"for the happy, the sad, I don't want to be, another page in your diary"

Thursday 31 May 2018

I Go To A Running Club


On Monday, I go to a running club. Now there’s a first, I think. This is a Portland Leisure Centre and normally they meet too early for me but today is a Bank Holiday, so getting back from work isn’t an issue. Would I go again? I don’t know. It was very competitive.

I get home on Tuesday to realise we forgot to hide the peg bag. Note to self: Buy more pegs as we’re now running a bit low thanks to the Lad.

On Wednesday I’m on the bike and get caught in a brief shower which isn’t brief enough. It’s also looks like it might come back for a second go at me when I cycle home but it holds off. Which is a good job as I get stranded after suffering a puncture.

I only got as far as Spondon and I suspect it was caused by a wooden splinter from the ‘It’s a Knockout’ obstacle that’s currently masquerading as the footbridge over the A52. I change the tube but my pump won’t inflate it, probably because the pump is full of this morning’s brief shower. I make plans to stash my bike at a local shop and get the bus home but then L offers to ride out to rescue me which means I can make it on time to dog training.

Therefore on Thursday I’m on my best bike which is like a pair of comfy old slippers and by that I don’t mean they’ve been well chewed by a puppy.

It’s also tennis and my opponent advises I bring a baseball hat, just in case. I’m not sure if that’s just in case it’s sunny again because we both struggled with the sun last week or whether he’s expecting rain. I guess the hat will be dual purpose.

L meanwhile goes over to visit her folks in Mickleover on the bus which can be quite a long arduous journey. I tell her I’ll have a large one waiting for her when she gets home. 

(Thursday 31st May)

Sunday 27 May 2018

Wreaking Havoc


The weekend sees me spending two days at the Newark Showground for a dog show. Saturday is the Crufts Team Qualifier and where we qualified last year while on Sunday we are fund raising for our club by running a competition ring for the Nottingham club.

L joins us on the Saturday and does Newark Parkrun before heading across to the showground. L says her parkrun will be slow but then she is ill and developing quite a cough.

In the qualifier our team does better (score wise) than last year with 20 faults but this year that’s only good enough for sixth. Which is still impressive, out of fifty teams, but only the winners qualify.

Saturday night we stay in because on Sunday, while I am back at the dog show, L along with her sister and Daughter head up to Clumber Park for a monthly 10k run they now do there. What’s more it’s free, even to park. The girls also tell me the bacon rolls are excellent, no mention of the run other than that it’s three and half loops. Ugh.

At the dog show, MD is not on top form but the Lad is having a blast e.g. wreaking havoc. L asks how many dogs I’m bringing home? That depends how many dogs she wants me to bring home? I’m not speaking to either of them.

In the evening we again take advantage of the Bank Holiday deal at Iberico Tapas while also having a few drinks in the Head Of Steam and the Cock n Hoop. The Cock n Hoop seems to be specialising in the dark and strong at the moment but at 7% their Stout is perhaps a little too deadly for a long session.

(Sunday 27th May)

Friday 25 May 2018

A Reoccurring Theme


I do a run with the two girls on Sunday, L and Daughter. We meet up at Forest Rec and then run to Beeston. I get the bus home from there while they head back to Forest Rec to pick up the car. The boys are left at home and the Lad only has time to accumulate two tea towels plus a few toys in the hall. He seems disappointed at my quick return.

In the evening we head over to Leamington to see Son, where we take dogs in the White Horse. Son’s GF is on crutches, having apparently broken her ankle falling off a ledge while taking a selfie or something like that.

Monday night dog training is allegedly starting up again and the Lad will just love it. Although it won’t be starting this week... not enough people. This could (again) be a reoccurring theme.

The Lad’s haul in hall today is two tea towels, a dish cloth, two dog toys, a pair of knickers and a bottle of multi surface cleaner. WTF.

On Tuesday Gary Rowett leaves Derby for Stoke. Ha ha. The grass is always greener eh Gary... But Stoke? Really? I spend Tuesday in London, waiting three hours for someone from our customer’s IT department to turn up.

Wednesday, I’m on the bike and in the Yard (for beer and pizza) then later at dog training.

After a particularly fraught morning dog walk on Tuesday L reports that boys were angels on Wednesday morning and asks if I’ve had a word in their ears? How odd. I’ve been having a word in MD’s ear for 10 years. Never worked before.

Thursday I’m on the bike again and get home to be greeted by the Lad with bits of shredded dish cloth hanging from his mouth. Good to know he’s kept himself amused again. Then it’s tennis for me while L is out on the lash in Derby. We meet her off the bus later.

Friday is a touch wet, so I don’t bike and the rain keeps all sensible dog owners indoors so L and the boys have a pleasant morning walk as there’s no one for MD to fall out with.

(Friday 25th May)