Week 20 - Grandad James!

Monday

I went for a run after work. I made sure the left knee was strapped and I managed to go about 10% longer than last week. Always looking to progress...

Then, obviously, I deserved some beers.

Run, booze

Tuesday

After work, Martha and I went along to Sensei Gary's Tuesday night Karate session. It was fantastic! The session was 90% kumite, with plenty of sweaty partner work and even some light freestyle. I had the honour of going up against Sensei Russell, and, although he clearly bested me, I was surprised that I actually managed to land a few techniques on him! I threw my damp gi in the washing machine as soon as I got home! More sessions like that please Sensei!

Karate

Wednesday

I cycled to work. After lessons, I got stuck into the gym at college and managed to improve my bench press sets just a fraction. Then I cycled home.

I lit the barbecue, burnt some sausages, drank a few beers, and then had dinner with the family outside in the sunshine.

College workout, beer

Thursday

Fantastic news! James in now a grandad! Welcome to the world, Canaan.

He is so cute! And so is the baby.

Today was a weight training day. I trained heavy for an hour at home after work and managed to improve my barbell curl just a little bit.

Weight lifting

Friday

I went for another run today. I covered 1.8 miles at a pace of 9m 43s per mile. That will do. I can build on that.

After the run, I got showered, shaved and changed, and then Lucy and I attended the funeral of a much-loved family member. 

The wake was at Jonnie and Sally's place. They did an awesome job of looking after their guests. The socialising and remembering went on until midnight.

Run, beers

Saturday

I woke up and felt awful.

I considered riding the bike to make me feel better. I later discovered that it was punctured anyway. Instead, I kept myself busy by cutting a sheet of perspex to size (to replace a sheet of glass in the greenhouse), and then sawing up firewood. 

It was a lovely sunny day so I dragged the dog out for a walk for about 40 minutes. After that, I dropped Lucy and Dodgy at the train station and then went home to get ready for Karate.

This afternoon's lesson was a lot like last week - the students all seem lethargic and reluctant to give it 100%. Which, unfortunately for them,  is the only way to get a black belt! I did my best to get them revved up. I tried pad work, I tried explaining to them that they need to go fast and hard at their techniques, I even got them partnered up to do a bit of controlled competition sparring. Nothing worked very well and the lesson never really got going. Maybe I'm expecting too much from them? At least they still turn up every week!

Back at home, I got some ironing done and watched the cricket. Martha and I had dinner. After I collected Lucy and Dodgy from the train station, I joined them for a drink in the garden, while repairing the punctured tyre, before eventually crawling into bed with a cup of tea and Terry Pratchett. 

Karate, beers

Sunday

A slow start this morning. I didn't seem to want to get going. However, it was a lovely warm day and, after breakfast, I was ready for a ride in the lanes with the chaps. It was our first ride with James as a grandad and as a man in his sixties! As always, he was still fit, fast and full of banter! We went along our High Cross route today, trying to find somewhere to wear out Mark. It didn't work - he was on the front most of the time. The descent into Snitterfield was a bit sketchy because of the crappy road resurfacing - there are still patches of loose gravel on the downhill sections. I went down the hill very cautiously and using the brakes, Jonnie, sitting bolt upright, wooshed past me at about 35mph! He later explained that he can't see much in his shades anyway, so didn't see the loose gravel! 

Riding in the warm sunshine is a joy. The banter flows, the chaps are smiling and telling stories. It really is worth riding hard throughout the winter so that we are fit enough to enjoy days like today.

At Wilmcote, I was very pleased to find that Yvonne was there because she is always polite enough to pretend I'm funny. Today, the carrot cake was very disappointing, mainly because it was lemon drizzle cake (it was rather nice actually.) We sat outside in the sunshine to have our coffee and cake. It was lovely. The only downside was Jane's trickling water feature¹ which made all us old blokes desperate for a wee.

We went home via Jonnie's Shortcut up to Purity Brewery. I was still searching for a chink in Mark's armour but couldn't find one. He could match us up any incline. When we reached the sprint for lamppost 13 at the end of the ride, Mark went for the win far too early. I manged to hold on to his wheel and then pass him in the final few metres. Before I feel too smug, I have to remember that he is 10 years older than me, and I have been a road cyclist 13 years longer than he has!

Back at Jonnie's, our host very generously provided the beers and we sat in the sunshine sipping ales and discussing the ride. Harry came to join us too. It was one of those moments that I wish I could hold on to: that awesome feeling after exercising hard, with the endorphins in my bloodstream, mixed with the buzz from the first beer of the day, plus four great blokes to chat with, and then the warm sunshine in Jonnie's fantastic garden. One of those moments to cherish.

Then Sally came along and made us take down the marquee from Friday!

Back at home, I decided I could put some replacement perspex in the greenhouse (I cracked a pane when cleaning it last week.) I was getting the ladders out to do just that when the wife suggested I do a bit of surgery on the the tree in the front garden. So I got stuck into that. I don't mind working in the sunshine, and I like to be useful. After that, I found myself up the ladders again, but this time up one of the trees in the back garden! With that done, I could then put the replacement pane in the greenhouse.

Then, of course, it was beer o'clock again! Jane came round for dinner and we all enjoyed Lucy's homemade curry.

Cycling: 36.5 miles, beers, junkfood

1. (Not a medical condition)