Back on the saddle

1 I leaned over the blue bin and began to scrabble for a a discarded Times. Ooops. My lower back had gone, in the familiar idiom; it had locked, and it was painful. Back with my back indoors. Careful walking. What's the impact of a painful lower back and cycling, as I was dressed in cycling kit and I had had my egg. Try it.

2 To Forest Row. Helloes and congratulations (to two for their long-distance ride, to the retired old gentleman for completing the triathlon. I gave the news about the back. Off we went. I found I could cycle, including the initial climb up Wall Hill. A roundabout route to Tonbridge; a return. By the time I returned I had completed 44 miles. With my painful back. Painful, that is, when I straightened and when I walked. We'll see what it will be like in the morning.

3 I drove to the man in the tent, found him, chatted, and bought him some food and a cotainer of coffee. He is well organised. His ankle, of course, is a serious impediment. It remains open to infection or to a fracture (and then he would be in trouble). I'll telephone him tomorrow morning. Back to East Grinstead and to Chequer Mead for a performance by the ConChord Big Band. The sounds of the big bands of the 1930s and 1940s. And matching songs. I remember the Glenn Miller Story. Long ago. After the first few numbers, I knew that I would leave as soon as I could And so I did. As the performance as in aid of the RBL, I don't regret the price of admission, but it would have been easier for me to make a donation without going in.

4 I'm looking forward to your return. So, without a doubt, is Emily and the young man. On Tuesday morning, I will travel to the Cooperative bank in Croydon to collect the statement. I expect to be back by 1130. I can make sure that there is milk in Haulcon and bread.

4.1 Collecting you from Gatwick? (i) Me (ii) Emily (iii) Me and Emily? Let me know.

5 I spent some companionable hours with Jo, Roy, and company at Southwick yesterday. A barbecue. The ROG made a strongly favourable impression on one of their friends: a shared task of making vegetable kebabs led to a long conversation about keeping fit, physical exercise, triathlons, cycling, and so on. The 50-year-young man made it plain that in his view he had met a remarkable person. Ah, shucks.

5.1 Reminder from Facebook: David Scott will be 51 this week.

5.2 Conversation with Jo, Sarah, and Roy about a bike-ride on Romney Marsh. They're just waiting for instructions from the self-appointed Captain of Rides.

Looking forward to the return of the caring lady. (Let me know about the collection of the lady.)

Stayathome