this new exciting unknown

[helingmic]

I can only smile because of this oncoming year 2014! We don't know what it will be like. It's like a present with a funny shape wrapped up in glittering paper! May it fulfil some of your desires. Happy New Year 2014 to all of you!

[Hidden]

Thanks helingmic and the same to you.

May the 1000 mile socks carry us in good shape throughout the year

(I bought a pair to try on your recommendation and so far I like the feel very much, they don't dig in at all under the knee so hope they are good at staying up too

[helingmic in reply to Hidden]

So delighted for your BC. With all this running ahead,perhaps you'll become AD soon!

[Hidden in reply to helingmic]

AD - Athlete Doer is that?

[pergola1]

Thank you for your good wishes, helingmic. 2014 should be interesting, and hopefully, less health problems for us both.

[sassy59]

Happy New Year to one and all and what a lovely, positive way to look at things helingmic. Good wishes to you and yours. Take care. xxxxx

[tomc]

Just read a report that the British government is to give support to terror hit Russia.

Lets hope he does not forget the poverty stricken in his own country.

Just to say, I do support giving help to Russia.

Have a happy healthy New Year helingmic.

Tom.

[helingmic in reply to tomc]

Nazdrovie (to your health) comrade! You can come and see my gulag in Siberia: No central heating, no good food and you are guaranteed to work at least 16 hours a day braking ice or stones!!!

Have you read "the long walk" by Slawomir Rawicz. It's a true, but fascinating account of someone escaping the Siberian cam p.

another fantastic account is by Antoni Ferdynand Ossendowski; Beasts, Men and Gods" - 1922. Even if it is a bit old, the account is how this chap escaped the communists in Mongolia, tried to go to Tibet to go to Europe that way. Instead, he had to go back to Mongolia and on to Vladivostok where he went on ship to America.

Both are really fascinating, real life accounts.

[helingmic in reply to helingmic]

I just found a YouTube video on Ferdinand Ossendowski, worth watching youtube.com/watch?v=5WgiQIx...(Not working as expected?)

[tomc in reply to helingmic]

Does this kind of thing still survive in this so called modern age??.

I must admit, I am quite ignorant with these matters, for a long time especially when I was a young man these things were never spoken of and so, never really brought to the fore.

I have not read any book on Russia but I will make a point of finding out more.

I hope you had a nice New Year.

Tom.

[helingmic]

Thank you flibberti. I probably have ABs for a considerable time. But since it makes me feel good and I can go to the gym, why not?