Today was all about final Great North Run preparation. Got my go faster stripes at the barbers, a bit of protein and carb loading and a cheeky bike ride with E to loosen the legs. The only thing I had to do was not get injured. So why am I sitting here with an ice pack on my knee, I hear you ask? Well read on to see what the top 5 has to offer:
1. It wasn’t a great start to the day as the littlest monster awoke at 4.30am and insisted on some attention. My long suffering wife went to deal with him and tried to get him back to sleep, but he refused to do so unless it was in our bed. Just after he dropped back off at 6, his big sister arrived and lay on top of my legs using my backside as a pillow. Never before have I wished I had eaten a hot curry the night before!! Suffice to say, not much sleep was to be had after that but we did get a lovely family cuddle first thing! 👨👩👧👦
2. Whilst I was getting rid of my locks, Steph plucked up the courage to go for a walk with both kids and the dog. She didn’t even strap the boy into his pushchair. She’s certainly braver than me! E was in charge of the dog and did a good job. Except when she wanted to look at the sheep and so just handed the lead to Mammy and told her she had to take over. A lady passing even commented that she seemed to have her hands full. It turns out that they averaged a speed of less than 1mph, not that it was a race of course, but I suspect with M there wasn’t a lot of walking in a straight line! 🤪
3. My darling son was in a very strange mood today. He’s a terrible 2 and so we have to deal with it every day but he’s taken it to a whole new level. He started in the bathroom, filling the toilet bowl with toilet paper and then starting to line up tubs of breadcrumbs around the rim. Next we found pieces of apple he had snuck into the living room, hidden amongst the toys. Finally Steph was at the toilet and heard him and E shouting Trick or Treat! She came out to find that they had climbed into the high cupboard and pinched the treat bucket (which is a Halloween pumpkin bucket). They had taken it upstairs and were sat outside the bathroom divvying up all the sweets and biscuits between them. I suppose he has found a less than ideal role model who seems quite happy to facilitate his tinkerish behaviour! 😈
4. I had promised E I would take her for a bike ride today and so we set off this afternoon. The only requirement she had was that I had to take jelly babies for our half way stop! As usual she somehow managed to talk the whole way explaining to me at one point that she had a “hair emergency” which apparently is when her hair goes into her face and she can’t wipe it away so we need to stop. The only slight hiccup today was on the way back when we were cutting through a gate with a narrow gap. She decided to go through at speed and misjudged the angle so smashed straight into the gate post. We had tears and a bit of wailing but I calmed myself down and checked on her and she was fine. She wasn’t so convinced however and all the way back she was saying she needed hugs and a bandage and special tablets. When we got home she announced that she had broken her waist! There wasn’t even a mark! Our rides are never boring, for sure. 🚲
5. I just can’t believe I’ve hurt my knee. I really can’t! I popped upstairs and noticed the kids had dragged out a bunch of toys and left them on the stairs. I shouted down about moving them but of course nothing happened straight away. So when I came down I had to pick my way around them and somehow managed to smash my knee into the windowsill half way down. It hurt. A lot. I assumed it was just a bump and the pain would pass but it’s lasting a lot longer than I expected. I’m staying confident that it’ll be fine tomorrow – if you haven’t already don’t forget to sponsor me if you can. It would be hugely appreciated!! www.justgiving.com/fundraising/DaveLow 🦵
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