Pet Snail

The snail that had been clinging to the wall above our wheelie bin, that I assumed was stuck there through rigor mortis, proves it is alive. The other day I had removed it from the wall and put it on the floor but now it is back in its spot above the wheelie bin. A fast mover this one. Now, for an encore, it seems tto be moving across to perch above the recycling bin.

In the evening I do the SQT at the Velodrome while L meets Daughter at the Forest Rec Firework Display. I’m undecided about whether to take the dogs with me to experience the ongoing airborne assault in Derby or whether to leave them with the ongoing airborne assault at home. In the end I take them with me, figuring it’s got to be quieter at the Velodrome where there’s less housing.

Afterwards I go for pint in the Exeter with my Dad and then on the way home pass the first gritting lorry of the year. Not that that necessarily means much.

(Sunday 5^th November)

Something Brown

Time for a fitness test, so I go for a 5k run at lunch time. I go out for my run despite the on-off heavy rain showers and completely avoid getting a single drop on my head during my run then it soaks me when I nip back out for a sandwich.

As regards the fitness test, I have no problems at all. So Clowne is on.

In the evening I’m out in Derby doing the usual combo of a few beers in the Brunswick followed by something brown and unappetising to eat at Wetherspoons. Things are particularly brown on a Tuesday as its steak night. I manage to track down some almost healthy looking pasta and go for that. My friend's latest venture has seen him become a white van man.

On heading home I am warned to expect to find dog and ball in the wheelie bin. Seems like a pleasant night has been had at home.

(Tuesday 17^th November)

No Rest For The Wicked

In the car today and I follow a chap onto Pride Park who has what I think is a personalised plate on his Audi. If so, his name is Sieve, which sounds Scandinavian or perhaps he’s a chef, or perhaps he's just not very good at spelling.

It’s dustbin day today, so I hurriedly email L to check on MD’s welfare. He was a tired little poppet this morning after his show yesterday and may not have had much patience with the dustbin men. I would hate for someone to have dumped him in their wheelie bin.

He seems to have recovered by the time it comes to his evening training session, there’s no rest for the wicked. It goes well and I even manage not to shut my finger in the storeroom door this week.

(Monday 11th April)

(Almost) Great Things

L has suddenly been struck down by some sort of virus. At first I thought it was some adverse reaction to Yorkshire hills but no it appears to be more of a flue sort of thing. So we didn’t get to celebrate our Huddersfield survival yesterday and she’s not looking too good today either. I step in and do dog duty again.

L stays off work which confuses the dogs, who are a bit shocked to have her at home. That is, in case she ruins their restful day by making them go for a walk or something equally strenuous. They're safe. L alternates her time between the computer and collapsing back into bed. Which these days, I believe, is the typical weekday of choice for a lot of the population although L does at least spend her computer time doing some work. This arrangement also suits the dogs just fine, that’s their sort of day, just without the computer bit.

After all that rest I’ll be expecting great things from MD tonight. Finally we have some dog training to go to, it seems ages since we last did any.

A quick peruse of the Oscars awards doesn’t reveal many surprises. As much as I liked ‘The King’s Speech’, it wasn’t, in my opinion, the best film and Colin Firth wasn’t the best actor but that’s Americans and royalty for you. I’m pleased ‘The Fighter’ got a couple of awards and I’m pleased for our Nat, even if that lithe ballet figure is now carrying a bit of extra weight. Apparently it was one of the choreographers on the set of 'Black Swan' that did it. I don’t mean actually ‘on the set’ but, then again, who knows. They were doing 16-17 hour days.

L’s well enough to check the frocks out (that's not work) and gives the award for the best to my mate Mila.



Yeah perhaps, I did look at the photos but didn’t really look at what they were all wearing.

I get home to find our wheelie bin in a right state, rubbish hanging out of it and all over the floor, whilst the bin itself is still a quarter full. I’d like to say this situation is a one off but it isn’t. I snap a few photos and email them to the council.

MD does indeed turn out to be well rested and is manic at class. That’s no bad thing and he (almost) achieves some great things. We’re still working on them. Doggo doesn’t get to train. Instead he gets a brief ten minutes walk. Time enough to wee n sniff, do his number twos and wee n sniff some more. Most of life’s little pleasures.

(Monday 28th February)