Squeaky Feet

I cycle into work today and my new wheel seems very good, the bike was positively zinging along this morning.

L has had enough of  her squeaky feet. The trainers I bought her for her birthday in May went back in July because they squeaked. The replacement pair have also developed a squeak so today I again email Wiggle to request that they take them back again.

They reply within the hour saying they will and as there is now a new model out, I order a pair of those as a replacement. Yet again Wiggle show how good customer service works.

I hope this solves the problem and we don’t ultimately find out that it’s L’s feet that squeak and not the shoes.

Dogging tonight and afterwards I meet L in the pub. Yes, I know, the Pub on a Tuesday... tut tut.

(Tuesday 27^th October)

Smothered In Dog Oil

It’s the morning of  the Nottingham ‘Piddly Little’ Tri and we’re at Parkrun. Obsessive? Well, L's not actually getting a crafty Parkrun in first, she scanning bar codes for them. Her event doesn't start until a leisurely 12.30.

Unlike the rather wet outlook for my race tomorrow, today is glorious sunshine for hers. We arrive and I head off for my briefing at 11am whilst she gets herself ready for her actual event. Their briefing will be on the start line.

L is probably still proclaiming that she can’t see further than next weekend’s Hellathon as awaits the start covered in her race tattoos. They’re very fetching, she can keep those on for later.

The event is also known as the Sprint Distance which is a 750m swim, 20k bike and a 5k run. It’s also a qualifier for ITU Sprint Distance World Championships and ETU Sprint Distance European Championships. Gulp.

The dogs and I put on our 'we are supporting...' stickers and settle in to watch.

My girl has a solid swim and a great run. It’s on the run that she’s rapidly reeling people in and even the commentator comments on that. We just need to work a tad on the bike leg... but that's not going to be an easy subject to broach to a cycle-phobic.

I grab a pre-event massage and a young girlie lathers me up with dog oil. 

Slightly appalled at what she smothering me in I double check that it is not (a) a product designed for using on dogs nor (b) a product made from dogs. She assures me it’s neither and it’s from Yorkshire, which explains everything. Then she digs her thumb in my calf to shut me up.

Actually she’s very gentle, which may or may not be what I need but it’s not what I’m used to with Dancing Boy, my usual torturer. When she’s finished with my calves she also asks if there’s anything else I’d like massaging as we have five minutes. All this customer service for a tenner but I decline her kind offer. I mean what’s five minutes.

I am sharing the massage tent with a chap with a very swollen ankle who is getting it professionally taped up. Apparently he injured himself at one of those dangerous parkrun things but he’s hopeful of completing the swim and the bike, then ‘seeing how it goes’ on the run. Badly I would guess.

L then leads me astray and takes me for two very welcome and calming pints in Stapleford before pasta back home.

(Saturday 30^th May)

Getting The Hang Of Customer Service, Perhaps.

I get up early and walk the dogs, L's having a MD break and perhaps grabbing an extra half an hour in bed after our harrowing day out yesterday. Then I cycle into work. It’s nice and sunny, which makes for a very pleasant ride in.

Perhaps Derby County’s owners are gradually getting the hang of customer service. The deadline for season ticket renewals has been put back until after the end of the season. So now we’ll know what division we’re renewing for, which is handy. That is, if you want to renew for another year of gloom and a football side assembled on the cheap... Which is perhaps where their second initiative comes in. They are now offering a Season Ticket Money Back Guarantee. Right up until the day of the first game of the new season, if you think the club have not done enough business in the transfer market you can get a full refund. Ultimately none of this will make much difference but it's definitely good PR and for once good customer service.

Squash. I again win two games, that's for the fourth match in a row, but unlike on the previous three occasions, I lose more than I win. I lose 4-2. My successful run was good whilst it lasted.

My opponent is elated, despite losing two games, and after trashing his £50 racquet last week he trumpets the quality of its £15 replacement and vows to buy a dozen. If I was him I’d wait to see how it goes next week.... because I can see where this is headed. One day he’s bemoaning wasting £50 on one racquet, the next day he’ll be bemoaning spending £200 on a dozen of another....

The game has aggravated my shoulder. I need a drink to get over it.

Back home I watch the 2nd day of World Track Championships from Holland. There's an encouraging second place for our Women’s Team Sprint duo and an impressive victory for the Women’s Pursuit Team, which includes two débutantes in Laura Trott and Dani King.



(Thursday 24th March)