Testimonials

They finally find those missing Ben Nevis climbers. What they don’t tell you is that there are still four other people missing in the area, three of which are from last year!

L is off lifting kettlebells tonight after which she is planning some serious nodding off. She says she’s ready for our nice relaxing holiday. Unfortunately we don’t do nice relaxing holidays.

In the evening my father, myself and around 10,000 others are at Pride Park Stadium for Shaun Barker’s testimonial game. Barker had a crippling knee injury in 2012 and hasn’t played since but being a Derby favourite he has been granted this testimonial game. Testimonials are a rare thing these days, mainly because no one stays at a club very long any more.

The game is between a current Derby County XI and a Shaun Barker Legends XI, basically oldies from the past. Typically it was a no contest with the current players storming into a 4-0 lead without even breaking sweat.

Then the Legends brought on three substitutes which changed the entire dynamic of the game because they didn’t take any one off. It’s amazing what a lack of space can do to the skills of the modern player.

Now goals began to fly in at both ends and the current team went in at half-time clinging onto an 8-6 lead. Exciting stuff.

So the legends upped the ante again and started the second half with sixteen players with one Derby player changing sides and another followed later. This all finally tipped the balance their way, along with an eleven year old being invited out on to the crowd to covert a penalty. By now I’m half expecting them to wave my father on to the pitch but sadly that doesn't happen. 

The Legends go on to win 10-9 with Barker playing 73 minutes for his own side, then the final 17 minutes for Derby and (naturally) scoring.

(Thursday 24^th March)

Up In Lights

It’s warm but it’s wet today. Clearly we’re having an Indian Summer complete with Monsoon season. That said, I managed to avoid the rain in both directions on my bike to work.

I pop down to Pride Park stadium at lunchtime and pick up my free DCFC scarf. Our new wealthy owner is handing one of these out to every one of the club’s 24,000 season ticket holders. A nice touch but I can’t help thinking of several better uses for his money.

I receive a Facebook friend request from a name I don’t recognise and as usual I delete it. Then L sends me a link to the Thunder Run Facebook page and I see my name up in lights on there. Just above it is the name of my team captain, who has just sent me a friend request. Best accept I suppose.

Not that we’re actually in the race yet because entries haven’t opened but I hope we do get in, L is starting to sound enthused again. She does like a project and could have several on the go next year.

(Tuesday 6^th October)

One More Sleep 'Til Cycle To Work Day

Our gate is finally back on and today a plumber comes to finish outside tap.

The football world goes even madder and Derby County spend £10M in one day with the arrival of Jacob Butterfield and Bradley Johnson. On the same day, outside Pride Park Stadium a one legged statue of the great Dave Mackay goes up. 

In another momentous occasion our student hands her dissertation in and becomes an ex-student.

Dog training restarts. L warns me that when I get home I will find her either in bed or sitting on the sofa with tape over her mouth to stop her eating. If she’d said earlier, I could have strapped her to the bed before I went out.

A helpful email arrives telling me that tomorrow will be largely dry day with sunny intervals which apparently means I’ve got no excuses not to be in the saddle in the morning.

It is referring to that fact that tomorrow is National Cycle to Work Day.

(Wednesday 2^nd September)