Rob, Rambling - A lot of things interest me...

I think I may have overdone it at the gym yesterday. I went twice: at lunchtime and after work, as I knew that I wasn’t going to be able to make it today, and then I’m off for a long weekend back at my parents’ house.

At lunchtime, I did just abs and lower back work, to the extent where today it physically hurts to sit up straight. Oops!

After work, I was there for nearly 2 hours, which is probably a new record for me. Treadmill first, then a load of weights (which have left my arms and shoulders dead today), an intense 20 minutes on the bike, and another mile on the treadmill to finish off.

I was utterly exhausted by the time I finished, and had to spend the evening with my feet up on the sofa. I’m still flagging today, but at least my legs aren’t too achey.

I’m debating whether or not to take my running gear back to my parents’ or not. I could probably do with doing some miles outside, given the improving weather, and it might help me to keep my sanity during four days with the parents!

I’m debating whether to go to a football match on Boxing Day this year. Arsenal are playing in Birmingham, which is about 2.5 hours from my parents’ house, where I’ll be for Christmas Day itself and the following weekend.

I’m already cutting short that weekend to go back to London on the Sunday lunchtime for a football match, but that’s not a huge deal as I’d be heading back that way on Sunday evening in any case because of work on the Monday. So my parents are cool with that.

But to dump them on Boxing Day for the best part of the day just for football might be a bit much. Plus I’d be going by myself, which isn’t the best fun, especially when there’s a distinct possibility/probability of us losing. I think I’ll have to give this one a miss…

Today marks the day when I throw off one of the financial shackles that had been restraining me for the last two years. Overnight, I made the final payment on a small loan that I took it a couple of summers ago, when I first left university.

I needed it to help me move house, as I was in that awkward position of having to put down a deposit before receiving my previous deposit from the place I was moving out of. Plus a little extra to help with my immediate post-uni unemployment.

Oddly, this spring I had to do the same, but decided to ask my parents for a loan instead. The plan was to have that paid off almost immediately, but with having to get my teeth capped (£900) and an unforeseen opportunity to get an Arsenal season ticket (£900), that didn’t quite work out.

So now I owe approximately £1500 on each of the following: my parents; my credit card; my bank overdraft. Funny how they’re all for the same amount, give or take £100 or so.

Yes, I’m living in the red, but I know how much I’m spending each month, and can afford to spend on frivolities like holidays and so on. I want to get the credit card paid off first, as that incurs the most interest (still not too much though).

The parents are third in line, unfortunately for them, but they can’t be too hard up, as my dad has just bought a Porsche… He’s having his midlife crisis, I reckon. Which means he’ll live to over 100, I suppose!

I believe I’m due for a pay rise pretty soon, and am half-expecting it to be hefty, which would really help me out. I’ll have to fight the urge to splurge initially, in favour of paying off these debts.

I try not to think about money all that often, if I can help it. I earn a good salary, and live comfortably. I can’t do or buy certain things, but that doesn’t bother me. I’m able to holiday, go for beers whenever I want, and impulse buy every so often.

It’s not all that bad, seeing masses of red on your screen when you log in to internet banking…

I’m on my way back to my parents’ house for the weekend, my first entire weekend out of London for months. And the first time seeing my parents since Easter too. Thoroughly looking forward to it.

What’s going to be odd is that I am spendins the weekend sans girlfriend. This will be the first weekend that I haven’t seen her at all from a Friday evening to Monday morning since I can’t even remember when. Often, we spend nearly every minute in that timeframe together.

This may sound harsh, but I’m kinda glad of this little break. I really enjoy my own company, and I tend not to get too much of it at weekends. Maybe I’m weak in that I don’t say No when she suggests doing something, but I do end up having a good time anyway.

And it’s easier to see all of my mates back home when the girlfriend isn’t around. Yes, most of my mates have long-term girlfriends too (one is even married!), but those kind of get-togethers can become a little too couply, if you know what I mean.

Handily, this Saturday evening is a guys only one, and I can’t wait. I really just want to hang out with my mates, shoot the shit, and get hammered. Is that too much to ask?

Probably a touch selfish on my part, but you’ve got to be from time to time, no?