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Happiness & Joy

Exciting News & Things To Look Forward Too

By Happiness & JoyNo Comments

Let’s start with the exciting news. I have a new job!

The last week or so has been a chaotic whirlwind of activity that has led me to be offered and accepting a new job. I wont give too much details as I’ve always maintained this is a personal blog and always had a strict rule about not discussing work. Needless to say this rule will be maintained in my new post.

But it is an exciting opportunity, out of the geographic area I currently work in and will present me with some new challenges. I’ll have read up and update myself on Nursing practices in a hospital setting, as I haven’t worked in a hospital since I completed my Nurse training. I’m looking forward to starting the post in the coming months, embracing the learning opportunities the post brings as well as developing best practice.

Now on to things to look forward too over the next few months:

  • Watching John Barrowman live – I didn’t manage to see him last year due to being ill (see The long fantastic weekend, that never happened).
  • Dressing up the cats in costumes for Halloween / Samhain.
    (If anyone knows where I can buy cat costumes, please let me know by commenting. I can find plenty of human Halloween costumes online, but none so far for the cats.)
  • Undertaking Samhain ritual with Simon & Chrys (see Pagan Festivals).
  • Having a private Samhain ritual to commerate the loss of my brother Alex (see My Darling Baby Brother) earlier this year.
  • Reading The Fear by Charlie Higson and The Time of My Life by Cecelia Ahern.
  • Yule / Christmas – the opportunity to take some time out with my family and friends. Plus it’s the cats first Christmas, so they will be spoilt. No doubt they’ll manage to bring down the Christmas tree. I’m sure it will have sad moments since Alex (see My Darling Baby Brother) wont be here – but I’m hoping that overall it will be positive.
  • Completion of my first few chapters of a creative writing story I’m going to set to work on (I promise) and getting all of your feedback.
  • One of my brothers fiancée giving birth to a baby. Giving me another Niece or Nephew.

So lots to look forwards too. Signing off for now, feeling really positive,

Antony

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Friday 16 September 2011

A Moment of Joy

By Happiness & Joy4 Comments

Recently I’ve been living to a new philosophy: find a moment of joy in each day. Whether it be something big or small, noticing those little moments of joy during the day has made a big difference to my happiness.

Here’s some of my recent moments of joy:

  • Coming in to see the cats bed tipped upside down with Dylan attacking it. Then seeing the bed move and realising Russell is under it.
  • Laughing with a work colleague until my stomach hurts, over something that’s seemingly not funny.
  • Attending Shaun and Sarah’s Wedding (see The Wedding of the Year).
  • Going for a walk with Sye.
  • Seeing people make real progress in turning their life around.
  • Reading a funny status on Facebook.
  • Listening to music in the bath after a hard day.
  • Getting a text of someone you wanted to hear off.
  • My faviourate song coming on the radio.
  • Getting time to mediate.
  • Finding out Torchwood is coming back on TV.

    • Try looking out for the moments of joy in your own life, it will make you feel much better. Remember it’s not all doom and gloom.

    Write soon,

    Antony



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    Tuesday 19 July 2011

    The Wedding of the Year

    By Happiness & Joy3 Comments

    On Saturday 2nd July 2011, Shaun (see The Long Lost Brother Story) and Sarah (his missus) got Wed. They couldn’t have choose a better day for it. The sun was bright, warming the air and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. Plus they had the sound of the calm sea as they got married on the sea front. I was honoured and privileged to be invited to what turned out to be the Wedding of the year.

    The night before I had stayed over with Shaun, to help get him and the kids ready in the morning. Well I managed to get the kids, Shaun and myself ready and there on time. Shaun was uncharacteristically nervous, but then it was his wedding day, so I’ll let him off.

    Shaun and Myself

    As people started to arrive I got a snap of mum and Jodie (Alex’s girlfriend going in his place, see My Darling Baby Brother), the both of them looking particularly beautiful:

    And I am pleased to say I didn’t scrub up too bad either:

    The ceremony started at 1pm in the hotel. It was a small intimate setting with the ceremony being one of the most overwhelmingly emotional I have ever experienced. You could feel the love in the room; the love for Shaun and Sarah and the happiness at them both finally making a life long commitment to one another. Tears of joy filled my eyes as they did in most peoples. I didn’t get many pictures during the ceremony as I wanted to really absorb the event in to memory. But I did get these:

    Shaun and Sarah signing the Wedding Register

    Shaun and Sarah about to leave the room as Husband and Wife

    After the ceremony, the photographer used his charisma to get us to pose for various photos. Here’s one of Shaun and Sarah outside the hotel:

    Then it was time for something to eat. On entering the well dressed dinning room, I couldn’t help but notice the seaside town theme:



    Food came which was course after course of some of the most delicious food I’ve ever had in my life. Seriously good food. Pate, Soup, Chicken with green pepper corn sauce and veg, profiteroles and then coffee.

    Speeches followed. All from the heart and with a good amount of humour.

    Shaun giving tokens of appreciation as part of his speech

    After all that, it was time for a break. We had an hour to relax before the evening do commenced. Some went up to their room in the hotel, whereas others stayed by the bar. I was so full after all those courses I wanted a nap, but as I wasn’t staying at the hotel I didn’t. The evening do kicked off with cutting of the cake and the first dance:


    After that it was party time. A good time was had by all. I spent the next few days recovering from all the fun! Easily the best Wedding of the year. I’m so happy that they had such a good day and want to wish them all the luck in the world for their future together.

    Take care,

    Antony

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    Friday 8 July 2011

    Kittens at home and spending time with Family and Friends

    By Happiness & Joy, Life2 Comments

    Recently the kittens – Dylan and Russell have come home. I took two weeks off work to help them settle. You know when they’ve settled when they eat:

    They’ve also found they’re favourite napping place and often cuddle each other:

    Overall they’ve settled well. Dylan is the mischievous one, whereas Rus is very laid back. A welcome addition to the family my babies…ahem…kittens.

    My two weeks off was also a much needed opportunity to relax and catch up with family and friends. Sye introduced me to Manchester Library:

    I only took a few photos. But this one, I love, it shows literatures history:

    I am addicted to the written word and it was great to see the old books. We also visited Manchester Museum Of Science and Industry, but didn’t get much time there. We’ll have to go back.

    Write soon,

    Antony

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    Sunday 3 July 2011
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