Rocky Training

Stirred by the brief flashes of sunshine in past weeks, some of the boys have taken to park football as Sunday afternoon catharsis for the toxins imbibed the night/week before. Cue creaking limbs, pulled hamstrings and mysterious muscle spasms. Clearly a little pre-park football training was needed, some more in need of it than others.

That said, the efforts have been quite impressive with the Daffodil having actually joined a gym to whip his body into some sort of shape and steel it for the rigours of park football challenges (well, at least to facilitate a longer presence on the pitch than the last time when a few kicks into the game, the Daffodil wilted with stem/leg damage).
Last Sunday's London Marathon is another inspiration for getting fit, with the Flea going down to cheer the runners on - an annual trip for him after his 2001 & 2003 experiences of the curious sensation of simultaneous pain and pleasure on crossing the finish line (a kind of sadomasochistic epiphany following the 26.2 miles of self-doubt which had gone before - 'Why the hell am I doing this to myself???'...er, charity). Ironically, the last time he ran was in support of a limb amputee charity - luckily his post-race condition didn't require him to become one of their beneficiaries.

The Bodger aka The Bagic is currently undertaking 'Rocky' style runs in his local park to reach the required levels of fitness, but it isn't known whether the hordes of children chasing after him are idolising him or simply trying to steal his money. Also, with the imminent return of El Pepino fresh from months of hard DIY labour and plastering walls, they should have a shot-stopper extraordinaire as his hands should now be as hard as the concrete he's been mixing (no consolation to Gatititata however).