Just Eat

Perhaps yesterday’s brick cum reverse duathlon session was a bit too much for my delicate limbs. The knees are well sore today so I take the bus. There’s no sign of the soon to be axed Citylink, which tells you everything you need to know about why it’s failed.

Derby County reveal their new kits for the forthcoming season, they are refreshing simple and retro. Although the simple colourings of the kits are spoilt by the striking red logo of the new sponsor ‘Just Eat’. 

It’ll be interesting what effect that has on sales, considering that a proportion of the potential market may not want those two words spread across their sizeable waistline...

The council are on strike (not sure why) which disrupts L’s fitness schedule although probably not mine. It doesn’t really matter if the tennis centre is open or not as all the courts are outside anyway.

Doesn't matter anyhow, Tennis is off as my opponent is still injured. So as I'm at a loose end, and we're out tomorrow, maybe Friday night could come a day early.

(Thursday 10^th July)

Cobbles

The CityLink bus service is being scrapped at the end of July. I can’t say I’m surprised but it is all down to their own incompetence. The rival Red Arrow will be able to put away their comfy cushions and free snacks now that they’ve seen off the competition.

Not that I need either bus today, as I’m on the bike again.

Cav is already out of the Tour de France of course but now Chris Froome has joined him. Today’s day on the cobbles did for him, although actually it was today’s rain that did for him before he even reached the cobbles.

Dogging again tonight.

(Wednesday 9^th July)

That Never Happens To Me

I cycle to work and I’m disappointed to not find hordes of people lining the roads cheering me on. Perhaps that only happens in Yorkshire.

Oddly the moment the Tour de France crosses into France it starts raining. It never rained in the Costa del Yorkshire, did it?

At lunch, I head out for my first run since the Outlaw Half. Partly enthused by my 5k I bang in an entry for Sunday’s NotFast 10k, for which I will drag L along with me.

As 5pm approaches it goes very black outside and then dutifully chucks it down as I ride home. Soaked.

Good job L has got a family sized bag of Maltesers waiting for me to aid my recovery. Apparently they were handing them out for free at Tesco because the self checkouts were broken. That never happens to me. 

(Tuesday 8^th July)

Running Hen

L is off on a running hen night tonight complete with bridal outfit for the bride to be. Who I understand isn’t terribly keen to model it. Can’t say I blame her and it could all go a bit limp in this rain.

The boys and I are, of course, dogging up on the hill for which it stays dry. We divert afterwards and collect L from her post-run festivities in Borrowash.

(Monday 7^th July)

The Grandest Grand Depart

It’s another glorious day both weather side and Le Tour wise.

Today’s route actually passes the camp site. So we get a lie in and Doggo’s paws get a rest.

Yesterday we watched them go up the slight incline in Addingham, today it’s all downhill In Silsden so they come past us much faster.

Once the race has come through we try and head for home but with most of the roads still shut we drive around in circles for a while, before stopping at a pub. Which doesn’t do food obviously.

After driving in a few more circles we finally manage to get to Bradford and then down on to the M1. We pass Sheffield just as the peloton are crawling up the Jenkin Road and on to the the finishing line where Daughter will be doing her stuff as part of the Hallam Uni team.

It’s been excellent. Millions have lined the route and it’s been the grandest Grand Depart ever according to the race director. That is unless you're Mark Cavendish.

(Sunday 6^th July)

A Reet Good Yorkshire Welcome

The tent is battered overnight my persistent Yorkshire rain, in the morning though it brightens up and soon turns in to a glorious day contradicting the gloomy forecast.

We are on the route of the race tomorrow and today just four miles off it. So we walk those four miles, along with plenty of other folk, to Addingham. Even Doggo seems up for it.

Addingham has the unique honour of being on the route both days. We set up outside one of the local pubs, watch the publicity vehicles go through and then a couple of hours later the race itself. Some of the women watch the Lancaster Uni Water Polo team in their Speedos instead.

There are masses of people out on the route saying ey up to Le Tour and give it a reet good Yorkshire welcome.

After the race has gone through and they’ve all headed off to scale the Cote de Buttertubs, we watch some of the action on a big screen that a farmer has put up in his barn before heading back to the campsite where I watch Cav’s terminal crash on the tv there.

In the evening we check out the remaining two of Silsen’s four pubs and can confirm that not one of them serves food in the evenings. Not even when the place is awash with Tour de France tourists = opportunity missed.

(Saturday 5^th July)

I'm Outta Of Here

Absolutely mad at work today. We did a huge data conversion for a customer last night and its gone totally t*** up. Good job I've got the afternoon off.... I’m out of here as they say.

Le Weekend is to be spent camping at Silsden in West Yorkshire which is on the route of Sunday’s 2^nd stage of the Tour de France. So a weekend chilling, sipping wine and watching some cyclists wizz by.

Typically as soon as we hit the M1 we land in a queue for the now infamous roadworks south of Sheffield. Doesn’t bode well for the rest of the journey.

Still we reach out campsite in decent time and set off to explore the village. 

You have to say they have certainly embraced the Tour de France here and the colour yellow, the polka dots etc... We’re even drinking specially brewed beer, Le IPA.

(Friday 4^th July)

The Things I Have To Do

Le Daughter is home and we are trying to steer her onto a cheaper living project, so that we can all afford to see her through her Master’s Degree at Manchester University.

This isn’t easy when she needs le full MOT. Le opticians, le dentist, le hairdresser... well that can be cheap and cheerful surely. In fact can’t she have her hair cut really short so that it lasts for the full year?

Anyone for ****** tennis? Sadly the weather looks good, so I won’t be able to get out of it any longer.

I meet L at the tennis centre and we do a dog swap, she's also asked me to slap her if she tries to have alcohol tonight. The things I have to do.

In the end it’s a short game. My opponent turns up pre-injured and collapses in a heap during game 8. We adjourn to the pub.

(Thursday 3^rd July)

Getting Behind

I’m getting well behind with this blog. What with work giving me work to do and dog club secretary duties taking up evening computer time along with a fair amount spent on my Xpert Eleven teams. 

Then there’s the World Cup to watch and now from this weekend the Tour de France arrives. In fact we’ll be there ourselves, Le Weekend is to be spent in Le Yorkshire.

Second bike of the week today and the second bout of dog training.

(Wednesday 2^nd July)

A Kennel In The Gorbals

I’ve finally got kennels in Scotland booked for the boys so that we can abandon them and spend a day at the Commonwealth Games. It was about the 15th establishment that I'd called. Honestly you’d think it was the holiday season or something.

L rather uncharitably asks whether it's on Benbecula or somewhere equally remote. Actually it’s in Clydebank aka the Gorbals, which is about as desolate. There'll be so much to bark at, they'll sleep the rest of the week.

L drives up to Sheffield tonight to bring home Daughter. Peace about to be end-eth. 

(Tuesday 1^st July)