Back On Track

Finally the Velodrome is back open and I manage to get a track session tonight. It’s quiet as the council, being the council, only opened the booking system on Thursday.

L runs to Stapleford and I pick her up on route to Derby. Then she has an hour in the gym while my Dad also joins us watch but he doesn't come for a drink with us. So we go to Horse and Jockey where all the same dark beers that were on at New Year are still one. So I have another Owd Rodger, could be another 25 years before I see it again.

(Sunday 8^th January)

A Night With Rodger

We parkrun at Markeaton this morning as I promised a friend of mine that we’d be there to witness his first even parkrun. He doesn’t show up.

We have a leisurely post-run coffee and bacon roll as L as no pilates today due to it allegedly still being Christmas but it’s not too leisurely as we need to fit in a late lie-in before I head off to the match this afternoon. Which turns out to be a disappointing 0-0 draw.

Then it’s a question of deciding what to do tonight and finding somewhere that doesn’t need a ticket to get in to. In the end we head off to the Horse and Jockey at Stapleford where get to rub shoulders with various Rock stars - Freddie Mercury, Meat Loaf, Axl Rose (at least we think it was him), Madonna (possibly) etc.

The dark beer range is rather impressive with Aurora Big Dark nicely strong at 5.3% and to water that down Burton Bridge XL Mild. Then I spot something nestling discretely at the end of the bar, it’s Marston's Owd Rodger. I add it to my trail although I'm not sure if it technically is a 'dark' ale but as it’s around 25 years since I've seen this in a bar on hand pump I'm including it. It takes me back to my student days when we always used to have two pints of the 7.4% Owd Rodger in the Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem before heading off to a gig at Rock City.

At around 11pm we get a bus home, yes Trent Barton are running a few, and get back in time to spend New Year with the boys along with Jools’ Hootenanny of course.

(Saturday 31^st December)

Bible Stories

On the bus.

Did I mention L is reading the Bible? She's already up to page 4.

She's précising it for me. The story so far... creation of the world, Adam and Eve, a naughty snake, Adam and Eve have sex and have Cain (or was it Abel?), the favouring of one son (can't remember which one) = jealousy (and crap parenting) and hence murder (but jails haven’t been invented yet). There's a man with two wives and Adam and Eve have Seth to replace the dead Cain/Abel. Apparently it's Noah's Ark tonight. 

I pop to Derby Beer Festival at lunchtime, which is also the National Winter Ales Festival for the third and last time before it moves to Norwich next year. After a half of Dunham Massey Porter 5.2% and half of trusty Owd Rodger I’m fortified now for the afternoon and this evening’s rain soaked run.

Actually during my 14.2k run it doesn’t rain on me once which is a bit of a result.

Another Friday (sponsored by the Daily Mail) and Chinese Takeaway tonight.

(Friday 19^th February)