Healthy living... you can keep it thanks

Two of my colleagues in work are currently on a healthy living mission. Quite frankly, it's depressing.

Since January 1, the two of them have been engaged in a challenge to lose weight and get fit. What's worse, they've set targets - one is aiming to lose a stone in a month, the other two stone.

As a result, they've eaten nothing but baked potatoes and fruit, and they've talked about nothing but exercise and calories. And they're not alone - almost everybody I talk to seems to be trying to get healthy at the moment.

This is all very worthy and we've all seen those adverts telling us that we're all doomed because we just sit in front of the television and eat takeaways.

But why January? I know it's the beginning of a new year and we're all feeling a little guilty about the number of mince pies we ate over Christmas, but January's already the most miserable month of the year - it's cold and dark, the festivities are behind you for another year and spring is still a long way off.

So why make it even more miserable by tiring yourself out with exercise and cutting down on unhealthy and, let's face it, good food. There's plenty of time for salad when the summer arrives...

I think they're trying to tell me something...

Well, Christmas has been and gone with it's usual selection of parties, over-indulgence and presents.

As I've said before, I love Christmas but this year my enthusiasm was somewhat dented by a recurring theme in the presents that people had bought me: namely, age-defying beauty products.

Now don't get me wrong, I don't mind using moisturiser after shaving. In fact Melissa has accused me - wrongly, I might add - of having more beauty products than she does.

Anyway, I was a little be concerned when, having grabbed my presents from Melissa on Christmas morning, I unwrapped several products which claim to 'firm up tired-looking skin' and 'visibly reduce the appearance of wrinkles'. This is not good as it means people - in this case Melissa - are starting to notice that I'm getting older.

My misery was compounded when I discovered mum and dad had bought me products from the same range. I mean, if my parents think I'm starting to look old, what hope is there?

Looking on the bright side, though, I've now got so many 'age-defying' products that if I use them all, I should look about 21 this time next year. Unfortunately, I doubt I'll feel like it.

Let it snow...

As I've said before on many occasions, I love snow. In fact, I'd go further and say I like cold weather generally.

So, as you can imagine, I'm in my element with the current cold snap. I don't want to sound like a pensioner, but winters don't seem to be as cold as they should be - or as cold as they used to be.

So it's nice to have consistently freezing weather which, incidentally, is expected to last well into the new year (according to GMTV, anyway) to remind us that it's December. The frost is, my nan tells me, also very good for swedes.

I just hope we get a bit of snow now. With a couple of days off work coming up, a stroll in some freshly fallen snow really appeals.

The Trap (Bridge Inn, Chirk)

As locals go, you can't beat The Trap in Chirk. The beer's great, the company's first class and the landlady and landlord - Deb and Martin - are nice, friendly people. Oh, and you can't forget Emma - probably the best barmaid around (she'd kill me if I didn't mention her).

Anyway, here's Deb and Martin as you've probably never seen them. Martin's resemblance to Peter Kay is more striking than ever, but I'm a bit concerned about his fitness. I'm not sure he'd make a genuine superhero - best stick to pulling pints.

By the way, if anyone wonders why I'm blogging at 8.45 on Christmas Day, blame Melissa. I'm waiting for her to get ready. Unfortunately, it's not a particularly quick process.

Merry Christmas

In the spirit of the season, I'd like to wish all three followers of my blog a merry Christmas and a happy new year.

Who said I was miserable?

Cold shoulder

I am suffering at the moment. Not in a particularly serious way, but suffering nonetheless. The culprit is another bout of cold/flu.

I hate being ill. And I'm not very good at it - just ask Melissa. When I'm ill - which thankfully isn't too often - I just want to sleep, which isn't great at the moment considering the festive season is about to get under way in earnest. And if I can't sleep, I'm even more irritable and irrational than usual. Like most men, I also feel sorry for myself which does nothing to lighten the mood.

So, having hardly slept last night, and having been irritable and irrational in work all day, I'm planning to head home in a minute and go straight to sleep in the hope that I'll be back to my usual sunny disposition when I wake up. Well, sunny-ish maybe.

Clarification

Melissa has asked (told would perhaps be a more accurate description) me to clarify my previous entry about bathroom cleaning.

She believes it makes it sound like we have a "disgusting, dirty" bathroom. We don't. Even when I clean it.

So here goes with the apology:

I have been asked to point out that the article entitled 'You try to help...' was in no way meant to imply that Mrs Wright's bathroom was anything other than spotless at all times. Any impression to the contrary was entirely unintentional.

Now can I come out of the spare room?