It’s been busy round here of late in the run up to Christmas. Lots happening.

Gym
Ness and I have kept up with the gym. Wednesday saw us there again, sorting out our fitness programme - exercise bike, cross trainer, treadmill, weights machines. On Sunday we spent an entire afternoon there - from the normal exercise programme to the swimming pool (where I went under the water, and on the terrifying water slide, very unlike me!), and then to the health suite where we basked (read: sweated copiously) in the sauna, steam room, and jacuzzi. In all, we were there for around 5 hours. This morning, in a fit of insanity, we got up at 5.30am to be at the gym for 6.30am, and did our normal routine again before going on to work. Sheer madness, but we survived. Whether we’ll feel the same this evening is another matter!

Home
My internet access at home is down - my ADSL modem refuses to connect, and has done for the past couple of days. I’ve called the BT helpline, so I’m assuming I’ll hear something from them some time in mid January, knowing my luck and BT’s track record. Thankfully, I at least still have internet access at work, so I’ll not go completely mad.
My shower needs rewiring. The live wire burnt itself out on Sunday, for the second time this year. Every time I try to rewire it the fuse box trips, so it’s time to call in a professional electrician before I light myself up like a Christmas tree.
Dad and Chris came up on Saturday, for the Meat Loaf concert in the evening at the Arena. Absolutely brilliant time, we got great seats and I sung myself hoarse at all the songs I knew the lyrics to (most of them!). When Dad and Chris left on Sunday morning, Chris left his keys on my table, and didn’t realise until they got back home. Of course, Dad wasn’t going to turn round and drive all the way back again, so I had to post them to him urgently yesterday.
One of my gerbils, Nicodemus (the elder one) has had a stroke. On Saturday, I noticed he was listing to the right slightly, particularly more noticeable when he sat up on his hind legs. His right eye was also somewhat closed. By Saturday evening, I discovered he’d been bleeding from the right ear too. He’s getting old for a gerbil, but it’s still upsetting. He’s still eating and moving about despite the listing to one side, but I don’t know if he’ll survive, and how he’ll be in a week or so.

Work
Busy. Very busy. But then, it always is in the run up to Christmas in this office. Come the New Year, the workload will gradually ease off to more normal levels again.

Christmas
Not ready for it at all. I still have (quick count) 6 presents to buy. This weekend is going to be spent braving the shops, and it’s going to be hell. But still, ’tis the season, and save for the torture of present shopping, I am looking forward to Christmas.

Ness and I joined the gym at Ponds Forge yesterday. Because we both work in the public sector, we were eligible for corporate membership, at a considerable (over 25%) discount. Tonight, we went out there after work for an induction, being shown round the machines and stuff. Headed for the pool after that, more to get used to swimming than to do any vigorous laps. Even that was pretty exhausting, showing just how unfit we are. Undeterred, we got out of the pool after around 45 mins and had something to eat, then I (fool that I am) decided to do a Tai Bo class. Ness couldn’t because of knee problems, but she watched me torture myself for an hour. I got through it, just. Now exhausted, but in a good way, at least. Heading off for a shower to rid myself of the chlorine and sweat, then I’m getting an early night. I’ve got to be up at 6am to catch a train to Manchester for a work related seminar. Gluttons for punishment as we are, Ness and I are going to the gym again tomorrow evening to do a fitness assessment and programme plan with the trainers. I forsee many aching muscles.

A woman at the tram stop was smoking this morning. It was cold, and she was facing away from me. I exhaled, and my breath misted in the air. She followed suit a moment later, and as a faint breeze blew my way, I smelt the cigarette smoke. It must have been an unusual brand, not quite so offensive as some, and it reminded me of the cherry tobacco a guy I knew down in Cardiff used to smoke, faintly sweet. Her mobile phone rang, a familiar tune that I couldn’t quite place, and she switched the half-burnt cigarette to her left hand, into my line of sight. Smoke streamed off it in my direction, and I shifted my position slightly to avoid it. Her phone conversation didn’t last long. A quick, ‘Hello?’, a pause, and then laughter. She hung up, and a man approached from behind me, putting his own mobile phone back into his pocket. They were obviously partners, embracing each other, and enthusiastically kissing, oblivious and uncaring of the others on the platform. The woman’s cigarette continued to burn between her fingers, and I wondered if the man smoked too. A tram approached from the opposite direction, and the two pulled apart. The man laid a final kiss on the woman’s forehead before quickly crossing over to the opposite platform and getting on the tram. The woman watched the tram as it pulled away, and then dropped her cigarette on the ground, crushing it under the pointed toe of her shoe. The tip of the cigarette died, an ember flaring briefly as she moved her shoe and the air caught it, and then fading completely.
The morning tram arrived, 2 minutes late.

Ness and I spent yesterday afternoon putting up our Christmas tree in the living room. Looking really good, and we’ve put some presents under it, so we’re both feeling very much into the spirit of things now. Also went Christmas shopping yesterday and made a start on the list of presents I have to buy.