Puddle dodging to start Saturday morning as I cycled off to Sunny Colch for Park Run. This wasn’t a morning for rolling out on a single speed fixie. I too the winter MTB instead.
I cycled through the Moors. This is always a fascinating part of Colchester. It’s a natural area that follows the path of the river. There’s a footpath, a bed of reeds, and that’s about it.
I’m increasingly drawn towards all this psychogeographic bollocks. The area is rich in industrial history.
Noticeable today was that the reeds had been cut down slightly. The Moors can get a little overgrown. It now offers up a view of the river that was otherwise obscured.
ParkRun felt far better than the poor effort last week. I’m impatient to return to my full fitness levels. I’ll take a time of 23’13” and 6th in my age cat. That’s what three pints of Porters the night before does for you.
I had one task whilst I was in the town / city: buy a grey, round washing up bowl. I hit Poundland and picked up the perfect specimen. It was £3, natch.
I had a little time to spare. I headed to The Minories Galleries. I’ve not been post-Covid. The space hit a rocky patch during the pandemic and closed down. It only reopened under a new management structure around six months ago. I’ve really missed it.
The Art or Arse for Saturday morning was a crazy gold course.
BUT OF COURSE IT WAS.
There was a local, artistic element. Each hole had been designed by a local artist. This was very much a hands on exhibition. You were encourage to pick up a putter and have a swing.
Don’t mind if I do.
I had some work commitments back at base. I made it home in time to catch the Bob Marley four-fer with Robert Elms on BBC London. Satisfy My Soul sounded incredible, even after all these years.
There was also an interview with a couple who have started a mudlarking podcast. I have a theory that there is now a podcast that covers EVERYTHING.
To the Table of Dreams! Before it rains!
The conditions were perfect with still air. I don’t think A felt the same. I SMASHED her 5-1. The new fancy bat is working wonders for me.
We listened to the Gary Crowley hour on BBC London. He has been one of the best radio DJ’s over the past four decades. Not a lot has changed. He’s still at the top of his game.
I like the one hour music radio format. GC brings a load of energy and urgency to the show. He knows his music, as well as his audience. A superb broadcaster.
The daily ebay emails included a copy of Orange Juice’s Rip It Up - for £80. I don’t think so.
To the University! For an Essex Rebels basketball double header!
I decided to walk it up there. There was light drizzle, with a downpour forecast for later in the evening.
The Div 3 men tipped off first in a local derby clash against UEA. Rebels struggled and played a bloody frustrating game.
The Coach was only too aware of it. His not so family friendly profanities coming out of the bench led to a few OUCH moments.
Rebels weren’t trailing at any stage, but they couldn’t find their rhythm. UEA were poor. A better basketball team would have punished Rebels. They escaped with a 75-68 hone court win.
The game overran with some technical difficulties with the fancy hoop. This led to a delayed start for the Div 1 men Vs Bradford.
Bradford to Sunny Colch is a bloody long way to travel for a basketball game.
The Rebels BIG BOYS were brilliant. They moved the ball around with a tremendous pace.
We were embedded deep in Rebels territory with women players and the women’s coach in front of us. I quietly told A to watch her mouth.
Up the Rebs.
I couldn’t stay until the final buzzer as I had more work. A final score of 96-78 for the Rebs was a crushing win. They remain second in the league, tied on the same number of points as D***y.
I had deliberately avoided the Forest score whilst at the Essex Sports Arena. The game was recorded and waiting for me back at base.
I watched it in full, through until midnight.
Oh dear.
ffs Forest.