Sickness

Since feeling fairly under the weather this week I have foregone the normal cycle commute, and instead drove to work each day. This is unlike me, as I would normally continue exercising despite feeling shitty, but I think getting older and wiser* has taught me many little life lessons.

*Caveat: I may feel wiser, but others may argue this.

This extra time gives me a chance to catch up on some extra sleep and DIY around the house. It also allows me the opportunity to spend more time with my wife and kids. My days are spent cleaning up after my two boys (5 and 1), and finding little jobs around the house that need touching up. This week I have managed to install the removable glass in the living room window to save money on heating over the winter, clean the garage out, and to finish off the kitchen paint job that I had started last week but never got to finish.

On the days leading up to Christmas, it’s easy to relax and stop all the DIY, but I think it’s a great opportunity to get lots of little jobs done since the extra days off are usually wasted watching Netflix, and eating my body weight in chocolate (I’m an addict!). So I plan to utilize my time more, and finish off as much of the house as possible for the new year. Sounds exhausting, but it means it will free a few weekends in 2020 for a more subdued Saturday and Sunday of chilling out and having fun with the family.

I never got to attempt my first challenge I set myself in my first month of cycling, but I think my body knew what was coming and chickened out! It will have to appear in the new year instead. A brief overview of the challenge: to cycle over Barrington Hill on the way to work, which, if anyone has heard of, is pretty steep and tough to climb on a bike. I am petrified and excited of the thought of the challenge. Bring on 2020.