one super amazing cyclist. Yes I know everyone goes on about Sir Bradley of the Wiggins, but Mark Cavendish is something else. Plus he is funny and characterful and nice, with the naughty twinkle and the impressive full cycling shorts.

And the Giro is the Giro d'Italia. The Italian Tour de France, if you will...

You know that phrase to fill your shorts? I didn't mean it like that obv. I mean he looks like he has...well, you know.

Will stop cluster posting now.

Oooh he's nice.

I luff him.

Winks is now a Cav fan!

Hest, is he a bit like that old joke about Linford Christie running where you put your tongue in alternate cheeks?

I have had an exhausting day watching BE properly lose his shit with the plumbing over and over. Have had to do the kind of reasoned talking through temper tantrums that normally only happens on that supernanny programme. Really not what I needed post-op. He has some serious anger-management issues and I wish he would make time for therapy. Sigh.
(Anger is never ever directed at me, I should point out - he takes it out on inanimate objects and himself).

It does make me seriously question whether we should be ttc sometimes.

Did you put him on the naughty step? how about a star chart if he makes it through the day without a tantrum. MrHest has similar concerns about me, Moll. I think once the baby is here, adults at least fabulous adults like us change for the better. Well, they have to don' they?

Cav called his daughter Delilah. Why, why, why Delilah?????

(see what I did there?)

Sorry I've been AWOL, busy weekend followed by busier week with some scannage of sleepy ovaries and X-rays of holy teeth thrown in for good measure. The news is that I need to get a root canal treatment before getting diffed, and that I have ran about 12 miles so far this week :)

How are things here?

Delilah Grace, I believe. She's gorgeous, and her mum (Peta Todd, ex page three girl) comes across as pleasant and witty in interviews too. It's an alright name, not my choice but there's nothing really wrong with it. Delilah is apparently a result of the 2011 TdF - clearly being on a bike all day for weeks doesn't take that much out of him...

I love Cav. And Wiggo. I saw them both last year speeding past on the Tour of Britain. Well, I saw a blur.

Moll sorry you have had such a shitty week.

Me too, Jeff! Except we were at the end of stage one and Cav got wiped out by some fool with about 2km to go. So, instead of a brilliant Cav sprint-win, we saw him roll over the line rather slowly with a face like thunder. Still, it was good to see him all the same. It was a very British crowd, though, no-one knew whether to cheer or not, given that it was hardly the ideal finish...