Thursday 9th July 2026

Thursday again.

And temperatures were to be near thirty again, though for us on the cliffs there would be a little breeze, so be cooler.

As usual, we were up at ten past five, fed the cats, got dressed, had coffee, and were out of the house by ten to six to be at the gym, though as ever it was the pool that would be where most people waiting would be going.

Up the stairs and on the bike. I set up the latest Sound of Football pod, and got to work.

I did 35 minutes. I was hot enough, and near enough to my target.

Outside we pause to cool down, then back to the car to drive down to the seafront so Jools could go swimming, and me paddle for the benefit of my legs.

Before leaving home I noticed an accident on Townwall Street, but thought it would be cleared by the time it was time to return home.

The sea was cold and wet. And the shingle got under my feet. I didn't stay in long.

We drove down Union Street, and at the traffic lights there was a policeman directing traffic, making port-bound traffic go through red lights and onto the wrong side of the dual-carriageway.

We had to wait ten minutes before we were allowed to turn right, and as we went past the accident scene, all debris had been cleared up, but there was a forensics van with its doors open.

Later it emerged that a woman pedestrian had been struck by a truck at twenty to four, and had been airlifted to London with life-threatening injuries.

We made it home safe, if a little late.

We both had showers and changed, and had the rest of the day to ourselves. For me there was a long mountain stage in the Pyrenees, starting before midday, so I made sure I was ready.

We can have both the back and front doors open, so this creates a breeze, though by four in the afternoon, the sun has swung to the west so that it shines in the living room window and turns sitting on the sofa into being like being in an oven.

I close the curtains.

Meanwhile, Le Tour has cycled to the foothills of the Pyrenees and began to climb. The big climb was the Col du Tourmalet, which looked like cycling up a wall.

In extreme heat, the peloton was shattered when Tadej Pogačar took to the front and with Jonas Vingegaard in his wake. But despite being in the form of his live, Vingegaard slipped further back on the final 5km, then further again on the descent, and again on the climb to the finish.

Pogačar is a machine!

A four hour gap to the football, where France took on Morocco, and won 2-0 without really breaking sweat, so make it to the semi-finals.