A Bounce Around The Perimeter

L takes over supervising the plumbers and I head to work on my best bike. I really must sort out my commuter bike but at the moment the weather is so good there's no rush to do this as I’m happy to ride my posh steed.

In the evening it’s tennis because the Tennis Centre is surprisingly. It is closed from Friday onwards for the Nottingham Open tournament. L has physio book at the Tennis Centre at the same time which is convenient. My opponent’s partner dog sits the Lad and he takes her for a bounce around the perimeter.

I am late arriving and consequently we are late starting our game because the plumbers seem to be trying to finish. I have to kick them out of the house and tell them to come back tomorrow. I am half an hour late for tennis, then my opponents calf goes 30 minutes later. So not a great game.

(Thursday 7^th June)

Bathroom Project Day 3 (Progress Report)

The bath and sink have gone, so it’s a strip wash in the kitchen then before getting on the bike to work. The workman rings, he’s running a bit late... again. He doesn’t like starting early.

Today they are doing the ceiling. I think that’s because after yesterday’s flood it’s the only bit that’s dry enough to work on. Then, suddenly, we have no central heating. So we blame the workmen naturally but apparently that’s not the case and the thermostat is bust. Good job it’s not cold. Although I think L disagrees.

She escapes the building site (and the cold) to go into work. She takes the dogs with her but unfortunately the route to work is the same as the route to the Forest Rec parkrun, so they get a tad excited. 

Frank Turner personally emailed me yesterday to tell me that his 2000th gig will be at Rock City in December and that tickets will be available this morning by way of a ballot. Of course I’m rubbish at ballots and he also tells another 20,000 other people. So obviously I don’t get any tickets.

While I am out at lunch, in the pub naturally, Derby reappoint Steve McClaren. What? Would you take your ex back after she'd ran off with someone richer and more famous than you? Would you hell! 

I go dog training and then meet L afterwards for a Wainwright in Masons.

(Wednesday 12^th October)

Is It Too Early To Put The Central Heating On?

The BBC asks if it’s too early to put the central heating on? Of course. November is good for me. I don’t wish to give those pesky energy companies a penny more than necessary. The problem arrives though when you have a female with a faulty thermostat in the house or, as is the situation at work, a resident cold person who likes the heating on at 100 degrees. Not that the bills at work affect me but I have to have my window open or else I’d have passed out . It's not his fault really but the fault of silly open plan offices.

I have taken my running kit to work even though I won’t get chance to run tonight as I’m out on the ale. Instead I consider a lunchtime run but it's still very damp and cold outside. Obviously not ‘put the heating on’ sort of cold but the type of cold my calves wouldn't thank me for exposing them to without a hot bath waiting for them afterwards. So running is out.

As I head off for a few beers with my old school chums L rings with the shocking news that somebody has pinched her bike out of her work’s car park. What can you say? B******s.

(Tuesday 17^th September)

It Actually Works!

We get up shockingly early this morning because the ‘Floor Man’ is coming at 12 noon and I hasten the dogs around the park in double quick time. Only he doesn’t turn up of course, again. For some reason I didn’t really expect him to, so I already had the central heating in bits when he was due.

I finally got the new heated towel rail fitted. It involved two trips to B&Q, a quite substantial leak and a time out while I went to the opticians but I got there in the end. Plus, as a bonus, it actually works.

After all that excitement we stay in again and prepare for my running comeback tomorrow with a large glass of wine.

(Saturday 1st December)