Birthday Boy

January Reality-Check

That moment when you grind to a halt, realising that your supply of New Year-Happy-Batty-Energy is over and you have to power your way forward with a fresh supply of everyday motivational fuel. Or not. That. This past weekend the full scale of the challenges I've got on for the year ahead hit me full-on. A bit like the mountain-climber who keeps progressing upwards 1000s of feet, then when he instinctively takes a look back and computed both how far he is away from the start, as well as how far how has got to go to the end, he buckles... Not that I'm on a downas or anything - I've got some exciting and fulfilling things happening in my life right now - it's more about realising that my over-revved turn-of-the-year-grr had flickered out. My January Reality-Check consisted of: Heading immediately back into MSc exam study after a chilled out after a beach holiday in hot Gran Canaria Sitting that ba'stard, muddha-ass of an exam Going back to work after 2 [...] ... See more

Vegetarian?!! You?!!

Poww!!! I stopped eating meat!!! It kinda just happened. No fuh real! Who'dda seen that coming??? I sure didn't. Well until recently... I'm gonna call my turning point a summary moment. It wasn't the thing that made me affirm a change in my diet, however it consolidated threads of my most recent ra... ... See more

End Of Year Wash-Up

End Of Year Wash-Up

I'm packing my bags and getting ready to leave Gran Caneria in 4 hours, where I've spent an idyllic 7 days getting some much needed R&R in the sun with ImIndoors - the first opportunity I've had all year to do sweet F-A. I've never been a beach or holiday in the sun person - I'm your classic city break man - however I accepted his coercion on the grounds that it is good to do nothing sometimes. Gran Caneria has provided me with a few pointers for the ever-evolving SpiritedStrength Chronicles Journal, being: Playa del Inglés is VILE - it's name annoyingly translates as 'Englishman's beach' - hailed as the tourist mecca & the legendary, much-hyped gay scene. The central Yumbo Centre is a 60s-built run-down council estate-esque monstrosity, built around an all night massive indoor market, rammed with vendors selling tourist tat (20%); Italian/Spanish/British cheap cafe/pub food masquerading as restaurants, with staff canvassing you to come in and try [...] ... See more

Lifting My Head Up

Well... Contrary to misconception, I am alive. Just. OK jokes aside. It's been a tough 3-months. Good-tough I might add - but blarstid tough all the same. I've learned: How to deal with being overwhelmed: That a undertaking a part-time MSc is wholly life-consuming Self-discipline: That I'm good at applying absolute focus to goal- driven, daily micro-deadlines in order to get 3-hours' reading a day Mon-Fri & more at the weekends done, in order to keep on top of my study Balance: That I'm a dab-hand at reading academic journals and making notes with a highlighter while standing on a packed tube, twice a day Prioritisation: That I'm OK with changing my mindset, so that my social life and my spare-time activity comes after work and study, with no remorse Educational Resilience: That I can deal with a tough subject and a challenging MSc level essay, when I've been led by a SHITT lecturer Happy-Batty Student: That I love learning Friendship Gratefulness: That I [...] ... See more