Wednesday 30th September

Less than three weeks to the finals now and it's all going very well. I'll see Eddie on Saturday and see what he thinks but I know that he will put me on zero carbs as we are doing a long slow depletion and then a big carb up. I'm looking forward to it, I will be in the best condition of my life by far come showtime. The last of the cheat meals was at the weekend, most people go out for a huge curry or Chinese. I prefer to stay home and have Heinz big soup with some cheese sandwiches. Only one person in the world will know why that is my favourite cheat meal.

Monday 28th September

Spent some time with Natalie today. She looks incredibly well, the bed rest is doing both her and Colby the world of good and her bump is now enormous! We will find out on Thursday what day Colby will make his big entrance, until then I've told Natalie to get all the rest she can as she will need it! She is such an amazing daughter, here's a picture of us on her wedding day, quite simply one of the best days of our lives.

Sunday 27th September

What did I say last week about Sundays at the gym? Today was awesome! Had a great talk with The Rev. John Lennon (yes that's his real name!) an Irish priest who trains at Atlas gym on Sundays but also goes round the country preaching positive motivation and philosophies like this "Don't just hope to win, simply set a standard that the competition cannot reach" I didn't think I needed motivating but he made me feel ten feet tall. Thanks John, I now wish the finals were tomorrow!

Friday 25th September

The doctors have decided that they are keeping Natalie in hospital until baby Colby is born in about 2 weeks time. She is a brave kid and although she is in pain she is happy to stay in pain and in a hospital bed to ensure that baby Colby is fine when he is born. I expected nothing less, when my kids are facing adversity they suck up the pain and meet it head on, I am so proud of both of them. My family have sorted a rota for us all to be babysitting Caden without it affecting my contest preparations, but of course Natalie and Colby are constantly on my mind.

Wednesday 23rd September

Today was a rest day from the gym, good job too as it turned out. This morning Natalie called to say that she was having abdominal pains so I took her to the hospital. They have kept her in, mainly as a precautionary measure. With baby Colby due in just a few weeks these are anxious times, I’m just so glad that I moved here when I did so that I can be this close to my children and look after them whenever they need it. On the plus side it means that I get to spend even more time with Caden as I am looking after him most of the time while Natalie is in hospital. Since I have lived here Caden and I have developed an incredible bond, being a Grandparent is just an amazing experience, right now he is actually helping me to write this!

Tuesday 22nd September

OK here is the embarra-ssing picture as promised. Im not posing, Caden kept on grabbing my bandana. Needless to say the silly David Brent goatee and feather earring were removed straight after the party! As my girlfriend couldn't attend, I found myself spending a lot of time alone with the kids, in fact by the end I was sat outside with a group of them telling me what they get up to at playschool. If it's true that the children are our future and this lot are anything to go by, I would say that the world is in pretty safe hands.

Sunday 20th September

Took the day off yesterday for Caden's "pirate" themed Birthday party, embarrassing pictures coming soon! Returned to the gym with a vengeance today though and trained really well. I love training on Sundays, it's usually quiet apart from the really dedicated. Saw my friends Kirk, who I have mentioned before, and Darryl, who has decide to compete in March and I am absolutely positive will do very well!