The last couple of weeks have been pretty good. The weather's been good and sometimes great for training and, bar the odd hangover (last Sunday in particular), I've been making regular outings and decent progress.

This week is the last week of what I'm referring to as my 'voluntary' training. What I'm effectively doing is a 16-week training programme, twice through. What with illness and one thing and another, I've not quite managed to do the whole thing this first time, but I've done 'long' runs that have been long enough to make me very comfortable starting again from week 1 next week.

The snow and subsequent ice have caused all kinds of disruption. BUT FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE PEOPLE, LET'S TRY TO REMEMBER THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING - it's utterly beautiful. I may not have been able to train since Thursday, but I'm more than happy to wait for mother nature to sort herself out if I can get a view like these two each morning. So, no panic, looking forward very much to the festivities (although I have no time off apart from the universal Bank Holidays) and I'll be investigating whether there are local gyms that allow non-members in for a fixed fee per visit, so I can use a treadmill if I start getting too jittery about not training.

I've no idea how long these freezing conditions, and therefore the ice underfoot, will be lasting. So if I don't get another run in before Christmas, I wish you all a very happy and decadent time and I'll be back as soon as the pavements allow. Very best wishes.