Sun - Skyped with Lulu and JoJo in Sydney, Lulu looks tired as expected after a 24hr flight. Then Skyped with John in Dunedin where he is fixing their admissions process. Our holiday plans in NZ are shaping up thanks to him and Eve.
Ran to William Penn, sub 7m/k on way as its a quick up then mostly gentle downhill, but slower coming back, as amazingly its mostly uphill. 5.5k in 41 mins in total.
Laid out Tapas and Manzanilla. Found last.fm plays flamenco music online, and put on our Andalucia pictures on the Sony TV in the kitchen. All ready to go, just need guests now.....
well that went well, at least I think so. Food was universally admired.
Popped into Watford for Mrs M to buy some clothes for our upcoming trip to Aus/NZ at the end of the week.
Mon - Decided to give the new bike an outing. Cycled to Bovingdon to intercept the Harp Hill 100k that Chris took 4:30hrs yesterday (but I couldn't go because of the Yardie nibbles and dribbles).
It was cold (and it spotted with rain at the farthest point which was depressing as I couldn't cut out short and had no rain gear!), my toes lost all sensation and were frozen, but I grimly got round with the 4 major hills (Bison, Ashton, Ivinghoe, out of Berko). Only a few minor adjustments required to new bike, I think I'll put on one of the drop nose saddles. Back ached a bit with the more dropped position, but it all felt good, bike behaved very well on the rough roads and down the hills, no rattles or shakes. Gearing might be still not low enough for the pyrenees cols, I'll have to see how my hill climbing fitness goes.
So with the cycling to the start/back, I did 75 miles. De-tingled toes in a luke warm shower, then spent evening trying to get warm in full fleece - I must have been really chilled.
Nigel coming over for dinner as we won't see him for the next month. Finished off tapas in style.
Tue - Glad I'm not cycling today, very grey and continuous rain, temperature colder than yesterday but seems warmer, this must be an English January day. H's come over to learn about putting chlorine in the hot tub. Good choir in evening.
Wed - Discovered that my short sleeve shirts are all too big and sacklike, how did I get to that state? So all chucked out, now I have an empty wardrobe. Into Watford to buy some from BHS and M&S, put them into wash to see if they look presentable without ironing so that I can safely take them on our travels. Generally tidying up and sorting out things for the holiday.
With GH to Rex in evening to see The Help:
Slow to start, and acents hard to understand, but got going though a little obvious - I liked it in a quiet way.
Thu - No exercise. Weird weather - rain, then it suddenly brightened up and cleared, then kapoww - hailstorm, then cloudy, then clear sky for the evening. Into Uxbridge with Mrs M for her to change some clothes - I bought another two short sleeved shirts for the holiday from BHS, only £10 each. Final packing and attending to Granny & Nigel. Brian came round in the evening to confirm bathroom remodelling details, though many are "left up to his discretion" as we don't have time. I gave him £2,000 to be going on with. Am I too trusting or what?
Fri - Ice on cars first thing, and at zero C. After re-packing, posting FOCC letters, emptying bathroom, cleaning out fridge, shopping for the last supper, went for a run. It was glorious - sunny (warm in sun) clear blue skies and no wind - a joy to be alive and out, how lucky I am. And the run was excellent - 6km in 39.50 mins, average pace 6.38 min/k - best pace and distance so far, and I felt really good and relaxed about it, could have gone further. And even better, my post run weight was 86.8kg, the lowest so far.
Roll on the holiday - car pick up at 7:15pm and flight at 9:25 to Hong Kong.
75 miles - Mum said you were frozen!Keep it up :)
ReplyDeleteI feel another 'Hughie' experience coming on!
ReplyDeleteBrian isn't Hughie!
ReplyDelete