R2OK!

Minx

"It's sad" said my husband, "when you read that the first woman in space is celebrating her seventieth birthday today".

Sadder still when, like me, you immediately respond with "What??? Valentina Tereshkova?" Crying or Very sad

John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

I remember her. I was at school and it was the first proper Russian name we learned, and, as you say, you remember it for life Smile

Cherskiy · Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2007 8:52 pm Post subject:

And she was reportedly space-sick *all the time* whilst in orbit....
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Author: “To the Ends of the Earth: A Snapshot of Aviation in North-Eastern Siberia, Summer 1992”
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SantaFefan · Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2007 8:56 pm Post subject:

and the first space dog was?.......

Cherskiy · Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2007 9:01 pm Post subject:

Laika - a stray found on the streets of Moscow.

She was launched in Sputnik 2 - the spacecraft did not separate properly, causing some of the heat-resistant covering to detach. As such, the dog probably died shortly afterwards due to heat and stress - her heart-beat was apparently four times that of normal during the max acceleration stage of the flight.

Her early death was kept from the Russian public for many years - the official line was that she died of oxygen starvation days after launch - S2 was never planned to be retrievable, the plan being to kill the dog with poisoned food around seven days into the mission if she survived that long. Then again, there's still controversy today as to whether Yuri Gagarin was in fact the first Russian cosmonaut - there have been stories about an earlier one who died.
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Author: “To the Ends of the Earth: A Snapshot of Aviation in North-Eastern Siberia, Summer 1992”
(Free to read via Kindle Unlimited)

Minx · Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2007 9:04 pm Post subject:

Well, sadly, here I go again. Leika, or Laika, I guess.

But can anyone tell me where I put the car keys when I came back from the shops yesterday?????

I thought not! Shocked

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

When I see our local Vicar and think how young he looks.

When I go upstairs and then can't remember why.

When people of my age look old.

More?

Ian.

nod · Joined: 24 Dec 2006 Posts: 3558

Dutchy · Joined: 03 Jan 2007 Posts: 5

When I am singing away to a song on the radio and they say "that was recorded some 50 years ago"! I do still remember the words though!
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Dutchy

Natasha · Little Miss Lovely Smile Joined: 09 Dec 2006 Posts: 790

SantaFefan · Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 9:37 pm Post subject:

Cherskiy · Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 10:19 pm Post subject:

SantaFefan · Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 10:23 pm Post subject:

another reason for me to dislike the human race.... Rolling Eyes

Cherskiy · Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 10:25 pm Post subject:

Wait until I tell you about the 'Bat Bombs'.... Smile

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Author: “To the Ends of the Earth: A Snapshot of Aviation in North-Eastern Siberia, Summer 1992”
(Free to read via Kindle Unlimited)

SantaFefan · Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 10:27 pm Post subject:

No, please, I'll have nightmares..... Shocked

PJ in Kent · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 1102 Location: Go on, guess!

The worst thing I've found about getting older (I'm a sprightly 42 by the way!) is realising that although the mind and spirit is willing, sometimes the body just isn't up to the challenge it's been set Sad

I think it's best described in the phrase, "His brain is writing cheques his body can't cash!" Laughing

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He's not the Messiah- he's a very naughty boy!

Minx · Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 8:19 am Post subject:

When I was in my twenties I used to pick up my Gran every Sunday and drive her back to our house for lunch. Every time I parked the car outside our house she would berate me because I had parked the car next to the kerb, making it (more) difficult for her to struggle out of the car. I used to mutter "thanks for the lift dear" as I attempted to haul her out of the passenger seat.

Today we are going to look at a new car and what am I taking with me? A tape measure.... so I can measure the height of the seat from the ground. The highest one gets my vote, (I suspect it may be the Ford Fusion - ugly though it may be) as I am sick of wallowing around like a beached whale trying to to haul myself out of our old Fiesta. With many cars today, getting out is just like taking a step sideways. Grrreat! Smile

Lord Evan Elpuss · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 3417 Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land

They make films like Apollo 13 and you can remember the real event.
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Lord Evan Elpuss, Your ideal job is a Lumberjack.

PJ in Kent · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 1102 Location: Go on, guess!

Another tell-tale sign of rapidly approaching advanced years syndrome is when you find yourself starting sentences thus:

"Well, when I was a kid...."

I've caught myself using this more and more Embarassed

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He's not the Messiah- he's a very naughty boy!

SantaFefan · Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 8:26 pm Post subject:

"You know when you're getting old when"

you hit 50 as far as I'm concerned. I didn't even mind being 49 but 50 is a psychological miletone in my opinion.
I feel I can hear the clock ticking and plans for the future have taken on a little more urgency now!
My older mate once told me he'd noticed physical signs at 45 but I can't say that applied to me particularly, but I think I'm more aware of what can go wrong doing physical work so maybe a little less ambitious taking risks!
I have a hard time being surrounded by younger people who really don't know who the heck I'm talking about sometimes! I mean today, I mentioned Charlton Heston to blank faces all around! Ben Hur? never heard of it... Rolling Eyes

Barkingbiker · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 2313 Location: Lincolnshire

They were just Apeing you onto another planet! Wink

BB

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Old Bikers Never Die, our leathers just get tighter!

marietta honeybun · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 915 Location: Holland

If you have to get down on your hands and knees to retrieve something you've dropped, you check to make sure there is something available closeby with which to haul yourself back up again!! Sad

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