There’s Life In The Old Goat Yet

Storm Connor has elbowed Storm Barbara out of the way bringing cold, windy but dry weather.

Today it’s the Aston on Trent village walk. Aston on Trent is where I was brought up so I’ve done this walk many times and now only return when my old friend from way back at nursery school is back in the area and doing it too. We really ought to meet up at other times of the year rather than rely on meeting up here, which only happens every other year or so when we’re both not working. Perhaps this year we will.

The full walk is just over four miles although there are four escape routes off it that offer short cuts. Having both dogs with me, one of which is the fifteen year old Doggo, I have my eye on these but Doggo impressively manages the full distance. There’s life in the old goat yet.

I have to rush off a bit afterwards as there is a match. The Boxing Day fixture arrives a day late as Derby face a Rowett-less Birmingham City. I think everyone will be pleased that we scraped a 1-0 win leaving new manager Gianfranco Zola still searching for his first point.

(Tuesday 27^th December)

Not Winning At Bingo Again

This morning L does the Beeston parkrun and manages it without ice skates. I’m not sure I could have done. Not that I can ice skate either. I drop her off and watch them start before I head off to the Aston on Trent village walk. L’s parkrun is on but all her Pilates classes are cancelled presumably do to the gorgeous seasonal weather. Why am I not surprised that the council has cancelled something indoors when everything outdoors is going ahead.

There is actually quite a lot of snow around and even on the main roads. The A52 is only clear in one lane. The village walk is another ‘tradition’, more for its opportunity to meet people who I haven’t seen since the previous year’s one than for the actual walk itself and its accompanying bingo game which is quite tedious.

L opts out and I don’t blame her but I get to touch base with an old school friend and more importantly his new dog. Our pair both participate and Doggo skips around the whole 4.4 miles, which I think he later regrets. It's all very pleasant in the sun and the snow. It’s so alpine it makes you want to get your skis out.

Naturally I don’t win anything at the bingo. I have done this walk most years for the last forty years and probably won something twice.

We meet my parents and my brother before heading off to the Dog and Duck for lunch. I have a Snecklifter and a sandwich that is bigger than most people’s meals.

In the evening, L and I head down to Canning Circus for a few beers, in the Falcon, the Borlase and the hand & Heart. 

(Saturday 27^th December)