In It To Win It

The week starts for L at the hygienist with curry breath from our celebratory curry last night but otherwise she’ll still floating from our 10k exploits. Somehow, I find the energy to go to cycling where I’m trying out a new birthday cake flavoured energy bar. It’s ok but the hundreds and thousands were a bit unnecessary and very messy. 

L is at PT on Tuesday and then in town shopping with Daughter when her boss doesn’t turn up at work again. I have dog training. 

Wednesday is very windy and they shut Wollaton Park, so we have to walk the streets. I’m in the New Inn later with my Dad while L’s at yoga. 

Wednesday is L’s last working day before Christmas and Thursday is mine. We celebrate with a joint gym session and then a Belgian beer or two. 

On Friday we drive down to Portsmouth for what may be becoming a traditional pre-Christmas break. It’s wet when we get down there and we slosh through puddles to the Still & West. It’s busy but they find us a table and we eat there. Obviously, the Fuller’s Winter Ale is off so I’m on the HSB, which is a fair substitute. 

Saturday is of course Parkrun which we do at Great Salterns which is a very muddy three lapper. I’m an impressive 20^th, while L comes in 30th. How good are we? Well, ok, there were only 35 in it but you’ve got to be in it to win it. 

We are back at the hotel, our usual Holiday Inn, in time for breakfast then after a shower we walk into Southsea via the Pigeon Bookshop. The weather is again very windy and eventually very wet. We take shelter in the Beach Cafe with hot toddies and then warm up further under the duvet back at the hotel. L though still has the energy to hit the hotel gym. 

We had planned to eat in the hotel before heading to our usual pub, the Barley Mow in Southsea, but our plans are derailed by a Christmas Party taking over the hotel. Instead, we eat at the nearby Brewhouse & Kitchen before moving on to the Barley Mow where they have the most amazing raffle we’ve ever seen with big cash prizes, bottles of whiskey, a microwave and an air fryer among the prizes. We were not in it so couldn’t win it. 

Sunday is the Portsmouth Costal Marathon and again we’re not in it to win but we do go to watch it. First on Hayling Island and then back to see the finish at Southsea Castle. In the evening, we manage to eat in the hotel and then head off in search of the elusive Winter Ale. Normally in Portsmouth I’m chasing ESB, this year it’s the Winter Ale. They don’t have it at the Bridge Inn, only HSB and they shut on us at 8pm. We end up back at the Still and West which still has no Winter Ale but then they also run out of HSB. So, onto the London Pride...  

On Monday we head home and straight back into the gym together. 

(Monday 23^rd December)