The recent rain had inconsiderately left large puddles and muddy areas all around the course this morning, so inevitably anyone wearing their shiny new(ish) trainers to the Fields was going to find they were going home in a slightly darker, more mottled, pair.

However the conditions didn't seem to keep the crowds away, and it was great to welcome 49 runners under the big tree this morning (including at least 4 first timers), along with 13 volunteers keen to don the Hi Viz, including GoodGym regulars Rue, Hilary, Louise, Sarah, Sooz and Nick who all performed their respective roles perfectly to ensure everything ran to plan (and received a number of high fives from our runners by way of reward).

The conditions underfoot also didn't seem to be a hindrance to performance, as we saw a super speedy winner, 5 PBs and 49 shiny happy faces cross the finish line - a great way to start the new month. More of the same next week under the big tree - join us if you can.

Which of course is the punchline to "A man goes to see the doctor and tells him he thinks he's a pair of curtains...and the doctor says..."

It's admittedly not a great joke, but we spent a long time discussing curtains and carpets today as Mr T realised that the ones in his flat were last renewed 15+ years ago - I commented that actually they didn't look too bad, albeit the curtains were a little uneven, but seemingly effective in the doing their job. He admitted he'd put down the current carpet himself, having got the roll from a market stall friend of his on the Edgware Road. I said the internet was probably his best bet these days to find cost effective replacements, and in that brief exchange we both realised how much the world had changed!

Fortunately it was back to old school ways for today's shopping, a quick trip to M&S, Tesco and Lidl, and Mr T was well stocked for another week - I left him contemplating his carpet...

It was good to catch up with Ms D, and, as has become the norm, she was well prepared with list, money, reusable bag all ready to go...but she then had an extra request and asked if I wouldn't mind diverting via Specsavers to get the filters(?) in her hearing aids changed - she assured me they'd know what needed doing, and she was right - the Specsavers lady was very efficient when I got there and did know what to do. Thankfully the rest of the shop around the aisles also proved to be trouble free, and I was soon back at the front door with treasure and newly functioning hearing aids in both hands - a double win.

As I sat and took dictation of today's list for Mrs S at the kitchen table, we neared the end of everything she needed this week, and she stopped, turned and looked at me and said "toilet paper, but the proper stuff, you know with the little dog on it".