Sporty…. that’s us!

I was tired at the end of the day yesterday. For a minute, I couldn’t think why. Then it came to me! Ha! I was back at yoga on Friday and stretched bits I hadn’t stretched for a week or two; and then yesterday morning, bright and early, I went open water swimming with Linda.

We had a good time together – I actually got into the water with a little less fuss than previously and managed 600 metres again. And we had a laugh. We were both ploughing up and down the lanes at our own pace when, at one point, I met Linda coming back. She grinned. “I’m going to have to stop at the end. My float keeps floating away!! I’m sure I haven’t lost weight round my waist but it’s drifting off, anyway!” We chuckled. “Need a hand?” I called. She didn’t and we carried on.

Two minutes later, Linda grinned again, “I’ve lost my wrist band now!!” Crikey! Chuckling, I reckoned she must have lost weight! And there it was, at the end of the lane, floating about, having unravelled itself.

As we neared the end of our swim, I said I’d get out after a couple more lengths. “Me too,” said Linda, and we swam on. I got out, and waited for her to finish. “Now look what’s happened!” she exclaimed. “My hat’s come off now!” Well, I chuckled some more. That girl had a time of it yesterday, didn’t she?

Home again, and John had been pottering about with the car. Unrelated to his activity and keeping a secret to himself, he said, “Paul and Michael are coming over later to collect the cross-trainer.” Right. Great news – I am de-cluttering and that would help.

In the meantime, we saw that we’d had a missed phone call from Gail and Graham. More excitement. We phoned back and spent an hour or more chatting. Oh, bliss! Graham said he wasn’t feeling too bad, although his foot was throbbing a bit, so I am hoping he makes a swift recovery and it’s not too painful for him. But honestly, it was so lovely to have a long conversation together. Loved it.

Paul and Michael arrived after lunch and promptly set to work. They had brought Freddie and William too, so I was on supervision duty. Not that the youngsters needed it really. Aged 7 and 5-next-weekend, they played beautifully.

Anyway, we were in the garden and we heard a ‘vroom, vroom’ noise. “What’s that?” William asked and stopped what he was doing. Excited, I said, “I think that might be Grandpa’s car starting up!” So we all rushed out to look.

Yep. Sure enough it was. Not only was it starting up but it was taking a trip down the road. Gosh, brilliant. Fabulous. And more words to that effect. The photo doesn’t do it justice because it’s snapshot from a video – but you get the gist. It’s on the road.

We were all grinning from ear to ear as you can imagine when John came back – and then he went out again. Having given Michael a ride out, it was Paul’s turn. Ah…. yes. Taking us back to our youth when we rallied cars……those were the days.

This morning I went over to Kenilworth to look after Thomas. We were both going to go, but I didn’t wake John up in time really, so he opted to stay home. It was probably a good job he did because we seemed to be here, there and everywhere!

Michael was running the Kenilworth half-marathon. Danielle was taking William to a rugby session and would take Oliver with her, so I was detailed to toddle up to the finish line with Thomas to wave Michael in. More excitement. Thomas loved it, clapping and clapping the runners in. He was so engrossed, he nearly missed recognising Daddy for a minute as he ran by. But order was restored and we ran up to the holding area to meet him.

Paul and Freddie arrived just as we were taking the obligatory and congratulatory photo. “You ran too fast!” Paul said. Indeed he did. I think this was Michael’s fastest time for a half-marathon this year, in under two hours.

We were just grabbing a coffee when Danielle phoned. Apparently, William hadn’t actually enjoyed his rugby and was feeling a bit frustrated. “I’ll go back,” I said, “You enjoy your coffee.”

The storm had settled when I got back and it was all quiet on the western front. William and I started reading a book and playing a few games while Danielle had five minutes rest. Maybe less than that….. “I’m hungry,” says William. Oh, crumbs – the poor girl has only just sat down! “Shall I hold Oliver while you get some lunch ready?” I said, (any excuse to hold the baby). So lunch was served but the baby didn’t settle so I took him out for a walk whereupon he fell asleep for a nanosecond……. Crikey, it’s been all go today!

When I got home, John said he hadn’t done much today. I’m not surprised. All the excitement of getting the car ready to run yesterday must have taken it out of him. He’d watched the Grand Prix which ended as a bit of a damp squib, and then he had a bit of a nap. Good for him. Pace yourself, boy!

On an entirely different note, I thought it my duty to remind everyone that COVID is still doing the rounds and, in some cases with devastating effects. In England, we’ve had eleven thousand people die within sixty days of a positive test for Covid (and that’s with hardly anyone testing) in the last two months. Makes one pause for thought – well, it made me pause for thought again, anyway. Sorry for still banging on about this, but it ain’t over, folks.

Take care everyone. God bless.

Susie Dent’s Word of the Morning on Friday was ‘thole’ (14th century): tolerance and forbearance, as towards other people’s feelings and points of view. Apt, I thought.