I found my pen!

I wanted to write a light hearted post before I got onto some more serious pieces again.

Jinhao fountain pen

Jinhao X450 fountain pen

We’ve now been in our new house for nearly 2 years. For many many months after moving, the only thing I couldn’t find was my chinese Mont Blanc pen. Following my cancer journey I had started writing a paper diary again – good for self-therapy – as well as just keeping track of everything. It’s quite therapeutic going analog and writing things down on paper, especially as I spend so much time on a computer (including now). Anyway, to the point… I quite liked this pen, and it one of the only things that we couldn’t find having moved house. I had looked everywhere for it, and we were convinced that nothing had been left behind.  I had done a couple of sweeps and checked every room before we set off to ensure nothing was left. Being a pen, and the fact the diary was probably one of the last things to get chucked in a box, the same had probably occured.

We had still got quite a few boxes at my parents, and I had made a good point of clearing all cardboard boxes and moving things into clear storage containers. I had checked coat pockets and in cupboards the length and breadth of the house and checked the workshop too… just in case it had escaped there. It had quite literally frustrated me for months! My wife had even bought me a replacement… which is nice but wasn’t quite the same… because I missed that pen!

A little while ago, I was preparing to go out somewhere nice and had opened a shoebox with a smarter pair of shoes – up until now it’s mostly been mucky trainers and/or boots – and there it was, in the box, my old pen! I was elated. I screamed out in joy 😀  There it was. my old friend. And then somehow I was content.

A little bit of context. My manager in a previous job liked fountain pens, and when I wanted to start writing a diary again I remembered him and how he had recommended this Jinhao fountain pen years ago, it being considerably cheaper (£10 vs 000s), and to give it a go. 

My Osteosarcoma Journey

A recent walk in the Norfolk countryside

I’ve written a few items on my experience with cancer since being diagnosed in 2020, some at the time, and others later.

I am finally mentally and physically prepared to share my story in depth and to also give back.

I will be doing a fundraising walk up Snowdon in Wales with my Sister for Bone Cancer Research Trust in June this year.

I’ve also recorded a YouTube video going into detail about my experiences.

Please give what you can on my JustGiving page!

Thank you 🙂

Putting one foot in front of the other (That’s a wrap!)

“Reflect, Recharge, Rebuild—Here’s to 2025!”

Country garden with cat

Country garden with cat

Apologies for not being too active on here this year. Life, as they say, has gotten in the way. The house and garden have kept me busy, and I’ve been working hard on multiple DIY and car projects. The workshop and car bits are still tying me up and as I write this I am in the process of rewiring one of the lawn tractors after blowing the other one up (non profesional, but suspected diagnosis… it was running and then it wasn’t!).

It’s been a strange end of the year. The rest of my family are down under visiting my Sister in Australia and my Father in Law has just left to go home again. We had an early Christmas in November that my parents hosted, which felt very out of place. We had another Christmas meal yesterday and my wife did a cracking job at catering. I helped with the washing up – promise!

It’s nearly 5 years since I was diagnosed with cancer. We had a Chinese on Christmas Eve and my fortune cookie read “Bad things are behind you” or words to that effect. Coincidence or not, the big C did change my outlook on life. It’s very easy just to coast along, and then BAM! Some bad news like that drops on you and suddenly, both mentally and phsically, the rest of your life is impacted whether you like it or not.  You coast along as you don’t think it’s going to happen to you.

I find it very, very difficult to just do “nothing” and always feel like something needs doing. Mostly because it does (house and car lists are VERY long), but relaxing for me is difficult.

I guess the message here is don’t take your health for granted. Don’t waste your time. Get out and do something productive. Find a new hobby. Spend time with your friends and family. Get a dog or a cat now, not next year. Start writing a diary, I did. I don’t write in it every day but at least once a week and try and write a few lines. It’s quite therapeutic.

Enough of that sombre message… with everything else said I do wish everyone a very happy and healthy 2025! I’ll try and update a little more in the New Year!