Hearty pursuits (vicarious)

Today saw the annual Disgustedville half-marathon, for which yer local Citizens' Advice provides marshals in exchange for a modest share of the charitable donations.  Yr. obed. servt. was therefore on parade at 09:00 on the common for the pre-race briefing.  Quite a good bunch of volunteers present, from various organisations.  My job was to stop the good parishioners of St Paul's turning right into the stream of runners at chucking-out time, and to encourage any straying runners to try to keep to the left, since the road was open in the out of town direction.  All pretty routine.  As was the presence of some arse in a Corsa who had ignored the road-closed signs, and rewarded me with the finger when I remonstrated.  My only real task was to direct a car or two into a side turning when I heard an ambulance siren coming from the same direction as the runners. 

By and large, an ambiance bon-enfant.  The leaders were well ahead of the field, with the leader a good quarter-mile in front, and furlong gaps between the next few.  As the bigger numbers arrived, those with their names on their singlets appreciated being encouraged by name.   And I appreciated the etiquette among the runners - many called 'thank you, marshal!' to me as they passed.  Anyway, I couldn't have done it this time last year, so, though the knee is stiff and protesting a little, I could at least stand on it for the necessary hour or so. 

And by the time the potentially rebellious worshippers started leaving St Paul's, the road had been re-opened.

The last few days' mild weather has allowed us to get out into the sitooterie during the day, which is a real tonic at this time of year.  Today I've restored the Madeira triptych to its rightful position out here after its brief sojourn in Edenbridge.  Once again, it's covering up ugly blanking plates and superfluous switches.  (I think the electrician who did the job must have been more used to commercial/industrial premises.)  The hanging's a bit trial-and-error, but since the canvases are so light, it's a Blu-tak job.  So, counting the three canvases separately, subjects from Portugal out here are outnumbering those from France by five to three.  Current work in progress is a sunset over the Tay at Broughty Ferry, and I wasn't too unhappy with the first sketch.  I'll maybe start working it up on a board or canvas next week.  Though I'm leaving the doors open on the garden studio on mild, dry days, February is a bit soon to be painting without electric light or heating, so am just painting with the gang on Thursdays.

We're starting to think about the garden again, and have ordered up the seed potatoes, and some flower and veggie seeds.  we're planning to spend much of July and August in Disgustedville, in the hope that the weather will be good.