Seven Seas

Joe and Me Gran Canaria New Years Eve 2013

What a year!  2013 has been a real epic journey with so many ups and downs.   Coming to terms with my family’s tragic loss has been so tumultuous.  I’m just pleased that we are all still here to tell the tale.  There is no doubt though that at the end of 2013 the kids and I are stronger.  We are able to tell the funny stories and talk about the great times that we all enjoyed with Caroline.   That’s a great sign for us.

Having entered a world where I had lost the two pillars of my life, Caroline and my career, setting myself objectives has been very important.  It enables me to reflect on the progress that we have made.  Psychologically the objectives provides structure and goals to achieve.  So how did I do in 2013:

Family

1      Help Joe through his A levels

Well Joe scraped into Uni with his final grades.  Not sure how I influenced him.  Just became a cheerleader in the end.  At the end of the day the grades were good enough and he was outstanding at his interview.  So well done joe.

2      Help Joe decide what he wants to do next whether it is University or something else

I ferried Joe around to various Universities however he was always adamant which course he wanted to study and where:  Film at Falmouth

3      Help Georgina through her first year of University

Georgina has settled back into Cardiff University excellently after changing her course to Pyschology.  Georgina has really matured in 2013 and has been a huge help to me.

Me

4      Watch British Lions in Australia.  Anyone else interested? 

Georgina and Matt "the boyfriend"

The trip to Australia to watch the British Lions win the series was the highlight of the year.  Travelling around Australia was just awe inspiring.  Thanks to Ricey for travelling with me.

5      Three bike rides: 1) across the Outer Hebrides with my brother Andrew; 2) memorial ride from Cardiff to Bristol; 3) one other big ride e.g. London to Paris – maybe!

The memorial ride from Cardiff to Bristol in April by 10 of us raised over £600 for St Peters Hospice.  Despite the appalling weather we were very well supported.  Thanks to all that rode and turned out.

Riding around the Outer Hebrides (236 miles) in August was a truly memorable experience especially in such a beautiful part of the world.  Thanks to my brother Andrew for organising and for nephew Harry for being the best bike rider in Scotland!

Logistically could only manage a third ride  Bristol – Gloucester round trip with Neil. Still 80 miles in a day.

6      Maintain my weight at 13 stone

Failed on this front. Stabilised around 14 stone. Not too bad.  Still 2 stone lighter than in January 2012

7      Learn to cook properly

Didn’t really enhance my skills as far as I hoped.  However, still able to knock up a meal and have gained more confident in the kitchen

Work

8      Work out what to do next regarding my career

Started to build foundations in my working environment and have enjoyed large elements of my working life.  Freelancing and working with small and medium enterprises has been interesting and very fulfilling.  Have to ensure payback in 2014 for the investment of time in 2013.  [I can hear all my former colleagues groaning – “he’s not changed a bit – payback, payback, payback!”]

So that’s last year.  There is much to be happy about and we have made progress.  Caroline would be very proud of us.  We now need to navigate 2014. 

2014 Objectives

Family

1. Continue to support Joe in his studies and ensure he gets settled in the student flat for next year 

2. Continue to support Georgina in her studies. Georgina is very much independent these days so less of a challenge

Me

3. Move house. My house is now on the market so just need to sell it. Need to find a house and buy it. Easy!!!

4. Re-address work – life balance.  Towards the end of year I found myself working long hours and not having much of a social life.

5. Celebrate my 50th birthday (gulp).  Being 50 was going to be a challenging and significant milestone if life had been as it was.

6. Now that I am soon to be 50 I need to start looking after myself more responsibly especially nutritionally.  The phrase “closing the stable door after the horse has bolted” comes to mind.

7.  Raise £500 for St Peters Hospice by organising another bike ride and running the Bristol 10k

Work

8.  Freelancing has to payback in 2014.

So another eventful year.  There’s no doubt that whatever challenges we are faced that we will have the resolve to overcome them.

Seven Seas - Echo and the Bunnymen  (not for classroom or offices)