Winter Projects and Post-Christmas Blues

No camping for me last weekend, but I did manage to catch a nice little surf session in the sea.

Post-Christmas Blues

That time of year is upon us again—the days after Christmas when everything seems to slow down. The weather’s not great, and while the days are technically getting longer, you barely notice it. Last year, Anna and I were off to the Maldives, which would be lovely to do again. Unfortunately, this year, it’s all about work and chores at the moment.

More Work and Chores

I’ve taken on an extra day at work with IBERS, which has kept me pretty busy. Anna, on the other hand, has been flat out organising all the exams at the University. We did manage to get into town on Saturday for some shopping, pick out some new internal doors for the house, and have a quick lunch at Pennau Craft Centre.

As for chores, there’s plenty to go around. I’m trying to ignore the garden for now—there’s loads to do out there. The shed, however, is tantalisingly close to being finished. There are just a few niggling things left to sort out.

For instance, the builders cut the downpipes in the wrong place for the water diverters, so the water butts overflow. Water seems to be seeping in under and around the doors, so I’ll need to figure out a way to seal them. Also, the floor needs sealing, which isn’t as straightforward now that I’ve filled the shed with toys. Oh, and I still need to paint the doors and give the exterior another coat.

Time for a Book

One of the bigger projects I’ve been working on is a book about my run around Wales. Every year, I produce a book of our blog posts as a keepsake for ourselves, and they’re really nice to have. This year, I thought it would be great to create a similar book focused on the Wales Coast Path and Offa’s Dyke.

However, as I’ve been writing it, I’ve started to think that other people might enjoy it too. It’s almost too much to be a commercial book since it tries to be a bit of everything:

  • It’s part guidebook—though whether it’s a ‘how to’ or ‘how not to’ guide to running around Wales, I’ll leave you to decide.
  • It’s part personal story, detailing my journey not only around Wales but through various ups and downs of life, including global pandemics, injuries, heart attacks, and more.
  • And, it’s laid out in a full-colour coffee-table style with hundreds of beautiful photos.

It’s a work of art. Although it can be a bit repetitive in places, it thoroughly describes the 71 sections I ran, recounting the trials, the tribulations, the challenges, the triumphs and everything else in between, as I made my way around Wales.

I’ve been spending many late nights fiddling with the layout, reformatting sections, and double-checking for errors, inconsistencies, and typos. There are bound to be a few slip-ups, but I’m hoping to get it printed soon and offer it for sale as a published book.

A Thousand Mile Run
A Thousand Mile Run – A book by me!

I’ll share some sneak previews here soon!

Even though the post-Christmas blues are in full swing, diving into these projects – whether it’s finishing the shed or working on my book, is keeping me motivated and excited for what’s to come. It’s been a reminder that even in the quieter moments, there’s always something to work towards.

1 Response

  1. Avatar forComment Author Mum x says:

    Well done, about time you got a book published and I’ve always enjoyed reading your blogs on the wales coast. I know I may be a bit biased .The photos alone are worth being made into a book, and the description of your journey and some of the people you’ve met along the way are brilliant . Love the title too
    Shed looks good too

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Alan Cole

Alan is a Freelance Website Designer, Sports & Exercise Science Lab Technician and full time Dad & husband with far too many hobbies: Triathlete, Swimming, Cycling, Running, MTBing, Surfing, Windsurfing, SUPing, Gardening, Photography.... The list goes on.

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