I have a lot to be positive about. It looks as if my university course will commence in April. I’m setting up a coaching business with a friend. My strength and stamina are returning after a period of ill health. There are signs of Spring everywhere. And my birthday is in a few weeks. The last two were in lockdown. A lot to celebrate. But it feels uncomfortable.

It feels indulgent having feelings of positivity when just over a 1,000 miles away innocent people are being murdered by a power hungry, insecure despot. The invasion of Ukraine has sent an ice cold shiver around the western world. And we can’t help but speculate what will happen over the next few days, weeks and months.

We are all dealing with the terrible situation in different ways. Some by submerging themselves in the news feed. Others by stepping back. Many have donated money, clothes, food, medical supplies. Some have signed up for charity events. But we are, for the moment, just spectators.

But life has to go on. If it doesn’t then the Putin machine is halfway to destroying our way of life. We have to continue with what life should look like. Happy, exciting and fulfilling even when the knots of anxiety threaten to overwhelm us.

I continue on my journey to regaining my health after it was assaulted by an over active thyroid. I had a little wobble a couple of weeks ago when I started to feel dizzy and nauseous during training. I suspected that the reduction in my medication had been premature. But I resisted self medicating. I managed to speak to a GP (shock, horror) who advised me to stay on the current dose as the thyroxine in my blood was actually below the normal range. As it turned out the dizziness and nausea was just a blip. It hasn’t reoccurred.

I’ve had an ultrasound scan of my thyroid gland which was reported to me as ‘some slight inflammation’. This is to be expected in Graves Disease. So no nasty growths.

The return of my stamina and strength is returning. I’m getting faster and stronger.

I can now deadlift 85kg for 6 repetitions. Still well below what I was doing just a few months back but going in the right direction.

I am aiming to get back into the 100kg deadlift club by my birthday. I have signed up for a 10k run in Regents Park the weekend of my birthday and of course there are my burpees to complete. All 63 of them. If I get this hat trick I’ll be a happy bunny.

I just hope that they will take place in a safer world. A lot can happen in the next few weeks.