I’m almost ready to drive away and meet the family. It’s Christmas Eve afternoon and I’m planning on the roads being empty. With a bit of luck, all of the country wide traditional boozing will be well underway and I can enjoy a nice drive.

This year I’ve announced that I’m not giving or accepting presents – wish me luck. There are two gifts of money, but that’s it. It would be great if I gave great presents and got great presents back, but everything on my list is just too expensive, and I don’t spend much on the ones I give. I’m happy without the stress. After all, this is my first Sobember (Sober December) in decades and that’s a worry in itself. There could be booze with breakfast, booze with brunch, booze at lunchtime, and booze ’till next breakfast – this needs a little working out, but I don’t want to lose the flow.

I’m going to enjoy some great food and a break from my routine. The good thing now is that I can change my routine on a whim. The important thing is to do something. And the best way to keep doing things is to look back at what you’ve done. To do this I must record it, otherwise the brain will play tricks on you. I have the tech, so as well as having a budget log, I’ll record exercise, and non-sport activity.

This is feeling a bit strange. From somewhere, somehow I’m getting a grip on things. I’ll restate some targets and add a few:

1. Learn to speak French
2. A sub 21 minute 5km run
3. A sub 40 minute 10km run
4. A sub 1hhr 40min 21 km run
5. Keep my place tidy
6. Get the kitchen floor fixed
7. Keep track of things
8. Have January off – just have fun, get fit, and be ready to be busy

It will be interesting to see how these differ from previous lists, but I suppose working things out as I go is a good way to my goals. And I know I’m missing things out, but these are steps in the right direction.

As I won’t have a hangover tomorrow, I’ll be up early to join a Parkrun I’ve never joined before. Looking at the times, I’ll be lucky to make the top 70. But it is paved, flat and fast, so you never know. Anything near 21 minutes will make me very happy.

Merry Christmas!