Unhealthy Obsession

Today it's the Mathew Walker Christmas Pudding Run at Shipley Park where all runners get, yes you guessed it, a Mathew Walker Christmas Pudding. These usually hang around our house all year long as we're not great Christmas Pudding eaters.

Unfortunately due to my unhealthy obsession with getting injured I deferred entering this race assuming that the inevitable would happen. By the time it didn’t, the race was full.

L does it though, as does Daughter and L's sister. Naturally the boys and I go along to offer up our support although unfortunately I forget to take the balls to keep them occupied. I resort to sticks, none of which the Lad will let MD have. Instead he tries to cram as many into his mouth as he can.

It's not the most exciting of races and I'm not training for anything at the moment, so I can't say I'm jealousy of the girls doing it but they all seem to enjoy it. 

(Sunday 18^th November)

Totally Blown Away

Today’s dog show has been cancelled, so I have to stay in bed instead. MD copes with the disappointment just as well as I do.

Then we head over to visit L’s brother and parents, as it's Father Day. Her sister and her husband are there as well. We stay for cake and I’m also hustled upstairs to look at their new bathroom in a not so subtle hint.

Then we head to B&Q to look at bathroom for real but find their sales team quite incompetent. We abort discussions and I buy a saw instead. This isn't for taking revenge on them although it's tempting. Instead they decide they will visit us on Tuesday evening to sort things out.

Instead of the dog show I have booked a track session tonight, where I make the final of the Keirin before getting blown away in it.

Afterwards we go for a drink at the Horse and Jockey, then I have the usual Sunday curry but I take L to Subway for her tea first as she is now addicted to Subway salads.

(Sunday 19^th June)

King Of The Mountains

L’s sister is in Nottingham for the Uni Open Day so L meets her for lunch at Lakeside, well more like brunch really or in fact just coffee. They are strong and resist cake for at least five minutes. 

Either her sister is skipping the provided University lunch or they’re not getting one. Personally I felt the quality of the lunch (or lack of it) along with the selection of biscuits was a vital factor in Uni selection. They had very good biscuits at Sheffield, I felt that that swung it.

I am off work today for the Tour of Britain cycling and after meeting the man who comes to check the new rendering is still on the walls etc, I head up into Derbyshire to watch the race. I end up in the middle of nowhere at the top of Beeley Moor KOM climb. It’s just the dogs and me, about 1000 others and three ice cream vans. I would be surprised is there isn't also a burger van lurking somewhere.

We see the leaders through and then wait an age for the main field, who have clearly given up on the day and are over 20 minutes back. Waiting for this inconsiderate bunch makes it a huge rush to get back to Nottingham to see the race a second time.

I eventually make it back to Wollaton Vale, which is mad, packed. If they're all here expecting an entourage of cars and lorries throwing bags of oven chips and the like as they did for the Tour de France I fear they may all be disappointed. If they're here to see Cav they'll also be disappointed, he fell off and quit this morning.

I’m in just enough time to grab a pint from the Hemlock Stone before the race arrives. L has headed to the finish at Forest Rec on the tram where she has a big screen but I have a pint of Caledonian Autumn Red. The Hemlock Stone itself seem oblivious to the huge crowds outside and are really missing several tricks e.g. income streams.

The race comes through, we wave and bark but the buggers still went the other side of the roundabout. We hang around to see the stragglers (again), now over 30 minutes back, and give Bradley a wave along with a chorus of 'hurry up you lazy b******' or words to that effect.

Then we head to the Borlase to meet L for a Tuck.

Watching the highlights on the TV later, the boys and I are on twice. That is if you're eagle-eyed and a whiz with the pause button.

(Friday 11^th September)