A Tall Order

While we were away Doggo seemed to eat every meal for Daughter, although every meal probably did involve chicken. Now that we’re back, he’s being selective again. This morning his breakfast is served ‘avec croûtons’ e.g. with chunks of leftover bread on top. Which he eats without picking up a single morsel of dog food. Awkward old git.

Allegedly squash is back on from next week, although this still means he has a whole week to try not to get injured again, which could be a tall order. This week, I’m in the gym.

After which, L wants to power walk to the Dispensary. So the plan is to meet me off the bus and then she can continue on with MD as we have done before. This plan is hatched before L spots the Red Arrow on Ilkeston Road, never a good sign. I sure know how to pick my bus days.

It turns out that the road closed outside Wollaton Park on Derby Road and all the buses are having to divert. At Derby Bus Station, the electronic signs shows that the nearest bus is thirty minutes away... e.g. still in Nottingham. The tracking thing on their website is slightly more helpful but contradictory saying that their nearest bus is in Bramcote, a mere twenty minutes away. Then seconds later one turns up... Good technology this tracking business.

The upshot of all this is, we are late after a bit of a detour but not disastrously so. We still get there before last orders and as Daughter is home by then, so she joins us too. 

(Thursday 30^th March)

Moving On Up

L has the day off today to receive our various furniture deliveries and for the plumber to come fix our kitchen sink.

Naturally I’m sceptical that everyone will turn up and that they’ll deliver the right things if they do. I warn L that if a sofa turns up it’s not ours. It is Friday the 13^th after all.

I get the bus to work. As I get off the Red Arrow at Derby Bus Station, it pulls away and I watch it back into the Spondon Flyer. There are so many accidents in that bus station.

L reports that not only has the plumber turned up but that she’s agreed a price with him and he’s down on his knees as we speak. While she’s got him on his knees in the kitchen, she has another man upstairs plumping up the bed. Still no sofa though.

With the deliveries complete, L heads to her Mum’s and then meets me later at the Beer Festival.

Derby is hosting the National Winter Ales Festival at the Roundhouse. I’ve never been before, despite the fact it was also in Derby last year and a few years before that it had a stint in Burton.

L’s not a big fan of beer festivals and even I’m beginning to grow weary of them. I actually feel they are a bit redundant now because we have got such a good range of pubs locally with so many varied beers. In fact there’s not a lot on their beer list that I can’t get elsewhere.

So I’ve basically singled out Lees Moonraker, as you don’t see it very often. So I may just drink that all night or I would have done if it hadn’t already sold out.

R (halves)

1. Fullers London Porter 5.4%

2. Dent T’owd Tup 6.0%

3. Grainstore Rutland Beast 5.3%

4. Beast of Zeals 6.6%

5. Castle Rock Midnight Owl 5.5%

6. Bath Festivity 5.0%

7. Raw Anubis 5.2%

8. Raw Anubis 5.2%

L (thirds)

1. Dark Star Original 5.0%

2. Bath Festivity 5.0%

3. Bath Festivity 5.0%

4. Wentwell Amjeel IPA 5.8%

5. Dent T’owd Tup 6.0%

6. Dent T’owd Tup 6.0%

7. Dent T’owd Tup 6.0%

We get home and move upstairs. Although we’re not sure how Doggo will take to it.

He doesn’t.

(Friday 13^th February)

I’m Free This Evening

There’s not much snow in Nottingham, sadly, and nothing at all in Derby. Yet still the bus is late and then the traffic is horrific. Takes in all, door to door, 110 minutes to get to work. Great.

At least one step in the right direction is that Derby bus station does now have live times on the Trent Bus signs. Oooh technology. Same they’re showing everything as running late.

‘This Girl Can’, so they say. It’s a new promotion.

Will it get more people into the gym? Certainly anywhere with a lass pouring with sweat at she pounds away at the equipment would get the male vote, whether it works for other women I’m not sure.

Although it’s a case of preaching to the already converted, the advert has worked it’s magic on L who has booked her first spin class in absolutely ages. I’ve also booked us both in the Alsager 5 race next weekend.

Along with the ‘this girl can’ video there’s several for a couples workout. 

I tell L I’m free this evening.

(Wednesday 21^st January)