Wed - Overcast and dismal. Train and Brompton into work today. Dinner at The Gate with Stalker and partners.
Tue - I am mad. Out at 6:20 to cycle into work. It started off cold so I wrapped up. Missed a turn in Oxhey and added 1/2 mle to the route, but it all went well to Stanmore, then down A5. How they are going to make this a 'cycle superhighway' into London is a mystery as the road is appallingly poorly maintained and the bus lane stop/start as do the buses so you have to keep popping out into the main traffic. 39.5km in 1hr50mins. Shower at work, felt really good and energised by the ride. Ride back wasn't as much fun. Seemed uphill, a headwind and nasty potholes to avoid. Stopped for coffee in Stanmore. 2hr5mins for 38km, Lovely hotub, then cleaned bike.
Mon - Took BMW via country roads and A10 via Downham Market for bacon butty and cup of tea, to Kings Lynn for Auntie Ethel's funeral, the last matriarch if you don't count Auntie Val. Everyone was very friendly. Brought back recent memories of Mum's funeral. I have decided dress at my funeral will be NO ties but shorts. I was told I need to make sure I die in a hot summer.
Sun -We all slept on the flight, back home at 8am. Stoker went to gym, I pottered around doing DIY repairs. Cooked roast chicken and veggies, yum. Tandem ride in afternoon to Stalker's house. "Is anybody there" the traveller said "knocking on the door" (apologies to Walter De La Mare). No, because she was out at the footie! 18km round trip, lovely weather, felt good. Took up garden chairs to Jon's London flat for roof terrace, had cup of tea watching the London Eye as sun went down. Then home, just watched TV, drank a bottle of red wine and nibbled nuts. Bliss.
Sat - Checked in online and put us all together in one row - nearly all flight seats already taken. Pool in morning followed by bacon & sausage brunch (for O from Qatar). I then did nothing whilst others went into City Mall & Seef area, Fort etc. O took taxi to airport, we went to Country Club for a meal. Took J to airport, then drove the rest with hire car to airport for 01:40 flight. Yawn.
Fri - Thanks to neighbours, found a team member for the swim leg, and O. said he would do the run. Left at 6am to go down to Al Jazera Sailing Club. Weather was cloudy, which was nice, but windy, which wasn't. K. swam well and came out about 1/3 in the field. The cycle was 3 loops, one way into an increasingly stronger headwind, then a easier cycle back. You can see the effect in the profile:
