Saturday 24th January 2026

Hey! It's the weekend again.

And you know the pattern by now, right?

Up at six. Have coffee. Get dressed, on with the trainers, and out by five to seven to the sports centre for forty minutes pumping lard.

Or cycling.

And this morning, it was time to up the resistance one more notch, so that done. On we go.

Outside there was a wonderful dawn and sunrise, which I watch the reflection off in the plastic glass on the wall in front of my instrument of torture.

But it was done after forty minutes, so we could walk back to the car as most people were arriving. One small lad was so excited about going swimming, he undressed to his trunks in the queue to get in, and then packing his clothes in his backpack.

Back home. I put bird food out, then inside for a brew and breakfast.

It was a glorious day, almost springlike, but cold in the wind. It would be a shame to waste it with football.

So, after a shower and getting dressed, I put on my trainers again and jumper, and walk down to the end of the road and along the track to the fields.

The reason for this route was to check on the Alexanders, in case one was in flower. As it turned out, one was very close, but not quite out.

The recent rain and several tractors using the track had churned it to mud, and made for slippery going. So, instead of going over the field, I walked up the track to Collingwood and then turned left towards Station Road.

I did find a single Primrose in flower, the first of the year, but the crocus I had been hoping to snap, bright yellow and in bud it was on Thursday, had been pecked by birds and was now wrecked.

Oh well.

But another 3,00 steps done on top of the cycling, so not bad. I would feel less guilty about sitting on the sofa all afternoon.

Jools made mackerel paste for her lunch, I made pasta a limone, which was very good indeed.

And then football.

Middlesbrough thrashed Preston 4-0, before taking to the sofa to listen to 5 Live and watch Final Score.

I think this is my favourite time of the week, and there was commentary on Burnley v Spurs, while going round the grounds getting scores updates.

And then Bournemouth v Liverpool, which was a stunning game, Liverpool coming from 2-0 down to draw 2-2, before Bournemouth nick it with the last kick of the game.

Wow.

And that was Saturday.