08 | Happy new year

Firstly, Happy new year to all of you and all the best for 08, it is your choice after all.

Secondly, Shredder council, it's great to be back, although I see from Adam's site that I may not be part of that any longer. It was never my intention to not be back but I am lucky enough to be able to choose when I go back to work, so although I'm completely committed to a full transformation, if I had accessed my mail a day later I would have been gone....as I say I may still be. I await "The Boss's" reply to my comment on his blog.

No matter, whether I am or whether I'm not, I continue to be accountable to everyone who reads this.

I have just returned from one of the most beautiful parts of South Africa...for those of you who do not know this country, please accept from me that places close to where I was, are not called "God's window" and "Pilgrims rest" for no reason.

My girlfriend and I were guests of friends who own a large holiday home on the banks of a lake surrounded by the most beautiful forests. Absolutlely fabulous. Unfortunately my kids were with my ex wife at the beach and my g/f's kids were in Europe with their Dad.

This place is in a different league. Most of the people in this exclusive enclave travel by helicopter. Xmas eve we went to a drinks party next door (access via the beach on the lake) where the owner has a heliport on his front lawn...and uses it. He owns a Bell jet ranger and a fixed wing to get to his luxury resort lodges in other countries.

We were having, ahh hem... a latte, in a strip mall close to our lake house when our neighbour on the other side arrives for a quick cappucino....you guessed it...in her helicopter. From there to wakeboarding on the lake.

At the end of December all these people close up their summer homes and head for Europe to ski.

All these people however, I discovered, are very friendly, very hospitible, very normal. They just have buckets of money.

What did I do...exercise wise on my vacation....well actually I was very active...although I did not go near a gym, which I didn't mind, I went mountain biking with friends in the forests...VERY hard work as these forests are extremely hilly. I ran occasionally, around 4 miles, around the local roads and a golf estate, I swam (distance) every day, and I played some golf.

Food wise, although I made sensible choices it is hard to pick and choose when you are guests, and especially with people, and a community who like to party.

I didn't get too bent out of shape but I am looking forward to getting back into the gym monday and starting a new 84 day program. M2 - revisited.

So...I'll post my goals on day one.

Here is a pic taken today so you can judge for yourself, how badly I behaved.