Tuesday 22nd July 2025

Some three or so weeks ago, the gym at the sports centre closed for refurbishment, and on Sunday morning, all work was done, all new machines installed so we could return to the world of phys.

I set the alarm for half six, was up and had coffee, so we could be out by twenty to eight to beat what rush there would be in the summer, and Tuesday was the last day of summer term for children in Dover and surrounds, so traffic might have been mad.

But wasn't.

We parked, and checked in so to be able to enter the gym. Swiped in, and into the new shiny world of connected equipment.

There were no staff around to show us what to do, but there was a large icon saying "quick start", I showed the guy on the bike next to me as he had forgotten his glasses, and soon we were both peddling.

Once peddling, there was an icon which suggested a video of going down a lane, I pressed that and was transported to Aix-en-Provence, cycling through picturesque villages and the threat of steep climbs up the mountains to the right.

I did my session, first one after four weeks, so took it easy. Jools still had some pain but did her session too. We met in the café, then walked out to the car and home, as a man with a tape measure was coming round.

Because choosing a kitchen is only half the issue, getting someone to install it, decorate and the rest was another.

Steve arrived just before nine, laughing. He has seen everything, and knows solutions, preferably easy solutions.

He found issues with our plans, changed them, and made things better and cheaper, and in the end we would have a larger downstairs toilet with a hand basin, and enough room for the American double fridge-freezer, washing machine, tumble dryer and cupboards in the utility room.

This is not going to be cheap, or quick. But his estimate on the time needed was a third of the first guy.

So, we have new plans, so we have to tell the supplier to change the drawings and come up with a new, cheaper, estimate.

Kerching.

We had breakfast to celebrate.

A day of intermittent thunder storms was forecast. So we planned to do very little.

No storms came.

There was Le Tour to watch, but die to the manic pace of the stage, we got less than 90 minutes live action as the stage was two thirds over, but the climbs yet to take place.

Mike came round with his mate, who does kitchen installation, but what we need is beyond what he can do, though he saw some issues, and the plan is going to change slightly, but otherwise good.

Breaded chicken done in the air fryer, the last of the pasta salad and garlic mushrooms for dinner, all eaten and put away so I could watch the football, England v Italy, which was an incredible game, England levelling in injury time at the end of the game, then winning and scoring a penalty in the 199th minute, so go onwards to the final.

Italy were left in tears. So close, and yet so far.