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I did manage it eventually. But, when the subject attracts the number of comments as last week's, I would have preferred to reply as they came in - unfortunately, that wasn't possible, so I apologise for keeping some of you waiting.

We had a free weekend down at Galabank on Saturday because of our early exit in the Scottish Cup, so the majority of the lads were present for a fairly lengthy training session.

I'm sure it was only David Cox (wrapped in cotton wool) and our captain, Kevin Neilson (no comment) that failed to show face.

I'm sure I wasn't the only one expecting a tough session, and it was, although thanks to the breakdown of Harry Cairney's CD player, maybe not as tough as the manager had planned.

It's normal, during our warm-up, for the lads to get their heads together and try and figure out what the coaches have in store for us as they lay out the cones.

As soon as I saw the 20 metre rope come out, I knew straight away it was to be the infamous bleep test.

News quickly spread round the squad and the chirpiness soon disappeared. It wasn't to disappear for too long as the CD twice cut out while we waited on the line to get going - over to Harry and..... "It's run out of batteries".

Needless to say, I wasn't the only one delighted, but we still had a hard session made easier with the balls involved throughout.

After four tough pitch shuttle-runs to finish with, I was showered and home watching the results come in.

Every club is fast approaching that vital Christmas period when results over the next few weeks can go a long way in deciding what the rest of the season is to hold in store for you.

Annan Athletic are no different and the players and coaching staff know just how important the month of December will be in determining our ambitions for the second-half of the season.

Although Montrose are, at present, slightly adrift, there are only two points separating Elgin at second-bottom and ourselves in sixth place.

Three of our next five games are at home and, similarly, three of these games are against teams that currently sit below us in the table.

It doesn't take a genius to work out that we need to pick up the majority of the 15 points that are available, which means securing three victories by the time we play away at Stranraer on 2 January.

It's going to be a little strange playing on Boxing Day this year, but I'm really looking forward to the visit of Berwick Rangers that day.

It's usually a big family day for the Jardines and I'm normally in the local social club with my dad, papa, uncles and cousins watching all the football and results come in before heading up the road for some home made soup.

I'm not sure what it is with this particular day, but it's just a great day for football in my opinion.

Everyone is in good spirits after enjoying their Christmas celebrations and the men are usually allowed out (well, in my family anyway) for a couple of beers together.

The Annan Social Club is a great place to be round this time of year and I'm sure that Boxing Day will be just the same.

We were away to Stenhousemuir on the 27 December last season and our game at Elgin was cancelled on 3 January, so this will be the first time the club has hosted a competitive fixture at this time of year.

If I can drag my family away from the comforts of their own social club then hopefully they will be at Galabank too.

We have three tough fixtures before that one comes around, so hopefully we can pick up some points before then and enjoy our first Boxing Day fixture with three points in the bag to send us into 2010 in a healthy position.