Please Let Me Be Sacked Today

Tuesday is race three of the Grand Prix series which is the Colwick 5 Miler. I again start quite near the back and quickly notice that I am so far back that one of my long time rivals is ahead of me. I already feel I am going faster than I should (and can) but I try to reel him in. Then just before the end of lap one he disappears into the bushes. Perhaps it’s for a comfort break or perhaps he’s trying to hide from me, then drop back in the race behind me and outsmart me. 

I assume the latter and that he’s now right behind me so I keep my pace suicidally high. It isn’t until about 1km to go that the course allows me to get a good look behind and he isn’t there. I ease up and complete the race in 41 minutes. He eventually comes in 5 minutes behind me.

On Wednesday L goes into work for the first time this week. She asks if I think she was the only person walking to work muttering "please let me be sacked today... please let me be sacked today ..." to herself. Yes, probably. She doesn’t get sacked.

In the evening she’s at yet another new yoga class and I’m at dog training which is our last one until September as we are now on summer break. At the Tour de France Mark Cavendish breaks Eddy Merckx’s record with his 35th win.

On Thursday L is swimming at Lenton where they are trying to raise £100,000 to keep the pool open. Notts TV are there filming and conducting a few interviews afterwards. 

In the evening it’s the grand finale of the Grand Prix series which is the Embankment 5k. My time is a very decent 26:03. We head off to collect my race T-shirt from the boat club. Sadly it's a red t-shirt. We head off to celebrate with a couple of pints and a chicken flatbread at the Dispensary.

Then it’s Election night and I settle in with the imaginary popcorn. L makes it to midnight and see the first two results come in which is a huge achievement for her. The Lad and I sit it out to 5am, just in time to savour Jacob Rees Mogg’s loss but sadly even we’re in bed for Liz Truss losing her seat.

I only get four hours sleep but I’ve taken the day off work so it doesn’t really matter. In the evening we’re at Iberico with Daughter as late birthday treat.

Saturday is Parkrun at Wollaton where L parkwalks. Then I take my Dad up to the White Peak Distillery in Ambergate for a Whiskey Tour that my brother bought us for Christmas. L comes along but goes book shopping in Belper. After the tour they give us tastings of four whiskeys and we both leave with a bottle but of different whiskeys. Then we head to my brother’s new place in Kirk Langley for his housewarming which is slightly upstaged by the England’s Quarter-Final of the Euros against Switzerland.

My Cousins are there, along with most of the old five a side team and my best mate from school. England eventually win on penalties after a 1-1 draw but we are back at my Dad’s house by then.

Sunday sees the Lad and I at a Dog Show in Bilsthorpe. This is mainly because he isn’t allowed at our own show next week as he gets too excited by it all. He starts off very well with just one error on his first course which is an extra jump but that makes a change from an extra tunnel. That is his best run of the day and ultimately it’s another 4 E’s. 

(Sunday 7^th July)