Went training this morning. Not convinced that I'm better but my resting pulse is obviously having an argument with the stuff that's clogging up my throat and my nose. Didn't feel too exhausted on the run though so perhaps my pulse is gaining the upper hand. Or perhaps a half-hour run doesn't give me the chance to feel exhausted. Just hope I haven't perpetuated the cold, from one day of premature training. Certainly feels ambitious to only take 3 days off for a virus, but that's because I'm more used to taking 3 weeks (after at least one week of training in denial, usually). Hmm.

The pool workout was fun. Used my H2o headset last week and it was a) uncomfortable and b) impossible to hear through (poor fit). Needs adjustment so I didn't bother with it today and I felt much better not having to faff around with it all the time. The novelty factor surrounding doing measured pieces in the pool rather than just steady state swimming endures and until it wears off I think I'm just going to enjoy splashy semi-silence.

Tomorrow I've got a short cyclo-sportive in the Surrey Hills which I'm treating as a training ride rather than a flat-out session. Unfortunately it means another early start (was up before 5:30 this morning) after a late night. Tonight we've been invited to listen to the virtuoso students of the piano teachers downstairs doing a practice performance in our neighbour's house. A very unusual chance for an evening of culture which we are following up (because it's not worth getting a babysitter for only 2 hours) with a not-so-cultural trip to the cinema. Luckily the universal panning of Righteous Kill has persuaded us to go and see The Duchess which gets a marginally better write-up. Keira Knightley makes my skin crawl but a review on the radio the other day said that even non-fans will appreciate her acting in this one. I'll reserve judgement until later.

I've had a certain level of success in the 3 mornings I've been forced off training this week. I found a pair of black boots which I love (hooray). So much the better after waiting 3 years to get them! And I've listed 9 items on eBay, none of which are going to earn us more than £15 (hardly worth the effort, one might say). The eBay cesspit is reducing but I'm inevitably procrastinating with the worst of the items; the kiddie chairs that require a good clean-up, the second-hand bike parts and the random electrical goods. So difficult to list honestly. I much prefer selling new labelled stuff where you get exactly what you see (yes I occasionally buy things on impulse and months later come to regret - and sell them at a vastly reduced price!)

Jody's enthusiasm for reading and spelling knows no bounds. She's pestering me to let her do her homework not vice versa. She had 3 books to read last night and stormed through each of them with barely any help, sounding out words like 'couldn't' without a second thought. And then proceeded to re-read them all in the car on the way to school. She's also keen to practice her spelling list (she gets tested on 10 words every Wednesday) as much as possible, potentially because everyone else has been encouraged to write as nicely as Jody, so she reports! I hope the enthusiasm continues as the work gets harder. It's lovely to see how awareness of reading increases - there are little moments of enlightenment each time she works out a new word. It's a whole world of discovery.

Neglected to mention 2 star-spotting events last week: Trinny Woodall having a fag break off Knightsbridge and then - rather more momentously - Tilda Swinton, totally undisguised, wandering down Baker Street.