It was a horrendous drive in this morning and took me an hour. Things started off badly when I discovered some temporary lights just a mile down the road that I didn't know about, and then who knows what had caused the A52 tailbacks. Two wheels for the rest of the week then. Oh hang on, can't tomorrow, there's a match nor Thursday I'm on pub duty. Damn.
L's out with the dogs as usual but she having to avoid the University pond where the ducks are because not only is MD seeing them off but now Doggo is too. MD really is becoming a bad influence on Doggo. He used to walk calmly past the ducks but now he joins in with the barking and growling. All sounds quite embarrassing. He'll be jumping up and biting his lead soon.
L promises me a slag food night tonight when we both get back from our respective dog training adventures. I love it when she talks dirty to me.
After training and a bit of slag, I try and do some emails and some blogging on the computer, all the time with MD sitting impatiently under the computer table. I have to continually keep lifting him off the power cables with my foot. He keeps trying to electrocute himself by nibbling on them.
Eventually I give up and we head to bed, MD doing his usual trick of sucking the bedclothes. At least it keeps him occupied but we do get soggy bedclothes. I eventually unstuck his lips and take him to his own bed, then return to warm my cold feet on L which gets a better response than the normal short shrift that I get.
Monday, 10 November 2008
Sunday, 9 November 2008
The Adorable Puppy
Apparently, I'm being far too complimentary about MD and people are getting the wrong impression about our adorable puppy or the 'hell rat' as Daughter lovingly calls him, that is when she's in a good mood. I'm told I've not been giving the full story because I don't mention incidents like how he disrupts our lie-ins. He is rather adept at hurling himself onto the bed with his freshly muddied paws, spilling coffee, destroying the newspaper and attempting to disrupt any passion that we would like to inject into our lie in. As I've said, he really is adorable.
So, the best thing to do is to get up and take the blighter on the park but of course he's bitten though his harness and first I have to do a repair job, which holds only until he attempts to see off a dog four times his size. Boys will be boys.
In the afternoon, whilst 'hell rat' snoozes, L and I go to the new gym at the Tennis Centre. I'm rubbish; I find I have no energy, which is a shame because they now have a treadmill with levers to control your speed rather than buttons, much easier. Someone up there must be listening to me after all. Although I would still like a treadmill with better software, even this new one is hopeless on that front.
Tonight we're off to see a comedian that Daughter has nagged us into. As it's at the intimate Playhouse and as I like to practice 'open mind theory', I agree to give it ago.
I need to make it clear that I don't like comedians. Never really have, I just don't find people trying to be funny, funny and as I've gotten older even less so. Especially if they're American but that's another story. Thankfully, Jason Manford isn't American, he's from Manchester and a tall, City supporting, football manager playing, tee-total, Mick Hucknall hating, relatively nice sort of 'fat Michael Owen' (his words). He's also a team captain on Channel 4's '8 Out Of 10 Cats', which means absolutely nothing to me.
The thing is though; he's actually quite good, amusing even. Obviously, I don't resort to the great loud snorts of laughter that get some people singled out by Manford for special attention but I do have a quiet chuckle to myself. In fact, one chap's awful laugh is the only thing that seems to unsettle Manford all night.
Manford is on a huge 60 date tour and tonight the Playhouse is almost full to its capacity of 600 people. As Manford quips, it probably would have been full had it not been for the Biblical weather. What's impresses me most is Manford's ability to adlib about such matters, like the stage, which is setup for Macbeth. Not material he could have readily used elsewhere. This perhaps also shows he's done his preparation. He's unnecessarily dismissive of Macbeth, and occasionally falls back on touches of laddism like that to bolster his set but he doesn't really need to. I bet he likes Macbeth really. Some of his material is predictable but mostly it's quite fresh and laddism aside his set is largely clean.
He also makes light of the fact that he extended his current tour on the back of getting a regular slot on 'Tonight With Jonathan Ross'. That is before that show was taken off the air following the shenanigans of Ross and Russell Brand.
He's very good value for money, after his allotted two halves of 45 minutes (of course), he then encores for 40 minutes with an impressive Q&A session, adlibbing again.
He's miles better than the last comedian I saw, which was Richard Herring. So well chosen by Daughter. I suppose I should give him '8 out of 10' but due to extra time, I'm tempted to make it a 9 and as I said, I don't like comedians.
So, the best thing to do is to get up and take the blighter on the park but of course he's bitten though his harness and first I have to do a repair job, which holds only until he attempts to see off a dog four times his size. Boys will be boys.
In the afternoon, whilst 'hell rat' snoozes, L and I go to the new gym at the Tennis Centre. I'm rubbish; I find I have no energy, which is a shame because they now have a treadmill with levers to control your speed rather than buttons, much easier. Someone up there must be listening to me after all. Although I would still like a treadmill with better software, even this new one is hopeless on that front.
Tonight we're off to see a comedian that Daughter has nagged us into. As it's at the intimate Playhouse and as I like to practice 'open mind theory', I agree to give it ago.
I need to make it clear that I don't like comedians. Never really have, I just don't find people trying to be funny, funny and as I've gotten older even less so. Especially if they're American but that's another story. Thankfully, Jason Manford isn't American, he's from Manchester and a tall, City supporting, football manager playing, tee-total, Mick Hucknall hating, relatively nice sort of 'fat Michael Owen' (his words). He's also a team captain on Channel 4's '8 Out Of 10 Cats', which means absolutely nothing to me.
The thing is though; he's actually quite good, amusing even. Obviously, I don't resort to the great loud snorts of laughter that get some people singled out by Manford for special attention but I do have a quiet chuckle to myself. In fact, one chap's awful laugh is the only thing that seems to unsettle Manford all night.
Manford is on a huge 60 date tour and tonight the Playhouse is almost full to its capacity of 600 people. As Manford quips, it probably would have been full had it not been for the Biblical weather. What's impresses me most is Manford's ability to adlib about such matters, like the stage, which is setup for Macbeth. Not material he could have readily used elsewhere. This perhaps also shows he's done his preparation. He's unnecessarily dismissive of Macbeth, and occasionally falls back on touches of laddism like that to bolster his set but he doesn't really need to. I bet he likes Macbeth really. Some of his material is predictable but mostly it's quite fresh and laddism aside his set is largely clean.
He also makes light of the fact that he extended his current tour on the back of getting a regular slot on 'Tonight With Jonathan Ross'. That is before that show was taken off the air following the shenanigans of Ross and Russell Brand.
He's very good value for money, after his allotted two halves of 45 minutes (of course), he then encores for 40 minutes with an impressive Q&A session, adlibbing again.
He's miles better than the last comedian I saw, which was Richard Herring. So well chosen by Daughter. I suppose I should give him '8 out of 10' but due to extra time, I'm tempted to make it a 9 and as I said, I don't like comedians.
Saturday, 8 November 2008
Empty Handed
I spend the day today at a dog show near Grantham. It's not a totally serious event, a sort of a 'friendly' in football terms. In fact, they give you two attempts at each course with your best time counting but this isn't a great help now that we're in grade 6. On the agility course we're second after the first run as a lot of dogs get faulted. We do a storming second run, knocking nearly three seconds off our previous time and... drop to sixth. Great. Everyone who cocked it up first time, got it right second time. Grade 6 dogs will almost always go clear if you give them two goes at everything. That said sixth isn't bad but the prizes only went down to fourth. A similar thing happens in the jumping where we finish 8th. For once, we come home empty handed.
L and Daughter are out seeing a couple of films, so it's quite late when we get down to the pub. We walk down to the Johnson Arms beer festival, which isn't terribly exciting but the Everards Old Original is ok. We leave the dogs at home, which saves us the embarrassment of having to prise MD's teeth out of the pub furniture.
The best news is the pub now offers an email alert service to tell you when certain beers are on. I sign up naturally, we'll see if it works.
L and Daughter are out seeing a couple of films, so it's quite late when we get down to the pub. We walk down to the Johnson Arms beer festival, which isn't terribly exciting but the Everards Old Original is ok. We leave the dogs at home, which saves us the embarrassment of having to prise MD's teeth out of the pub furniture.
The best news is the pub now offers an email alert service to tell you when certain beers are on. I sign up naturally, we'll see if it works.
Friday, 7 November 2008
Wellies
After three bikes, today the run and the rain even stopped briefly for me, which can't be bad.
L's out with the boys on their usual constitutional. Once back home, MD starts his usual routine of trying to stop her leaving for work by biting her feet. She's threatening to start wearing wellies around the house. She thinks she has problems... an Arizona jogger had a similar problem with a fox attacking her feet, before he progressed to her knee and then when she tried to push it off, it clamped its jaws around her arm and wouldn't let go. She eventually got to her car, managed to free herself and trapped the fox in the boot. Perhaps she should have worn wellies too.
Nottingham yesterday unveiled a bronze statue of Brian Clough and around 4,000 turned up to see the unveiling. Someone has already put a red and white scarf around his neck. I wonder how the drunks will decorate it on a Saturday night.
In the evening we try and take the dogs down the local but Doggo is having none of it, too many fireworks still being ignited around our neighbourhood. So it's just L and I, oh and the fearless one, MD isn't at all fazed by the bangs.
L's out with the boys on their usual constitutional. Once back home, MD starts his usual routine of trying to stop her leaving for work by biting her feet. She's threatening to start wearing wellies around the house. She thinks she has problems... an Arizona jogger had a similar problem with a fox attacking her feet, before he progressed to her knee and then when she tried to push it off, it clamped its jaws around her arm and wouldn't let go. She eventually got to her car, managed to free herself and trapped the fox in the boot. Perhaps she should have worn wellies too.
Nottingham yesterday unveiled a bronze statue of Brian Clough and around 4,000 turned up to see the unveiling. Someone has already put a red and white scarf around his neck. I wonder how the drunks will decorate it on a Saturday night.
In the evening we try and take the dogs down the local but Doggo is having none of it, too many fireworks still being ignited around our neighbourhood. So it's just L and I, oh and the fearless one, MD isn't at all fazed by the bangs.
Thursday, 6 November 2008
There Is No Why
Third day in a row on the bike and my legs are very tired, so it's not a good day to race someone but I'm afraid I just couldn’t resist. I start a tussle with a fellow cyclist that I don't really have the legs to see through. He's far too quick for me, or at least that's what I think at first, so I let him go... but then it's a bit like when you're offered seconds of dessert and you say oh no I shouldn't but then... oh go on then. So, sod it, I chase him down, he is on straight handlebars after all. Then just as I'm moving in for the kill, he turns off. So why did I bother? There is no why.
L's on her bike today for the first time in eons and she's having trouble with cyclists too. It doesn't take much to put her off cycling and this came on top of a traumatic walk with the dogs; it appears that the effects of my energy bar haven't quite left MD's system yet.
It seems to be a day for bike trouble. On the way home, a chap who clearly hadn't seen me, despite me riding straight at his face with my not unsubstantial front light illuminating up his face, still pulls out in front of me.
Then there's a woman who's too busy texting to keep control of her car and keeps veering towards the curb. I know she's texting because I saw her doing it at the lights and again as she was queuing for the roundabout. She evidently hasn't seen me either or for that matter, any of the other road users. I give her a wide berth.
I get home still alive and find that the chicken legs that L left out for MD, I mean the kids' tea, are still there. I'd half expected him to have climbed up onto the worktops and helped himself. Of course, he would have talked Doggo into eating one as well. I can just seeing him, nudging him... go on, you know you want to and then later the 'he made me do it' look on Doggo's face when we reprimand them both.
The boys get a 'spin' around the pond and L joins us again, even though she's not keen on the pond in the dark. She's always frightened she's going to fall. She's the lucky one, she's not the one strapped to a riotous puppy. She's only accompanying us because she's worried I might be outdoing her... but check this out. Today she's cycled to the gym, done gym, cycled to work, cycled back to the gym to do a spin class, then done yoga class, cycled back to work, cycled home and has now a run with me and the dogs.
After all that we still make good time for tonight's gig, although because it's another of those early gigs and as there are two support bands, we don't get there anywhere near early enough to catch Amazing Baby, who are the first of the three New York bands on tonight. They are over promoting their catchily titled 'Infinite F***ing Cross EP', available on free download you know.
We do get to see some of Violens, who have shades of headliners Mgmt about them but with a muddier sound or perhaps that's just coming from a bad mix. I feel there's something decent and quite poppy in there fighting to get out, I'm just not sure what. Further investigation probably required.
We nearly caught Mgmt at the Bodega Social back in February but after they were on Jools that gig though sold out instantly but they're soon back in Nottingham and now selling out the much bigger Rock City.
Opening with 'Weekend Wars', they proceeded to chalk off tracks from their excellent album 'Oracular Spectacular' at a considerable rate of knots. All of which convert impressively from CD to the live setting, sounding 'Spectacular' indeed. In fact, it's one of the best opening sequences to a gig I've seen this year.
Mgmt are primarily Ben Goldwasser, who twiddles knobs and plays all things electronic, along with Andrew VanWyngarden the front man, vocalist and lead guitarist. For this tour, the band has been extended to a five piece with the addition of a drummer, a bass player and a second guitarist. The extra guitar really works for me; I love the effect of all that guitar noise, blended over the top of a slightly psychedelic keyboard sound and some awesome drumming. They are also fascinating to watch as musicians, working well as a unit and showing not inconsiderable talent.
One thing they are not very good at is conversing with the crowd, there is little or no banter all night and what there is comes from guitarist, James Richardson.
After the 5th album track 'Pieces Of What', L and I look at each, both thinking the same thing, that they're soon going to run out of material. Then as 'Time To Pretend' sends everyone mental, I wonder how they're going to top that. Perhaps now would be a good time to get off the stage, despite the fact they've only put half an hour on the clock. It's all been impressive so far and every track has gone down well with the enthusiastic crowd.
I'm not totally sure what happens next, whether they play one track, two or maybe even four. Whether this is a collection of b-sides, new songs or songs they made when they were called Management and produced an album called 'Climbing To New Lows' in 2005, I don't know. I, like most of the crowd, only have the recent album. It could have a b-side called 'Metanoia', which also enjoyed a limited release in its own right. Metanoia means to change, and apparently the song is made up of 'bites' of different rock genres and as it also clocks in at nearly 14 minutes, that could be the answer. Who knows? I'm certainly not sure. One thing it does do it disperse the considerable momentum they had built up to 'Time To Pretend' and it was such a shame that they then lost it.
The band then revert to the disco thump of the song about eels... 'Electric Feel' before 'The Handshake' closes the set to vociferous applause.
The band are shouted back to play the two missing tracks from the album. They close with an almost instrument free rendition of 'Kids', it's all programmed keyboard work, which gets Rock City bouncing like I haven't seen since... well last week and Feeder's Buck Rogers but I must say this out bounces it.
In summary, it was half of one of the best gigs of the year. If Mgmt can produce a second album anywhere near as good as their first the resulting gigs are going to be something else.
L reckons she's earned a Leffe, so we hit the H&H. I'm told to remind her that she's swimming in the morning, so we stop at two.
L's on her bike today for the first time in eons and she's having trouble with cyclists too. It doesn't take much to put her off cycling and this came on top of a traumatic walk with the dogs; it appears that the effects of my energy bar haven't quite left MD's system yet.
It seems to be a day for bike trouble. On the way home, a chap who clearly hadn't seen me, despite me riding straight at his face with my not unsubstantial front light illuminating up his face, still pulls out in front of me.
Then there's a woman who's too busy texting to keep control of her car and keeps veering towards the curb. I know she's texting because I saw her doing it at the lights and again as she was queuing for the roundabout. She evidently hasn't seen me either or for that matter, any of the other road users. I give her a wide berth.
I get home still alive and find that the chicken legs that L left out for MD, I mean the kids' tea, are still there. I'd half expected him to have climbed up onto the worktops and helped himself. Of course, he would have talked Doggo into eating one as well. I can just seeing him, nudging him... go on, you know you want to and then later the 'he made me do it' look on Doggo's face when we reprimand them both.
The boys get a 'spin' around the pond and L joins us again, even though she's not keen on the pond in the dark. She's always frightened she's going to fall. She's the lucky one, she's not the one strapped to a riotous puppy. She's only accompanying us because she's worried I might be outdoing her... but check this out. Today she's cycled to the gym, done gym, cycled to work, cycled back to the gym to do a spin class, then done yoga class, cycled back to work, cycled home and has now a run with me and the dogs.
After all that we still make good time for tonight's gig, although because it's another of those early gigs and as there are two support bands, we don't get there anywhere near early enough to catch Amazing Baby, who are the first of the three New York bands on tonight. They are over promoting their catchily titled 'Infinite F***ing Cross EP', available on free download you know.
We do get to see some of Violens, who have shades of headliners Mgmt about them but with a muddier sound or perhaps that's just coming from a bad mix. I feel there's something decent and quite poppy in there fighting to get out, I'm just not sure what. Further investigation probably required.
We nearly caught Mgmt at the Bodega Social back in February but after they were on Jools that gig though sold out instantly but they're soon back in Nottingham and now selling out the much bigger Rock City.
Opening with 'Weekend Wars', they proceeded to chalk off tracks from their excellent album 'Oracular Spectacular' at a considerable rate of knots. All of which convert impressively from CD to the live setting, sounding 'Spectacular' indeed. In fact, it's one of the best opening sequences to a gig I've seen this year.
Mgmt are primarily Ben Goldwasser, who twiddles knobs and plays all things electronic, along with Andrew VanWyngarden the front man, vocalist and lead guitarist. For this tour, the band has been extended to a five piece with the addition of a drummer, a bass player and a second guitarist. The extra guitar really works for me; I love the effect of all that guitar noise, blended over the top of a slightly psychedelic keyboard sound and some awesome drumming. They are also fascinating to watch as musicians, working well as a unit and showing not inconsiderable talent.
One thing they are not very good at is conversing with the crowd, there is little or no banter all night and what there is comes from guitarist, James Richardson.
After the 5th album track 'Pieces Of What', L and I look at each, both thinking the same thing, that they're soon going to run out of material. Then as 'Time To Pretend' sends everyone mental, I wonder how they're going to top that. Perhaps now would be a good time to get off the stage, despite the fact they've only put half an hour on the clock. It's all been impressive so far and every track has gone down well with the enthusiastic crowd.
I'm not totally sure what happens next, whether they play one track, two or maybe even four. Whether this is a collection of b-sides, new songs or songs they made when they were called Management and produced an album called 'Climbing To New Lows' in 2005, I don't know. I, like most of the crowd, only have the recent album. It could have a b-side called 'Metanoia', which also enjoyed a limited release in its own right. Metanoia means to change, and apparently the song is made up of 'bites' of different rock genres and as it also clocks in at nearly 14 minutes, that could be the answer. Who knows? I'm certainly not sure. One thing it does do it disperse the considerable momentum they had built up to 'Time To Pretend' and it was such a shame that they then lost it.
The band then revert to the disco thump of the song about eels... 'Electric Feel' before 'The Handshake' closes the set to vociferous applause.
The band are shouted back to play the two missing tracks from the album. They close with an almost instrument free rendition of 'Kids', it's all programmed keyboard work, which gets Rock City bouncing like I haven't seen since... well last week and Feeder's Buck Rogers but I must say this out bounces it.
In summary, it was half of one of the best gigs of the year. If Mgmt can produce a second album anywhere near as good as their first the resulting gigs are going to be something else.
L reckons she's earned a Leffe, so we hit the H&H. I'm told to remind her that she's swimming in the morning, so we stop at two.
Wednesday, 5 November 2008
Puppy Power
The weather is irritatingly similar to yesterday, e.g. not very good and I arrive at work annoyingly damp rather than soaked.
I check my virtual cycling map, and blimey, I’m at Gretna, two-thirds of the way to John O'Groats. I'll have to start thinking of my next challenge soon.
Did you see that Welsh road sign? In Wales they have signs in both English and Welsh and when they sent the text for a new sign off for translation, they got a reply by email (in Welsh) that said 'I am not in the office at the moment. Please send any work to be translated'. Therefore, that's what went up on the sign. You think they'd employ someone who speaks Welsh.
I cycle home, via the pool, which is very quiet; everybody must be out at fireworks displays.
When I get home, I have a 'Powerbar' energy bar to tide me over for dog class. I shall eat properly later. I have one bite and place it on top of my bookcase. Seconds later, when I turn back around, it's gone. I look down at the angelic puppy that is sat beautifully and obediently next to the bookcase... licking its lips. Oh damn (to put it politely), how am I going to explain this one to the rest of the puppy-frazzled family?
He's chucked out in the garden as a punishment, not that he sees that as such. I can hear him running around and barking manically. Something I'm sure he'll now have the energy to do for even longer than usual.
Despite the fact its Bonfire night, dog training tonight is on my popular vote. Although I don't think Doggo was one of those who voted for it. He is fine at first until a rather large explosion goes off right overhead. His concentration wanes a bit after that, he doesn't actually put a paw wrong, it's just that he practically crawls around the course.
Naturally, MD who comes along for the ride isn't fazed at all and, powered by 'Powerbar' seems incredibly energetic.
I check my virtual cycling map, and blimey, I’m at Gretna, two-thirds of the way to John O'Groats. I'll have to start thinking of my next challenge soon.
Did you see that Welsh road sign? In Wales they have signs in both English and Welsh and when they sent the text for a new sign off for translation, they got a reply by email (in Welsh) that said 'I am not in the office at the moment. Please send any work to be translated'. Therefore, that's what went up on the sign. You think they'd employ someone who speaks Welsh.
I cycle home, via the pool, which is very quiet; everybody must be out at fireworks displays.
When I get home, I have a 'Powerbar' energy bar to tide me over for dog class. I shall eat properly later. I have one bite and place it on top of my bookcase. Seconds later, when I turn back around, it's gone. I look down at the angelic puppy that is sat beautifully and obediently next to the bookcase... licking its lips. Oh damn (to put it politely), how am I going to explain this one to the rest of the puppy-frazzled family?
He's chucked out in the garden as a punishment, not that he sees that as such. I can hear him running around and barking manically. Something I'm sure he'll now have the energy to do for even longer than usual.
Despite the fact its Bonfire night, dog training tonight is on my popular vote. Although I don't think Doggo was one of those who voted for it. He is fine at first until a rather large explosion goes off right overhead. His concentration wanes a bit after that, he doesn't actually put a paw wrong, it's just that he practically crawls around the course.
Naturally, MD who comes along for the ride isn't fazed at all and, powered by 'Powerbar' seems incredibly energetic.
Tuesday, 4 November 2008
When We Were Young, Impetuous And Dog Free
The ride in this morning was fine at first but then that annoying drizzle started, you know, the kind that doesn’t feel as though it’s making you wet but it sneaks up on you over time and before you know it you're drenched.
L thanks me for photo of the half-naked man in lycra but it's not the man, or the lycra, it's the wound that gets her pulse racing. I shall have to try and get myself some comparable wounds for her to marvel at.
I've given up on the sandwich vans and instead purchased enough stuff from Sainsbury's yesterday to make my own lunch, which surprisingly doesn't work out much cheaper. Perhaps I should stop buying proper meat and buy the same stuff they put in those pre-packed sandwiches and cheap white bread.
Possible brownie points to Sainsbury's who say they intend to challenge the EU ban on selling 'ugly' fruit and vegetables, that is produce that doesn't meet their rules on size and shape such as 'forked' carrots, ones that have more than one root. 20% of what's produced in this country goes to waste. Of course, Sainsbury's are only really thinking about their bank balance but for once they do have a point.
Back home, I take the boys out for a run and offer the chance to L, to brighten it up for us. She declines, the curse of 'Billy no mates' strikes again. She wants a road run and does our old 'Derby Road' route. Which makes me a bit jealous and all nostalgic, it would be just like old times, we used to do that run when we were young, impetuous and dog free, followed by a leisurely shared bath and later a few pints down the pub. Unfortunately, that route isn't dog friendly and that's the whole point of my run tonight, also I don’t think the squirt is up to running that far yet.
So we hurtle (I'm attached to the aforementioned squirt) around our usual route where we surprise a young couple lurking in the dark around the back of the pond. Although I think it freaks us out more than it does them. They won't do it again after the telling off MD gave them. Afterwards, we jog up to meet L and MD welcomes her with the traditional muddy front paws into the stomach greeting.
Derby win their delayed cup game 4-1, ok so it was only Brighton but it's a real novelty to win through three rounds of any cup competition. Bring on the Leeds.
We have an early night, which means we can send MD to bed in the kitchen, get some peace and pretend we're young, impetuous and dog free again.
L thanks me for photo of the half-naked man in lycra but it's not the man, or the lycra, it's the wound that gets her pulse racing. I shall have to try and get myself some comparable wounds for her to marvel at.
I've given up on the sandwich vans and instead purchased enough stuff from Sainsbury's yesterday to make my own lunch, which surprisingly doesn't work out much cheaper. Perhaps I should stop buying proper meat and buy the same stuff they put in those pre-packed sandwiches and cheap white bread.
Possible brownie points to Sainsbury's who say they intend to challenge the EU ban on selling 'ugly' fruit and vegetables, that is produce that doesn't meet their rules on size and shape such as 'forked' carrots, ones that have more than one root. 20% of what's produced in this country goes to waste. Of course, Sainsbury's are only really thinking about their bank balance but for once they do have a point.
Back home, I take the boys out for a run and offer the chance to L, to brighten it up for us. She declines, the curse of 'Billy no mates' strikes again. She wants a road run and does our old 'Derby Road' route. Which makes me a bit jealous and all nostalgic, it would be just like old times, we used to do that run when we were young, impetuous and dog free, followed by a leisurely shared bath and later a few pints down the pub. Unfortunately, that route isn't dog friendly and that's the whole point of my run tonight, also I don’t think the squirt is up to running that far yet.
So we hurtle (I'm attached to the aforementioned squirt) around our usual route where we surprise a young couple lurking in the dark around the back of the pond. Although I think it freaks us out more than it does them. They won't do it again after the telling off MD gave them. Afterwards, we jog up to meet L and MD welcomes her with the traditional muddy front paws into the stomach greeting.
Derby win their delayed cup game 4-1, ok so it was only Brighton but it's a real novelty to win through three rounds of any cup competition. Bring on the Leeds.
We have an early night, which means we can send MD to bed in the kitchen, get some peace and pretend we're young, impetuous and dog free again.
Monday, 3 November 2008
Misdirected Activities
As I drive to work this morning, I pass Son who is walking a very confused looking Doggo back from his paper round. That's Son's paper round, not Doggo's. Although I may have mistaken the confusion of being with Son for relief at not being with MD.
You can never be too careful. The woman who was spotted tied up and naked near a Hampshire railway station and the man in camouflage who was seen with her, have turned up at a local police station to admit that their actions were nothing sinister. As the police wonderfully put it, just a 'misdirected leisure activity'. Which will probably appear on YouTube at some point.
This follows a few weeks after a naked man who was pulled out of the chimney of a Tesco's supermarket in Wigan. Although he was arrested on suspicion of a 'misdirected burglary activity'.
L seems to have taken a novel approach to sticking to her diet, she admits to not being able to afford lunch for the rest of the week after purchasing the new Girls Aloud album. Personally, I think I’d rather have lunch but each to their own.
MD's training is off tonight due to the proximity of Bonfire Night and the potential proliferation of misdirected pyrotechnic activity in our area. Doggo's training however is on, although we could do with a Roman candle or two to light up the arena because when we get there the lights don't seem to be working. It appears, and none of us knew this, that the lights are on a meter and it needed £2 putting in it. As if this training lark isn't already expensive enough.
You can never be too careful. The woman who was spotted tied up and naked near a Hampshire railway station and the man in camouflage who was seen with her, have turned up at a local police station to admit that their actions were nothing sinister. As the police wonderfully put it, just a 'misdirected leisure activity'. Which will probably appear on YouTube at some point.
This follows a few weeks after a naked man who was pulled out of the chimney of a Tesco's supermarket in Wigan. Although he was arrested on suspicion of a 'misdirected burglary activity'.
L seems to have taken a novel approach to sticking to her diet, she admits to not being able to afford lunch for the rest of the week after purchasing the new Girls Aloud album. Personally, I think I’d rather have lunch but each to their own.
MD's training is off tonight due to the proximity of Bonfire Night and the potential proliferation of misdirected pyrotechnic activity in our area. Doggo's training however is on, although we could do with a Roman candle or two to light up the arena because when we get there the lights don't seem to be working. It appears, and none of us knew this, that the lights are on a meter and it needed £2 putting in it. As if this training lark isn't already expensive enough.
Sunday, 2 November 2008
Hallucinations At Pride Park
Derby v Forest today at the really unhelpful kick-off time of 1.15pm, thanks for that Sky. So not much chance for a laze in bed and instead I'm off out around the park in the drizzle with the dogs.
Mostly the match was a complete let down, as local derby's often are, and ended in a pretty dull 1-1 draw despite referee Stuart Attwell's attempts to spice up the encounter by unnecessarily booking eight players and sending off Forest midfielder Lewis McGugan.
The referee though was saving his best until last. In the last few minutes, Attwell, his mind obviously addled (no pun intended) by chatting up Rebecca Addlington pre-game, came into his own.
Already notorious for awarding Reading’s ’goal that never was’, Attwell started hallucinating in the closing minutes and seeing 'infringements that never were'.
With the game already into injury time, Derby midfielder Miles Addison rose to head in the 'winner' and the place erupted... until Attwell informed the players that he had decided to tear up the 'advantage' rule and instead award a penalty to Derby for an alleged handball.
I suppose it was Derby's fault that they then missed the penalty, saved by ex-Derby player and local boy, Lee Camp, who is currently on loan at Forest from Queens Park Rangers but never mind, two corners later, Addison again set the net billowing with another unstoppable header. Again, the stadium erupted. Again, everybody thought Derby had won it. Again, Attwell had other ideas and disallowed it for an alleged push.
Oh well, just a normal day down at Pride Park.
Back at home, we have Jamie Oliver for tea or rather several of his recipes, most of which are good but Jamie please note, it was your fault that the Yorkshire puddings didn't work out. So L says anyway.
Then I catch up on the rest of the weekends cycling, total domination for our riders in Manchester. Jason Kenny sums it up really...
he doesn't even have to be on his bike to win.
(that's for you dear, a half naked man in lycra)
Mostly the match was a complete let down, as local derby's often are, and ended in a pretty dull 1-1 draw despite referee Stuart Attwell's attempts to spice up the encounter by unnecessarily booking eight players and sending off Forest midfielder Lewis McGugan.
The referee though was saving his best until last. In the last few minutes, Attwell, his mind obviously addled (no pun intended) by chatting up Rebecca Addlington pre-game, came into his own.
Already notorious for awarding Reading’s ’goal that never was’, Attwell started hallucinating in the closing minutes and seeing 'infringements that never were'.
With the game already into injury time, Derby midfielder Miles Addison rose to head in the 'winner' and the place erupted... until Attwell informed the players that he had decided to tear up the 'advantage' rule and instead award a penalty to Derby for an alleged handball.
I suppose it was Derby's fault that they then missed the penalty, saved by ex-Derby player and local boy, Lee Camp, who is currently on loan at Forest from Queens Park Rangers but never mind, two corners later, Addison again set the net billowing with another unstoppable header. Again, the stadium erupted. Again, everybody thought Derby had won it. Again, Attwell had other ideas and disallowed it for an alleged push.
Oh well, just a normal day down at Pride Park.
Back at home, we have Jamie Oliver for tea or rather several of his recipes, most of which are good but Jamie please note, it was your fault that the Yorkshire puddings didn't work out. So L says anyway.
Then I catch up on the rest of the weekends cycling, total domination for our riders in Manchester. Jason Kenny sums it up really...
he doesn't even have to be on his bike to win.
(that's for you dear, a half naked man in lycra)
Saturday, 1 November 2008
Nowhere To Sling My Hammock
A lazy day of sorts. Plenty of time to recover from yesterday, loaf in bed and eventually, walk the dogs. There's not even a match. The East Midlands derby game, Derby v Nottingham Forest is tomorrow.
In the evening, we have another gig and I definitely was talked in to this one. Noah and The Whale at the Rescue Rooms would not have been on my must do list but I'm always up for a quirky Saturday night, so what the hell. L assures me it will be more of an ‘armchair gig’ than Elbow was. It's definitely hammock music and we'll probably all have to wear cardigans. Not that I have one, I wonder if they provide them. I certainly wasn't expecting a crowd, despite their recent success and expected us to be tickets 1 and 2 again but, no, it's a sell out and there's nowhere to sling my hammock.
We arrive just in time to catch the end of a band called 'Flat Earth' and then its very quickly time for the main support act 'Sleeping States' and here we go again. Here's another support band trying desperately to feature in my blog. Ok mate, you're in. Anyone who tries to repair their guitar with a fork deserves a mention. From what I can gather 'Sleeping States' is a chap called Markland Starkie who has an interesting line in instruments and effects boxes together with additional musicians, tonight he joined by another guitarist whose name I forget and a drummer called Rose. Interesting. L seems rather struck on them.
So, to Noah and Co, who first show us a strange short film with a Beach Boys accompaniment. Thankfully, they don't take the stage in those awful blue and yellow outfits and only one of them is wearing anything that could be loosely called a cardigan.
I think I counted seven of them on the small stage, a brass section of two, a chap who plays a mean violin, a bass player, a drummer and a lass on keyboards. Then there's lead singer Charlie Fink, who predictably has a touch of Seth Lakeman about him but this is a more ballsy Lakeman.
They start off at a good pace and throw in 'Two Atoms In A Molecule' and 'Shape Of My Heart' early, which got the crowd, a mix of oldies and youngsters nodding along to their pop-folk. I look around but don't see any cardies and thankfully there's no one in Noel Edmonds type jumpers, meaning that L's venture capitalists aren't in.
Noah play a selection of tracks from their debut album 'Peaceful The World Lays Me Down' and it has to be said that they sound better live than on record. They also throw in an older track, that I have on mp3, the excellent pre-album 'Beating'.
Things started to drag a bit in the middle of their set when they played some of their slower numbers, together with a new song that Charlie Fink professes to be so top secret that he's not named it yet.
Things picked up again with 'Rocks and Daggers' and then came that hit. I look around and see that I'm the only one singing the words to 'Brim Full Of Asha' as they play 'Five Years Time'. Surely I'm not the only person who thinks the two tracks are interchangeable with added Laura Marling obviously. Not that Ms Marling actually plays with the band any more, although by sheer coincidence, she will be on the very same stage this coming Tuesday.
One more track and then they briefly hop off stage but come almost straight back on, as they're only about two minutes away from the 10pm curfew. They don't play '2 Bodies 1 Heart', the scheduled encore, which could have been used to liven up the middle of the set, instead they treated us with a cover of 'Girlfriend in a Coma', which was totally excellent.
A nice, pleasant gig but I was well ready for a beer afterwards.
We head out into the rain and dive into the Hand & Heart which is packed, so we move up the road to the Ropewalk, which has no beer. I think L is getting a bit peeved at me as we cross the road to the Borlase which has a good drop of Titantic but it's not a comfortable pub so we end up back at the Ropewalk on the Leffe's. Three each, which wasn't our fault because we had to wait until the rain stopped.
In the evening, we have another gig and I definitely was talked in to this one. Noah and The Whale at the Rescue Rooms would not have been on my must do list but I'm always up for a quirky Saturday night, so what the hell. L assures me it will be more of an ‘armchair gig’ than Elbow was. It's definitely hammock music and we'll probably all have to wear cardigans. Not that I have one, I wonder if they provide them. I certainly wasn't expecting a crowd, despite their recent success and expected us to be tickets 1 and 2 again but, no, it's a sell out and there's nowhere to sling my hammock.
We arrive just in time to catch the end of a band called 'Flat Earth' and then its very quickly time for the main support act 'Sleeping States' and here we go again. Here's another support band trying desperately to feature in my blog. Ok mate, you're in. Anyone who tries to repair their guitar with a fork deserves a mention. From what I can gather 'Sleeping States' is a chap called Markland Starkie who has an interesting line in instruments and effects boxes together with additional musicians, tonight he joined by another guitarist whose name I forget and a drummer called Rose. Interesting. L seems rather struck on them.
So, to Noah and Co, who first show us a strange short film with a Beach Boys accompaniment. Thankfully, they don't take the stage in those awful blue and yellow outfits and only one of them is wearing anything that could be loosely called a cardigan.
I think I counted seven of them on the small stage, a brass section of two, a chap who plays a mean violin, a bass player, a drummer and a lass on keyboards. Then there's lead singer Charlie Fink, who predictably has a touch of Seth Lakeman about him but this is a more ballsy Lakeman.
They start off at a good pace and throw in 'Two Atoms In A Molecule' and 'Shape Of My Heart' early, which got the crowd, a mix of oldies and youngsters nodding along to their pop-folk. I look around but don't see any cardies and thankfully there's no one in Noel Edmonds type jumpers, meaning that L's venture capitalists aren't in.
Noah play a selection of tracks from their debut album 'Peaceful The World Lays Me Down' and it has to be said that they sound better live than on record. They also throw in an older track, that I have on mp3, the excellent pre-album 'Beating'.
Things started to drag a bit in the middle of their set when they played some of their slower numbers, together with a new song that Charlie Fink professes to be so top secret that he's not named it yet.
Things picked up again with 'Rocks and Daggers' and then came that hit. I look around and see that I'm the only one singing the words to 'Brim Full Of Asha' as they play 'Five Years Time'. Surely I'm not the only person who thinks the two tracks are interchangeable with added Laura Marling obviously. Not that Ms Marling actually plays with the band any more, although by sheer coincidence, she will be on the very same stage this coming Tuesday.
One more track and then they briefly hop off stage but come almost straight back on, as they're only about two minutes away from the 10pm curfew. They don't play '2 Bodies 1 Heart', the scheduled encore, which could have been used to liven up the middle of the set, instead they treated us with a cover of 'Girlfriend in a Coma', which was totally excellent.
A nice, pleasant gig but I was well ready for a beer afterwards.
We head out into the rain and dive into the Hand & Heart which is packed, so we move up the road to the Ropewalk, which has no beer. I think L is getting a bit peeved at me as we cross the road to the Borlase which has a good drop of Titantic but it's not a comfortable pub so we end up back at the Ropewalk on the Leffe's. Three each, which wasn't our fault because we had to wait until the rain stopped.
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