Bob in the Desert

I’ve just looked at the calendar… only just over eight weeks until I go – that’s a bit scary.  What’s a bit more scary is the fact that Pete, my fitness guru, has promised to ‘step up the training’ once we got into the New Year.  To misquote Scotty from Star Trek ‘… I’m not sure (s)he’ll make it, Captain…”

Over the last couple of days I have been out walking the streets – no not the result of some typical Christmas domestic situation, or a cheap attempt to sell my body to pay off Christmas debts – supplementing gym work with real road work (I sound like a boxer now!).  Although it has been pretty cold here, walking the hills and lanes around Gloucester makes me realise what a fantastic part  of the world I live in. 

And having walked over Coopers Hill yesterday (walking off the previous evening’s excesses) I am now convinced that anyone who takes part in the May Day Cheese Rolling event is, without question, certifiable.  That is one steep hill to climb, and is murder to walk down let alone career down after a slab of double Gloucester.

The hardest part of walking is trying not to look like a pillock when I leave home.  Whcihever way I walk I am heading through residential areas for a while, and I guess I just feel a bit self conscious walking out with a rucksack and stuff.  Once I am out in the countryside it’s fine though and as I invariably end up in Esporta at Brockworth I don’t have to worry about coming home -  I get my other half to come and get me!

If you check in on the just giving site you will see that the total is now over £3,000, thanks everyone.  The caricatures that Andy has drawn of the rugby players are creating a lot of interest, they will add to the total in a big way, as will the sale of the originals.  Andy is working on a special picture for James Forrester at the moment, I think he intends to do something with it at his testimonial dinner in January.

So that’s it for now, Happy New Year to everyone – I hope it brings you everything you could hope for.