Stingy Old Gits

L is in work on Monday but all on her own with initially no boss and no one else in the building at all which sounds a bit spooky. She wisely locks herself in until her boss arrives, full of cold.

Something has been digging holes in our garden and now I’ve finally found the culprit. It’s the same squirrel that’s been stealing nuts from our bird feeder. He\she’s been burying his\her stolen goods in our lawn. The Lad has chased him\her off several times but he\she keeps coming back.

In the evening I have a committee meeting where we have to replace our Chair who is standing down. Thankfully I don’t have to step in.

In a week of new experiences. L does landmines at PT, something I’m surprised she hasn’t done before. Apparently it is something that could help improve her swim ‘speed’. That’s not a word she often uses.

Meanwhile Daughter starts new role at work and the Lad actually looking a bit like a dog that knows what it’s doing at training.

On our morning walk the local Mr Healthy pulls up on his mobility scooter to offer the Lad a biscuit. When he’s gone L tells me he’s on the way to shop for his daily diet of chicken nuggets and an eight pack of Carling. He's three times married apparently although they have all left him. Can’t imagine why.

The much healthier L goes out for a morning run on Thursday but I don’t join her. She’s then on her usual Derby trip while I’m out later with my Dad in the New Inn.

On Friday night I am out in Bingham with my mates from Uni. I head over on the bus to what is our first reunion in two years. As usual we meet in the Horse and Plough but in a departure we then go for a meal in the Circle restaurant. What a bunch of old gits we are now as we all whip out our glasses to read the menu. One of the guys even leaves his chips, just like my 96 year old Dad does. Then we head off to Wetherspoons, which halves the price of all the drinks. How more stingy old git can you get than that.

On Saturday I sit out Parkrun at Wollaton and just support L. Then we both head over to Derby because Son is over for the match in his Dad’s seat, who is away. L comes over for the rare chance to touch base with him. As expected, with Son present, Derby lose although they’re actually robbed by a goal after the ball went out of play as they lose 3-2 to Norwich.

Then it’s a night on the Chocolate Stout and Bendigo in the Plough after L has been in the gym.

On Sunday we watch the Robin Hood Half, then the slightly less dynamic World Cycling Championship from Zurich. After which we do a joint gym, where L has a bit of a bitch (which isn’t like her) because nearly all the treadmills are taken by people walking, and then we're at the cinema with a pre-film meal of rather messy Tacos at Broadway.

We are here to see ‘The Outrun’. I think largely because it's set on Orkney which is one of L's favourite places particularly if it involves a wind-lashed cottage. Naturally I'd rather be camping. 

Saoirse Ronan is a young woman from Orkney but who has been living the student high life in London and has become an expert at getting legless. Now she is back on Orkney, volunteering for the RSPB helping to protect the local corncrakes while trying to dry out. Alongside this she has a host of parental issues. She has an alcoholic and bipolar father, who she seems to take after. He is living in a caravan having sold the family farm while her Mum has found religion. She is not at all enamoured with either.

(Sunday 29^th September)