The Invisible ...... Mango - 10 / 10 thread - all welcome

[FrannyandZooey]

For anyone who wants a boost to their general health. The suggested goals are:

EAT 10 PORTIONS OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLES EVERY DAY - if you don't usually eat much fruit and veg I would build up gradually or you could upset your digestion.

DO (AT LEAST) 10 MINUTES OF EXERCISE EVERY DAY - can be yoga, stretching or something more energetic. The plan is that the idea of doing 10 minutes is not too daunting, and having started you may well find you want to do more.

There are no restrictions on what you eat so long as you get your 10 fruit and veg as well. The focus is not on weight loss but on improving our energy levels and hopefully our general mood and well-being. Sign up below and post here to tell us how you're getting on and how you are feeling.

Basic guidance on what constitutes a portion of fruit and veg here and you can download more detailed information by following the link at the very bottom of the page.

The only reason I am even entertaining the idea of you doing it is because you need to learn to drive (otherwise birds will get you sitting there in the countryside unable to leave) and because you are not sixteen.

You are a grown-up woman with two children. So, perhaps you can play this game. You definitely say, 'I don't want to hold your hand' with a laugh, and you say 'please take your hand off my thigh. My husband is over 6 foot.'

Then when he gets huffy and says, 'but I saw the vicar for you.'

You say, because you are a grown woman and not an impressionable sixteen year-old.

'Yes you did. I thought you did that so I could learn to drive, not because you wanted to touch my leg. Have I got this wrong?'

Actually, you know what, don't do it.

I can't take it.

He's a creep. You shouldn't have to learn how to drive with a creep.

oh god, don't do it Boco. He sounds leery and you won't be concentrating on driving, you'll be sitting there wondering whether he's going to ruffle your hair when you finally manage to parallel park.

Definitely go to someone else. Sounds very unprofessional.

You are SUCH a lurker Fox.

well I have had a turn around in the other directpn - why not do it? If he is offering and he is a perve then as soon as he 'perves' you tell him to stop it and if it is threating you stop (and tell the vicar).

If he is just acting like a bit of a twat than fine - take it and put up with the hair ruffling (hardly the stuff of a whore).

As long as you do not feel that you will be in any threating or compromising position take it.

With my driving instructor I just sadi 'please don't do that you are touching my tits' and he stopped. But I still had to put up with the 'I should put you across my knee' type comments.

do it!

or more simply who do you like best - me or 100x?

I am a grown up, and i can be assertive, i used to be assertive before i had children and moved to the country and forgot about normal communication.

I've been wrong footed i think - because i hate driving so much i'm nervous and a little bit pathetic - about the driving - and so i've not had my normal reactions ready, so this has happened - and if i'm going to do it i just have to re-establish myself as a person whose thighs you don't touch rather than a twitching loon.

I can do that.

Then i can drive and leave the village.

Ah, you see and i swung round the other way BBee. I worry that Boco is a bit vulnerable, but you've met her, so I'll go with your decision.

Don't like personality contests.

Oh good, you don't sound vulnerable anymore. You sound positively Anne-like.

OK. Good. You are a big grown-up woman who needs to learn to drive, and you don't need to take any of his sweaty palmed shit.

I love you both. I'd like you both to sit in the back of the car and be encouraging about my driving and stern with Roger.

Yes we will do that, when TT is not loving us for our Career Advisory Services because then we're there shouting 'felt books' and 'doula' at each other, and that is quite demanding.

oh no - if it all goes wrong then is it my fault?

yes sorry - popularity comp was a joke (middle of three girls - never quite goes away).

just find someone else

can't see why you should have to put up with a weirdo

there must be SOME non weirdos who teach driving and live near you

I think you can be assured that the combination of mine and 100's advice is crap and inconclusive.

Oh God vulnerable? Do i seem vulnerable - that's awful - i used to work with vulnerable people - they all had care plans and keyworkers - do i need one? I'm not! [wails]

Oh that's not how i see myself at all.

Well, today and yesterday i was a bit. But that's different. I have vulnerable days - doesn't everyone? [do not answer that Anne]

No, no. These will be free, she can't afford to pay anyone.

SO how many plums have you eaten today Foxy?

monry though fox - this cad comes free.

Fox - there are - there's a bit in the middle about how he's offering me free lessons, because i'm vulnerable probably - and i'm very skint and i can't actually afford to pay for any more lessons - and he'd give me as many as i need until i pass.

No, not vulnerable as in 'at risk'. But vulnerable as in sensitive, acutely clever, nervy and open - very, very open.

aaah. I seee (re the money). Hmmmm (still not convinced).

(actually, makes me want to drive to where you are and find Roger and corner him and DEMAND that he acts reasonably and professionally around you. I HATE anyone who does this sort of thing).

Open was good yesterday. I suspect it's not always good, that there should be more moderation. I can't help it. I like the clever bit - can't we just call it clever?

I met a new woman at toddler group today - she looked so nice, and fun and attractive and stylish - i really wanted to be friends with her, so i talked to her and afterwards i thought oh dear, i think i was a little bit too excited and open, and talked a bit too much and maybe she was afraid.

No, she loved you. She was grateful to you and she wants to be your friend. That's fine.

Open is always good, so is acutely clever. However it is not always good with Roger in the car, when really you need to be giving him steely stares and being aloof, cold and disgustingly callous.

I know. I'm going to ring him up, I'm going to say I am your friend, and I want to check out exactly what the situation is vis a vis these free lessons, because I'm a bit worried about it.

Oh god, please can I? I can be very charming if I need to be. It'll be great. Go on.

God Boco NO! I could not go anywhere near that instructor.

"Who would want to be called anything other than Tatties, ever?" - Franny I love you (I guessed that you would tell me to read the book btw, so I ordered it at the library this morning )

I think I struggle to use people's real names here too... and I am happy for people to call me Tatties, but I find it hard to sign off emails with it for some reason. I think when we meet we will have to use MN names or it will be too confusing... it's funny how our MN names are part of our identity now, and actually we'd be rather anonymous without them...

FMV I think we should just call you Filthy and have done with it Ds remembers you by your real name btw, and he still remembers you were wearing a green top!

Avi - I have got used to this too and like it. PSW could be Wellies?

To add to this mornings f&v I have had grapes, apple, carrots and houmous. Planning a veggie / kidney bean curry for dinner and hopefully I will get to the gym.

he might think you are a spy from the vicar though

(am just hiding on here temporarily in case I lose my temper and post on those awful Madeleine threads)