Weakened Teams

On the bike today and then its home to watch the FA Cup replay between Derby and Leicester.

I’ve cancelled dog training for this so it’s a touch annoying to see weakened teams from both sides. Particularly from Derby who are dreaming if they think they have a chance of going up this year and should really be focusing 100% on this. 

L puts her usual curse on matters, having failed to stay in the gym beyond the conclusion of ‘Pointless’.

As it is both sides play as well, if not better, than they did in the first game with full strength sides but Derby, as usual, have trouble scoring and lose in extra time.

(Wednesday 8^th February)

The Curse Continues

I’m in car purely so that I can nick another computer from work. Naturally its traffic carnage both on the way in and on the way home.

Daughter reports hearing strange rattling noises coming from the closed stair gate whilst she was in the shower this morning followed by padding up the stairs. On further investigation the stair gate is open and both dogs have gone to bed, upstairs. This, we have long suspected, is what happens.

Everyone has to have a break from running, even Ron Hill, and we feel for him.

I have a Watt Bike session in the gym and then take another computer home from work. The machine works but the disk I swapped from the old machine doesn't. The curse continues.

(Wednesday 1^st February)

Back On It

It’s not cold although it is a bit damp on the bike this morning but it was very good to get back on it. L’s in the pool proclaiming it’s good to get back in it.

Daughter meanwhile is on the train and heading over to Nottingham for two interviews, one today and one tomorrow before heading back to Manchester for another one on Friday. She seems to be packing the interviews in again which is good. Fingers crossed again.

We have a Tuesday lunchtime pub trip today as my colleague is off the rest of the week and he doesn’t work Monday’s either, so it’s a very short week for him. Unfortunately the kitchen was closed at the Brunswick for a two week refurbishment. Nice of them to tell us. Instead they had a big vat of beef stew on the bar which was very good but more of a child portion than a proper meal.

Having switched back to my old computer at home, that one now doesn’t work either. Is this some kind of curse?

It’s took me a while to work what week we’re on at dog training as each week has a different trainer and different attendees. Oddly today is week five and tomorrow is week one. This means I do not officially have a session this week but have two the following week. However I manage to bring next Tuesday’s one forwards as there was a cancellation this week. If even I’m confused then it’s going to be carnage at training with people turning up in the wrong week.

Afterwards it’s good old Wainwrights in Masons. Meanwhile Derby win 3-0 at Ipswich.

(Tuesday 31^st January)

Almost Greatness

Today’s dog show in Solihull has been moved indoors. Luckily for them it was scheduled in the grounds of a riding school and their indoor arena isn’t booked this weekend. The reason being that all the fields over here are still white over with snow. Clearly Solihull is colder than the rest of the midlands.

My first run with MD comes very early, five minutes after we arrive and bravo, clear round! I don’t think his elderly limping handler held him back too much. The ankle is still not great, so Monday’s 10k on Wollaton Park is looking very doubtful. The curse strikes again.

We end up joint 6^th, which isn’t bad for starters. It also means we go into a runoff for 6^th and 7^th places, which we win despite 5 faults. Not being too bothered about whether it's 6^th or 7^th my main aim was to go quicker than in our first run. Which we do, by half a second but MD brings a pole down.

Then it’s snowing again and Doggo does his warm-up by going for a roll in it.

After two more runs with MD, one excellent but with a pole down, the other awful (my fault) and a clear run for Doggo in the Veterans, it’s time for our main objective of the day. This is the qualifier that took us to Malvern last year. Latest year it was sponsored by Alpha Dog Food, this year’s it’s sponsored by Drontal Worming tablets... I hate to think what you get for winning?

Our run is simply brilliant and the fastest so far. The judge stands there clapping... the crowd were cheering... a little. Then the final pole trickled gently off its mountings, in slow motion or so it appeared. Damn. Five faults. No Malvern.

It was really galling as nobody goes quicker and goes clear. So sadly 1^st becomes 14^th. Almost Greatness.

Back home later, L and I head into Stapleford to Nottingham’s pub of the year, the Horse and Jockey. Which is a place I’d never considered going in before.

When we get there, things just get better and better. They have a Stout and Porter festival on. Wow. Its four pints for £11. Wow. I think we’re staying here all night.

(Saturday 30^th March)

My Curse

I get up, determined to cycle, put on my cycling stuff, pull back the curtains and see snow flurries. It doesn’t look promising, so I take off my bike kit and get the bus. So not only no cycling but no swim either. As I sit on the bus, the sun comes out.

My curse continues. An inspection is being undertaken at this weekend's dog show, a decision is due within 24 hours. It’s not looking good. A warning to anybody thinking of doing the Wollaton Park 10k on Monday, don’t bother. I intend to enter on the day, so cancellation is as good as assured.

L makes a mental note to not only not order the same as me at a restaurant, as it’ll be off, but to also not enter the same events as me.

Dog training tonight. It’s cold but at least it’s indoors. MD is rampant, that’s what two weeks without does for you. I’m the same.

(Wednesday 27^th March)