December is always about Christmas parties and I had another awards ceremony to go to on the weekend. This time I was in Germany for the annual BMW get-together. You don't realise how many Independent BMW drivers there are competing in the world... over 140 as it turns out! The good news was that I finished third overall in the Sports Trophy. BMW has its own points system and to finish third when you've only competed in one series is pretty good going (Colin Turkington was the only other BTCC driver and he came fourth). As well as getting a cheque - which I won't be spending on Xmas pressies - the trophy was handed to me by Nick Heidfeld. It's always nice to meet the other BMW drivers, and Robert Kubica and Andy Priaulx were there too.

It's been a quiet time other than that, which is a relief, as I know things will start getting hectic in the new year and the run-up to the season starting. I've been spending a lot of my days down the gym with Darren Putt, my new personal trainer. It's so much easier to work out when you've got someone pushing you along, although it doesn't necessarily feel like that when he orders another 30 minutes on the running machine when you're knackered! The best bit is that he really knows what I should be doing and for how long, which is much better than me trying to guess. I certainly won't feel guilty about how a few drinks and plenty to eat at Christmas if I keep this up!

So the big news in the BTCC at the moment is that Arena are coming back in with the new Ford Focus. Having different makes of car on the grid is only a good thing and it's nice to know that there's a new car to go out and beat! The only thing that's happened in the last few weeks is that I came home one night to find two German Shepard dogs roaming around outside my apartment. It was late at night and freezing cold so I decided to bring them into the flat until the morning when I could find out who their owner was. Sadly, they didn't exactly repay the favour as when I woke up in the morning they'd caused a bit of chaos including chewing through the cable of my laptop! That's the last time I take pity on any strays...