I do not normally ponder visits to the gym but on this occasion I was concerned. Waiting to test my fitness were Flt Sgt Ruddy Farquason and Cpl Richard Dunning from the RAF Physical Education team dispatched to Parliament to ensure we will have the stamina to trek across the artic. The first trial was more of a mental hurdle than physical, in that measurements were taken of our bodies reminding us just how unfit the lifestyle of an MP actually is.

A series of push and press ups confirmed this but the real challenge was the VO2 max test. This is an endurance test designed to measure your ability to replenish your blood with oxygen. It involves peddling on the cycle machine with the pressure increased every two minutes, the equivalent of cycling up a steeper and steeper hill without slowing down. This was 18 minutes of pure pain made all the worse by the very loud words of encouragement coming from the two RAF instructors!

I went to the gym thinking I was quite fit and departed thinking I need to visit more often. My thanks are due to the RAF instructors, they were both encouraging and honest about how much training I still need to do.