Blah blah resolutions blah blah blah.

But actually, as a marker and an excuse to set things in motion I am using this new year to try and get my mindset and motivation back to tackle my old nemesis, my fitness.

Largely, these days, because I’m starting to run out of energy to keep up with my son and I don’t want to be THAT Dad, nor have his memories of me being out of puff after running after him for a few minutes.

Etape Caledonia – 55 mile cycle – beckons in May as a target, but beyond that nothing specific. That said, I know what my weight is so that’ll be the most obvious tracker but it’s more about being mindful about snacks and healthy eating.

I’m also still processing my Mum’s death, sleep is starting to return (I remember this from when Dad passed) and as ever the moments of missing her creep up on me suddenly and randomly. This too shall pass. So too will all the drama that my sister is currently suffering through but which I know she will come out of stronger and more determined than ever, and I’ll be there to support her (as will all her friends and family) throughout.

But for the most part 2025 will be about ADVENTURE!! And that adventuring will be powered by a new friend of ours called Vera. She’s a Rapido Motorhome, and we are using money from the sale of Mum’s flat (an advance generously provided by my best friend already!) to purchase her. Why is she called Vera? Because that’s what Mum nicknamed her motorised wheelchair. Mum got such a new sense of freedom when she got that, being able to go out on her own, that it felt fitting to honour her memory. 

One thing that 2025 will be light on, for me at least, is the socials. For now I’ve stepped away from Threads, Bluesky, and Facebook. I’m keeping Instagram and WhatsApp despite their META owners, so if I do succumb I will head back to Threads which, to be fair, I was enjoying but it was starting to become a timesuck and Zuckerbergs’ kowtowing to the idiot american orange twat gives me the ick (but I can’t escape WhatsApp, and I enjoy Instagram the most and it’s the easiest to ‘put down’).

And of course, through it all there will be Becca and Jack so, regardless of what actually happens, I already know 2025 is gonna be a good year.