Gossip

Traffic horrible again. Bus slow again. Late for work again. Pavements are icy again and I slither into work. I had contemplated getting the earlier bus but this means leaving the house at 7.15. So I opt to be late instead!

I do like the bus because sometimes you get to overhear so great conversations. This is when people are talking about real life and not about unreal stuff like Eastenders and 'reality' rubbish like Big Brother. I even switched my Ipod off for this one. This girl, early twenties I suppose, had just got back from being treated to a city break in Barcelona by her new boyfriend. She was telling her friend all about it. Unfortunately for her, she had a very loud voice and the whole bus went quiet as everyone listened in to her tale of woe. Apparently the city was very nice but she was very surprised that she'd seen as much of it as she had. It was the first time any boyfriend had taken her away and she'd assumed that the reason he was taking her away to a posh hotel in romantic setting was because he intended to have his wicked way with her at every opportunity. She'd even said words to that effect to him before they went but he'd denied he had any hidden agenda. Of course she didn't believe him and in fact she was really looking forward to him taking full advantage of her. She'd even packed all her sexist underwear specially but no, apparently he was true to his word. They'd spent long days sightseeing. After which he'd insisted on a late afternoon kip. She thought her luck was in when after they'd had an evening meal he turned down the opportunity to hit the bars and they'd gone back to their room instead but once there he'd gone straight to sleep saying he was bushed.

She was well pissed off because she'd fully expected to have been ravished so much that she'd be unable to walk for the rest of the week but they'd only had sex once all weekend. She couldn't understand why he'd gone to all that trouble and then ignored her. She asked her friend what was wrong with her? Did she smell? Wasn't she attractive? Her friend thought about it for a few seconds before telling her he was obviously gay and that she should dump him.

Morning dog report tells me he had a great run with plenty of rolling. L shudders at the thought, wouldn't catch her rolling in the ice, not without a pair of skis on her feet in any case.

There's a planning notice up that says Wollaton Park have applied for an alcohol licence and a late licence. Interesting stuff. I knew they were adding a restaurant/function room but didn’t think it would be that sort of place. You know the kind that might be open at times of the day that people might want to use it. The council usually only open things 10am to 4pm, while everyone is at work, just so that they don't have to deal with any customers.

I know I'm seriously jumping the gun here and they're probably only planning for the odd wedding reception but if they did open late regularly then they’ll not be able to lock the gates at 4pm and we'll be able to exercise Doggo on the park.

Pub Day. Cottage pie and a beer called something like 'Wren's Ale'. Was OK. 4.2%

Get home and have a ball session with Doggo, then it's off to squash. I consider taking Doggo with me to squash, he loves sitting in leisure centre car parks and then on to the pub. This would enable L to get a DFR (Dog Free Run) but L is worried he'll be cold and wants me to wrap the 'poor little thing' up. In what I'm not sure. If you try and wrap him in a blanket, all he wants to do is shag the blanket. Anyhow he’s a dog; he should be used to hardship. I’m sure he’ll put up with the squalor if it gets him pork scratchings.

Squash is close. Should have won game one but throw it away and lose 15-13. I do win the second and my opponent is so demoralised he throws away the third. So I'm 2-1 up but I know he's just saving himself so that he can win the next two, which he does although the fifth set is close. Someone else has the nerve to demand the court after our 45 minutes are up, so we only get five games in this week.

L runs to the pub with Doggo and meets us there.

It's Burns Night and there are loads of Scottish beers on. Two pints of a Stout called Vital Spark from the Fyne Brewery (4.4%) go down very very well.

We have no 'real' food in so I combine 3 tins: - one of veggie chilli, one of lentils, and one of spam, into a rather nice chilli dish. L is impressed with my culinary skills. We have a glass of red wine with it. Then we have an early night but regrettably I'm too knackered to take advantage of L.