Looking towards 2007

This time of year the weather tends to become a bit oppressive, especially if you are in rainy Manchester. Indeed, watching the Tolkein trilogy recently on Channel 4 reminded me that we could actually by living in Mordaw!

So I spend my time trying to work out where my life is going and especially what i hope to be doing with my spare time next year. I love the outdoors and have interests which include winter sports, mountain biking, walking, golfing, well, just about anything that gets me out of the house actually!

Alas, I also have to take into account my job, or rather jobs , one as a HR manager in a University and the other as a warden in a halls of residence. This keeps me very busy especially during term time when I have hundreds of other people's kids to look after!

So during next year I need to find a way of exploiting my toys which include a mirror sailing dinghy, a Yamaha motorcycle and bikes by on-one, marin and kona and my Rusty snowboard. To help with access I have a small campervan and also a wee caravan to cater for all of the people I like to take with me.

There are also people in my life who have a considerable bearing on what might emerge.

First, there is Michele. She is my girlfriend and companion. she is still trying to get used to me cos i can be difficult to keep up with. She is now more fanatical about mountain biking than I am and is wondereing why I am having doubts about whether a snowboarding trip might be in order in 2007.

Then there is Martin. he is my son aged 20 and presently a computer science student in Manchester but undertaking his indusrial placement in Fleet Street with an investment bank. He is clever, also loves the outdoors and is a massive music fan but of the intellectual variety!

Then there is Mike, my namesake, who is 17 and studying for his A levels presently. He plays the drums like Animal and the likeness does not end there. I am guessing he will want to go to University in 2007 but for him his love of mountain biking, surfing and boarding (and his considerable aptitude for sports) might take him in a diferent direction (at least until he gets this out of his system!)