Christmas Over

As I’ve said in previous years, I’m no great fan of Christmas. The few days before are great but then after the frivolity of Christmas Eve and to a lesser extent Christmas Day everything just drops off the cliff a bit, for me at least.

Boxing Day as ever starts with the Furnace Run on Darley Park in Derby. The Lad makes his debut this year with me, while MD runs with Daughter.

Then we drop Daughter at her father’s with her treating us, as last year, to a ‘Baileys’ in the Nags Head. Although she is the only one actually drinking Baileys.

Then we’re free of family and able to do our own thing. We had promised ourselves to do our own Christmas Day today but that’s not as easy as you think. The few curry places that were doing Christmas Day don’t seem to be doing Boxing Day and anyway, I ate that much yesterday I’m not sure I could do it justice.

So instead we walk the dogs over to Beeston, which is something we used to do years ago when Doggo was still a fit boy, and we go in the Crown. It’s quite busy though and we’re squashed in a corner in the back room, but the Lad still has a great time... so we don't overstay our welcome. 

(Wednesday 26^th December)

A Frustrating Dog

It’s a wet day, so I don’t bike and take the car instead. I take the opportunity to go to the local Kennelgate to try to convert the vouchers that the sponsor of our upcoming dog show has given us into dog food. Usually they courier us 24 bags of dog food but this year we just have an envelope full of paper. Saves on costs I suppose, for them at least.

Kennelgate are happy for me to purchase 24 bags of dog food with my 24 vouchers, although each one has to be a separate transaction which takes a while and they also don’t have enough in stock, so I need to come back next week to collect it but at least its all sorted (almost).

Talking of dog food... Our frustrating dog, Doggo, still will not eat on a regular basis. We know that being frustrating is his speciality but he’s starting to fade away. L is doing him chicken and rice tonight, probably curried, probably the same as what we’re having in fact with naan bread.

It’s tennis tonight and, given the weather, it’s probably a good job we’ve already practised in the wet this season. Although, they do say its supposed to be fining up and it will be a nice evening...if you believe that sort of thing.

For once, the forecast is right and we even sit outside The Crown afterwards in the sun. L runs to the pub and beats us there.

(Thursday 20^th July)

The Numbers Are Back

After yesterday’s marathon car session, it’s a relief to be back on the bike this morning.

Lunch is spent in the Brunswick and then later it’s tennis where the court numbers are back and the highly confusing court names have now gone. I have no idea what that was all about but I really can’t see why they couldn’t have had both.

The numbers are even now on the nets as well although I think that might be temporary while they have the junior Nationals on.

Afterwards we retire to the Crown where L meets us.

(Thursday 13^th July)

Delivery Boys And Girls

Not tapering again, I’m on the bike again and it’s quite windy this morning but at least it's cooler.

Apparently the Tennis Centre has reopened after their tournaments so we get to play a game. They allocate us Court 11, wherever that is. You used to follow the signs... until they removed them all and gave the courts names instead.

L goes to aquarobics again and we change our choice of pubs to the Crown which is nearer to the tram stop to give her a better chance of getting there in good time. The tram itself still takes ages though.

Then we have to play delivery boy and girl as we take Daughter's huge suitcase back to her. It came laden with dirty washing and is returned full of clean washing. Not a bad service. 

(Thursday 22^nd June)

Brilliantly Tactical

Today we have a dog show at Uttoxeter Racecourse. L contemplates joining us but then instead opts for a brick session back at home. That’s cycling and running to you.

Meanwhile I rev MD up for the first of his five runs. Then I rev him back down for the next one. Both give the same result and it’s not a good one. He refuses at practically every tunnel on practically every course. So we now have a new addition to the family because I’ve bought one for home.

We did get a clear in ‘Take your own line’ which I was really looking forward to but we were unplaced. We rarely get this type of class and this is the first one I’ve done with MD. Basically you can do the obstacles in any order you like, as long as you do every one and every one only once. It sounds simple but it’s also brilliantly tactical because obviously you’re looking for the shortest and fastest route. Sadly this type of class is rarely run because it carries no Kennel Club points.

Yes, I did say five runs for MD, which is rather generous of the organisers, and the usual one for Doggo. Well that was the theory. Having completed MD’s runs, we then hung around for a couple of hours waiting for Doggo’s run. Only to be told Large dogs like him would not be allowed to jump the lowest height even those who are 13 years old. Not so generous of the organisers.

In all the normal competition classes the Kennel Club have nailed down the rules so that everyone knows where they stand but the Veteran class’s rules are left up to the organising club themselves and this club has banned him. In three years of running Veteran classes I’d never come across this before. It’s time the Kennel Club legislated. I don’t run him and we head home.

In the evening we head into Beeston. Eat at the Victoria, then move on to the Star (which was again disappointing) and the Crown before heading home.

(Saturday 16^th August)

Company At The Bar

Today is a rest day; everything is being rested ahead of the Sheffield Half Marathon on Sunday. Turns out to be another wet day as well, so it wouldn’t have been much fun on the bike anyway.

It doesn’t put L off walking up to meet me from the bus though, with the boys. Seems she’s desperate to try and wear them out because I’m not available to kick footballs tonight, even if it means walking them in the rain.

I’m off out in Bingham, with four other chaps from the University days. I’m the only one who needs to be well hydrated for Sheffield on Sunday but they all keep me company at the bar.

Our usual pub, The Horse and Plough, is quieter than normal and we put this down to the new Wetherspoon's, The Butter Cross, although the pub used to be called The Crown. The Butter Cross being the 19^th shelter in the centre of the market square.

We go in there for the last one of the night but as usual I’m not terribly impressed. All Wetherspoons are cheap but not terribly comfy places to spend an evening and this is no exception.

The Horse and Plough has been Bingham’s only decent pub for beer for years but it’s never had a particularly eclectic range of ales. Now it’s got some competition, they’ll have to up their game or else they’ll lose a lot of custom. The best beer we found tonight was in the Wetherspoons.

(Friday 10^th May)