Musical Marie

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It’s all going off on the Isle of Man. Or at least it was just 70 years ago, back in 1953:

For the record, MM started her attempt on the same day that the Korean War ended. But that’s nowhere near as impressive as playing the piano for 158 hours.

The amazing thing is – supported by spiritualists, brandy, seven hundred cigarettes, sixteen thousand visitors (at a shilling a head, nogal!) and seven gallons of tea – she succeeded!

Musical Marie continued to play marathon piano recitals in England, the Isle of Man, Wales and Ireland until 1960.

The ‘trainer’ seems there only to rub her wrists, slap her face and collect the cold, hard cash that just keeps rolling in. Tough job.

As for the ubiquitous mentions of her weight in every article, well, clearly 17 stone – it’s just under 108kg – was a thing back then. Sadly, these days I don’t think 108kg is that unusual for a Manchester housewife. Nor the 100 fags a day.

Always my hardest, just not my longest

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Eish. Suddenly that title looks very dodgy. But please bear with me.

I’m not feeling 100% today. Bit snotty. Bit stiff and sore. Bit under the weather.
Nothing too bad. Really no biggie. Maybe 75%. Just not 100%.

And there’s football tonight, which could honestly have come on a much better day. But one needs a very good reason for dropping out of the squad on the day: a big fire, a war, actual death or some such. Certainly not “feeling a bit meh”.
Also, it’s the last game of the year, and so I was totally ready to make the effort. And, after all, with rolling subs, one can roll off more than one rolls on, and use your reduced energy, sensibly and effectively. On days when others haven’t been feeling their best, I’ve stepped up and done more than my share of running. So tonight, I will play my hardest (of course), but maybe just not my longest.

All was good, and I was at peace with my decision.

And then I looked at the squad. My fok, Maralize: Ke Dezemba has taken its toll. There are 5 of us.
No rolling subs. No subs of any kind, in fact. Just 40 minutes of hard slog against a younger, fitter team.

Ah Jesus.
This calls for pre-emptive anti-inflammatories and a quick change of mindset.

Both of which will absolutely happen, and there will be nothing short of 100% effort on my part.

But tomorrow (or possibly even later tonight) is going to bring a World Of Pain™.

I’m ready.

Snek

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A long, hot day starting with gym and ending in the drive back to Cape Town.

Somewhere in between those things, this:

A mole snake (Pseudaspis cana) chilling with its head deep in a mole hole in the dunes at Suiderstrand.

It was very accommodating for close up photos, perhaps mainly because its head was deep in a mole hole in the dunes at Suiderstrand.

Super chilled.

But it was also rather warm to the touch, perhaps because it was lying (mostly) in the midday sun.

Anyway, a lovely sighting on our beach wander.

Mistakes were made…

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One of the lovely things about being down in Agulhas is the chance to reconnect with a bit of nature. Especially without the constant concern of being mugged.

And so last night, I planned a run for this morning. A run in all of the nature.

But then there was a win, and a braai, and there was food and drink, and a bit of a late night. And by the time I got out of bed this morning, it was a bit late to start running. It is, after all, rather summery here.

Still, I went and did it anyway. And I’ll be honest: it wasn’t great. Hot, windy, burning sun, some very challenging, unforgiving and technical terrain on the Agulhas Escarpment near the Southernmost Point.
And yes: all of that braai stuff from last night.

Still, there were positives. I did get out there and do it. I appear to have survived, and, at the halfway point, there was the opportunity for a few minutes pause looking down on a Black Harrier hunting over the fynbos below.

Reconnection complete.

Tonight, we do it all again, but I think it’s unlikely that there will be a repeat of this morning’s efforts tomorrow. Still, you never say never.