Day: 4 January 2024

Dad

My dad with me a few days after I was born in 1971

Today marks exactly 26 years since my father, Keith J Saunders, died. I still miss him every day. What I would give to have one last hug from him.

Dad died from kidney failure aged 52 years, 10 months and 23 days . I reach the exact same age as him this autumn. That has been a sobering thought as I approached my 52nd birthday in November.

Today my thought, however, have been on the happy moments that we had together. Those ordinary every day interactions and conversations, before the dementia started stripping away large chunks of what made him who he was.

I love you Dad!

Riding into the dawn

Looking southeast across flodded fields towards Crail and the sunrise

In his book Atomic Habits, author James Clear stresses that we don’t rise to the level of our goals, instead we fall to the level of our systems. If we establish the right habits, then even on our worst days that should still help us to reach our goals.

For years, I would get up before dawn and head out on my bike around 05:30. It always set me up well for the day. I felt that I had achieved something. It energised me. It got my body and mind moving before breakfast.

I am trying to aim for that daily routine again. This morning I rose at a lazy 06:40, tidied away the laundry for my children arriving this afternoon and then headed out into the darkness on my bike.

It felt good to be out in the chill air, watching the sun rise.

Today, I took delivery of some new, very reflective cycling overshoes from Proviz. My feet are going to be warm and dry from now on.

Here is to more bike rides in the winter darkness.