September 2018 Review.
On the whole, it was a good month. The New York trip was good and a real experience for a few reasons. We learn from them and value what we have. The weight battle ended as a draw, but I am in a decent place to go forward for next month. I did my 200,000 steps for the month, so that is cool. On the flip side, I got a cold I believe from the plane air system when I came home, so that has hold of the lungs at present. A big 2 week diy bathroom project is about to kick off, even getting a skip in, so we mean business. I am loving thr new phone, it went great in NY as you probably saw. The month ended on a positive as I went back to the football with my big camera and 4 of the images were used on the local papers website with a goid chance some could be in the paper edition tomorrow. I am busy with the audio books, we can always learn something. I will keep it brief and simple this month and will get back to you in a months time. Try and make some progress on the little projects of life. Remember, a poor plan can be altered, no plan at all and you stay stuck.
August 2018 Review.
On the whole it has been a pretty decent month although it took a nasty dip near the end of the month. I have been pretty good over the month with the gardening and have had less pain on my over flabby body than normal. The families house has had a bit of a tidy up outside. There is much still to be done but definite progress.
I got back into my photography at Tadcaster Albion as it took a twist into video when I got my Samsung 9 mid month. I felt really good as I learnt how to use it during a fast moving game. Indeed at one point, I was able to crouch down and stay in that position for what seemed ages and no back pain, it was great. But my back got its own back, pardon the pun a few days later as it started to play up again. I think I pushed things too far and boy have I paid for it. I am now very much in being sensible mode as the New York trip is around a week away. I thought at one point that I had blown that trip, though if I continue to improve daily, I should be ok. The thought of possibly missing out on The Big Apple after a years anticipation was horrible. If that happened, expect a long period of radio silence here as I have a major sulk on.
Work is going pretty well now as we finally catch up with ourselves after a prolonged period of running to try and stand still. We are in a good place which will allow me to go away with a clear mind.
The major highlight of the month has to be the phone. I had my Samsung 6 for three years and it will still do a job as a great wifi radio and Spotify player in the house. The 9 is all dancing and smarter than me at present, but I am learning everyday, one of the keys to a fulfilling life.
I am enjoying listening to my audiobooks and apologize to Lorraine and my co workers for my quoting of things that I have listened to. All I will say is that if you have an important appointment coming up, try to go for a morning one rather than an afternoon one as it boosts your odds of success in so many areas.
My weight has been fairly level and the hoped for pre trip drop didnt happen, to be honest, I didn't expect it would. We have had a lot of good quality time with friends and family so that is a positive.
So I have had a major reminder that it isn't selfish to look after yourself. If you don't look after yourself, how can you try to look after others ? Also, get your own house in order before you try and help to sort out others. This is still very much work in progress as we both have a natural instinct to try and help others, often at a cost to ourselves.
Progress has been made. We need a good break away and then move on towards our long term goals. I need to step up my walking game to try and ease my back into wellness. So I have signed up with Samsung on their 200k steps challenge for September. I plan to take it steady and ease myself back into it.
Until next month
Keith.
Review of my July 2018 Journey.
So the month of July comes to an end and it has been a mixed month. It has been so hot that the prospect of doing anything physical has been a challenge, so with the likes of the garden, it's been more a case of maintenance rather than pushing things forward.
On the weight front, I am down a couple of pounds on the month, but that might be too little too late to make an impression before September. I should have done better over the month, I go again next month, as ever !
We have had a couple of nights out. One cracking film with the 2nd Mamma Mia film and an ok concert that was not quite all to our taste. We also got a night away in a nice value hotel but unfortunately it had no air conditioning, so that gave us a really hot night that was a bit unpleasant. We did have a lovely day out in the Peak District in the brown countryside, so on balance, it was a good trip. Lorraine did some good painting work on the front porch, it has always looked quite a grubby area. I will post an image when the last few bits are finished.
I have got back into my photography at Tadcaster Albion for a couple of pre season games. I have bought a season ticket at Tad, so i now have to go to more matches than last season.
Removing my Facebook and Twitter apps from my phone has been interesting. I can still access them through a browser, but it definitely has cut back my use. I still reach regularly but when I get there, it's a case of what do i do now I am here ! I do have the urge to jump back on Twitter to trawl through its rabbit holes. It's getting used more for spotify and the audiobooks.
The mind is clarifying now on our upcoming trip to New York in September. Now under 50 days away, bring it on. I feel more whole and complete when we are there, that itself brings its own challenges for the other 50 weeks of the year. I think it's probably an irrational feel of when I am there, I am important in a city of worldwide importance.
A few hours last weekend was spent sorting out of old paperwork and getting some shredding done. 7 carrier bags of sheadings is a positive and quite a bonus step going forward. I also managed to lose a few old box files, so visually that helps when I walk into the office. More work to be done here, but chuck it out I say if you can, it slowly takes the weight off your shoulders.
I completed listening to a book about sleep. I always knew it was important, but not as much as the book makes out. The last hour or so of the nights sleep are very important which makes you wonder as the alarm clock normally steals that from us. This month is another one about life improvement, I am a sucker for those.
On the whole, the month has been a bit frustrating with some good bits along the way. I feel I need more small wins along the way to balance up the more negative things that keep coming our way. Either that or learn to be able to handle the more negative things that come our way than I do at present. I have also got to learn that whilst I want to influence some people in a positive way to move their lives forward, it takes two to tango and if I try / want to do these things on my own, i am only setting myself up for frustrations.
Until next month
Keith Handley
