Okay, so for all of you legendary people that I have had the honour of meeting personally, you will know that there is a slight “cuddly” side to me.

You will know that I have something in common with a Budda, have a low center of gravity and have been told that I possess the sign of a “Good Daddy”.

Yes indeed folks, I have something that is considered a sign of great wealth amongst African Kings, something that all Kiwi people know the Maori term for (Puku Nui) and something that David Brent (of “The Office” Fame) has claimed was “all bought and paid for”.

I have a bit of a tummy!!

I have been told it gives me character. I have had people rub it for good luck.

My sister even once wrote “Babe Frightener” on it….!! (Honestly!)

It’s been a part of my life for many years… and many beers too!

It’s also been something that I have tried to work on.

It’s something that I have tried to combat with many hours on the treadmill, in the sauna, doing sit ups, punching the punch bag, cycling, swimming. You name it, I did it.

And it’s always remained with me. My loyal friend.

That all changed a few months ago though when I reconnected with an old friend of mine. A guy who I have known for about 5 years and has got a LOT of experiance in the gym world.

Yup, I reconnected with my good friend, Andrew Sellar. Now Andy and I have recently started training together and he is about 6’3 and 110kgs! He is what we call in SA, a “Unit” . Very different from the “Unit” that I am as he has about 10% less body fat.

Andy and I have started training at the gym and we are doing something that I haven’t done in about 18 years : HEAVY weights.

He assures me its the best way to get the body of an Adonis – or at least a slimmer Budda!

“Come on Paul! One more rep!!”

“Come on bro! You can do it!!”

“Strooooonnng, Paul!! Strooonnngg!”

All the fantastic comments coming from my UBER supportive comrade!!

“Tell you what Paul, you keep this up, you’ll have a six-pack in a 2 months! You’ll be ripped, Son!”

All of this has been very encouraging and I have found my body changing and becoming stronger. My shirts and trousers are getting tighter in the right places and looser where they should be….. Hell, I was starting to believe it possible. For the first time in my life, I was considering being “toned and tempting…”

This all came crashing down a few days ago.

Andy and I were talking about business (as blokes do) and some of the challenges that we were facing. As any two loud mouthed, outgoing and enthusiastic guys would do, this conversation became a bit heated and passionate as we talked about the crazy obsticles that were being thrown out and it all calmanated with :

“I dunno what to make of it, Paul! I really don’t!”

“The world’s going flipping bonkers…! Bloody Crazy, I tell you!”

“People running round as mad as lorries! Crazy things happening all around us…!”

“Could be getting towards the end of the world, Paul! It’s all setting up for it!”

…..and then the crowning moment came!

Mid-rant, Big Andy sees clarity and announces :

“It’s bloody typical Paul! You EVENTUALLY get that six-pack that I’ve been promising you and then the world ends…! Bloody typical!”

Well, lets just say that that comment was enough to put me over the top! I nearly fell on the floor with laughter. My eyes were steaming…! There was more air going out than coming in…..!

It seemed to me that, if I was going to get a six-pack, the world was going to have to end.

In that case the end of the world as we know it, is nowhere to be seen So sleep safely tonight!