With the open offer from my neighbours across the road, I have been using their gym for my runs unless I get up really early.
Today was just bliss. By the time the little ones were dropped off at school and I was back home it was 27 degrees out there. As I stepped through the doors to their gym, the cool air was so refreshing.
On to the treadmill and started my walk. Five minutes done and I upped the speed. Even at 20 degrees, it is still nice to have the fan going.
I completed just over 5 k and had just started my final walk when one of my neighbours walked in. She said she was glad I was still here as she is was in need of a natter while she does a quick session on the bike during a break in her work schedule. I finished my walk and while chatting went and sat on the bike next to hers. "Just peddle, then select mode one" she said. so I did.
I was asked, "Did you know that Mr. C next door has an MBE?". Now Mrs C is quite often the subject of conversation as she is a fascinating woman. She is our (self appointed) neighbourhood watch coordinator, but also has taken it upon herself to keep up the standards of the street. From potholes and streetlights to antisocial behaviour, if there is a problem and Mrs C finds out about it, it gets sorted. Mr C has never really come up in conversation. Mrs C is an expert in extracting information. She can stop you in the street, speak for 10 minutes without letting you speak more than a couple of works. However, when you walk away, you realise you have told her what she wanted, but have no idea of what she had said.
I was told an official looking letter for Mr C was delivered to their house by mistake, so she took it round to them. Rather than just post it through the door, she decided to knock and then mention that she had noticed the MBE and make a polite enquiry about how he got it.
Mrs C spent a few minutes explaining that her husband is on various committees and involved with lots of groups that do good things around the community. Then said she was grateful for that as it keeps him from under her feet. From there completely diverted the subject. When she finally walked away my friend/neighbour said she felt that Mrs C had answered her question, but when she thought about it, she had told her absolutely nothing.
We have come to the conclusion that Mrs C must be some for of secret agent trained in the art of extracting information without resorting to water-boarding. Under interrogation, she can manipulate the flow of the conversation and make you believe she has given the information you are after where in fact she has said nothing. If she is not a secret agent, then she should be!!
We finished our chat as she had a Zoom meeting to attend (and I had to get home, shower, and then pick up the little ones as they were coming out early today. She then pointed out I have done another 4K on the bike. That was easy!!
Mr and Mrs Bob go parkrunning
Fano 3 - Liverpool 7 - ignoring the new ABBA rule - Week 7 Run 2
W3R2 and miserable gremlin
