First Stop London

We try a new system of getting to London today without the dogs. We deposit them in their plush accommodation for the week in Ruddington and then drive to East Midlands Parkway station. We leave the car there and get the train down to London. Seamless so far.

We have booked the Holiday Inn at Swiss Cottage but again we have managed to stay somewhere without any decent pubs. We do find some a few tube stops away in the Kentish Town\Camden Town area.

We have a drink in Tapping The Admiral but they have stopped serving food, so we move on to find somewhere else. The place’s name I can’t recall (was it the Oxford?) but they served a rather nice curry!

Then it’s back on to the Underground and to Lee Valley Velopark for day two of the Track Cycling World Championships.

After a disappointing opening day yesterday, Team GB come roaring back today. Laura Trott wins the Scratch Race, Becky James gets a surprise bronze in the Keirin and the Men’s Team Pursuit almost pip the Aussies for gold after Ed Clancy rises from the dead (after a career threatening back injury) to power them round but runs out of steam two laps from the end.

Afterwards we get the Underground back to Kentish Town and visit the Grafton, where the beer is outrageously expensive even for a 3.8% ale.

(Thursday 3^rd March)

In A Ditch

My rear tyre is flat when I get the bike out of the shed this morning but when I pump it up again it appears to want to stay inflated. Hmmm, dilemma. Will it stay up?

I give it a go and it makes it over half the way to work. It lasted until Borrowash and then I tried to fix it but neither of my spare tubes would inflate. I even borrowed someone else’s pump, thinking there was something wrong with mine but still no good. There must be a nail or something in the tyre or the rim but I can’t see anything. I ride to work on one wheel.

L will think I was in a ditch somewhere. Well, I was. Bike upside down in a ditch with me trying to fix it.

I get the bus home after work and we pick the bike up on the way to this evening’s dog class. Afterwards L and I meet up as usual for one in the Mason’s.

Today is the first day I’ve used the car since Leap Year Day and the really big news is that the car has got its day back. The clock is correct for the first time in four years.

(Wednesday 2^nd March)

Predatory Women

On the bus today as it’s raining yet again. Which means an after work Watt Bike session. Unfortunately my membership has now expired so the decision on whether to sign up permanently is required to be made. I decide to give it a go and sign on the dotted line.

L is in London today for work, protecting her boss from the predatory women he has clinics with. It’s almost worth L staying down there as we’re down in London ourselves from Thursday.

After getting vivid texts depicting her soaked to the skin in the rain and her work files turning to papier mâché I decide I best start deciding which wine to start chilling for later. 

(Tuesday 1^st March)