It is announced that the Great Langdale 10k isn’t to be rescheduled. Which is a shame. With the cold weather due to return I just hope that this Sunday's Bolsover Castle race in on.
My father puts on his Christmas list Gordon Brown’s book. He does like his fairy stories does my Dad. Surprisingly nobody appears to be willing to buy it for him.
Oddly Sainsbury’s and all the retail park is eerily quiet this lunchtime. Either everyone’s finished their Christmas shopping, given up on it, or perhaps they’ve been forced to go back to work after running out of ‘snow days’. Either way, this week it takes me less than half an hour to get out of the car park. Result.
Squash could be in doubt tomorrow, my opponent has a bit of a problem; he doesn’t currently have a) an unbroken racquet or b) an unbroken car but still twenty-four hours to sort both.
Dog training is a bit of a waste. We have new beginners in our beginners’ class and that made for a slow class. Suppose that’s what it’s for but not an ideal time to join the group. From January though MD will be moving up a class. Infant school to Juniors if you like. So we’ll be above all that. Doggo doesn’t get to train so I take him for a sniff along the footpath instead. Ten minutes of that and he’s ‘as happy as Larry’.
(Wednesday 15th December)
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
A Poor Year For Cycling
With the temperatures apparently about to go negative again soon I take the opportunity of cycling into work. It may not be cold or snowy but it’s still not pleasant. It was misting heavily all the way in.
It was also very dark. L keeps threatening to get me some Christmas lights for my bike. Hmmm. I have in fact bought myself a new flashy front light. Where as my existing one is to see by, this one is intended to be seen with, but I can’t find anywhere to attach it. It won’t fit anywhere other than on my handlebars, where there’s no room.
It’s been a poor year for cycling. In 2007 I rode 4454 km, in 2008 - 4554 km, in 2009 - 4875 km but this year so far, only 3573 km. Not good. Although I have ran more but I don't have a log of that.
The ride home is also wet, proper rain this time, but still I head to the pool. I wave at L who is in the gym and then get a lane to myself. Perhaps the Nottingham students have finished as early as Son has.
I beat L home because she had headed straight from the gym to a wild Christmas party that is being thrown by her book club at the local library. It all happens around here. So I turn on the computer and continue my Christmas shopping.
About an hour later, I’ve finished it, the whole lot. I don’t think I’ve ever finished this early and I’ve done it all without going into a single shop. I usually end up visiting at least one real place because I leave it too late. Well I might have to suppliment things with the odd box of chocs but I can do that when I do our weekly shop at Sainsburys.
Of course there’s one almighty drawback... I’ve just got to hope everything arrives in time. It’s not going to snow again is it?
I’m so elated that I head into the living room where Daughter and the now returned L are, brandishing my triumphant credit card, which MD then attempts to eat. He’ll eat anything that dog.
(Tuesday 14th December)
It was also very dark. L keeps threatening to get me some Christmas lights for my bike. Hmmm. I have in fact bought myself a new flashy front light. Where as my existing one is to see by, this one is intended to be seen with, but I can’t find anywhere to attach it. It won’t fit anywhere other than on my handlebars, where there’s no room.
It’s been a poor year for cycling. In 2007 I rode 4454 km, in 2008 - 4554 km, in 2009 - 4875 km but this year so far, only 3573 km. Not good. Although I have ran more but I don't have a log of that.
The ride home is also wet, proper rain this time, but still I head to the pool. I wave at L who is in the gym and then get a lane to myself. Perhaps the Nottingham students have finished as early as Son has.
I beat L home because she had headed straight from the gym to a wild Christmas party that is being thrown by her book club at the local library. It all happens around here. So I turn on the computer and continue my Christmas shopping.
About an hour later, I’ve finished it, the whole lot. I don’t think I’ve ever finished this early and I’ve done it all without going into a single shop. I usually end up visiting at least one real place because I leave it too late. Well I might have to suppliment things with the odd box of chocs but I can do that when I do our weekly shop at Sainsburys.
Of course there’s one almighty drawback... I’ve just got to hope everything arrives in time. It’s not going to snow again is it?
I’m so elated that I head into the living room where Daughter and the now returned L are, brandishing my triumphant credit card, which MD then attempts to eat. He’ll eat anything that dog.
(Tuesday 14th December)
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Hindsight Is A Wonderful Thing
Before we leave we drive up the Kirkstone Pass, where it's been snowing overnight, to see if the pub is walkable. It isn't.
Then we finally take a look at the Langdale Valley and by now it’s practically snow free. I’m sure the race could have been on. Sunday’s especially. They could probably have staged both days’ races on the Sunday but I guess they didn’t know the thaw was going to be as quick as this. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. It would be nice if they re-scheduled it for when we're next up here in January. We couldn’t be that lucky could we?
Then when head back to Nottingham for the main event of the day, Daughter’s parents evening. Which is totally surreal. I come away feeling we’re been discussing the wrong girl because nobody had a bad word to say about her. Surely she must have been crap at something? Surely she must have been a pain in the rear to somebody? Apparently not. Quite a transformation from a year ago.
Then finally, to round the day off, dog training. MD has been stuck in the car for most of the day so it gives him chance to stretch his legs and vocal chords. He doesn’t disappoint.
I get home to find that Blackburn Rovers have attempted to trump Newcastle United for the award of most ridiculous sacking by dismissing Sam Allardyce. Incredible. I don’t think anyone saw that one coming.
(Monday 13th December)
Then we finally take a look at the Langdale Valley and by now it’s practically snow free. I’m sure the race could have been on. Sunday’s especially. They could probably have staged both days’ races on the Sunday but I guess they didn’t know the thaw was going to be as quick as this. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. It would be nice if they re-scheduled it for when we're next up here in January. We couldn’t be that lucky could we?
Then when head back to Nottingham for the main event of the day, Daughter’s parents evening. Which is totally surreal. I come away feeling we’re been discussing the wrong girl because nobody had a bad word to say about her. Surely she must have been crap at something? Surely she must have been a pain in the rear to somebody? Apparently not. Quite a transformation from a year ago.
Then finally, to round the day off, dog training. MD has been stuck in the car for most of the day so it gives him chance to stretch his legs and vocal chords. He doesn’t disappoint.
I get home to find that Blackburn Rovers have attempted to trump Newcastle United for the award of most ridiculous sacking by dismissing Sam Allardyce. Incredible. I don’t think anyone saw that one coming.
(Monday 13th December)
Saturday, December 11, 2010
That Must Have Been Some Road
With no race to do we spend the day walking. We had contemplated going to the start anyway where one of the organisers was giving out minced pies and mulled wine to all those that turn up. As these will have been bought with the race in mind I imagine he has quite a lot to give away and perhaps we should be helping him dispose of them.
In the end though we decide to explore where we are rather than return to an area we know very well. So we set off on a walk and follow the track up towards ‘High Street’. Which at 828 metres is the highest point at this end of the Lake District. It is named after the Roman road which ran from Penrith to Ambleside and bizarrely went over the summit. That must have been some road. Apparently it was easier and safer that hacking through the woodland in the valley.
We don’t intend going all the way to the summit and turn back once the path starts getting too icy to navigate. We need a dinky pair of spikes like the ones we saw one walker with.
So we return to Troutbeck via the Kirkstone Pass which was built the way the Roman’s refused to go and stop off for a jar at the Queens Head, a luxury not available to those road building Romans.
Robinson’s Old Tom on draft, you don’t see that very often. Like never. 8.5% and deadly stuff.
L has two! Halves I hasten to add. Thankfully it’s only a short stagger from there back to base camp.
(Sunday 12th December)
In the end though we decide to explore where we are rather than return to an area we know very well. So we set off on a walk and follow the track up towards ‘High Street’. Which at 828 metres is the highest point at this end of the Lake District. It is named after the Roman road which ran from Penrith to Ambleside and bizarrely went over the summit. That must have been some road. Apparently it was easier and safer that hacking through the woodland in the valley.
We don’t intend going all the way to the summit and turn back once the path starts getting too icy to navigate. We need a dinky pair of spikes like the ones we saw one walker with.
So we return to Troutbeck via the Kirkstone Pass which was built the way the Roman’s refused to go and stop off for a jar at the Queens Head, a luxury not available to those road building Romans.
Robinson’s Old Tom on draft, you don’t see that very often. Like never. 8.5% and deadly stuff.
L has two! Halves I hasten to add. Thankfully it’s only a short stagger from there back to base camp.
(Sunday 12th December)
Friday, December 10, 2010
It’s Already Like He’s Never Been Away
We head over to Warwick (Coventry) to rescue Son from the purgatory that has been his first term at University. Non-stop partying, must have been hell. It seems like he’s only been there five minutes and compared with some of his mates, he has. His course started a week later and finished a week earlier than most.
The University wants them all out by 10am and when we arrive there just after 9am there are SWAT teams of cleaners, armed to the teeth with industrial strength solutions, waiting to swoop. Son, surprisingly, is up, ready and packed. Although looking very bleary eyed, perhaps he’s not actually been to bed yet.
We drop him back at home, where he crawls up the stairs and into bed. It’s already like he’s never been away. Then we start packing and prepare to head up to the Lakes for the rest of the weekend.
The drive up the M6 is uneventful, which is good and there is no snow anywhere, which is sad. I think we have one of the few surviving patches in our own garden. The first snow we see is on the Lakeland fells and as leave the M6, there is also some still in the fields. Very festive.
We negotiate the narrow lakes to Troutbeck which is a new destination for us and find our accommodation for the weekend, the ‘Mortal Man’.
The ‘Mortal Man’ is a traditional inn dating back to 1689, with apparently a short break a few years ago when the then owner tried to rebrand it as some sort of cocktail bar. The current owners, who have been there for about eighteen months, have turned it back into a very charming inn.
The first thing you notice is its striking pub sign,
which carries the rhyme:-
"Thou mortal man that lives by bread
What is it that makes thy nose so red?
Thou silly fool that lookst so pale,
'Tis drinking Sally Birkett's ale."
At the time the original sign was painted, the landlord was a chap called Tommy Birkett and Sally was presumably his other half.
So naturally one of the first things we do after checking in is to head down to the bar, settle in front of the real log fire, reprimand MD for barking at a fellow canine guest and sample Sally's ale, which is actually a bitter from the Hawkshead Brewery and it’s pleasant enough. As is the Jennings’ Cumberland Ale which is alongside it on the bar. The third of their ales is Timothy Taylor’s Landlord which I don’t try, although I have nothing against it, because it isn’t from Cumbria. So I don’t see the point when you can support the local ales on the bar.
Then we hit the food, which too is very good and they have a cheeseboard, so bonus points for that.
(Saturday 11th December)
The University wants them all out by 10am and when we arrive there just after 9am there are SWAT teams of cleaners, armed to the teeth with industrial strength solutions, waiting to swoop. Son, surprisingly, is up, ready and packed. Although looking very bleary eyed, perhaps he’s not actually been to bed yet.
We drop him back at home, where he crawls up the stairs and into bed. It’s already like he’s never been away. Then we start packing and prepare to head up to the Lakes for the rest of the weekend.
The drive up the M6 is uneventful, which is good and there is no snow anywhere, which is sad. I think we have one of the few surviving patches in our own garden. The first snow we see is on the Lakeland fells and as leave the M6, there is also some still in the fields. Very festive.
We negotiate the narrow lakes to Troutbeck which is a new destination for us and find our accommodation for the weekend, the ‘Mortal Man’.
The ‘Mortal Man’ is a traditional inn dating back to 1689, with apparently a short break a few years ago when the then owner tried to rebrand it as some sort of cocktail bar. The current owners, who have been there for about eighteen months, have turned it back into a very charming inn.
The first thing you notice is its striking pub sign,
which carries the rhyme:-
"Thou mortal man that lives by bread
What is it that makes thy nose so red?
Thou silly fool that lookst so pale,
'Tis drinking Sally Birkett's ale."
At the time the original sign was painted, the landlord was a chap called Tommy Birkett and Sally was presumably his other half.
So naturally one of the first things we do after checking in is to head down to the bar, settle in front of the real log fire, reprimand MD for barking at a fellow canine guest and sample Sally's ale, which is actually a bitter from the Hawkshead Brewery and it’s pleasant enough. As is the Jennings’ Cumberland Ale which is alongside it on the bar. The third of their ales is Timothy Taylor’s Landlord which I don’t try, although I have nothing against it, because it isn’t from Cumbria. So I don’t see the point when you can support the local ales on the bar.
Then we hit the food, which too is very good and they have a cheeseboard, so bonus points for that.
(Saturday 11th December)
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Braving The Conditions
Well I don’t get a third bump on my head as I brave the conditions and cycle into work. First I had to walk off our estate, the snow has now turned to thick ice and isn’t navigable but the main roads were fine, although salted unfortunately. An odd move by the council, as they claim to be short of the stuff and we’re in the middle of a massive thaw. I then managed to cycle right up to around 50 yards from work before I had to dismount and negotiate another temporary skating rink. Even then I could only go so far. There was no way I would have made it across our car park in my cycling shoes. In the end I chained my bike to the air conditioning unit on the front of the building.
I can also confirm that if they have used molasses coated road salt it hasn’t stuck to the road as was the intention. It had however stuck to me and my bike. It’s all up my cycling trousers. Bike wise, in theory I might be better off on my best bike. Carbon doesn't corrode, does it? But I’m not going try it to find out.
Sad news. The old dog who delivers the morning papers had died. That’s the actual dog who helps out his owner and I only saw him a few days ago on his rounds. He was 11. The poor thing had cancer on his leg.
The ice is visibly receding. By lunchtime I make it to Greggs and only have to go on the road once. By the evening, when I take the boys out for a walk, there are even fewer areas of ice around our estate, although it still meant a dismount when I cycled home.
(Friday 10th December)
I can also confirm that if they have used molasses coated road salt it hasn’t stuck to the road as was the intention. It had however stuck to me and my bike. It’s all up my cycling trousers. Bike wise, in theory I might be better off on my best bike. Carbon doesn't corrode, does it? But I’m not going try it to find out.
Sad news. The old dog who delivers the morning papers had died. That’s the actual dog who helps out his owner and I only saw him a few days ago on his rounds. He was 11. The poor thing had cancer on his leg.
The ice is visibly receding. By lunchtime I make it to Greggs and only have to go on the road once. By the evening, when I take the boys out for a walk, there are even fewer areas of ice around our estate, although it still meant a dismount when I cycled home.
(Friday 10th December)
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Things Happen In Threes
All that nice crunchy snow has melted and it's now all turned to ice. Definitely not conditions that are conducive to any form of training. Though I have seen a few runners out, risking the pavements, using a skating sort of technique.
So it’s kind of lucky that training isn't actually required. Well not for this weekend. Great Langdale’s Christmas 10k race is off after four inches of snow fell on Tuesday night.
The main road through the valley looks better than that though, ok to drive on but might still be a bit icy to run on but their parking field at the Sticklebarn pub is under several inches.
So still no free Christmas puddings. We had a cupboard full by this time last year. We'll have to go up anyway to see if the organiser needs any help with the ones he got. He reckons he’s eaten two of the race prizes so far. Only another 998 to go then.
I look for a replacement race. There’s a run at Walsall but its 10 miles. Not sure I’m in 10 mile shape.
I’d be happy just going up to the Lakes to chill out, have a weekend away and a beer or six. Just got to tempt L into it. There’s not an open water swim on this weekend is there? Brrrr.
Talking of Brrrr. Considering the depth of the snow I might need plan B. I've stumbled across a decent looking pub that does reasonably priced B&B. That might tempt her. They say they accept well behaved dogs. I had to email to check whether they’d take two badly behaved ones.
The Red Arrow bus detours to Stapleford on the way home to drop someone off. It is supposed to be a direct service with no stops. Don’t understand it all. She wasn’t even attractive.
I was going to praise the council because at first they excelled themselves. I logged a request with their bulky waste service to get Daughter’s old bed collected and they replied the very next day, giving a date for it, today. I was even more impressed as this was in the thick of the bad weather and I was surprised anyone was even in their office that day.
Needless to say it didn’t get collected today. The bed is still here. Why am I not surprised. Every time I use this service they fail to collect at the first time of asking. They tell me later that the service has been suspended due to the severe weather conditions. Misuse of the word ‘severe’. Which leaves them a bit stuffed for what words to use should things actually start to approach severe once winter arrives.
The dustmen made it, the milkman made it, even the postman made it... well eventually. We didn’t get any post again yesterday, so he’s probably gone for a lie down after that sudden splurge of activity.
Perhaps all the bulky waste staff are out driving the gritters and then they do have a valid excuse. Could have told me in advance though because last night L and I had to drag the damn thing down our narrow staircase. One of the draws fell out of it and clobbered me on the head. Ouch.
Tonight at squash, that bruise is joined by another one. This one squash ball shaped. It was a bit of a naff game as well. After breaking his racquet last week my opponent notices his spare one is cracked too and is worried whether it will last the game. I have no grip tape on mine and hence little grip. That’s my excuse anyway.
Then his car doesn’t make it to the pub. L says things happen in threes. At the moment they seem to be happening in more than threes. If she's referring solely to bumps on the head, I hope not, as I might be on my bike tomorrow. The roads seem to have well thawed.
At least they won’t grit tonight, I think to myself, seconds before a gritting lorry passes me in the opposite direction scattering salt all over my bonnet. I though they said they were short, it’s certainly not going to freeze tonight and shouldn't he be out collecting beds.
(Thursday 9th December)
So it’s kind of lucky that training isn't actually required. Well not for this weekend. Great Langdale’s Christmas 10k race is off after four inches of snow fell on Tuesday night.
The main road through the valley looks better than that though, ok to drive on but might still be a bit icy to run on but their parking field at the Sticklebarn pub is under several inches.
So still no free Christmas puddings. We had a cupboard full by this time last year. We'll have to go up anyway to see if the organiser needs any help with the ones he got. He reckons he’s eaten two of the race prizes so far. Only another 998 to go then.
I look for a replacement race. There’s a run at Walsall but its 10 miles. Not sure I’m in 10 mile shape.
I’d be happy just going up to the Lakes to chill out, have a weekend away and a beer or six. Just got to tempt L into it. There’s not an open water swim on this weekend is there? Brrrr.
Talking of Brrrr. Considering the depth of the snow I might need plan B. I've stumbled across a decent looking pub that does reasonably priced B&B. That might tempt her. They say they accept well behaved dogs. I had to email to check whether they’d take two badly behaved ones.
The Red Arrow bus detours to Stapleford on the way home to drop someone off. It is supposed to be a direct service with no stops. Don’t understand it all. She wasn’t even attractive.
I was going to praise the council because at first they excelled themselves. I logged a request with their bulky waste service to get Daughter’s old bed collected and they replied the very next day, giving a date for it, today. I was even more impressed as this was in the thick of the bad weather and I was surprised anyone was even in their office that day.
Needless to say it didn’t get collected today. The bed is still here. Why am I not surprised. Every time I use this service they fail to collect at the first time of asking. They tell me later that the service has been suspended due to the severe weather conditions. Misuse of the word ‘severe’. Which leaves them a bit stuffed for what words to use should things actually start to approach severe once winter arrives.
The dustmen made it, the milkman made it, even the postman made it... well eventually. We didn’t get any post again yesterday, so he’s probably gone for a lie down after that sudden splurge of activity.
Perhaps all the bulky waste staff are out driving the gritters and then they do have a valid excuse. Could have told me in advance though because last night L and I had to drag the damn thing down our narrow staircase. One of the draws fell out of it and clobbered me on the head. Ouch.
Tonight at squash, that bruise is joined by another one. This one squash ball shaped. It was a bit of a naff game as well. After breaking his racquet last week my opponent notices his spare one is cracked too and is worried whether it will last the game. I have no grip tape on mine and hence little grip. That’s my excuse anyway.
Then his car doesn’t make it to the pub. L says things happen in threes. At the moment they seem to be happening in more than threes. If she's referring solely to bumps on the head, I hope not, as I might be on my bike tomorrow. The roads seem to have well thawed.
At least they won’t grit tonight, I think to myself, seconds before a gritting lorry passes me in the opposite direction scattering salt all over my bonnet. I though they said they were short, it’s certainly not going to freeze tonight and shouldn't he be out collecting beds.
(Thursday 9th December)
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