It's been a while ...

since I managed to get on here. But adversity being the mother of all creation (is that right?) we had an IT faff on our usual system (that prevented me from getting on here) but the alternative seems to let me. Bravo!

Life out here is OK; yes, separation from the family is not good but comms are excellent, much better than on previous dets I have done so am in regular contact with them all.

Training started really well, but over the last few weeks we have been busy at work making gettin to the gym difficult. And I was sidetracked for a couple of days with some very good news from the Desk Officer. I'm averaging a little over 10 hours a week since I started my training diary at the beginning of November and I'm now into a cycle specific period; unfortunately I'm just not getting the volume in that I had hoped for. Still, it's better than what I have done in previous winters so I should emerge in the spring a better cyclist. The ice cream and cookies are proving VERY hard to resist; so hard in fact that I'm not managing it.

So HMS Centurion in Gosport is my next destination towards the end of February. Not sure what my plans are for 2009 other than the Quelle Challenge Barcelona; I did say on the forum that I wouldn't do Dambuster, mainly because its a long way away, but I'm already reconsidering that, especially if all the quick guys head off to Northumberland for the day. Will definitely be getting in some cycle-sportives and 10, 25 and 50 mile TTs. I've been doing some retail therapy whilst I'm out here and although I will be riding the Prince of Darkness again in 2009 it will have some upgrades from the 2008 version, hopefully they will make me faster.

Today is 22 December so all that remains is for me to wish all you fellow Bloggers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and look forward to seeing you all in 2009.