Tag Archives: end of year

End of Year wrap-up

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Me Dec 2020

 

Hm, where to start? This year has been a bit crap hasn’t it?  I’ve just tried to light my fire bin in the garden and everything is too sodden. Even the wood I chopped up and put in there is wet and sodden which sums up the year as a whole.

No one knew what would happen at the beginning of the year. I spent last Christmas and New Year with a cancer diagnosis looming over me, and whilst I was going through the operation in Feburary to have a tumour removed from my leg, the news of Covid coming was everywhere. I was lucky that the op went ahead and the chemo which followed was not delayed… as it has been for so many and for those people I really am sorry.

I won’t mull over this too much as I know people do it have it worse off. And I’ve written a bit about that in my last post – Life is relative – but I wouldn’t wish chemotherapy on anyone. It’s one of those things that starts off OK and then as the treatment continues and your immune system is shot, that everything else goes off the rails. I contracted Covid from hospital and spent 3 weeks getting over it. I was blue lit to Northampton general and spent a week there with 38.5degree fevers twice a day underneath a freezing cold air conditioning duct. It was horrendous. Three weeks with a fever that high twice a day wasn’t pleasant. Luckily the disease didn’t go to my lungs as that could have been a different story. I thank my fitness for that but it could have been 50/50.

I’m done with chemo now, and I’m focussing 100% on physio and getting my leg strong again. I’m on track to put on weight again with a target of 79kg… got another 4 to go and I’m working on building upper body strength again as well. I have a page where you can track progress here: Instagram

I want to say a big thank you to my fiancee Annabelle who’s been an absolute star and a rock this year, having to put up with me being in hospital for 3 weeks at a time or more at times and doing much more housework than previously whilst I recovered. I honestly wouldhn’t have been able to do this without her. A big thank you also to my family and friends, for the video calls and calls in hospital to keep the days occupied.

I also want to say a shoutout to the company I work for for being so tolerant and for allowing me to keep my position. I’m phasing back to full time in Jan 2021.

I’ve been able to keep up with freelance work also, which is useful and will be continuing with that next year.

I appreciate life a lot more now, that’s something new. Every day I wake up now is a good day. I saw some not so nice things having been an inpatient in an oncology / heamotology ward for over 6 months. My emotions are wrecked though. The smallest thing can have me balling my eyes out and just looking at photos of last year can do that but I’m stronger and I’m going to be stronger…

 

And that’s a wrap. Thanks for reading and all the best for 2021 if you read this far!

Where did this year go?

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This seems to happen every year. Christmas and Boxing Day comes round and we’re sat in that limbo between then and New Year where we come to reflect on what has happened over the past year.

Trying to remember everything is quite hard… the year has had some ups and downs, some positives and some negatives.

I’ve made lots of new friends in the car world, the fun and joy I get from tinkering with my ever ongoing project car (see Garage) and the lust for the sound of a spooling turbo is one only people who’re mixed up in the car world will understand (of which there are thousands of like minded guys and girls worldwide.

I’m also attempting to broaden my music knowledge and items on my music wish list are being bought as vinyl – (see Playing some vinyl)

I’m focusing on building my freelance work too, so if you or friends or family have a problem with your computer please get in touch or see my website for that stuff (Frantik/Whitecherry).

Family and friends mean the world to me but unfortunately as the internet strives to bring us closer, it seems that this alone is not enough. If you see me out and about say “hi” and I’ll aim to do the same! 🙂

I’d like to thank my girlfriend for sticking by me and my annoying habits for another year. The longer we’re together the closer we get.

All the best for 2019!

Minimizing debt into 2018

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It’s coming to the end of another year and time to write a brief wrap-up post.

I think I have achieved a lot this year:

  • I finally got my Mazda MX5 through another MOT after a lot of hard work and that’s still ongoing.
  • I’ve been able to maintain a loving relationship which I am proud of, and through that, also made some new friends.
  • I’ve progressed in my job although that’s been a struggle, having to be put through potential redundancy early in the year.
  • My freelance work is still progressing, I tend to allow work to flow in via word of mouth so not to stretch myself but do pursue some leads when I can (sneaky feelers!)

I am attempting to reduce the amount of debt in my name. A while after buying my house (Keep calm, just bought a house) I required some additional money to buy furniture and decorate, and to also pay off some credit cards (consolidating debt). I immediately closed a credit card account thereafter. Credit cards are bad ideas. I am now left with one credit card and have just reduced the credit card limit to £1500 after they had increased it to £2900! I don’t want that temptation. If I don’t have the money, I can’t pay for something. Simple as. My loan will be near enough paid up at the end of 2018, so I’ll be able to close that too.

Considering I am only 27 I think I have done quite well. I have big dreams and passions but sometimes I have to look back and see how far I have already come.

I wish everyone a good new year, and remember to set achievable targets that you can reach!