WITH just days to go, I now know how Princess Diana felt when she saw her face on the wedding tea towels.

Of course my situation has less of a regal twist but public expectation has no class divide and there’s no going back.

Given that there’s only so much of the gym you can take and jogging can be a tad boring, we decided on a spot of paint-balling at Bassett’s Pole outside Sutton Coldfield.

The idea, all Jessica’s, would be one of exercise and fun.

So Sunday morning saw us swapping running gear for combat kit.

Jess had drafted in (rather unfairly) a few fit young men, along with friend Jo who’d been in the army cadets.

I was left with the stragglers and two 14-year-olds on my team, who both, as it happened, showed all the wily battle sense of an elite squad.

Despite my misgivings, the day was terrific fun and if you ignore the war wounds (I got shot in the bottom), it’s a good way of exercising.

With 200 acres of woodland to zip around shooting paint pellets at your friends, it’s a great distraction and we left the place happy, healthy people.