Tarz

Mostly genetic sadly.

Hey Monow, I'm a bit fussy with my trainers, they need to look good. A lot of Adidas and Nike uppers are synthetic. I've got a rather battered pair of Adidas ZX 8000 - http://www.uk-trainers.com/acatalog/Adidas_ZX8000_Trainers.html - if you like your old skool trainers. It comes in a lot of colours, some OK, some hideous like http://size-online.co.uk/product.asp?id=3128, so shop around. Some of this style are made from leather though. I always check the label on the sole - if it's got the diamond logo, that means it's synthetic - if it's got the animal skin logo obviously it mean's it's (part ) leather/suede. I had some classic Air Max too. Even though the uppers can be all synthetic, I'm never 100% sure about glues and adhesives to be honest though. Most running shoes are totally synthetic too, and some are fashionable enough to wear every day. Depends if you just want a vegan trainer, or a vegan trainer that looks half decent as well. My ex-flatmate got some wicked Nike's and Puma's that seemed vegan from TK Maxx for next to nothing - just pot luck what they'e got in on the day in your size. In terms of Reebok Classics, most of the big brands do their own version of it in a similiar style, maybe one of those has a non-leather upper?

SydneyVegan - I remember I was in Victoria on one of those little backpacker buses that do a little tour between cities, and we passed through a forest that was being logged. Amazed when I was informed that the wood was going to be used for toilet paper, mulch, garden chips etc.... I thought your treatment of refugees was harsh too - I remember the Afghans and Iraqi's that got sent to Naura and some of the detention centres ( Woomera? )....

Yeah, be cool to meet ya and train together and all that. It's probably worth the airfare alone just to be able to watch in wonder at Potter's eating. Portland sounds a really top city - I know I'd like the 'alternative' lifestyle it's famed for, all the restaurants and all the natural attractions nearby. Quite a crew you've got out there, ever growing too. If I can't make it to V V 2007, I'm sure I'll make it over one day!

Yeah - I found out from my brother last night that a guy I used to work with up in Stafford died on Friday from cancer. I guess he was about 40. I think he had a few health conditions from birth, but he always lived life to the full. My brother used to hang out with him a fair bit and told me a few stories of what he used to get up to on nights out. He was fun to work with during the brief time I was employed alongside him. RIP Bruce.

The perils of too much sun.

Messy hair got my vote - you wear stubble well man - really suits you!

Gotta love the curtains Odidnetne.

Not forgetting meeting you good folk too.

I'd like to make it, but flights to Portland aren't cheap..... I'd love to see Portland and surrounds though!

It happens occasionally. Well you were here during a glorious week of summer - I'm out to catch every ray I can.

Yay.

Cheers Rob. Yeah, I know you like to see people wearing theT's, and realised I've never posted any pics of me wearing one. Looking forward to seeing the new T's soon. I know I look ridiculous in that towel, and you are only one of a select few to have seen them pics before, but my physique was not bad back then so thought time to share at long last.

Don't think I ever posted one of me in my VBB tee so here goes - ignore the date, this was actually Oct 2005: http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d34/Tarz77/of505903931.jpg OK, cringe time. These are from back in 1999 when I was still a young pup and been vegan for about six months. Probably when I was most ripped. Ignore the towel, soaking wet hair etc - I just got out the shower and my brother was about to dash off somehwere so didn't get time to dress more suitably: http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d34/Tarz77/MW6.jpg http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d34/Tarz77/MW5.jpg Some newbies may not of seen this one of me and Topher, with GenTDuke looking a geezer in the background - Rich can you pleasae rotate the right way, ta muchly: http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d34/Tarz77/MattTopher.jpg

Where does it say the picture has to be flattering ? Just enter one of you looking how you do everday, another words in chilly UK now that will untanned and covered up in a million layer of clothes lol Hehe - that's just it, enter like that and I wouldn't get very far. Seriously though your right, they should be no set appearance or criteria to enter contests like this, I just hate it that I can't always look my best. Potter - but I'm not always as ripped as I appear in my avatar - I was never even as ripped as I look in my avatar - the lighting was very favourable in giving me defination.

Cheers Rob. I take some - a lot - of bad one's too. Yep, it's something to show the grandkids one day and look back on when we're athritic and grey ( those of us that still have hair! ). If I'm honest I wouldn't enter because any flattering pic I submit is not I reflection of how I look - I'd feel I was cheating in fact - as I have my fair share of 'rough' days. I look a million times better with a decent nights sleep and a nice tan - very rare that I have the combination of both!

What's S & G?

I was at a Vegan Fayre in December 2005 and someone from the PETA stand said I should enter their competition. I was flattered - I didn't scrub up too bad that day, if only I looked so well every day hah - but entering that kind of thing isn't really me, although I'm not opposed to these contests.

I'm hopefully going back out to Toronto to stay with compassionategirl again next month - I hope it's not too cold. I think Toronto doesn't get it as bad as Winnipeg, but will still probably be colder than anything I have ever experienced before. When I went out in October I was surprised how mild it was then......

Yep, some people here live and sleep for their football team. I don't think all these books are making more football fans fight, but they are making a lot of publishers and ghost writers pretty rich. I haven't read any of these books but I know they are very popular and a lucrative niche.

Glad you like 'em - hope the exchange rate doesn't make it too pricey if you wanted to order them.

It still goes on - I'm not much of a footyfan, but I know the sub-culture is still out there. There's a huge publishing niche out there - hooligan lit: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Congratulations-You-Have-Just-Met/dp/1904034853/sr=1-1/qid=1168880720/ref=sr_1_1/203-8411488-7448755?ie=UTF8&s=books http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rolling-6-57-Crew-Legendary-Football/dp/1844540723/ref=pd_sim_b_4/203-8411488-7448755 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Soul-Crew-Dave-Jones/dp/1903854083/ref=pd_sim_b_2/203-8411488-7448755 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Terrace-Legends-Cass-Pennant/dp/1844540928/ref=pd_sim_b_6/203-8411488-7448755 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Top-Boys-Stories-Footballs-Hardest/dp/1844540952/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b/203-8411488-7448755 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hooligans-L-Britains-Football-Gangs/dp/1903854415/ref=pd_sim_b_4/203-8411488-7448755 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zulus-Football-Hooligan-Caroline-Gall/dp/1903854482/ref=pd_sim_b_2/203-8411488-7448755

Go on, never get enough of Posh getting slated. I think most women dislike her too yes? She's just a leech!

Isn't that the Hooligan's league?? They're in all the leagues - the Premiership clubs have many notorious hooligan firms - Chelsea, West Ham etc etc. You just don't hear so much about it these days, with the 're-branding' of football as a middle-class spectator sport with billions of pounds of Sky TV money and what not, it's gone more underground and away from the stadia now. I've watched Stafford Rangers a couple of times for the first time in fifteen years or so now they're back in the Conference. 14 quid to sit in a stand and watch - daylight robbery if ever there was.

So true. Running 6 odd miles in itself is no mean feat at the best of times - to do so after you have already ran 20 miles is quite something!