Well it's been a busy week trying to sort all my stuff out and loose ends, as I finally got everything done and dusted for me to relocate to Switzerland and move in with my girlfriend!  Have been planning this a while, and was my big news I mentioned in a blog a few months ago, but had lots to do including obligations with my job and various other things.  I will though be back regularly, so in affect basing myself here for various periods, which is great.  Obviously I need to start to look for work, but the priority will be to learn German.  I have looked into intensive courses which I will do, and there is a great one that starts in a week or so time, but with the racing season upon us I don't want to be paying for a course and then missing days because I am away racing.  So shall take one as soon as the season is finished and then I can look to getting a job and make things more permanent.  I am at the moment on a visitors permit and will look into changing that as soon as possible.  

It is a great place here in Bern and I have talked about the training runs and how good they are from Kati's front door before, but now I can look forward to getting up and cracking along the trails.  I'm not sure that this will have any bearing on this summer as I have done the most of my stuff at home back in the UK, but strangely enough I am already looking forward to next year and getting a good hard winter training in a new and exciting environment.  Kati is an incredible women and fortunately supports my running, like a lot of understanding girlfriends, fiances and wives up and down the country, but I don't want to take the mickey, so I have a few things like an online running consultancy with James and obviously Runnerslife.  We already have a few clients in Bermuda and the Middle East so that's good, just need to move them along.  

Our new website is not up and running yet but watch this space.   So back to last week and quite a funny story.  Obviously I have been a member of my local running track for many years, actually joined in 1990 and God only knows how many times I have run around it and the hours spent there.  At one point I was thinking of just having my sleeping bag in the hut and staying there over night as it might have been easier!  Anyway, on Thursday I had planned for everyone to have drink after training in the bar and to be fair all the guys turned up plus one or two extras which was great.  Only problem was Dad and myself bought the round and after a quick drink, everybody made their goodbyes and left!!  Fair enough the last thing I wanted was a fuss made over me anyway.  People kept asking if I was doing anything special and I just shook my head, so Thursday finished with a whimper!.  

Friday I was due round my best mates Dave and Heidis for dinner with other best friends Wayne and Lorraine driving me over so I could have a drink,  Mum and Dad went out for diiner because I was going out and Wayne rocked up to tell me that Lorraine was not ready so he left her to finish and we would swing back by to get her, a few minutes later with him telling me how unreliable women are ;-) (only joking) we arrived at his place.  He went in then came out a minute later saying she still was running late and he had to show me something.  So I must have gullible across my face, because as I went in a big surprise as about 25 of my closest friends and family were there for a surprise party!  I was gob-smacked and overwhelmed, but the surprise didn't finish there, as I turned around to see Kati standing there!!  She had flown over (and organised the party along with Wayne) just for the night and was then booked back on the same flight as me!  I really don't know how I have been lucky enough to meet such an amazing woman and have such incredible friends.  

The inevitable speeches were superb and again I am blessed that I have so many great friends and family.  I haven't achieved all that I believe I should have in running and hopefully it isn't over just yet, but there is no way on earth I would have been able to do what I have over the past without their unwavering support and love.  Again I know that in athletics I am not the only one is this position, and their sacrifices, the feelings of highs and lows they also get whilst following my career has not gone unnoticed over the years, and although a thank-you on here cannot repay that faith and support in me, I just hope they all know how much I do appreciate it!

Here's to a new lease of lilfe for me, new beginnings and an exciting future, I really can't wait!

Sp8y