Saturday 27th February

6/84 All going well. My own contest preparations took a back seat today as I did some good work with Mark & Perry. They are both well on target now and I have made the first of many minor adjustments to make sure that they come in spot on when it's showtime. I have pictures of them from today but I wont put any on here just yet, I will put some on when they are looking more ready, there's an incentive for you lads. My preparations are going well too, cutting up too quickly if anything but tonight is cheat night so that will solve that! Here's a picture of Lilybelle, just because she is Granddads little Princess and I love her so much. Read the babygrow.

Wednesday 24th February

3/84 The big guy is back! I am constantly amazed at how quickly my body reacts to a competition diet. I've only just started the diet yet already things are coming through. However this will not lead to complacency, I've started daily cardio early too, not much but enough to tell the thin layer of fat that develops over the winter that it's time to go. The other guys are well into their diets too, Tommo is looking awesome already, Perry is well on course and Mark is doing his first competition diet that I took great pleasure in writing for him. He doesn't hate me yet but soon will, and if he doesn't then he won't be ready! Still, none of us are as cool as Charlie Harper, although I am trying hard to be. Check out the new series of Two and a half men.

Sunday 21st February

In exactly 12 weeks time I am hoping to be able to tell you that I have retained the London & South East title, the work to make sure that happens begins right now. It's all about the diet. The daily 1kg of fresh chicken will increase and the daily 400 grams of rice will slowly but surely be replaced with broccoli, there's a bit more to it than that obviously but that is where it will start. My friend Lisa Cross http://www.fbblisacross.com/ has suggested that the blog takes the form of a competition preparation diet for the next 12 weeks so I will try to do that, with updates on the condition of me and the 3 guys that I am preparing for the show. Here's a recent photo, we'll call this "before" and see how "after" looks in 12 weeks! Finally, had a great night with the kids last night, thanks, especially to Natalie x

Friday 19th February

Just two more sleeps and then it will be time to get back into competition mode. Yes it really has come around that quickly, the London & South East show that I won last year is on May 16th which is 12 weeks from this Sunday. This year will be different because as well as trying to retain my title I will be looking after two of my charges who will also be competing in the show. Mark,who I know will do very well in his first show and and also Perry, who definitely will do better this year. We have all worked closely together in the off season and will continue to do so. I'm looking at them both tomorrow and the serious dieting and training starts on Sunday. We are all really looking forward to it, masochists or what?! Here's an underwater picture that someone did of me last weekend.

Wednesday 17th February

A very happy Birthday to my son Steve who is 26 today! Yes February is an expensive month what with both kids Birthdays being so close together. How did that happen? Well lets just say that their ever beautiful Mum used to love it when the summer arrived, ah good old days. Steve designed and runs this website for which I am eternally grateful. Here he is with Lilybelle, she has changed his life and he is such a loving, doting Father, I can't think where he gets that from? Loved the advice for anyone with a daughter dispensed by Michael Clarke Duncan in "Two and half men" last night, so I will pass it on to Steve here and now. Before she starts dating - bulk up!

Wednesday 10th February

Had a brilliant day today! Spent most of it with my daughter Natalie and my daughter in law Amy and of course Caden, Colby and Lilybelle. The only problem that I have when I am with them all is that I want to cuddle all of them at once! Instead though we worked out a rota where I could play with Caden while the babies were having their feeds and then take turns of cuddling the babies off to sleep after their feeds.
I've said it before but having Grandchildren really has changed my life for the better in so many ways and I just love it when I get them all to myself. As you have already seen loads of pictures of the gorgeous Caden, here are Colby and Lilybelle who are equally as gorgeous.

Friday 5th February

Happy Birthday to my incredible Daughter Natalie. She really is the most wonderful Daughter that any man could ever hope for. Unfortunately she is now 23 so I can't pass her off as only being 15 if I want to lie about my age! Did a brilliant training session with my coach Eddie Abbew tonight. He is really tired as he is dieting hard for his upcoming show yet he still gave me a superb workout and taught me some invaluable lessons, thanks Ed, I couldn't do it without you. All of these things together will ensure that I am bigger and better for this years shows. I'm a stone heavier than I was this time last year and it's pretty much all muscle. I just can't wait to get on stage again!

Thursday 4th February

Last night I spent some time with my gorgeous Granddaughter LilyBelle. She is now just over a month old yet she has such character and she gets prettier every day. She has completely taken over the lives of Steve and Amy who have taken to parenting amazingly well, and needless to say she has well and truly captured her Granddads heart. Someone once told me that the main reason that we are here is to have children; with the incredible children and Grandchildren that I have, and the joy that they bring me, I would find that hard to argue with. By the way, the writing on the dummy says "mute button"!

Wednesday 3rd February

Ah it must be February, the time when everyone realises that they have 3 months to get in shape before the good weather gets here at Easter or more importantly, they have to start getting ready for their shows in May! First one this year will be starring my good friend Perry Knight who did pretty well last year, but will this year bring a whole new package to the 80 kg division. He will need to as it is such a difficult class to win but he is ready for the challenge and has started preparing already, I'll put pictures of him on here as his show approaches. Apart from Perry I am helping six others with their preparations for shows this year as well as working hard myself. I will be at least 10 lbs bigger for this years shows, bring 'em on!