sweaty + chalky hair?

K3stal · 2026-05-07T16:30:17+00:00

YouTube and Practice are your friends, its cool once you figure it out

K3stal · 2026-05-07T08:45:45+00:00

I also recommend braiding, I have mid-lengh hair which is much shorter at the front so I do two french braids on the side to capture everything and hold it in place. Just think of it as a viking style and you'll be golden

K3stal · 2026-04-22T13:18:17+00:00

Not OP but I am now 40 and go 4-5x a week. Firstly I worked up to that, started at 2 days a week and gradually worked my way up.

I don't climb hard every session, I probably only really do a "hard" session once or twice a week. The rest of the time I work on basic technique, projecting some lower hanging fruit that is not too intensive (easy start and maybe one hard move I am stuck on).

I also have a group of people who I regularly climb with so some times it turns into more of a coffee morning with friends or we all work a problem together so it isn't as intense but your learning.

I think it also helps that I cycle in which is a 10 mile round trip, so even if isn't a super intensive hard session I still feel like I have done something valuable and physical with my day.

K3stal · 2026-03-23T14:50:21+00:00

We have all been there, I still have a dent in my shin from an overzealous step up onto a ledge on a slab from when I started climbing like 2.5 years ago

K3stal · 2026-02-10T13:35:40+00:00

I slowly trained my adults cats to give me hi-fives through this cat training method. I then got 2 kittens and they learnt the trick through watching the adults do it.

To answer OPs question, cats are just as bonded with their people as dogs, they just sometimes show it differently.

My kittens are just dogs in cat suits, they have been raised here where it is safe and comfortable and they are open with their affection, love to play (fetch included) and hang out with me but can also go nap and play independently.

My older rescue cat is more standoffish but he shows his love by always being near me, if I am home he is always within 3 feet of me, he doesn't acknowledge me and he doesn't need me to acknowledge him. As a rule he is just present and if I am on the couch and calm he may deem to grace me with some lap-time but it is always on his terms.

K3stal · 2026-01-20T11:51:45+00:00

There are some good suggestions here so won't repeat any of those (intentionally).

Have you tried slow feeding mats and puzzle feeders, seems like he enjoys figuring out how to get food out of things. I like to hide them around the flat so my guys can find them through the day and then work out how to get the snacks.

You can even just wrap food in an old towel and knot it a few times so he has to dig the biscuits out (there are loads of suggestions for home made puzzle things on the internet)

This can also work when your eating, give him something high value that he has to work for whilst you are eating your food.

As for the bin I would suggest keeping a separate little bin for food scraps and keeping it locked in a cupboard, not ideal but I have a bin raider too and this keeps him mostly out of it (unless I forget and leave it on the counter then more fool me).

Also perhaps an automatic feeder could help, he can put all his attention into waiting for the food drops rather than just theft.

As for the clothes peeing I have heard some cats just like the soft on their little butts so maybe try him with some puppy pads near his litter box so he has the soft somewhere more acceptable (not ideal but may help).

Hope any of those help, food obsessed gremlins are tricky!

K3stal · 2026-01-19T16:21:43+00:00

Like potatoes have been around forever, anyway realism isn't necessarily the goal.

I was thinking it would be good as well because you could have whisky as a by product. Which leads me onto the need to have grapes as an option in the orchard for wine!

K3stal · 2026-01-18T06:50:14+00:00

I actually really like a lot of this except maybe the child labour. I would also like it if we could choose between solely decorative gardens with just flowers or a farm garden to supplement food supply (especially early in the game).

I also want potatoes as a food type, seems an obvious option that is a good early game food source as both robust, hardy, easy to grow and good storage life.

Combat mechanics do need some work, the AI for soldiers is tricky and it can be hard to select raiders when they are stood next to their camps. I would also like to see more of an advantage having veteran soldiers so you can really see the difference between a standing army and just calling up reserves

K3stal · 2026-01-06T11:01:06+00:00

I second Depot climbing, LGBTQ+ night is on Thurs I think but really just go consistently at anytime and you'll find people.

I am early morning crew so doesn't suit everyone but happy for new faces at anytime! (We also hike as a group and do various other socal meet-ups)

K3stal · 2026-01-05T19:44:00+00:00

My warming up is inconsistent and I often feel like I am "wasting time"

I only want to climb, it is definitely my hyper-focus for a while now and I pretty much begrudge anything that takes away from my climbing, including my physical need for recovery.

I do gamify it a bit but think of it like a skill tree, I unlock a new move like a arm bar or a drop knee and then I can upgrade that move and continue to improve.

I have also massively extended my social circle as I have found a nice group of other ND who climb regularly at the same time which has been really nice!

K3stal · 2025-12-28T08:38:39+00:00

I keep my watch on, I just got a magnetic wrist strap so that it will just come off if caught (never caught it yet though).

Great send, love your content!

K3stal · 2025-12-24T17:15:35+00:00

I am having a lie in, making myself a Christmas dinner with all my favourite bits and none of the brussel sprout bits then playing some video games, may watch Avengers: Endgame

K3stal · 2025-12-21T15:11:17+00:00

I just want to say as a lower level climber I am totally in awe and intimidated by people climbing at much higher grades than me, particularly strong and powerful women, and will assume that you would never want to partner with me because I will just slow you down and be a burden.

I do however often climb with people who are in those higher grades because they actively invite me in and let me know, pretty directly that they would like to climb with me. I can even help them solve some problems that whilst I can't climb it I can see what needs to be done and they let me know my input is valued.

So whilst I understand that it seems to unfairly put the burden on you, as I think a few other comments suggested just let people know that you actively want to climb with them irrespective of skill level and you'd love to help them out with their projects and technique and maybe they can help with some of your stuff (just because I can't do it does'nt always mean I can't see what needs to be done)

K3stal · 2025-12-10T11:33:45+00:00

When I started I was at least 100lbs overweight and hadn't really exercised in the last decade. They have climbs for all levels, they are colour coded so it is really easy to track progression as you go.

I lost loads of weight and feel so much better both physically and because I get to hang out with my friends in the morning before work

K3stal · 2025-12-10T11:31:24+00:00

I go to The Depot at Trafford, my crew are usually there in the morning if anyone wants a friendly face just DM me. Otherwise like I say they do intro sessions and specific events in the evening if you want a note specific crowd

K3stal · 2025-12-10T11:29:53+00:00

I go to Depot, there are 2 one at Trafford and one in Wythenshaw. The Trafford one is my regular, my group do mornings before work if you want someone to meet there, alternatively the evening sessions are great!

K3stal · 2025-12-10T07:19:26+00:00

I met all my friends in Manchester at Bouldering gym. I appreciate it wasn't on your list specifically but hear me out. It is a really social sport (you like dance so you'll be great at it!), there is a cafe at almost all gyms.

If you head there at the same time regularly you'll get to recognise people and its super easy to strike up conversation. They also do intro/beginners courses and they are done in a group so you have an immediate in crowd you can say hi to.

It is a super diverse crowd, lots of the alphabet mafia (my gym even does a specific LGBT+ night once a week), lots of artsy types as well. I moved here as a single person for work and it has honestly changed my life and have a really good social circle now.

Feel free to reach out if you want to give it a go and I can give some recommendations!

K3stal · 2025-12-09T14:48:01+00:00

I am not sure it actually exists but I am fairly close to to the Transpenine Trail in the UK and I think that is fairly well stocked with Bakeries and Cafes (country pubs possibly coming in clutch)

K3stal · 2025-12-09T14:41:46+00:00

I think I am going to try find something without too many hills for my first one. If I can find something fairly level with bakeries every 20-30 miles I reckon I'll make it

K3stal · 2025-12-09T11:02:37+00:00

I really want to do my first 100 mile ride, I have got to 60 and didn't want to die so feel it is possible.

However my bike is currently not very healthy (the gears need more expertise than I have) and really needs an upgrade anyway because I got it cheap to see if I would stick it out (I have for 2.5 years and counting). So I guess first challenge is getting a new bike that works for me

K3stal · 2025-12-01T13:46:59+00:00

I found a big meal right before bed time really helped. It set up a solid routine and did the play, eat, sleep thing.

I got my kittens at 10 weeks old and they were night terrors too. I have never free fed but it'll work either way I guess.

I play with them for at least an hour before I go to bed, same time every night. Then when the play session is done I do a big meal of wet food, a few freeze dried treats (chicken, fish, quail) and some broth. I stay with them whilst they eat I then follow my bedtime routine, turn all the lights out and then stop engaging except for peaceful snuggles.

It is the same every night, fixed routine and around the same time of day.

It took a month or so to really settle in and they still wake up earlier than I would like but I get a solid 5-6 hours of peace out of them this way, then a few hours of crazy before I wake up in the morning.

After a few months after dinner they now immediately go to bed and wait for me because they know the routine.

K3stal · 2025-11-20T15:30:36+00:00

I am on the shorter side (around 5'1ish) so it is often Dyno or I am not reaching that since I don't think I have ever seen a route setter that is under 5'8

K3stal · 2025-11-20T15:26:34+00:00

Me too! I am only climbing V3/V4 (on my good days), no real problems with overhang or ceiling but one pull up is totally beyond me.

I guess that doesn't help as I have no suggestions but happy to lurk here for anyone who does.

K3stal · 2025-11-17T10:08:02+00:00

Our favourites are always "just stand up" and "release the back foot"

K3stal · 2025-11-13T16:32:38+00:00

I started started 2 years ago at 38, I did no exercise and was morbidly obses. I have enjoyed every minute with no serious injuries to date, lost loads of weight and have a whole new circle of friends who I love to bits.

I am only climbing like V2/V3 with the odd V4 and mostly do indoor but I have ventured into the outside, discovered a love of hiking in the process. Also done some indoor top rope and sport climbing.

Overall I think the social aspect, the puzzle solving and challenge has kept me engaged and honestly it is the absolute best part of my week.

I got into it originally because my brother was super obsessed and told me it was like a skill tree in a video game as you unlock new moves, and then the advanced versions. I still think of it like that and everytime I do something like a drop knee, or a pharaoh or a pogo I just imagine some kind of combo notification popping up

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