Thursday 15th January 2026

For the most part, it is good t have Jools joining me going to the gym, or me joining her, as when one of us isn't in the mood, really, then the fact the other is going means we end up saying, "OK, I'll put on my trainers...."

And so it was on Thursday, I slept deeply until five fifteen and was in a rotten mood as I drank my coffee. I could have quite easily said I wasn't going to go.

But Jools was eager, and all ready waiting by the back door, so I sighed and went to finish getting ready, and drove us to Whitfield.

Once there, and having lined up the latest episode of The Sound of Football podcast, I got on the bike and began pedalling.

After about fifteen minutes I saw I was very warm already, and this wasn't just down to the warmer morning. I saw from the display I was going at 66 rpm, faster than usual, and no matter how I tried to reduce it, the revs kept creeping up.

Which all means that next time I will up the level again.

Apart from the gym, there was little planned. Mainly because the forecast was for eight hours heavy rain, and a yellow weather warning had been issued.

The day before the guys came round to measure up for a new bathroom for us, so we have to go a showroom to pick out a new shower, but not today.

Back home we settle into our usual routine: a brew and breakfast, then listening to old John Peel shows and writing.

We did have to round up Poppy and Cleo, to take them to the vets for their annual jabs.

This is always difficult and stressful, for us and the cats. But we have it down to a fine art now, trap each cat in a different room and them sweep them up.

Once caught, Jools takes them to Whitfield, then once jabbed, back home to be released, fed, and they can go back to bed.

The new WSC was delivered at lunchtime, so in the afternoon I read that, sitting on the sofa with Scully, before watching the last part of the new dig at Pompei.

Outside the clouds delivered the rain. Heavy rain, and it fell for hours. The cats were not happy, as usual.

Also on Wednesday, a new box of wine containing twelve bottles of XV had arrived, the first of the 2024 vintage, so I thought I had better try that.

Good news is that it is as rich and smooth as ever, and will benefit from a year being racked.

Evening we have some Iberian cured ham with the finest Scottish oatcakes, with which I make the rest of the wine disappear.

As you do.

No football for the evening, so I read some, then went to bed early, as the rain continued to fall.