After the briefest of lie-ins, it was out with the dogs for a couple of miles each before breakfast.
With breakfast out of the way, Sue made her way to work and I was left home alone.
I spent the morning pottering around including putting the Christmas boxes back in the attic for another year.
Amazon brought me a package containing a couple of controllers for my Switch. I couldn’t get them to connect but left them to charge in the hope that they would work once fully charged.
At around two, I set off, on my own this time, for another walk in a bid to up my mileage.
I planned on walking to Coleshill, via Bacons End, then along the river to Gipson, Water Orton and finally to meet Sue from work in Castle Bromwich. Sue finishes at four on a Sunday so a steady walk would see me there in plenty of time.
Shortly after setting off, it started to rain, gentle at first but soon coming down as though it meant it.
Half way down the Birmingham Road, just after crossing the River Cole, I came to where once stood a big farmhouse and timber yard, now consumed by HS2.
Just after this, there is a row of cottages (the only things still standing). As I dragged my soggy ass past these dwellings, one of the occupants who was moving his cars around asked if I was heading for Coleshill. I said that I was and he asked if I wanted a lift. I explained that I was out on purpose and that I didn’t really mind getting wet but thanked him for his kind offer.
At Coleshill, I turned left and just before crossing over the Cole again, I descended t the level of the river and planned on following it before picking up a footpath to Gilson.
All went well until …
I could have back-tracked to Coleshill then follow the road to Gilson but I could see a bit of a track leading in the right direction so set off, cross-country.
The track soon became increasingly wet before becoming a fully fledged bog. I pushed on through as I was now under pressure to get to my destination before Sue finished work at four.
Out of the swamp, I was back on Terra Firma to continue through Gilson and on to Water Orton.
It was around this time that the rain finally ceased but left some impressive clouds …
I strode on, up the hill from Water Orton, constantly checking my watch. I arrived at the pet shop (where Sue works) at a minute to four.
The extra impetus to meet Sue from work resulted in an average pace of 14:12. Not as fast as I was last year but I am building back up after a while away from ‘proper’ walking.
Back home, I changed then went back to my new controllers which now connected. Strangely, it appears that the units need to be fully charged before they will work. All good now, though.
Approaching half five, we ventured out again for the usual Sunday evening at The Griffin. Some of the bar staff bring in their own biscuits (or chocolates) for their special customers so Sue took a box of Christmas biscuit for the girls.
A cheeky Chinese on the way home finished of the day nicely.