As some of you may know, I celebrate new year on my birthday (as technically, it is my new year!), and in 2007 I decided to start doing some exercise to finally get fit, well, it didn’t happen. It drastically didn’t happen.

After the real new year, and a couple of months, and after watching my belly grow to the point where I can’t even see my own feet without leaning forward, I have decided that enough is enough (sitting around larding it I mean). I’m gonna exercise by jove!

I bought some running shoes, trackie bottoms and top and I’m going for my first wheeze around the park tomorrow, with Heather. I already know that I’m gonna get laughed at all the way round (if I even make it through the gate that is).

I used to love running and used to be quite good at cross country, and even a little fell running! But alas, I found out at an early age what a pub was for, and my short running career was over for a very long time (about 14 years to be precise!). I hope I can get fit, even just a little more stamina would be better, I just want to sort out the damage that 14 years of smoking & drinking has caused.

by John Porter