Broadband ISP recommendations?

I'm poised about to buy my first flat (eeep!), and one of the things I intend to do once I've moved in is get broadband. (I've been holding off for the time being as there's a twelve-month minimum contract, and I've been theoretically flathunting for most of the last year.) Someone told me Tiscali, my current ISP, has a bad rep due to dropped connections (something I've noticed happening recently to me via narrowband). Does anyone have any recommendations or disrecommendations for broadband ISPs?

Things to do whilst you're still able

Walk the streets and you'll see little old men and women walking along extremely slowly, for whom even the walk to the shops is evidently a considerable effort. There's a not unreasonable chance I'll end up that way myself, provided I live that long, so I should really take advantage now of the fact I've got a fully working body. What would you recommend I do with it?