The He-Devil

Saturday is Doggo’s 16 1/2th birthday. We have a quiet low key celebration.

L and I parkrun at Long Eaton but Daughter decides to give it a miss, volunteering to sit with Doggo or more likely volunteering to sit with our new addition. The little Yorkshire Lad goes down a storm in the café afterwards.

In the afternoon it’s the match against Norwich and then it’s time to catch some Winter Olympics start as the games start in Pyeongchang. We had hoped to be there but getting accommodation just proved impossible, that is until recently when they desperately started emailing me with offers. Too late chaps but it’s a good job we hadn’t booked considering how Doggo is.

On Sunday I’m at the Velodrome with my excellent new cog. I raise a pint to L’s Christmas present when I’m sat in the pub afterwards totally exhausted. Although L seems jealous of my pub based relaxing and says she might have to kill me. At home they’re all hiding from the puppy aka the he-devil but then she’s said that about all the dogs.

Apparently she’s leaving for Orkney shortly.

(Sunday 11^th February)

Not Quite On The Money

This morning we both do Markeaton Parkrun and MD isn’t quite on the money but a time of

23:00 isn’t bad but 13 seconds off his PB which I felt could have been lowered today.

After a quick breakfast there, following by dropping L off at Pilates, I head to the match early for an informal meeting with the team who are building Derby County's  new website. They have thankfully decided to ditch the generic site that so many club’s use and to produce their own. I am one of the many who have signed up to help them test it and give feedback.

Today it’s just an introduction to their plans and to warn us they’ll be sending us lots of stuff to look at in the New Year. The new website itself launches in June. There were lots of complimentary coffee and biscuits as well as free tickets available for today’s match for those who wanted them.

The game itself sees Derby continue their improved recent form with a 1-0 win over Norwich. Derby’s ex-Norwich midfielder Bradley Johnson scores the goal.

We stay in tonight, it’s the EMA 10k tomorrow.

(Saturday 26^th November)

An Emotional Reunion

While in Manchester L becomes a park run tourist and then heads home nursing blisters on her hands from the ape walks she did last night. This was in an exercise class and without the aid of alcohol apparently. What did they get up to?

It is our first dog show for some months today and MD clearly relished the return to competition with a clear round in his first run. We are 7^th, missing the rosettes by two places.

In fact the little tyke is very good all day and it’s not often I say that. His other two runs weren’t clear but they were still very good. We missed a contact as I pushed him for a quick time (so my fault) and then had a pole down in the other.

We even finish before lunch and are home in time to listen to Derby’s 1-1 draw at Norwich. Then we head off to the train station for an emotional on platform reunion with L.

(Saturday 14^th March)

Everyone’s Entourages

L is too ill to parkrun, instead we head up to the Lincoln Green Brewery shop in Hucknall where we pick up several presents and a few bottles for home. Then it’s off to the carpet shop in Beeston to choose a colour and to pay a deposit. L walks the boys home from there, nicely getting me out of throwing balls on the park. 

Something I haven’t time for anyway as Derby have a very un-festive 12.15 kick off against Norwich. A close but uninspiring game finishes 2-2. I do finally get a free ipro drink off them, which is mixed blessing as I don’t think anyone likes them.

On my way home, I visit the Blue Monkey Brewery shop in Giltbrook to get even more beery gifts.

Tonight we head back over to Derby to a Beefeater called the Mallard. A place that looked promising last time we were there until a power cut forced us to leave before we’d even sampled the food. This time it’s not looking so promising, the menu looks very average and we’ve been forced to pre-order. Something I always hate doing. At least after initially ringing us on Wednesday to ask where we were, the place seems to have got us down for the right night now.

All of L’s family are there. Her sister, brothers, parents and everyone’s entourages. Son can’t make it but Daughter puts aside her Toys r Us Christmas headband and hotfoots it over from Manchester, although she won’t make it in time for the meal. I collect her from the train station.

L remembers the antlers. Festive spirit does strange things to folk and I didn’t know we’d booked her a table by herself.

It’s a good night, in a contentious family orientated festive sort of way, just as you’d expect these things to be.

(Saturday 20^th December)