Christmas!

Monday

The alarm was set for 7am. I hugged my pillow a bit longer and then got up at 7:10. 

I had a coffee and then drove Mouse to work. After this, I came home to drive Martha to work!

A little later, I made more coffee and breakfast for myself and Lucy.

I cycled to Tesco and then cycled down to see Jake very briefly. After lunch, Lucy and I headed over to Blythe Valley with Freddie the dog. I was wearing thin socks in my massive walking boots which meant that the toes on my left foot were getting sore. I solved this by wrapping my woollen gloves around my toes! Now my hands were cold...

Back at home, I did an hour of weight training, and was very surprised to complete the full hour, despite the last two weeks of stress and alcohol! Maybe my body needed a rest as much as my mind did?

Still, I had some beer with my dinner...

3 beers, no junkfood, weight training

Tuesday

Today I did some weight training and didn't drink beer!

no alcohol, no junkfood, weight training

Christmas Eve

With James out shopping, Mark and I headed off on the annual Christmas Eve ride. It was bonkers cold but thankfully not icy. We did the full Honiley Route to take advantage of a strong wind from the east. The start of the ride was particularly hard: riding into the headwind before we got down to Snitterfield. However, the wind pushed us along the Armouries and then along Featherbed.

At Wilmcote, we had mince pies and the best mulled wine I'd ever tasted!

We cycled back in energy-sapping 360 degree wind, arriving back after 38 very cold miles!

In the evening, I was back out in the freezing cold wind. This time I was manning the barbeque! Obviously, I needed some beers to help me burn chicken and pork to perfection!

booze, junkfood, cycling

Christmas Day

I got some fantastic presents this year: Endura cycling bib tights, loads of books (Thomas Harris and Terry Pratchett - could they be any more different?), a pair of slippers, 2 fleeces, aftershave, aluminium step ladders, beers, chocolate, and loads of other great stuff. I was very pleased to see that the girls were happy with the presents Father Christmas had brought them. 

Jane came round for dinner with us, and then Jake, Tilly, Helen and Ren joined us for drinks and to join in with my quiz. Carl, Lily and Mabel joined in remotely from London!

After everyone had left or gone upstairs to bed, Lucy and I watched England v Australia in the 4th Ashes test until we were too tired to stay up any longer.

Needless to say, today was not about fitness, it was about family and fun. 

beers, junkfood, no exercise

Boxing Day

After a slow start, I drove over to pick up Lily and then back to collect Mouse, Martha and Fred the Dog. We went over to Clowes Wood and walked down and around the Earlswood Lakes. It was a cold day, but wonderfully clear and bright, with hardly and wind. After 10,000+ steps, we clambered back in the car and headed home for a dinner of Lucy's fantastic homemade turkey pie!

After dinner, I dropped Lily off and then Lucy and I met with Gary and Kelly for a few drinks at a local bar. The walk to the bar and back added another 4000 steps to my total!

Beers, no junkfood, 15000+ steps.

Saturday

Another slow start to the day...

After breakfast, I did an hour of marking and then got on with an hour of weight training. After that, I did a load of ironing, and then added some more things for sale on my eBay account. 

I had a few beers in the evening and watched Stranger Things with Mouse.

3 beers, no junkfood, weight training

Sunday

Up at 7 to go riding with the chaps. With Jonnie away, Mark and James arrived at my house for a 9am start. James and I were upset to discover that Mark was wearing what can only be described as lilac tights. He said that his wife likes them.

Into the lanes. It was rather cold and I was wearing two pairs of gloves with hand warmers inserted, along with a balaclava, tights, four tops and a pair of overshoes. James was wearing shorts.

Unsurprisingly, James complained of the cold. As we passed a pub in Lownsonford I jokingly asked if anyone fancied a pint (it was about 9:30am). James replied that he just wanted a hot sausage to hold to warm his fingers!

We whooshed along James's Tom O'The Woods route and onto Honiley Variant. We kept a decent pace and were glad to get the wind behind us for the Armouries and Featherbed.

Today, Jane provided ginger cake and custard! Absolute heaven for three cold riders!

The three of us kept the pressure on and, even though James was having trouble finding energy in the cold, we all made it back with an average speed of 14mph over 40 miles.

Lilac tights out of shot

In the evening, I collected James from his place and brought him back to a dinner party at my place. Mark and his family were there for a get together. Lucy had prepared a fabulous spread which was very well received. Then I was talked into running my Christmas Quiz again! James's team won with a score one point higher than Lucy's team achieved on Christmas Day! After everyone had left or gone to bed, James and I stayed up late watching a programme about the Tour de France.

beers, junkfood, 40 miles of cycling

In summary, this week was another health and training disaster. I'll need to take things a bit more seriously next week!