We twa hae paidl’d i’ the burn
on Dec 30 in General by DanJanuary 1st has always been just another date to me. The whole New Year rigmarole generally leaves me cold. I’m not really one for binge drinking, hate standing about in busy pubs, and hate holding hands with strangers for Auld Lang Syne.
This year however feels a little different. For one thing I’m not working and we’re actually going to a New Years party (although the process of sorting this out has been only slightly less complex than the middle east peace process). But the main difference however, is that I’ll be celebrating the end of a year in which I have made some real achievements.
Sure I’ve achieved things in the past. I’ve got two university degrees, a good job, a fantastic wife and two wonderful kids. I’ve even watched the first seven Star Trek films in one sitting. But these are accomplishments that evolved rather than were achieved. They were the natural by-product of the way I happened to be living my life at the time. There was no Herculean efforts involved. No triumphs over adversary. (Hang on, did I just call my wife and children “natural by-products”? I think I did. Quick, lets move on before Kerry notices).
But in 2008 I did some stuff. I walked 76 miles, I was the instigator in raising over £6000 for a charity that is very important to me, and I’ve lost a total of 57lb on my diet. And putting all false modesty and self depreciation aside, I’m pretty proud of myself. These were things that were difficult to do, things that took me several miles outside my comfort zone, and things that on many occasions I seriously considered giving up on. I made a choice to do something positive, and then I followed through with it. Bloody marvelous.
So now I know I’ve got it in me, now what?
Well, here’s where the new years resolutions come in.
- I’m going to lose another 28lb, which will take me into the overweight section of the body mass index rather than obese. It is my considered view that the body mass index is a bunch of arse designed purely to make me feel miserable. I suspect that this 28lb is going to be just as hard, if not harder, to lose as all the previous 57lb put together.
- I’m going to learn how to play the ukulele properly. Nothing fancy, just chords. But I want to be able to get a decent strumming pattern going and be able to caterwaul along without losing my concentration.
- I’m going to climb (read walk up) Ben Nevis. The highest mountain in the UK.
And here is a tentative one:
-
I’m going to run a half marathon (13 miles).
I say tentative because I reserve the right to back out on this one. My knees are a bit dodgy and I started to get pains in my shins after just a six mile walk the day before yesterday so god knows what running it would have done to me. Never-the-less I saw Run Fatboy Run the other day and for some strange reason it inspired me somewhat. I’m not going to do it for charity. I’m probably not even going to do it in any formal organized event type thing. But I am going to run for 13 miles, for the simple reason I never thought I would be able to.
Added to these resolutions are the usual ones about trying to be a better dad, husband, nurse, and all round good egg. But they sort of go without saying, I would be doing those anyway as part of my general quest to be a reasonable human being. But this year I’m going to try to go above and beyond again, because I’ve discovered it’s a nice feeling when you get there.
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It was the twinges in my knees (among other things) that made me say to myself “time to lose some weight”. So I think at 85 lbs (what is that, like 423 stone or something?) lighter your knees and shins will be feeling much better.
i’m so lazy i hadn’t even thought about making resolutions yet. maybe something about blogging regularly…
congrats on the weight loss and i’m sure you’ll do great with the rest.
hope you had a great holiday!
caseys last blog post..Pudding Shot Recipe
Bimey, congratulations again on the weight loss. I know first hand how hard that can be and the sacrifice involved. Good for you mate.
Now, this whole Jan 1st thingy. Well, seeing as I’ve never ever ever managed to stick to any resolution in the history of resolution making, this year I think I’m going to abstain. A resolution of abstinence if you will. Or something.
Kevin Spencers last blog post..In Which A Nice Break Was Had
Congrats!
I have only lost 20 lbs, and feel like 57 is off in the never never. I have never been big on New Years resolutions. When my wife and I were first married, she said something about doing resolutions, and I spouted off about how they’re a waste of time, as no one follows them, and probably something about insincerity.
Yeah, bad husband.
Once I got motivated and wanted to them together, I was (not so gently) reminded of my previous tirade, and essentially left to my own devices. Well, it was a rookie mistake I won’t make again!
Now, if I could watch all of the Star Trek films in one sitting, I would be quite content!
Johns last blog post..MESSY FACE!!
More power to you Dan! I might run a full marathon this year if you count all chasing after an 18 month old as one marathon.
I need to do my resolutions too. Might as well post them. Good idea.
Jamess last blog post..Rollin’ in the Dough
Congratulations on a good 2008. Although I assume most of that lost weight came off with the beard.
I’m up to running 2.2 miles on a treadmill. I want to be able to run 5 miles. Sometimes I miss smoking because at least I had an excuse to have no energy.
Good luck in 2009.
People in the Suns last blog post..No More Mr. Nice Guy
That’s a good year!
Whits last blog post..Posts of Christmas Past
Well done that ‘Dan’.
56lbs is a lot – and another 28? were you really that big? You didn’t look it.
I sincerely hope you manage to do that run. I’m thinkin that would be a real achievement for you? I once had to do a 5 mile run in a certain amount of time while in the Navy and had to really push myself to get there. I hate running so felt great that I did it.
Happy New Year!
gails last blog post..A Year Today
Wow Dan, the weight loss, and the money raising and the fitness is amazing. Well done mate, it’s been a great year.
I’m on a fitness mission too and plan to start running and swimming as well as attending fitball (which is the funniest exercise in the world.) I’m not normally one for resolutions, I just have an urge to get fitter. It’s the first time I’ve ever really had that ‘urge’ so I’m feeling positive about it. 2009 bring it on. :D
Jo Beaufoixs last blog post..Waffle
Congrats on a memorable year. You are right to be proud, especially of your achievements for the Joseph Salmon trust. Heck, I’m proud just to have made the tiniest contribution to it.
If your knees should fail you, take to your bike. None of that impact on your knees. Better still, join me in cycling the Trans-Pennine Trail. I’ve been looking for an excuse and some willing victims, erm, cohorts to join me, perhaps raise some money for charity along the way.
Steves last blog post..It never rains…
I never thought I would hear it. One idea may be to enter into a 10K (quarter marathon) first to give a bit of a waymarker. See you in 2009.
Sams last blog post..Morocco
You’ve definitely had a fine year indeed.
I also think the whole BMI thing is rubbish… but then again I’m not looking to run more than 20 feet.
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you’ve put up quite the bar for yourself for the next year..if you fail at the 13 miles run (I haven’t done this either btw..) try 13 sit-ups instead :-)
BMI pfft..only if you want to reach the aweful age of 120 and still be able to run those 13 miles
Arjans last blog post..A shadow of myself
oh and btw..that topic title is far too far from anything remotely English!! It seems almost Welsh..what is up with that!
Arjans last blog post..A shadow of myself
You’ve had an amazing year Dan. You should be extremely proud of yourself. Here’s to great things in 2009!
Penelopes last blog post..The Italian Job
Congrats on a fine 2008. I look forward to reading about how your resolutions for 2009 pan out. I think they are all achievable.
VegasDads last blog post..pissin’ all over the place
Congrats and all that on the weight loss, thats one hell of an achievement so far, as for the running thing, I can’t run, its just physically impossible for me to co-ordinate arms and legs in any sort of action that makes it look like I am concious of what I am doing.
No, there is nothing wrong with me, I am just the most unco-ordinated runner you have ever seen, however, as someone above has mentioned, if you ever decide to transfer your excess energy to the bicycle in order to attempt some futile grand cycle-type gesture then I am your man – I cycle ok.
Correction, I have cycled ok in the past but my two bikes still lie at the back of the garage where I flung them after the last journey (Leeds to Copenhagen since you ask) and they could be dusted off again if encouraged – I won’t chicken out this time.
Garys last blog post..Video Saturday – Laurel and Hardy
Congratulations Dan, and good luck for the rest.
And I enjoyed the New Year’s Day walk. Even if it was a few days early, and we looked like a group of divorced dads…
Oh – the title looks a bit more Scottish than Welsh to me. I reckon it translates as “We two have paddled in the stream”.
It’s from Burns’ ditty, “Auld Lang Syne” (translation: A long time ago, or ‘days gone by’)
(And a quick Google search reveals this page as the first result!)
thanks for translating..it all looks/sounds like Greek to me.
Arjans last blog post..Fog fog fog
Best of luck, good sir, and congratulations on your ’08.
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