We’re on the park this morning, counting the deer, seeing how many have escaped the winter slaughter that has been going on this week. Sad but true. Well perhaps not to Doggo and MD who have never had much time for them. Come to think of it, neither have I...
Then I get the bus over to Derby to check on another kind of slaughter, that of Derby County. This one doesn’t arrive and instead we get the most boring hour of football you’ll ever not want to see. There was one shot between the two sides in that time, in the 43rd minute from Bristol City, if you’re interested but then the game sort of burst into life. They scored, probably by accident, but this at least woke the crowd up and subsequently the Derby team who went on to score two good goals and win the game. Which is a nice novelty to start off my long weekend.
I have Monday off because straight from the match we head up to the Lakes. L needs to add another six miles to her running total if she’s going to make her 500 and the Langdale Christmas Pudding 10k is an old favourite of ours. I’m happy to tag along if there’s dark stuff to be drunk.
It could be a cold one tonight, so we might need that dark stuff to keep us warm. Actually whereas it’s a mere two degrees as we head out of Derby, it’s oddly a balmy six degrees in the Lakes but we’ll have a few anyway just in case we need the insulation.
We end up in Sticklebarn until closing time, which is a first. We’re normally in a beery sleep long before then. How people manage to cause mayhem after drinking is beyond me. I’m always just too inebriated to be bothered.
(Saturday 10th December)
Saturday, 10 December 2011
Friday, 9 December 2011
Scottish Proportions
It’s a bit windy on the bike today but nothing of Scottish proportions. Although at lunch time the weather does seem to have a go at doing its worst. Thankfully things seem to have calmed down again by the time I cycle home.
Hopefully we won’t be getting those Scottish storms down here and the forecast is for low winds all weekend. Which is good news for those camping this weekend...
It’s certainly not too bad on the amble to the Victoria, where we dine in their tent, quite a chilly tent as it turns out. The dogs aren’t allowed in the food room and food isn’t allowed in the dog room, hence we're in the tent, in the garden.
We’re not the only ones under the gas heaters and it does have a certain charm, unless your girl has a faulty thermostat but then they probably all do. So after the food we head indoors.
(Friday 9th December)
Hopefully we won’t be getting those Scottish storms down here and the forecast is for low winds all weekend. Which is good news for those camping this weekend...
It’s certainly not too bad on the amble to the Victoria, where we dine in their tent, quite a chilly tent as it turns out. The dogs aren’t allowed in the food room and food isn’t allowed in the dog room, hence we're in the tent, in the garden.
We’re not the only ones under the gas heaters and it does have a certain charm, unless your girl has a faulty thermostat but then they probably all do. So after the food we head indoors.
(Friday 9th December)
Thursday, 8 December 2011
They Often Blow In Twos You Know
I’m back at Halfords for the second time this week replacing a headlight bulb. They often blow in twos you know, the assistant says. Yes I know and I’m sure you said that to me last time as well.
L has spotted this
Marmite Chocolate... You’ll love it or hate it...
No I don't so.
We have signed a pact. My squash opponent has promised to abstain from any sporting activity for 24 hours prior to tonight's game to remove the risk of cancelling again through injury. No excuses accepted tonight, he can come in a wheelchair if necessary. In return I have agreed to stay off the bike for fear of cancelling through bike breakdown.
I take the boys with me. Doggo does love a bit of boot sitting, although I’m not sure it does anything for MD.
It’s not a great game. Well, terrible actually, 0-5. Although I was very pleased with both the new racquet and new balls. The racquet packs a lot more punch than my old one, purely because it has new strings I guess. I just need to get the hang of how to use that punch... The balls had extra bounce, again I suppose purely due to being new.
The racquet it also the same as my opponent's, which is distressing as it makes us equals on the racquet front, so I can’t blame the equipment.
There are gritters everywhere tonight, ominous, or perhaps they just now have too much grit stockpiled.
(Thursday 8th December)
L has spotted this
Marmite Chocolate... You’ll love it or hate it...
No I don't so.
We have signed a pact. My squash opponent has promised to abstain from any sporting activity for 24 hours prior to tonight's game to remove the risk of cancelling again through injury. No excuses accepted tonight, he can come in a wheelchair if necessary. In return I have agreed to stay off the bike for fear of cancelling through bike breakdown.
I take the boys with me. Doggo does love a bit of boot sitting, although I’m not sure it does anything for MD.
It’s not a great game. Well, terrible actually, 0-5. Although I was very pleased with both the new racquet and new balls. The racquet packs a lot more punch than my old one, purely because it has new strings I guess. I just need to get the hang of how to use that punch... The balls had extra bounce, again I suppose purely due to being new.
The racquet it also the same as my opponent's, which is distressing as it makes us equals on the racquet front, so I can’t blame the equipment.
There are gritters everywhere tonight, ominous, or perhaps they just now have too much grit stockpiled.
(Thursday 8th December)
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
Hot And Bothered
It’s quite a bit milder today, very windy though, all in the wrong direction. I arrive at work by bike a bit hot and bothered and almost dry. The rain caught me with about two miles to go.
Naturally L disagrees about the ‘mild’ bit, muttering something about her hands dropping off but then she says that in June, before reiterating that she glad she’s not a cyclist in this downpour. She's glad she's not a cyclist in any weather... Anyhow, downpour? What downpour... oh, that downpour. It’s not so much the rain, I don’t mind that, it’s the wind and it’s actually getting worse.
It is dry by the time I cycle home but still very windy but the wind’s in right direction for once. So, wa-hey, it’s a fast ride home. T’was good.
L’s also glad she’s not going to be standing in some horse shed tonight. Ah. No problem, MD will create enough hot air to keep the whole class warm.
(Wednesday 7th December)
Naturally L disagrees about the ‘mild’ bit, muttering something about her hands dropping off but then she says that in June, before reiterating that she glad she’s not a cyclist in this downpour. She's glad she's not a cyclist in any weather... Anyhow, downpour? What downpour... oh, that downpour. It’s not so much the rain, I don’t mind that, it’s the wind and it’s actually getting worse.
It is dry by the time I cycle home but still very windy but the wind’s in right direction for once. So, wa-hey, it’s a fast ride home. T’was good.
L’s also glad she’s not going to be standing in some horse shed tonight. Ah. No problem, MD will create enough hot air to keep the whole class warm.
(Wednesday 7th December)
Tuesday, 6 December 2011
There Is No Such Thing As Bad Weather
The weather forecast says don’t bike, so I don’t. Initially I regret it as I walk to the bus. That is until I slip on a spot of ice. So perhaps a correct call after all and perhaps for once the forecast was right.
"There is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing" so said Sir Rannulph Fiennes as he set off to Tesco on foot or somewhere.
I’m not sure if he pinched that quote but he’s wrong anyway. There are also the wrong tyres and perhaps the wrong mode of transport completely. Although there are plenty of bikes about, despite the ice. Mad people. I bet they’ll be someone wearing shorts somewhere.
There are also the wrong dogs or perhaps the wrong footwear. L is considering crampons after her slither with the dogs this morning.
It looks nice and snowy up in Scotland.
In fact they’ve probably got more than the Alps at the moment.
(Tuesday 6th December)
"There is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing" so said Sir Rannulph Fiennes as he set off to Tesco on foot or somewhere.
I’m not sure if he pinched that quote but he’s wrong anyway. There are also the wrong tyres and perhaps the wrong mode of transport completely. Although there are plenty of bikes about, despite the ice. Mad people. I bet they’ll be someone wearing shorts somewhere.
There are also the wrong dogs or perhaps the wrong footwear. L is considering crampons after her slither with the dogs this morning.
It looks nice and snowy up in Scotland.
In fact they’ve probably got more than the Alps at the moment.
(Tuesday 6th December)
Monday, 5 December 2011
How Much Sleep?
Liking a lie-in is in people's genes they reckon... and dogs too I reckon. Just exactly how much sleep do collies need? Most mornings I wake up wedged between the two dogs and L. I’m usually awake ages before all of them but that’s not to say I don’t like a lie-in too. ‘Let’s book a lie in’ are some of my favourite words.
It’s a nightmare drive in. I don’t know if the roads are only bad on the few days I drive or every day but this morning somebody tried to park their car on the armco barrier down the centre of the A52. Again. It doesn’t work, you can’t do it and you often end up in having to be rescued by emergency services but still they do it. A long queue.
No dog training tonight, so muddy football with the dogs in the garden instead.
(Monday 5th December)
It’s a nightmare drive in. I don’t know if the roads are only bad on the few days I drive or every day but this morning somebody tried to park their car on the armco barrier down the centre of the A52. Again. It doesn’t work, you can’t do it and you often end up in having to be rescued by emergency services but still they do it. A long queue.
No dog training tonight, so muddy football with the dogs in the garden instead.
(Monday 5th December)
Sunday, 4 December 2011
All The Best Places
L is panicking that she might struggle to clock up her 500 miles. There’s no chance of that, I’ve already ordered the commemorative t-shirts. It does mean though that we’ve got a pretty tough schedule between now and May, including a trip to Peterborough today. We go to all the best places, oh yes.
Today’s race is the Nene Valley 10 Miler, which sounds nice but, having been lured down to the area recently for the not-by-the-riverside Riverside Half, probably isn’t and there’s no t-shirt.
I’m here because anything has got be better than the Edwinstowe Christmas 10k again, off road and all for another red t-shirt with Christmas trees on it. It’s such a minefield picking a race at this time of year, they nearly all have ‘Reindeer’ or ‘Santa’ in the title and can often involve fancy dress. All to be avoided, I think.
So here we are trying to find the Rugby Club somewhere round the back of Sainsbury’s, before queuing for the temporary toilets and then finally milling about on the road outside Aldi looking for the start line. I tell you, Mo Farrah doesn’t know he’s born. It’s back there we’re told. Back up, back up, back up... then suddenly, with no evidence of a starting gun, horn, whistle or even a cry of ‘ready, steady, go’ we’re off, I think. I never did find out where the start line was.
It’s a bit of a dull one, around the local housing estates with a short stretch through a wood, which is presumably where the local muggings take place after dark.
The first few miles are livened up with a game of dodge the post. How it works is the chap in front of you suddenly yells ‘POST’ at the top of his voice and dodges violently to one side, causing you to hurdle the two foot high metal post that you are now hurtling towards. You then yell ‘POST’ yourself or sometimes perhaps ‘****ING POST’ as you pass the problem elegantly on to the next man. Great fun.
A few miles in, with everyone now more spread out, a broken leg starts to become less of a concern and I begin to concentrate on the race itself. Well, on the ponytail in front of me, which had the nerve to overtake but that I now have no intention of letting get away from me.
The course has PB potential, there's a few twisty bits but it's pretty flat apart from the underpass, oh and the bridge. It’s also devoid of all scenery but just in case you did miss something you get chance to do it all again with a second lap. The view though is no better second time around but by then I was focusing purely on getting a PB rather than debating the architectural merits of modern housing estates with the people around me.
Talking of which, I was just thinking what hairy legs the owner of the ponytail in front of me had when I realised that, although I was still following a white and blue running vest, it’s owner has suddenly turned into an grey haired chap. How did that happen? I really have not been concentrating enough. Still, it makes no odds; I can’t let him beat me either.
There’s a thimbleful of water on offer at halfway but in plastic cups, so I have to ease up to drink it. Then having been revived, a little, I go past the grey haired chap and tag on to the back of four other guys who I reckon are going at about the right pace to pull me round to the finish but they part, let me through and then fall behind me. That wasn’t supposed to happen either. This is going far too well, after doing all three of my previous ten milers in 1:13 perhaps I could possibly get a 1:12 this time?
I continue to pass people all the way around the second lap. That is until last 20 yards. Where did they all come from?
1:12:56 I reckon or maybe 1:12:57... Job done and a negative split, not done many of them. The official results say 1:12:59... They’re having me on but it still counts as sub 1:13, just. So I must have got my training (ha ha) and my pre-race routine (thanks L) right.
The goodie bag turns out to be just that, a bag, an empty one or you could have a drinks bottle. So I go for that, you can never have too many drinks bottles... or bags for that matter.
Then it’s back up to Derby, where I’m due at the Dog Club AGM before we head out on the tiles for what seems the first time in ages, taking in the Lincolnshire Poacher and a curry that is so cheap we have to tip them for fear of them going out of business.
(Sunday 4th December)
Today’s race is the Nene Valley 10 Miler, which sounds nice but, having been lured down to the area recently for the not-by-the-riverside Riverside Half, probably isn’t and there’s no t-shirt.
I’m here because anything has got be better than the Edwinstowe Christmas 10k again, off road and all for another red t-shirt with Christmas trees on it. It’s such a minefield picking a race at this time of year, they nearly all have ‘Reindeer’ or ‘Santa’ in the title and can often involve fancy dress. All to be avoided, I think.
So here we are trying to find the Rugby Club somewhere round the back of Sainsbury’s, before queuing for the temporary toilets and then finally milling about on the road outside Aldi looking for the start line. I tell you, Mo Farrah doesn’t know he’s born. It’s back there we’re told. Back up, back up, back up... then suddenly, with no evidence of a starting gun, horn, whistle or even a cry of ‘ready, steady, go’ we’re off, I think. I never did find out where the start line was.
It’s a bit of a dull one, around the local housing estates with a short stretch through a wood, which is presumably where the local muggings take place after dark.
The first few miles are livened up with a game of dodge the post. How it works is the chap in front of you suddenly yells ‘POST’ at the top of his voice and dodges violently to one side, causing you to hurdle the two foot high metal post that you are now hurtling towards. You then yell ‘POST’ yourself or sometimes perhaps ‘****ING POST’ as you pass the problem elegantly on to the next man. Great fun.
A few miles in, with everyone now more spread out, a broken leg starts to become less of a concern and I begin to concentrate on the race itself. Well, on the ponytail in front of me, which had the nerve to overtake but that I now have no intention of letting get away from me.
The course has PB potential, there's a few twisty bits but it's pretty flat apart from the underpass, oh and the bridge. It’s also devoid of all scenery but just in case you did miss something you get chance to do it all again with a second lap. The view though is no better second time around but by then I was focusing purely on getting a PB rather than debating the architectural merits of modern housing estates with the people around me.
Talking of which, I was just thinking what hairy legs the owner of the ponytail in front of me had when I realised that, although I was still following a white and blue running vest, it’s owner has suddenly turned into an grey haired chap. How did that happen? I really have not been concentrating enough. Still, it makes no odds; I can’t let him beat me either.
There’s a thimbleful of water on offer at halfway but in plastic cups, so I have to ease up to drink it. Then having been revived, a little, I go past the grey haired chap and tag on to the back of four other guys who I reckon are going at about the right pace to pull me round to the finish but they part, let me through and then fall behind me. That wasn’t supposed to happen either. This is going far too well, after doing all three of my previous ten milers in 1:13 perhaps I could possibly get a 1:12 this time?
I continue to pass people all the way around the second lap. That is until last 20 yards. Where did they all come from?
1:12:56 I reckon or maybe 1:12:57... Job done and a negative split, not done many of them. The official results say 1:12:59... They’re having me on but it still counts as sub 1:13, just. So I must have got my training (ha ha) and my pre-race routine (thanks L) right.
The goodie bag turns out to be just that, a bag, an empty one or you could have a drinks bottle. So I go for that, you can never have too many drinks bottles... or bags for that matter.
Then it’s back up to Derby, where I’m due at the Dog Club AGM before we head out on the tiles for what seems the first time in ages, taking in the Lincolnshire Poacher and a curry that is so cheap we have to tip them for fear of them going out of business.
(Sunday 4th December)
Saturday, 3 December 2011
Walking Home
I didn’t get up at 5am. I decided it wasn’t worth being on time to walk MD’s first course because it wasn’t one we’d do well on anyway as it included dogs up to G7. So an extra hour or so in bed ensued instead. In the end we got E’d but I don’t know if that down to not walking it or whether that would have happened anyway. Probably.
His second course was going to be the one we took home the first place trophy for and there’s a whole chicken leg waiting for him at home if he does, so I’m told. And for me? Probably just the leftovers.
The course turned out to be a bit trickier than what you’d expect in G3. Still, to my surprise and delight, we did the hard bit really well. So it’s all systems go until we missed out a weave pole and then for good measure took a pole down in the finish straight. We still came 20th with 10 faults. Which just goes to show we could have won that. Luckily there’s still the G3 jumping to come and we stand a good chance in that too but if he cocks that up as well, he’s walking home.
First though a G3-5 course where we’ll be beaten for sure by the G5s, though there’s no disgrace in that. The same judge who set the G3 sets a course that is oddly easier than the G3 one. I think he must have got them the wrong way around or perhaps he was spooked after only getting 8 clears from 140 dogs on the G3 one.
MD puts in a cracking run and we come 7th out of 224, beaten as expected by a load of G5s but still very very pleasing. Ah but then in the G3 Jumping, he has a shocker and we get E’d again. He really does pick the wrong classes to go well in. So he’s still walking home. It’s only 100 miles. See you later mate.
Meanwhile the old man so enjoyed his first ever Veterans run and he didn’t exactly pootle round it either, like a veteran is supposed to. In fact he comes 3rd, which is not to be sneezed at and I think he’s just secured the honour of the chicken leg.
Three rosettes in the end for the day.
My lunch time is spent in a meeting, arguing my clubs corner at a meeting to discuss one of the club competitions that we are involved in but that we may decide to withdraw from at tomorrow’s club AGM. So probably not time well spent.
(Saturday 3rd December)
His second course was going to be the one we took home the first place trophy for and there’s a whole chicken leg waiting for him at home if he does, so I’m told. And for me? Probably just the leftovers.
The course turned out to be a bit trickier than what you’d expect in G3. Still, to my surprise and delight, we did the hard bit really well. So it’s all systems go until we missed out a weave pole and then for good measure took a pole down in the finish straight. We still came 20th with 10 faults. Which just goes to show we could have won that. Luckily there’s still the G3 jumping to come and we stand a good chance in that too but if he cocks that up as well, he’s walking home.
First though a G3-5 course where we’ll be beaten for sure by the G5s, though there’s no disgrace in that. The same judge who set the G3 sets a course that is oddly easier than the G3 one. I think he must have got them the wrong way around or perhaps he was spooked after only getting 8 clears from 140 dogs on the G3 one.
MD puts in a cracking run and we come 7th out of 224, beaten as expected by a load of G5s but still very very pleasing. Ah but then in the G3 Jumping, he has a shocker and we get E’d again. He really does pick the wrong classes to go well in. So he’s still walking home. It’s only 100 miles. See you later mate.
Meanwhile the old man so enjoyed his first ever Veterans run and he didn’t exactly pootle round it either, like a veteran is supposed to. In fact he comes 3rd, which is not to be sneezed at and I think he’s just secured the honour of the chicken leg.
Three rosettes in the end for the day.
My lunch time is spent in a meeting, arguing my clubs corner at a meeting to discuss one of the club competitions that we are involved in but that we may decide to withdraw from at tomorrow’s club AGM. So probably not time well spent.
(Saturday 3rd December)
Friday, 2 December 2011
Worth A Repeat
I bike in. It’s a bit chilly but at least I don’t have any punctures today. I have a new tyre and a new tube, so I would hope that’s cured it.
The number of complaints over Jeremy Clarkson’s comments reaches 21,000. Impressive but presumably it just means the rest of the UK's 62 million population either agreed with him or got the joke.
We decide to stay in tonight again, as I may be getting up at 5am to head up to Preston. I haven’t decided on a departure time yet but last night’s unscheduled night in was so very pleasant, it was worth a repeat.
For romantic entertainment we watch the gruesome thriller the ‘Bone Collector’ which is based on the Jeffrey Deaver’s book that we have both read, well listened to. I thought the book took a lot of getting into but at least a film will usually get straight to the point. Although I can see the film is terribly miscast before we even watch it. Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie are not remotely appropriate and they have to rewrite the roles for them. In fact they rewrite nearly everybody’s roles, so it’s not a great effort.
(Friday 2nd December)
The number of complaints over Jeremy Clarkson’s comments reaches 21,000. Impressive but presumably it just means the rest of the UK's 62 million population either agreed with him or got the joke.
We decide to stay in tonight again, as I may be getting up at 5am to head up to Preston. I haven’t decided on a departure time yet but last night’s unscheduled night in was so very pleasant, it was worth a repeat.
For romantic entertainment we watch the gruesome thriller the ‘Bone Collector’ which is based on the Jeffrey Deaver’s book that we have both read, well listened to. I thought the book took a lot of getting into but at least a film will usually get straight to the point. Although I can see the film is terribly miscast before we even watch it. Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie are not remotely appropriate and they have to rewrite the roles for them. In fact they rewrite nearly everybody’s roles, so it’s not a great effort.
(Friday 2nd December)
Thursday, 1 December 2011
A Ploy? Me? Never.
The BBC are in trouble after Jeremy Clarkson said he would like to see striking public sector workers taken outside and shot in front of their families. Bless him. Of course the media reported his little joke totally out of context but that’s what the media’s for I believe. What was even funnier was that the humourless Unison union clearly only saw the media’s version before going off on one. Which, at a stroke, not only made them look a bit stupid for not getting the joke but also meant they missed a golden opportunity to fire back a similar comment demanding an even worse fate for Clarkson, which not only would have been incredibly popular with the public but would have done more for their credibility than their strikes have.
Due to the ‘pay in advance, no refunds’ policy the council is now employing to squash bookings I have ended up with two bookings tonight at two different centres. I ring up and manage to persuade them to roll one over to next week. So everything is sorted, that is, until opponent cancels on me.
They’re more bolshie when I ring to move the second one and at first they won’t let me because I haven’t given the required 24 hours notice. So instead I try to talk L into a game. She's immediately wary and isn’t sure whether to be flattered or suspicious. She thinks it’s all a ploy to get her into a short skirt. A ploy? Me? Never.
As she’s clearly not that keen, I again try to reschedule and getting a different person this time, I succeed. Damn, it would have been nice to have seen the short skirt get an airing. Plus I’ve now again got two courts booked for next week.
All is not lost, far from it. We have an excellent night in instead, just the two of us, the two damp muddy dogs with their damp muddy footballs and L’s slow cooking corned beef hash in the oven. She knows all the top seduction techniques.
(Thursday 1st December)
Due to the ‘pay in advance, no refunds’ policy the council is now employing to squash bookings I have ended up with two bookings tonight at two different centres. I ring up and manage to persuade them to roll one over to next week. So everything is sorted, that is, until opponent cancels on me.
They’re more bolshie when I ring to move the second one and at first they won’t let me because I haven’t given the required 24 hours notice. So instead I try to talk L into a game. She's immediately wary and isn’t sure whether to be flattered or suspicious. She thinks it’s all a ploy to get her into a short skirt. A ploy? Me? Never.
As she’s clearly not that keen, I again try to reschedule and getting a different person this time, I succeed. Damn, it would have been nice to have seen the short skirt get an airing. Plus I’ve now again got two courts booked for next week.
All is not lost, far from it. We have an excellent night in instead, just the two of us, the two damp muddy dogs with their damp muddy footballs and L’s slow cooking corned beef hash in the oven. She knows all the top seduction techniques.
(Thursday 1st December)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
