Go Hang

I take the bus to work today, as I feel I have a touch of cold and a touch is how it’s staying, if that’s what it is. I’m not sure because I’m not used to having colds, so wouldn’t really recognise one.

L meanwhile is positively glowing after a swim and Pilates this morning until she visits her physio who tells her she isn’t done with her yet but that is what they all say. She has also told her that she need to ‘go hang’ somewhere to strengthen her back. The only question is where? We do have a tree in the garden.

Daughter meanwhile is off to a farewell high tea in a Manchester Skyscraper.

  

There is no squash tonight because I haven’t booked a court. Two weeks ago my opponent turned up with more bandages than the invisible man and could barely walk, so naturally I haven’t booked anything as it’s so much hassle booking, cancelling then rebooking. Sadly, the Portland Centre haven't discovered the internet yet.

Then he declares himself fit at about three hours notice. Surprisingly there is a court available but tough; I’ve booked the pub now although I do book a court for next week. I do a quick gym session first and then L meets me off the bus with the boys. She then carries on walking with MD all the way to the Dispensary. Doggo and I return home and then drive there where I get to add another stout to the list.

(Thursday 9^th February)

A Reoccurring Problem

This morning L parkruns at Forest Rec and then gets the train over to the dog show.

I am there for 7am to finish last minute preparations and to get in position early to attempt to park all the cars tidily so we don’t the chaos that the organisers of last week’s show had.

Our show is exhausting but it is a resounding success. When I get home afterwards the internet is abuzz with generous comments.

It was high grade show that wasn’t aimed at MD but he did get one run and did ok. Only problem was that he had the first pole down again. That is becoming a reoccurring problem.

I’m pretty knackered but a few beers are called for so we head off to the Horse and Jockey.

(Saturday 30^th January)

The Best Piped Music Ever

Our fibre optic broadband has gone down at work, so we now back on the more traditional mouse running around a little wheel sort of internet. My boss is just about to board a plane to Tenerife as his phone rings with the good news, so good timing obviously. Of course if he’d told anyone else how it all hangs together we wouldn’t have had to bother him.

We venture to a different pub for our lunch, the VictoriaInn on Midland Road, where they have all the gigs. The beer is decent, the food ok and probably unsurprisingly they have the best piped music ever.

Tennis is off as the Tennis Centre is shut again due to them hosting the British Wheelchair Open and the Senior Tennis GB Grass Court Tournament. It’s great that they get to host all these tournaments but you’d think they’d keep some courts open for the public because about the only time you’re guaranteed to get a court is in the winter. Which isn’t great obviously.

I have a puncture on the way home and an impressive five people stop to help. I put this down to the pleasant summer weather as this never happens when it's raining or snowing. There’s one person in a van and four on bikes. One of the cyclists was even a girl who asked if there was ‘anything I can do for you’ before probably realising what she’d said could be misconstrued and quickly pedalled off again.

(Thursday 17^th July)

#BloodyCyclists

Daughter is on her way to the passport office in Liverpool, chauffeured by her father who is perhaps over worried that they won’t let her back in the country when she goes to France with him next week because her passport has only six months to run on it. Why worry, extra holiday isn’t it?

It’s all over the internet about some young girl who seemingly got away with knocking a cyclist off his bike because he wasn’t going to tell anyone in case his girlfriend found out. Sensible chap.

That was until the girl tweeted about it, which was a really bright thing to do wasn’t it. She’s clearly far too intelligent to be working at the accountancy firm where she’s a trainee... or was, as she’s now been suspended.

That tweet went viral on the internet and even though she subsequently cancelled her Twitter account it was too late because people had already screenshoted it complete with her name and photo, found her Facebook account, where she works etc etc. With the internet there is no escape and of course not stopping at the scene of an accident is a serious offence. Oh dear #InTheSh*t as they say on Twitter.

She’s also clearly far too intelligent to know that there’s no such thing as Road Tax, which was her excuse for knocking him off because he didn’t pay any. Yet of course, like most cyclists, he also owns a car for which he pays his Vehicle Excise Duty (not Road Tax) which is based on his vehicle’s level of exhaust emissions. It’s there to encourage people to drive smaller cars or bikes even. I’m sure he’d happily pay it for his bike too, with its emission level of zero.

Hope she doesn’t end up doing anyone’s accounts in the near future.

I’m not on my bike today, instead I put in a training run and a rather slow nine miles but nine mines is nine miles. Job done.

(Tuesday 21^st May)

Ravaged By An Earthquake

This morning at 5.20am we are ravaged by an earthquake. Doggo and I are awake but do not know why. Half an hour later Doggo vomits on the carpet. Delayed reaction perhaps. It didn't wake L or MD obviously.

I take the bus for the fourth day in the row. This is worse than my gym habit. 

Apparently we have had the “worst snow for 30 years” but then they say that every year. It’s true that it isn’t very good snow and we only have a light dusting of it here, an inch or so. It has also covered up the icy patches making walking a lot easier but to call it the worst for 30 years is a bit harsh on the snow. Naturally everywhere is in total chaos.

This is brilliant. A software developer has apparently outsourced his work to China at a cheaper rate, pocketed the difference and then spent all day on the internet, surfing sites like Reddit.

 

I had to go on Reddit because I didn’t know what it was. Anyone who can find it interesting for more than five minutes has my admiration, it’s just a jumbled mess of pointless trivia. You could spend your life on that desperately trying to find something of interest. Actually, I think I’d rather do some work. Well after I’ve finished checking out the Chinese small ads.

It has to be said his employer seemed to get a good deal out of it, so I wonder if after sacking him, was his replacement as good?

After two days at the gym and then squash, my legs decide that today is a rest day.

(Friday 18^th January)

First Rule Of Internet

I'm on the bike again amidst another miserable morning weather wise, the greyness shows no sign of leaving.

L is sans-internet and has been since yesterday. At least she has no distractions from her work.

I recommend doing a ‘Son’, unplugging the power from the router and plugging it back in, even if everyone else is using it just fine...

Doesn’t work and I get a string of expletives by email BT, AOL, WIFI, WTF. Ah, it’s probably AOL. First rule of internet, don’t go anywhere near AOL.

Then she mentions Norton Internet Security and the penny dropped. Second rule of internet, don’t go anywhere near Norton. Then she says her computer has McAfee on it as well. Third rule of internet...

I tell her to get rid of both and suddenly everything is fine. Norton and McAfee were probably arguing among themselves and blocking each other.

She says somebody has suggested installing Microsoft Security Essentials instead. Personally I wouldn’t. Fourth rule of internet...

(Wednesday 24th October)

Is It Plugged In?

Apparently our internet at work is supplied by two different ISP’s. Odd but useful today when one of them decides to stop supplying it to us. Unfortunately they’re also withholding our email and of course it’s our fault. They’ll be asking us if it’s plugged in next. Do they know we’re a computer company ourselves and fobbing us off with the usual stories won’t work.

I’m struggling for running opportunities this week, so I fit in a measly 8k before dog class tonight.

MD is hyper at training and to a point is Doggo, who leaps out of the car expecting a go. Sorry mate, not tonight but I think he regretted looking keen anyway when he found out how cold it was. He soon leapt back in again.

(Wednesday 1st February)