July

[Sweder]

A tired old flog up the usual track this morning. Four hours battling a force nine gale a-top the Seaford cliffs chasing an errant white ball yesterday left me feeling drained. I seriously contemplated skipping the run this morning; it was only the Remsters' chilling post on the JSJ forum that forced me into the hills. There's no way I can put my feet up 'till Sunday with the prospect of taking on the business end of the Seven Sisters in a few days without reaquainting the pins with a few humps and hollows.

Alice Cooper served up a breakfast coctail to raise my spirits and my tempo. Strong sunshine warmed my wind-burned face as I plodded, steadfast, heavy-legged, along lush green trails. My top track was ZZ Top's La Grange - a fine intro and a useful cadence for tackling Wicker Man Hill with less-than-willing limbs.

Towards the end Cooper spun out an eight-minute CCR cover of Heard It Through The Grape Vine. As the solos faded and the clock ticked round to nine a.m. the best breakfast DJ in the business offered his deadpan observation.
'That song's been covered by any number of bands. I might include it on my next album' - a thoughtful pause -
'that is if someone hits me in the head with a hammer and I lose all sense of perspective.'
Classic Cooper for a work-a-day outing. Still, five in the bank and now it will be feet up 'till Sunday.
I'll need all the energy I can muster dealing with that rollercoaster circuit.