Apologies if you missed my blog entry last week, but I just didn’t feel up to it. Truthfully, I can’t feel 100 per cent all of the time, and last week I felt that my energy levels were running at about half that. With cancer, and following chemo, I feel the cold more than I ever used to, and that means I can’t really go out for a walk which, funnily enough, gives me more energy.

Regular readers will know that I do all I can to stay upbeat, but I was struggling a bit last week. I can’t really put my finger on what it was that made me feel low – and I still do, if I’m honest – but I couldn’t give myself the kind of lift I’ve been able to throughout my illness. Usually I can pump myself up a bit, or give myself a bloody good talking to, but it wasn’t working. I know that my being low makes Jackie feel helpless...and that just makes me feel worse. As ever, I am determined that I’ll turn the corner soon. I hate feeling negative, so I’m going to get on top of this.

Let’s move on. Jackie read my last blog and said “have I just got the one Christmas present then?”, so I’m under orders to get into town and get some more. I don’t really mind a bit of a wander around town, but I have to say the town centre looks a bit tired these days. I know there are plans for a regeneration of the town centre (haven’t there always been?), but it can’t happen soon enough.

I’m really sorry to hear about the ongoing problems at Woolies. I hope they can find a buyer soon. As you know, I used to work in the warehouse, and I’ve got a lot of friends still there, and my thoughts are with them. It’s hard to believe how the economy has taken such a tumble in the last few months. Like me, the economy needs to get back on track soon!

Last time I mentioned about going to see my brother Dereck and his wife Margaret. We had a laugh. He’d been reading the blog, and he was amazed that I could remember his boxing career. I was knee-high to a grasshopper at the time, but it’s one of my clearest childhood memories. Dereck, you’d be surprised what I can remember!

With Christmas coming, we’ll be off to get down to see the grandkids in Plymouth soon. They’re great, and we love spending time with them. They’re looking forward to Christmas like all kids do. For me, spending time with the family is what is most important about this time of year.

I’m resting up now in the hope that I’ll have plenty of energy for it when it comes. I’m quite often awake in the early hours (and late hours), so I’ll watch the ice hockey, the American football and even the baseball when any of them are on. The American sports have always appealed to me for some reason. I even watched the lacrosse recently...that’s amazing to watch. Fast, furious and very, very physical. I really got into it, as it’s got in it everything I enjoy in a sport.

It’s the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year Award this Sunday, and I really hope it goes to one of the British Olympic team. They don’t get the shedloads of money that some of the other contenders pick up – and you can probably guess from that who I don’t want to win it – but they are dedicated, focused and determined to win. Chris Hoy or Rebecca Adlington would by my choice, but I’m not sure the Great British public feel the same way.

So that’s it from me this week.

Take care, and I’ll catch up with you again next week, Paul