Alive and Kicking - Tuesday 28th March 2006

I have been an inactive blogger recently. I wish to continue with my journal writing and I've decided to do this via a blog rather than via a pen and note-book.

It is many months since I last did a posting and I couldn't remember how to log in. With the aid of blogspot help and being semi-literate in PC speak, I find myself writing again for all to read. I feel ready for the challenges that blog writing will give me and to write an entry fairly regularly but not daily.


Why do I feel up to it now and not previously?

A lot has gone on in my life since I last wrote a blog. I have not stopped writing at all except when I was prostrate in agony for most of Febuary 2006 with a flare of my Ankylosing Spondylitis. In summary, this are the major events that have happened over the last few months:-

• Birth of 2nd grandson (actually that was 12 months ago)
• Started and stopped Advising at York Citizens Advice Bureau (too stressful)
• Admitted and seeked help to treat my Clinical Depression (wise but bold move)
  
• Attended numerous clinics at York District Hospital (ongoing story of my life)
• My son has been made redundant twice (now in new job)
  
• My daughter's boyfriend also made redundant (now in new job)
  
• My wife's 60th (now happy, armed with a senior railcard)
• I completed a Creative Writing course and shone at free verse writing
• Investigated my dietary needs in relation to my medical conditions (interesting)
  
• Had our blocked drain repaired at high cost to the Insurers
• Took delivery of a home Composter to help with Recycling of rubbish
• My brother got divorced after 32 years of unhappy marriage
• My old business premises in Folkestone re-let after 12 months empty
• Took out ISA's for my wife & me
• Had acupunture for the 1st time
  

I'm sure this list is not complete but suffice it to say that a lot has happened but the most significant is starting my course of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in the Cancer Care Unit at York District Hospital in August 2005. More on this in later blogs, but I've nearly finished and this blog is testament to my overall improvement.

It's now past midnight which is the latest that I've sat at my PC for many a long month.

Mike