Hello again. Another week has simply flown past. Where is this time going? The first week of February has gone but it has been good for getting our lives back to normal. 

This week has included the return of the Six Nations Rugby Tournament and a gig that I’ve been waiting to go to for nearly two years now. 

The gig was in Leeds and I was driving. I’d been fairly good for most of the week, generally on plan and within syns. An early start got us to Leeds by about midday and after checking in to the hotel we were soon on the way to what it turns out is the start of the Otley Run!

Sophistication? I’ve been to Leeds…

This is apparently a pub crawl that Leeds student population attempts every weekend. There were hundreds of them all out in fancy dress. Read about it here. The first pub we stopped in asked us if we were doing the run! Three middle aged old farts (not in fancy dress) mistaken for students! Gotta laugh! 

We decided to skip ahead somewhat so got the bus into the city centre. We wandered around for a while looking for a bar that I’d been told about by a friend. The Dry Dock is a barge that’s been sited on a roundabout, miles away from the nearest body of water! We sat in for a few beers and watched the Ireland v Wales international. The less said about that, the better!


The gig was still a few hours away so we wandered back down towards the town. We’d only had a few beers in the Dry Dock and met up with another Yorkshire man so now there were four! We spent a lot of time wandering into Leeds Centre without being able to find somewhere else to sit and have a beer. I need to add that it was pouring with rain by this time! 

We ended up in a tiny little microbrewery called Tapped which wasn’t too far from the gig. Another two locals had joined us and it must have been about 6pm by the time we had arrived there. It had a nice array of beers on tap and it was also a Pizzeria. I can’t remember the last time I had a fresh cooked pizza and have to say that it was rather nice, although as the night wore on, it did start to repeat on me a bit. 

The gig…

At last, it was on to the gig. The two year wait was so very worth it. Paradise Lost have been around for 30 years and have produced some amazing music. Heavy doom riffs and some incredibly light and bouncy almost pop songs. The set didn’t disappoint! 

The aftermath.

The gig had started quite early so it ended and was still only around 10pm. It was a bit of a toss up as to whether we stayed in the town or head back to the hotel. The guys that we had been with had to head home and so headed off. We decided to head back to the hotel and turn in. It had been a great day and it was a long trip back home in the morning. 

The Ascot Grange Hotel was very comfortable for not a huge cost. £30 each overnight was well worth it. Attached is a very nice Indian Restaurant. When we rocked up to the hotel we were again hungry so we stopped and had a very nice meal there too. 

Perhaps looking back, my day had been full of beer and food. Thoroughly enjoyable but quite a bit off plan although I had certainly got my steps in! 

The tale of the scale…

Given the previous weekend again, I was of the opinion that the scales would register their disappointment with me. The weight is going but it’s so slow compared to the last time I attacked the plan. I suppose that I’m not being the best that I can be at the moment. 

I was so pleased that standing on the scales, after all of the debauchery of the weekend then only a one pound gain for the week. 

The plan…

My target for this week is a two pound loss but to be honest I’ll be happy with anything lost this week. The weekend won’t be too bad. I’m off to watch Wales v Scotland (it’s nice to be employed by one of the WRU’s sponsors!) so that may entail a bit of food before the match. I don’t plan on drinking at all and I’m going for a meal with family in the evening. I’ll be looking to have a baked spud instead of chips and a steak for the main meal with no dessert! 

The weather is improving and the nights are lighter so hopefully I can get out walking soon. I am a bit miffed that the Gym has still not opened. I don’t think it will be much longer but the longer it takes, the more apprehensive I’m becoming about going. There’s no need to be, I do understand that but hey that’s me. 

Single Person Awareness day is with us on Monday too. Shame I won’t be celebrating it with anyone but who knows. Maybe next year. 

Anyway. Thanks for taking the time to read this drivel. It helps me to try and focus. Your comments are always appreciated. 🙂