Christmas Round Up

I work almost all day on the Friday, finally finishing a little early at 3.30pm. L is off all day and we arrange to meet up at the Derby Arena for a joint festive gym session. Then, because I’m in the car, I can drive us both home.

She is a little late, or I’m a little early, and I do face the prospect of doing anything up to 100k killing time on the Watt Bike while I wait for her. After which I’d probably need mouth to mouth resuscitation but it doesn’t come to that. I'm a little disappointed.

On the Saturday we parkrun at Long Eaton but without Daughter, who has been told to rest more and only run once a week due to the injury she’s currently got. Something to do with her gluteal muscles apparently which sounds like a proper athletes injury.

Sunday, which is Christmas Eve, we meet up with L’s folks for a late breakfast at the Cosy Club. This was once the Royal gig venue and it’s odd sitting there with the ghost of Glasvegas, and other bands we saw there, loitering behind us. Son and his gf come over from Leamington for the occasion, armed with presents. The meal is decent, if not spectacular but a definite upgrade on rowdy old Spoons where we went last year and what had become the tradition.

Then it’s Christmas Day and I get my new cog for my track bike as well as a bike computer to see how slow I’m going. Along with loads of beer, wine, whiskey and chocolate. Not a bad haul all be told.

L and Daughter seem equally thrilled and appalled with their dual gifts of a 10k race entry and a taster session at the Velodrome. Along with the usual boots and trainers for L of course. Daughter seems pleased with her new GPS watch, so that she too will be able to see how fast she is going.

Christmas Day drinkies are at the Horse and Jockey again and then we go for our curry at the Haveli in Chilwell. It’s great to do something different even if the menu is a little basic and the price a little steep. I think the 10% service charge was a bit naughty on top of what we thought was an all in price. I'd certainly do it again though, it not there then somewhere else.

On Boxing Day we do the traditional run at the Furnace but this time ending up afterwards at the Nag's Head in Mickleover for post-run drinks as we drop Daughter near her Father’s. Then we head back home where we have my parents around for roast lamb.

Then, that’s it, Christmas over.

(Tuesday 26^th December)

GP Fraud

I'm on the bus this morning as my legs are still not working properly after Sunday. There is an accident on the A52 so the driver takes the scenic route, meaning I’m late for work and arrive at 9.30

L reckons her back is starting to feel better and surreptitiously cancels her GP appointment. She says she couldn't go, she would feel such a fraud. That's honourable but it doesn’t stop everyone else. She goes for a ‘gentle’ gym session instead and then goes to her old book club for the first time in ages as it’s the Booker Prize tonight and they always make a big thing of it.

The dogs and I are dog training but, as L isn’t with us, without the pint afterwards. 

(Tuesday 17^th October)

Feeling More Human

It’s been a while but the boys and I are at a dog show today. Our performance is a bit of a mixed bag. First we have an elimination, then on the next course we were clear right up until we had the last jump down, then we do get a clear round where we came 3^rd and finally we clock up ten faults for two poles down on run four. That was just the morning. Our only run in the afternoon was simply a disaster. So just the one rosette today.

Meanwhile L sneakily skips Pilates and goes for a gym session. After which she says she’s now feels far more human but she doesn’t say if that’s an injured or an uninjured human. Then, with Daughter, she heads off for a free curry provided by Robin Hood Energy and John Carroll Leisure Centre. I enjoy my flask of lukewarm soup.

We stay in tonight, for sort of obvious reasons.

(Saturday 14^th October)

Works A Treat

As I have no bike at the moment I’m on the bus today which also means I have the prospect of a gym session looming over the whole day but I suppose I sort of enjoy it. The biggest problem is battling for one of the three Pro Watt Bikes. It hasn’t come to blows yet but they’re so popular it can’t be too long before it does. If only they could put a few more in there.

Back at home I get to play with the large computer screen that I brought home from work yesterday and which I will use at Saturday’s dog show to display the ongoing results. Works a treat at home. 

(Tuesday 24^th January)

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)

Interesting Times Ahead

Another park session with the dogs and another gym session at the Tennis Centre. This is becoming a typical Sunday now. Although this will end next weekend as I’ve finally entered a race.

The Cheadle Spring 5 Miler will have the pleasure of my presence next Sunday as a sort of last minute panic warm up before the Dambuster Duathlon the week after.

Interesting times ahead... unless you're my calves. 

(Sunday 23^rd February)

Minuscule

My legs ache terribly after that minuscule gym session yesterday. Clearly my doctor is right, I’m so unfit.

Dogging is off tonight due to wet ground but it was probably too windy anyway. All the equipment would have blown over. Instead I take the boys with me for a swim. 

As I arrive a very sweaty L is just emerging from the gym. I send her back in again, to get even sweatier. You can’t have too much of a good thing. I tell her I’ll be half an hour.

I try out my new, just bought, pool watch. The idea is the watch will count my lengths for me because I’m incapable of doing so. It takes all my concentration simply to swim. The watch seems to do the job well although I do make the mistake of wearing the band with my locker key on it on the same arm and this changes the watch mode, stopping the lap counter. A mere teething problem I hope but I still don’t know exactly how many lengths I’m doing. The watch says it was at least 38 though.

(Monday 6^th January)