30 July to 7 August 2026 - Diary Update

30 July - we have a smart new roof just three weeks after Tony the roofer came to inspect the leak in our kitchen. That roof lasted less than 30 years. The main roof was nearly 100 years old and was showing its age. Very few houses on our estate still have the original roofs, so it seemed a good time to relace ours.

30 July - Sale Sizzler number 4. I took a break and left Sue to take part. She ran the 5km in 24:19 and came 7th out of 17 in her age category. Results here.

1 August - Wythenshawe parkrun #676. A routine parkrun, with Sue chaperoning Owen on this occasion. Full results are here.

In the tea room courtyard, 11 of us - runners and supporters - wrestled our way around a couple of tables.

1 August - dinner in Adlington with Robert and Lyn, and Gerry and Chris. Nice BBQ, and Sue had collected plenty of blackberries for a wonderful tart.

2 and 3 August - feedig Millie, who is slowing down and getting arthritic. I know the feeling!

3 August - Wyre Levee Stompers at Eagley Jazz Club. The last performance before a 6 week break whilst the venue is refurbished. An excellent night; we'll miss these Monday night performances.

4 August - a visit to Bridgewater RHS gardens. A trail of Lego constructions provided interest as we  admired both the flowers and the Lego, not all of which is pictured below.

The chickens were entertaining, this one enjoying a dust bath.

Lunch was delicious, the mussels, prawns and squid (their plate is empty) being especially popular.

Then 45 minutes of Lego building, presumably with leftover bits from the constructions in the garden.

More Lego.

The Chinese garden, and behind me is a mammoth new construction in progress.

Pictures from a compost bin...

5 August - Nick Taylor's work next to Pickering Lodge Park looks pretty much complete. It's really rather good.

7 August - That's all for now, thanks to time constraints and a failure to get the camera out earlier when seven 'Oldies' turned up for their monthly natter at Wythenshawe Park - Martin, Fechin, Keith, Mike C, Mike H, John and Richard.

31 July to 4 August 2025 - Some Runs, a Park and The Night Owls

The fourth and final Sale Sizzler 5km race of the season took place on 31 July, with a splendid turnout of 605 runners. With a 'good for me' time of 29:53, I came home in position 592. Sue was six minutes ahead and ready with a cup of water for me at the finish. Results may be found here.

Saturday morning found us at Wythenshawe parkrun number 628. This was Run Director Jenn's 500th parkrun. Here we are, lined up at the start.

Rather surprisingly, I managed 29:48, quicker than on the Sizzler course, in position 245 out of 421 finishers. Full results are here. What a contrast between these two events!

The usual suspects - me, Sue, Paul, Jeanette, Andy, Owen and Jenny were joined by Keith and Carol from Crosby on their 39th wedding anniversary, and non runners Nick and Daniella from Nuremberg. Nick is an old university pal of mine and is mentioned elsewhere on these pages in the context of Via Ferrata escapades, and my first Alpine backpacking trip to the Lechtal Alps in 1980.

Sunday's Wythenshawe Community run was the last in a trio of 5km runs for me, and I was fairly tired after getting around the same course as the Sizzler in 33:33. Why do you feel more tired after a slower run?

Anyway, Monday's 5km was at a leisurely walking pace, on a nice route from home that incorporates De Quincey Park, looking as green as is possible in midsummer.

Later, the hotpot supper evening at Eagley Jazz Club was enlivened by good food (delicious cheesecake) and a great performance by Salford's jazz band, The Night Owls.

Saro, Sangeerththa and Sophie were all in good form, as well as Reg.

Superb...

Friday 18 to Sunday 20 July 2025 - Three Runs

18 July - Sale Sizzler (3)

Sue did the 5km in 23:35, wheras I took 29:15 and finished in position 384 out of 392 finishers.

There was someone behind me!

19 July - Wythenshawe parkrun #626

Sue was tail walker, so I was quicker than her today. She's pictured below with Paul and Jan, who kindly got me a coffee whilst waiting for me to finish in 33:46, in position 324 out of 411 finishers. Quite a few behind me today!

Ready for Charley's wedding?

Run Director Andy was having to walk due to plantar fasciitis Get better soon, Andy 

20 July - Hathersage Hilly Triathlon

I went to the second transition point as I was just doing the 6.5km run as part of Richard and Jenny's relay team. It was fairly deserted.

Meanwhile, at the pool, the swimmers were doing 14 of the 30 metre lengths (420 metres in total).

This was Sue's first Sprint Triathlon. She broke many of the multitude of rules. Here she is doing backstroke - an outlawed style. She was lucky not to be disqualified.

The new 'tri-suit' came in handy

The first transition to a 20km hilly bike ride was accomplished without too much drama

Meanwhile, the leaders were finishing their runs.

Jenny did the swim and handed over to Richard for the bike ride. Here, I'm waiting for him at Transition 2.

Richard turned up, and our transition went well.

The run was hilly.

I missed a turn where the volunteer marshal was a 'no show', so (together with others) my 6.5km run was extended to 7.6km, with over 200 metres ascent. It took me over an hour, during which time it started to rain.

Sue nearly caught up with me, despite our relay team having started half an hour before her.

We each got a nice little wooden medal

Here's our relay team at the finish

Sue W had set off later and did the Triathlon in a similar time to Sue B. She is pictured below with Phil, who withdrew due to an injury. By now the rain was heavy and we all got rather wet before adjourning to the pool café.

All good fun. Here are our results. I promise to do better next time!