It’s All Happening

This week the City Council’s lovely Leisure Centre App says the 50m sessions aren’t on this morning. Do I trust the App? No. Do I trust the Leisure Centre enough to just turn up? No. So I don’t.

L does get her swim at John Carroll. Just the five of them, so pretty busy for John Carroll. 

Having not got a swim, I do the gym after work instead and then head off to dog training.

Meanwhile Daughter is still shouting at her internet people who haven’t reconnected her yet and she’s getting a tad frustrated with them and also her noisy neighbours. It’s all happening in Mapperley Park. 

(Tuesday 2^nd May)

Everyone's A Winner

L wins a swimming bag full of accessories (floats, paddles, googles etc) from the City Council. This was through a prize draw where you got an entry each time you completed one of their points cards, which got stamped after each visit to the Leisure Centre. Considering how often she’s there, it would have been hard for her not to win. I’m still on my first card but now it appears I may be too late to submit it.

The bag is actually bigger than her existing one which may not be a good thing if she can cram even more into it considering her back trouble.

A cosy night in for five tonight with a homemade Lamb Saag.

(Friday 7^th April)

Hobson’s Choice

The park is locked and not for the first time this week. MD is terribly disappointed because he doesn’t get his ball chuck with L. Doggo and I, following up behind, still get our old man’s amble but it’s not the same not ending up with a sniff on the park. Once it starts to get a bit colder and darker the city council forget about us dog walkers.

I’m in the car today. Reason one is that I head to the Derby Runner at lunchtime to try to get either a replacement battery pack for the broken head torch or a brand new head torch. They don’t have any battery packs and the choice of just one pretty basic head torch. So, it’s Hobson’s choice. Either take the horse in the stall nearest the door or none at all. I ride off into the sunset with my new steed.

Reason two is the race itself which is the Night Trail at East Leake. This starts at 7pm, so it’s a case of a quick change at home and then back out again to the start at Rushcliffe Golf Club. Finding the golf club in the dark countryside proves to be the hardest part of the evening.

The run itself, for saying I’m not an off-road person, goes really well. The five mile route takes in a mix of bridal pathways, loose surface footpaths and sections over grassy fields. Naturally I lose my footing several times but unlike last time I ran at night on the Thunder Run I remain vertical.

It is well marked and well marshalled although most of the glow sticks along the route seem to lack the vital ingredients of glow. I also remember seeing signs for the water station at around half way but didn’t actually see the station itself. On reflection perhaps the three people stood by a parked car was it but it wasn’t obvious and my then it was too late to go back. 

At the finish we get a very nice medal, if you like that sort of thing and amazing I come in 13th out of 90. Wow.

There were rumours of a bar but the golf club has been booked for a private function and I don't think muddy runners are not invited so we head home.

When we get home it is to find that Daughter has arrived for the weekend and for her job interview tomorrow. It’s good to see her and she has already tried out the new shower. That’ll be £1 please.

 (Friday 11^th November)

Our Wildlife Reserve

The city council have designated our Spinney as a wildlife reserve. This may be well intentioned but the sceptic in me thinks it’s just so that they can let it become overgrown and not have to look after it.

A pub lunch today to power me home on the bike, yes I finally got a bike ride in, and then for a session chucking balls first for the dogs and then later for my mate at Portland Leisure Centre. Otherwise known as squash.

L is in the pub waiting for us afterwards cradling a book in one hand and a pint in the other. She says she only ordered a half but got a pint. I’m sure she’s used that excuse before and she didn’t even get a stamp for it. Eight pints and we get a free one.

(Thursday 12^th February)

Nothing Snaps

To work off last night’s festive meal and to prepare for tonight’s festive meal there’s the workout of a festive lie-in. Then in case that’s not enough, we do a festive gym session. It is almost a year since I last went.

The City Council rather un-festively turn off most of the equipment, meaning there’s a queue for the lone exercise bike. So I open with a 1k row before finally getting a bike to do 10k there. Then after some leg weights, I attempt a 1k run. Nothing snaps.

Tonight’s meal is with Son in Leamington at the White Horse. His girlfriend has already departed for home but we are again joined by L’s parents and younger brother. We pre-enact Christmas Day, exchanging presents. The Ox-cheek pie isn’t bad even if it isn’t actually a pie. A pie is not a pie if it is served in a dish.

There are leftovers for the boys and presents for under the tree. As soon as we get home Doggo fixes his gaze on the doggie mince pies that he knows are among them.

(Sunday 21^st December)