A day in the life...

[Seekingasylum]

Mendip, sorry old sport but you look like you’re packing too much blubber.

You do not want to be carrying that lard into your 60s and it’s not conducive to good posture which in turn will strain your musculature as you adapt your gait to carting the fat about.

Once you sort out your ‘ammer and tack, start a diet regime and get to working out improving muscle tone.

You guys with your shift working patterns tend to eat crap in large quantities and binge drink too much alcohol back onshore.

[Mendip]

^ Apart from eating crap and binge drinking I've always thought that I had quite a healthy lifestyle!

I do a fair bit of exercise but it no longer seems to be enough to deal with what goes in, so yes I think you are on to something, SA... thanks. I have to sort this out.

Do you know, in the last 24 hours my daughter has called me 'hairy', my nurse has called me 'Papa', the wife has called me a range of things, none of which have been particularly complimentary, and now you have described me as having 'blubber'.

It's a good job I have a thick skin.

[Stumpy]

Apart from eating crap and binge drinking I've always thought that I had quite a healthy lifestyle!

Reality Mendy, it's all about calories in and calories burned. Again not trashing you, but your diet is pretty poor based on pics you post. Not only what you eat, but portion sizes.

As I believe you are cognizantly aware, as we age our caloric burn rate is slowed. So it takes a heck of a lot more effort to reduce weight. So better quality of food, smaller portions with a good exercise regiment improves your health. Most back issues happen because of a weak abdomen area. It all slowly creeps up on us as we age. If you add stress to the equation, it can be compounded.

[VocalNeal]

I always and still do think autonomous driving cars are a gimmick but now I see they have a use. Buy an autonomous driving car instead of building a shed.
Now every time I see a Tesla I will have a quiet chuckle.

[Shutree]

By the way... has anyone had any experience/can make recommendations of one of these office kneeling chairs? I have a friend with a bad back and he swears by them. My back is feeling better now and will hopefully steadily improve but sitting for long periods will be painful and I think I should get one.

Yes, after 30 years of back trouble I've tried most things. Mine was a little less fancy than your picture without any back support. I am fairly tall and I never felt I could get it adjusted to suit me. That said, it did no harm and it did make me concious of my posture when sitting at the desk. If I were to go back to desk-based work I'd consider getting a new one.

An alternative is one of those large exercise or Pilates balls. Better than the kneeling chair for working those core muscles which are vital to maintaining core stability.



You can get the balls in various sizes so a large ball worked better for me than a kneeling chair. Then you can use it for a bunch of Pilates exercises which can help with back problems.

[Shutree]

I've been thinking about my prostate a lot lately. I was hoping to ask the doc to check them both out 'while he's down there' so to speak.

In my last full medical check up I had the ultrasound prostate check for the first time, previously it was the old-fashioned 'digital' test. After the test the quack said there seemed to be a small shadow on the prostate, which is apparently a bad thing. So the next step was to see the specialist who used the traditional finger job. He gave me the all clear. Of course I asked him about the ultrasound shadow and he told me that the ultrasound test was basically rubbish on the prostate and couldn't be relied upon. Which really irked me. I'd paid for a check up which included a fairly useless test and then I'd paid the same hospital again to tell me that I was fine and that the first test was a waste of time.

[malmomike77]

Were they Thai quacks?. Also did the finger bloke mince into the loom

[Stumpy]

You can get the balls in various sizes so a large ball worked better for me than a kneeling chair.

I have used and still use them Shu. The challenge is finding the correct inflation pressure that will improve your posture and take pressure off the lower back. There was a big craze back in the states at a few of the big office companies ( Ebay and Google) to use them. I went and had lunch with a few buddies and saw them in their office. They laughed and said they are being banned because people fall off them. .

I use mine to stretch and strengthen my abs and back muscles. Work great while I am on calls listening.

After 50 it's all about sustaining mobility and agility. Key is staying active. Cycling and swimming best.

[Edmond]

Pilates exercises

a large ball worked better for me than a kneeling chair.

I use mine to stretch and strengthen my abs and back muscles.

they are being banned because people fall off them.

You fookers are gonna put him right back in hospital if he tries any of that.

[Stumpy]

Yeah I forgot. Ol Mendy not the coordinated type and his core is weak. Probably take a header.

# Mendy: disregard Shu and I. You have some work to do. Hahaha

[bsnub]

Mendip, sorry old sport but you look like you’re packing too much blubber.

Your hypocrisy is showing "old sport", If Mendy was an American you would have started off with an insult and went on a diatribe about fat seppos.

If I were to go back to desk-based work I'd consider getting a new one.

The best thing you can do for yourself if you do desk based work even for a few hours a day is to buy a Herman Miller chair. There simply is nothing better and I swear by mine.

[Mendip]

I'd paid for a check up which included a fairly useless test and then I'd paid the same hospital again to tell me that I was fine and that the first test was a waste of time.

So, it's looking like the 'Ultimate Male' package with the finger add on. I want to get this for peace of mind.

If I were to go back to desk-based work I'd consider getting a new one.

An alternative is one of those large exercise or Pilates balls.

Thanks for the advice Shutree. I am thinking of a decent normal office chair along with a kneeling chair so that I can swap as necessary to keep changing posture. I really can't imagine balancing on a big inflatable ball while trying to carry out some intricate digitising, for example. Also, maybe onshore would be an option but a ball is a really bad shape for working offshore...

When I used to regularly work in Norwegian offices, the desks were usually adjustable so that you could raise the work station and spend a few hours working standing up if desired. I think the provision of such equipment is in Scandinavian law if you're working over a certain number of hours. This is irrelevant now of course since Brexit ended my 30 years of onshore Norwegian work, and very nearly ended my career. Such adjustable desks are not feasible offshore since most office furniture is bespoke to fit the shape of the vessel.

The best thing you can do for yourself if you do desk based work even for a few hours a day is to buy a Herman Miller chair. There simply is nothing better and I swear by mine.

I spent two hours in my home office today to just do some tax stuff and read through my new Will, and after this I could barely get out of my chair. I'm fairly mobile for walking and stuff now, but sitting, even for short periods, just destroys my back and it seizes up. I checked out your Herman Miller chair and found one for a mouthwatering 1700 Euros... is that what we're talking? My current home office chair cost 7000 Baht and I thought that was steep.

Yeah I forgot. Ol Mendy not the coordinated type and his core is weak.

I utterly refute this... and surely it should be 'young Mendy' to you, mate? I am as coordinated as they come... I used to play rugby, football and cricket for the school, held the 4th year long jump record and represented the year in the 100m and 200m sprints.


Anyway, I'm back to see Tao tomorrow for my third session of rehabilitation. God, I hate getting old but it's better than the alternative I guess.

Yesterday, as Tao was ultrasound massaging my lower back, she started nattering on in Thai and it was obvious she was trying to tell me something... but with her limited English and my poor Thai it just wasn't happening. The next thing I knew, an interpreter arrived, another bladdy female of course, and she and Tao started gabbling on in Thai for some time. Eventually the interpreter said to me, 'do you know that you have a rash across the top of your buttocks'?

I had to tell her that, no, I did not realise that, mainly because with my current predicament I couldn't twist my head around far enough to check out this part of my body. But, that I am continually afflicted by an itchy crotch heat rash and maybe it had spread?

Much to my embarrassment, Tao and the interpreter chatted on in Thai again, obviously discussing my rash, and then I suffered the indignation of Tao taking a picture of the said affliction, and then showing me a picture of my hairy arse, complete with red rash, on her phone. And here's me trying to create a good impression. I hope she deleted it because I don't want that getting out there.

I've slapped a lot of Canestan on tonight to hopefully look my best for tomorrow's session!

[Stumpy]

I used to play rugby, football and cricket for the school

HAHAHAHA.. Used too in High School?

[Reg Dingle]

Eventually the interpreter said to me, 'do you know that you have a rash across the top of your buttocks'?

Did you tell them about your sleeping habits, outdoor dining table and ring around your pool?
My money would be on Ringworm or Mange

[Reg Dingle]

held the 4th year long jump record

For leaving the biggest bunker?

[armstrong]

HAHAHAHA.. Used too in High School?

Used to*

[Shutree]

a ball is a really bad shape for working offshore...

In that fancy gym on board, do they have Pilates balls?

[Reg Dingle]

Let's have a look at this rash, Mendy.

We'll soon have it diagnosed for you, mate

[Shutree]

a ball is a really bad shape for working offshore...

Actually, it's ideal. All the boat's motions require a balancing response. Your core muscles will be in tip top condition.
The balls are a bit heavy but not difficult to pack. Then you only need a pump.

[Shutree]

Let's have a look at this rash

Please. No!

Or maybe a new thread. You show me yours, I'll show you mine.

[Reg Dingle]

Or maybe a new thread. You show me yours, I'll show you mine

I don't have a rash. Will a couple of genital warts suffice? Gimme a minute...

[Mendip]

^ What is wrong with you?

Apart from the warts, of course.

The balls are a bit heavy but not difficult to pack.

I'm used to heavy balls, mate!

[Topper]

Much to my embarrassment, Tao and the interpreter chatted on in Thai again, obviously discussing my rash, and then I suffered the indignation of Tao taking a picture of the said affliction, and then showing me a picture of my hairy arse, complete with red rash, on her phone. And here's me trying to create a good impression. I hope she deleted it because I don't want that getting out there.

I've slapped a lot of Canestan on tonight to hopefully look my best for tomorrow's session!

That was hilarious. If you were able to stretch enough to put on the medicine, chances are your back is healed.

[malmomike77]

Eventually the interpreter said to me, 'do you know that you have a rash across the top of your buttocks'?

I had to tell her that, no, I did not realise that, mainly because with my current predicament I couldn't twist my head around far enough to check out this part of my body. But, that I am continually afflicted by an itchy crotch heat rash and maybe it had spread?

Right, you've been extolling the virtue of your silk wicking trolleys on here for years and it appears they do wick the sweat away to the elasticated waist band and have caused your arse rash. You can prove this by spending a day with them hoicked up to your chest and see if you develop a further rash round your man boobs.

then I suffered the indignation of Tao taking a picture of the said affliction, and then showing me a picture of my hairy arse, complete with red rash, on her phone. And here's me trying to create a good impression. I hope she deleted it because I don't want that getting out there.

She wont have seen that much hair on anything but a gorilla and will likely have sent your picture to Korat Zoos primate department to see if they can ID what genus you are and did they know she's found a talking ape.

[Edmond]

She wont have seen that much hair on anything but a gorilla and will likely have sent your picture to Korat Zoos primate department to see if they can ID what genus you are and did they know she's found a talking ape.

Don't listen to him, Mendy.


I reckon Lil Tao Tao was taking photos of your naked rear end on her own phone for personal, nocturnal, bean-flicking reasons.