Joint Aid

Yay, on the bike today after a slow morning amble with Doggo where we just do a short loop around the streets to save time.

A couple of things we won’t be doing this year are the Salford swim which appears to have completed disappeared from the Great Swim schedule and also a birthday run in Vienna.

L isn’t back up and running yet and I’m a birthday run in Vienna just wouldn’t be the same if only one of us was running. Personally, I’d rather defer it and do it later in the year. Malmo is September is calling to me.

Instead we could always do a short birthday break somewhere in the UK where we can take the dogs. Although L might make the sign of the cross at that but, then again, she would be ok with it if it was in a nice cosy cottage for the old man’s joints. Doggo's joints that is, not mine.

L is out again tonight, at her book club. She was also out on the razz last night and she says I'm never in. I will have my feet up for most of this week as I have no dogging at all.

(Tuesday 14^th March)

Salford Quays

Not quite such an early start today as we head over for the Great Manchester Swim which is actually held in Salford. Although the start would have been even earlier had L managed to negotiate a Parkrun into the schedule. Not that she’s obsessed or anything.

We invite Mancunian based Daughter down to support and to eat afterwards. Although I think the gravitational pull of the duvet is going to be a huge factor in her arrival time but we’re used to that. The otehr year the Sheffield Half Marathon, with us in it, went past the end of her road while she remained totally oblivious.

I am due to be tipped into Salford Quays at 11am, L starts at 1pm, with a dog shaped baton change in between.

I’m hoping that the super clean dock water won't irritate my assorted abrasions from this week's cycling mishap too badly. I hate to think what’s in the water.

L is undecided whether to smother me in baby oil or antiseptic. I think we’ll stick with the former, baby oil is normal procedure for a wetsuit swim by the way.

It is actually the best Great Swim I’ve done because the course isn’t just a great big loop. The route takes you around one part of the Quays then through a linking channel known as the Mariner’s Canal before emerging into a separate part of the Quays where the finish is.

L will disagree but it’s not terribly scenic as the view is mostly of the brick sides of the Quay and the feet of the person in front of you. It’s also the warmest swim I’ve done with the water temperature over 18 degrees. I was sweating into my neoprene by the time I’d finished.

Once we’ve both done our swims we head to a nearby pub, a Hungry Horse thing so not exactly fine dining. At which point Daughter appears to join us to eat. She then takes us for a coffee and a cookie at her work, Subway.

Then we head for home where we head off to the Horse and Jockey at Stapleford for a few beers.

(Saturday 4^th July)

More By Accident Than Design

I’m still tapering on the bus and again considering a lunchtime run but again I don’t risk it. The new sensible me.

Its rains on me, of course, but this is nothing compared to what it’s apparently going to do on Sunday. Great, another wet bike ride.

I get an email from the Great Manchester Swim people proclaiming ‘Five weeks to go’. Eeek! Entering such things is part of the old unsensible side of me.

Another Friday, you can never have too many Fridays. I offer L a pasta night ahead of her event tomorrow but she gives that suggestion short shrift. Friday is Thai night, regardless of the event.

Not a problem. Glad to be of service.

She even ends up being AF, more by accident than design. She just doesn’t seem to get around to it. Never mind, more units for the rest of the weekend. 

(Friday 29^th May)