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)

A Selfless Sacrifice

It’s -1C, I take the bus and plan to run later.

L skips the pool, has a rest day, and goes to Sainsbury's instead. Emerging with a new coat and a new jumper. This girl can, indeed.

When I stress that surely she didn’t need any more jumpers. She explains that isn’t the point. Must be a girl thing. She’ll be over my knee later.

Again on the subject of ‘this girl can’ (sort of), the Daily Mail (who else) report on the extreme dangers posed to men by their women who go ‘cowgirl’ on them. Often incurring injuries that result in a trip to A&E. Us men, of course, put a brave face on this and tough it out in a selfless sacrifice in aid of our women’s fitness regimes.

I run home from Stapleford and it’s another steady improvement. I just hope L has got the mouth to mouth resuscitation ready.

(Friday 23^rd January)

Such A Nice Bunch Of People

L takes the boys for a run this morning, individually. Starting with the alpha dog, that's supposed to be Doggo.

MD copes with being dumped and is actually quite calm or so I think. A few whimpers at first but then he just lay down at my side, admittedly looking a bit worried. Daughter disagrees. She thought he looked psychologically scarred and that L was evil for leaving him, and Daughter is not known to exaggerate...

L finally finishes reading the Booker Prize winner, Howard Jacobson's The Finkler Question.



I think it’s safe to say that L has not enjoyed it one bit and nor, by proxy, have I. I advise her to google some blogs and find out what other people think. Bloggers are such a nice bunch of people.

Other that the newspapers I think she struggles to find anyone else who liked it. Quite a few folk even gave up half way through. Such is the world of the Booker Prize. Don’t think I’ll bother reading it.

The council ring to ask if I’m coming to my coaching course tonight for this evening’s compulsory first aid session...

It’s actually the first part of the first aid section, part two is next Tuesday. It’s all very interesting and probably useful. It’s the first time I’ve administered Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). You know where you compress the chest with your hands in an attempt to return life to a person in cardiac arrest. We are advised to go for it and not worry about breaking a rib or two... We do this on a dummy and also administer mouth to mouth, again to the dummy.

We also did the recovery position. The instructor asks if I would mind playing dead whilst a fellow student, a young blonde lass as it happens, puts me in the recovery position? Of course now. Pleasant evening.

(Tuesday 11th January)