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Tidings of Comfort and Joy
18th December 2004
Hi,

Firstly thanks to everyone who took the time to leave me "Happy Birthday" messages in the guestbook over the last week. I had a pretty quiet, relaxed day, but delayed meeting up with my family and grandma until Saturday where I had my first 'Christmas dinner' of the festive season. I am going to be spending Christmas in Ireland, so I will not get a chance to see my grandma and since we share the same birthday we had a bit of a combined xmas/birthday celebration at my parents in Bedford.

I love Christmas, so I am really looking forward to it although I am not sure how I am going to be able to get organized. It all seems to have been so busy recently and December has gone crazily quickly, but I guess that I will get there. I had a lovely holiday in Mexico and the weather was really nice which has made the contrast with December in the UK all the more noticeable.

Last weekend saw the European Cross Country Champs and also BBC Sport Personality of the year. It was a really good weekend for UK athletes with wins on both fronts. Firstly we had Kelly's win at the BBC event; I haven't had a chance to see the program yet but I did get a chance to see some of the pictures from the night. She looked really well and very glamorous, and I was absolutely thrilled for her. She has had an amazing year and totally deserved the award.

On the other side of Europe Hayley Yelling was winning her first title in Germany at the Europeans. Again, I have only been able to see pictures of the finish but it looked like a really exciting finish and I was really glad that she won after knowing that she was so close to giving up after missing the qualifying time for Athens by so little last summer. Also Jo Pavey had a really good run to take 3rd and help the team to silver. Having watched Jo run in the Nike 10k in London a few weeks ago I knew that her training was obviously going well. I was not surprised at all with the result, but reading her comments afterwards she obviously feels a lot more comfortable on the track and will now concentrate on the indoor circuit, with a really good base behind her.

For the first time ever UK had team medals in all four team categories so hopefully we can use the experience here to carry through to the World Cross Champs in March in France.

Lastly, I just want to wish everybody a really Happy Christmas - enjoy it. Speak to you soon,

Just eight weeks to go...
Entry 27, 13th Nov 2006

A special announcement
Entry 26, 12th Jul 2006

Making progress after foot surgery
Entry 25, 9th Jun 2006

Back on track
Entry 24, 25th Apr 2006

Out of London
Entry 23, 10th Apr 2006

Out of Melbourne
Entry 22, 9th Mar 2006

Starting the new year on the right foot
Entry 21, 24th Jan 2006

Rounding off a good year
Entry 20, 10th Dec 2005

Frustrating few weeks
Entry 19, 1st Nov 2005

Up-coming races
Entry 18, 11th Oct 2005

Back from holiday
Entry 17, 21st Sep 2005

A week of mixed emotions
Entry 16, 14th July 2005

Post Pre
Entry 15, 10th June 2005

Facing track debut
Entry 14, 27th May 2005

Back from a Break
Entry 13, 16th May 2005

Post-London Buzz
Entry 12, 24th Apr 2005

Cobwebs gone in New Orleans, next stop: Limerick
Entry 11, 27th Mar 2005

Hicham shares the Albuquerque quirky weather
Entry 10, 21st Mar 2005

No World Cross for me
Entry 9, 8th Mar 2005

From Flagstaff, back to Albuquerque
Entry 8, 23rd Feb 2005

Update and pictures from Albuquerque - Part 2
Entry 7, 31st Jan 2005

Update and pictures from Albuquerque
Entry 6, 19th Jan 2005

London, here I come!
Entry 5, 10th Jan 2005

Looking to 2005
Entry 4, 31st Dec 2004

Tidings of Comfort and Joy
Entry 3, 18th Dec 2004

Visit to Portland
Entry 2, 8th Dec 2004

Frantic Few Weeks!
Entry 1, 3rd Dec 2004