You could think of it this way: Imagine that the United States of America was made up of only four states: California, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico. The majority of the population would be in California, but 'California' as a shorthand designation would not include the other people. And someone in Arizona might be less-than-happy to be called 'Californian'. So the UK is made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The UK is everyone. England is just England.

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Thank you, @Soror for keeping us going and to everyone for their support and suggestions. This month I'll try to hit that twice a week Nordic Walking goal that I didn't achieve last month. I want to continue with walking and yoga most days. And swimming once a week, weather and tides willing. I think I'll pick and choose the yoga that I fancy this month, then do Adriene's January programme next month. Food - I'm going to have to be kind to myself on this. There is still pumpkin pie in the fridge. Next weekend we are going to pick up one child and then a fortnight later to pick up the other. Then it will be Christmas. So - nutrient-dense eating, but not obsessing over treats and convenience. Today - probably just a dog walk after work and yoga at lunchtime. Mushrooms and fried eggs. Celeriac and smoked mackerel. Maybe trout plus roasted parsnips.

One of my favourite podcasts, Americast from the BBC, was musing on the use of 'England' as a synonym for 'The UK'. ETA: they had just had a highly educated and politically savvy guest on who used them synonymously, so they were curious about where that comes from. Could you help me with a little poll please? All answers to the poll are anonymous and I won't pass on the ID of any comments.

An interesting item on BBC SOUNDS. The app is available worldwide now, I think. They interviewed an epidemiology professor who has specialised for the past 25 years in respiratory diseases. The interviewer asked about her lingering multiple post Covid symptoms He likened Covid to a car crash that damages multiple organs. The hospital might patch you up, but it will take a long time for your body to repair itself. And recovery won't be complete for some people. The interviewer said that this analogy helped her to be at peace with the process and to explain it to others. The programme is called The Long Tail - My Coronavirus Recovery, and he speaks at minutes 17 and 23.

I have tinnitus. I've not heard of treatments for any underlying condition, just distractions and brain retraining. I haven't pursued these. I mostly don't hear mine unless I pay attention, but it does contribute to my not understanding what people say sometimes.

Soda Stream in the UK does tank exchange by post. I put down deposits for five tanks, and when four are used up, I send off for more. They are a responsive company here. About a year ago they surveyed all their customers to ask us what was the best way to organise gas exchange. Electric kettles are just normal equipment here. Every rental would have one, for example.

November has been a bit mixed, with some aches and pains early on, but heading in the right direction. The biggest win has been finally getting a foam roller after encouragement here. It has made an enormous difference to my tight left hamstring. I've kept going with walking and yoga and have been swimming a couple of times. The sea pool is a great discovery. I've also NW at least once a week. I want to make it at least twice. Food and weight were okay. I'm working on pumpkin pie at present, so I'll not weigh again for a few days.

Before Covid, grocery deliveries were to the fridge door in the UK. Now it's the front door.

My children loved Summerland by Michael Chabon, as well as the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.

I thought that it took many more acres under cultivation to provide for animal food than to feed humans on plants. Is that not right? If we all stopped eating animals, then we would lose the meat that is raised on hill farms and the like, but wouldn't fields of soy feed people more efficiently if they weren't fed to cattle and turned into meat?

I have the cheapest non electrical model. You choose the amount of bubbles by how many times you push the button. It's worked great for years.

Infections seem to have fallen by almost a third - in random sampling - in England over lockdown. BBC News - Covid infections in England fall by 30% over lockdown - React study https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-55124286

My Soda Stream is great too. I just drink plain fizzy water. I have had the cheapest model making a couple of litres of water a day for almost three years with no problem.

You need a hand harness. It's a completely different action to hiking poles. The arms are straight and the poles are oriented backwards, as in cross country skiing. You push yourself forward with the poles. I walk at about four miles per hour up and down hills, sweating and with a cardio heart rate.

I love my dog but I don't have any objection to dogs as food, so long as they are well treated before death. I don't fancy dog meat personally, but don’t consider it immoral. I think that's consistent with my position on cows and pigs.

Nordic Walking poles. They turn a walk into a full body workout. Mine are similar to these, https://www.absolute-snow.co.uk/V/Leki_Traveller_Alu_Adjustable_Nordic_Walking_Poles_WhiteBlack-(261456)?Curr=GBP/?keyword=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIy920qryo7QIVkLbtCh3_UwylEAQYCyABEgItHvD_BwE

Thanks for the links @Soror. The first one looked good. I'll look at the others later. The weather yesterday was extraordinarily still. We took the dog for a walk along an estuary close to dusk. The sun was golden and hazy through the reed beds. It was so quiet without the sound of wind in the trees. Today we are celebrating Thanksgiving. I walked the dog first thing. That will be about it for exercise fir the day. Yoghurt with a little granola. Mushroom black bean soup with miso and oat cream. Pot roast pheasant with bacon, juniper and cannelini beans, plus cornbread dressing, green beans with cheese sauce, pumpkin pie and whipped cream. Fizz.

We rarely buy supermarket meat any longer. We order from suppliers of grass-fed meat. For chickens we buy organic because the certification requires more space for the birds. Our fish come on an ice van from the coast half an hour away. To afford all that we eat less meat, probably two meals a week of meat and smaller portions, and two of fish. We rarely eat out. I'm usually vegetarian until the evening meal. I eat a lot of beans and nuts. I use oat milk, as increased oats seem to have brought my cholesterol down. Whole foods almost exclusively. If I lived on my own, I'd probably be pescatarian.

UK R rate may be below 1 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/health-55105285

Have you looked at Strava? That might have that function.

@wintermom I hope you get to enjoy some more snow soon. Your pictures were lovely. @Soror I sympathise with your Fitbit woes, as mine only sometimes syncs with my new phone. I've asked Father Christmas for a Garmin. @Jenny in Florida as you say, small steps. @Ali in OR I'm thankful for the group too. @FarmingMomma you're a tough lady! @Dreamergal Cooeee! Where are youuuuuuu? A good exercise day. NW at lunchtime and Arms and Abs yoga after work. Finished deep cleaning the sitting room. I'm hoping to swim tomorrow. Porridge with mushrooms and yoghurt. Leftover lentils with edamame and eggs. Sea bass with courgette and pea shoots. Have a great weekend!

Happy Thanksgiving, USA folks!

I'm rereading the biography Samuel Pepys - The Unequalled Self by Claire Tomalin. A fascinating book about an extraordinary character and period of history.

Today was roast paprika beetroot and cauliflower with edamame in a miso and mustard dressing, on a bed of pea shoots. The veg box arrived today! We are celebrating Thanksgiving on Saturday or Sunday - we'll be having pheasant.