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After two weeks break from training I'm just chilling and relaxing and appreciating the finer things that London has to offer not to mention being able to live life like a typical guy in their mid-20s.

I decided to end my season after the Gateshead meeting and other than a quick three or four mile bike ride I've done no exercise whatsoever since August 31.

My dad has kept me up to date with how the other events have been going and I know the IAAF World Athletics Final was won with 8.14m, which I know I'm capable of jumping. As you can imagine it is not the easiest thing to think I could have won that competition and won $20,000, but such is life.

I've played a bit of golf and I've also been out a bit recently, so I have been nursing a few hangovers. It has been nice to go for a pint if I want a pint and eat some pizza if I want some pizza. I've caught up with a few old friends and had a good time but, to be honest, I'm already getting itchy feet and I'm looking forward to returning to training.

I'm flying out to Rome on Thursday for my wife's brother's wedding. I've been to Rome a few times before but as I'm going for three or four days I can take a bit more time to see the Spanish Steps and the Vatican.

On my return next week, I'll be stepping up the exercise by doing some bike riding, swimming and maybe going for a five mile run. I'd like to say it would take me about 25 minutes but I think people might see through that, it would normally take about 40 minutes.

There has been a lot of talk about Charles van Commenee accepting the position as the new performance director of UK Athletics in the wake of the end of Dave Collins' tenure and I would welcome Charles.

I worked closely with him from 2002 and 2004 when he was UK Athletics technical director for jumps and combined events. Charles is a no messing sort of guy. You always know where you stand with him and I appreciate and value his honesty.

Having said that, Dave Collins also deserves a lot of credit for the role he played, especially in putting together training bases like at Pickett's Lock which has proved a great success.

For me, at the moment, I'm reflecting on what I want to achieve for the rest of my career. Some people have said I'll be 30 and over the hill at the London 2012 Olympics but I don't see it that way.

I just turned 27 earlier this week and I simply see this as the beginning of the second half of my athletics career. I have some big decisions to make and the next four years in the countdown to 2012 are going to be massive for the sport of athletics in Britain.

Til' the next time

Chris