Is it that time already? Peterhead’s pre-season programme of friendlies against stupid clubs from all over the north of Scotland begins on Tuesday night, and yet we’ve barely got a squad of players, and last season has barely even finished.

Indeed, given the Confederations Cup and European U21 Championships have been on this summer, you and I, the general public, have done without for a whole fortnight.

I’m the first to admit that for far too long I’ve allowed football to dominate but even I’m starting to grow wearisome of wall-to-wall football, televised or otherwise.

Admittedly, I’ve not made the best use of the summer break – I managed Rock Ness, and the following midweek travelled down to Edinburgh to see Oasis, but my spare time has mostly been wasted. That in itself isn’t a bad thing.

During the season I can easily see myself getting up at 7.30 in the morning to travel to an away game, and not return home until after 9 or even 10 at night, so the option of doing nothing is very welcome.

It’s not even that it’s a Saturday wasted. Getting up so early means my Friday night can be a washout, and I’m often home too late to bother about doing anything on the Saturday either.

My attitude is starting to alter in this regard though: I’m off down to London next weekend, and in August I’m planning at least a weekend in Fife for the BTCC at Knockhill, and one or both of Wizard or Belladrum. Whether I do two or all three, I’m going to be missing matches, and that represents a massive change.

It really is just becoming far too much to fit in football for 45 weeks of the year while retaining other interests and trying to have an active social life. Oh, and a full-time job of course. The time’s come to allow those other interests a chance to take hold, and allow myself some semblance of a “normal” life.

For those that don’t know, I do a bit of journalism on the side, so it may be that I continue to go to Peterhead’s home matches and make myself available for Highland League games (or even games down in Angus and Tayside for a change of scenery) to give myself a bit more freedom at weekends.

We’ll see how I feel once the action begins, I guess.