At the beginning of last January I set some Goals for 2011. I’m going to review the progress I made so that I can look at Goals for 2012. I am going to say at this point as I wrote in my The Annual Christmas Card Letter that it has been an emotionally difficult year due to the death of Alex (see My Darling Baby Brother & Grief). This has undoubtedly had an impact on my progress with some of these goals. So with that said, let’s have a look starting with Health:
Health
1. To quit smoking.
2. To test my blood sugars twice a day.
Well I haven’t quit smoking this year. But I know I need too. So it will probably go on new years goal list.
After recently being ill I have started to test my blood sugars more than twice a day, but it still needs to be on next years goals as I’ve only recently started regularly testing my blood sugars.
As I wrote about in the The Annual Christmas Card Letter because of Alex’s death I didn’t manage to complete the Change for Children module meaning it will be a goal for the year ahead.
Ian and I split up, but I was still determined to at least start Complementary Therapies (Teach Yourself Your Evening Class). That was until I realised the cost of essential oils and the other equipment I’d need. So the course has popped in the cupboard of no return.
Creativity
5. To use my creativity more in my everyday life.
6. To write a short story per quarter of the year with themes. The themes and deadlines:
Theme
Deadline
Heroes and Villains
31st March 2010
Love
30th June 2010
Life & Death/Light & Dark/Good & Bad
30th September 2010
In search of an “object”/Holy grail
31st December 2010
7. To read 10 fiction or autobiographical books and review on the blog.
8. To read 5 pagan books and review on the blog.
I feel that I do use creativity more in my everyday life, especially with this new job.
I haven’t done any creative writing this year, despite setting myself deadlines. I do have some good ideas and hope to write in the year ahead. I want to be Writing Something Worthwhile. I’ve read twelve fiction or autobiographical books, but not managed to review them all on the blog. I hope to catch up with the reviews in the new year. I haven’t managed to read 5 pagan books this year.
Paganism & Spirituality
9. To continue to work on invokation of Apollo.
10. To read Astral Projection for Beginners by Edain McCoy and regularly practice my astral projection.
11. To buy a book on runes, learn runes and practice.
12. Host a psychic party.
My pagan and spiritual development has been somewhat arrested this year. I bought Astral Projection for Beginners by Edain McCoy but then borrowed it out so haven’t read it yet. But I have done some Astral Projection. I also bought runes and a book about it, but runes didn’t connect with me as a method of definition.
Financial
13. Pay off credit cards.
14. To not increase my debts.
15. To live more frugally.
My credit card debts have stayed at roughly the same owed. So I’ve managed to not increase my debts which was a goal for this year. But in the year ahead I really need to focus on reducing the debts and the interest that I pay on them. I need to renegotiate my out goings and save regularly for that “rainy day.”
Family and Friends
16. To support them to achieve a state of increased happiness.
17. To see my friend Simon at least once a month.
I hope that I have supported my family and friends to achieve a state of increased happiness. I have given advice, supported them through difficult times and most importantly been their to listen. I’ve definitely achieved the goal to see Simon at least once a month, in fact I’ve exceeded it!
Travel
18. Save up to visit the Egyptian Pyramids.
I haven’t managed to save up to visit the Egyptian Pyramids, but it is a place I’d still like to visit.
Every year I write to my family and friends and include a Christmas card letter – letting them know what’s happened in my life in the last twelve months. This year has been no different, below is my letter tweaked slightly for you, the readers.
How fast this year has flown! I hope you find that yours has been a positive one, that’s been filled with joy. My year has been a tough one, more so than I could have ever expected. In January Alex my younger brother (18 year old) suddenly and unexpectedly died (see My Darling Baby Brother & Grief). I lost my enthusiasm for life, and still have times when I am incredibly sad. (Right: photo of Alex.) It was around this time that I also got a letter from work stating that I was ‘at risk’ of redundancy due to the government budget cuts.
In February I continued to work on my final two university modules to complete my Nursing Degree (elearning). However due to the strict fortnightly deadlines on one module and the emotional trauma I was experiencing at the time, I was forced to put the module back. This means that instead of graduating with honours this year it will be next year.
My Darling Baby Brother
25th Birthday Blackpool
In May family and friends joined me to celebrate my 25th Birthday in Blackpool (Left: a photo of family and friends, see My Blackpool Birthday). A good time was had by all and I feel very fortunate to have such wonderful friends and family. Simon and I also visited Anglesey to see some of the ancient pagan monuments. (Right: a stone circle, see Visiting: Ancient Angelsey.)
Pagan Stone Circle in Anglesey
Dylan & Russell
June brought the arrival of new additions to my immediate family, two gorgeous Bengal kittens named Dylan and Russell. I have had hours of laughter from them, lots of cuddles and intermittent mischievous behaviour (Left: Dylan and Rus saying hello to the camera, see Kittens at home and spending time with Family and Friends.) In July I had the privilege to attend Shaun (my long lost brother) and Sarah’s (his now-wife) Wedding. It was a very emotional and touching ceremony, followed by a big reception and evening party (see The Wedding of the Year).
Shaun & Sarah's Wedding
September brought new career prospects as I got interviewed for and offered a new job. I accepted and started a three year post. I am enjoying the challenge and making the most of the opportunity to learn.
John Barrowman LIVE
In October I finally got to see John Barrowman Live. I have wanted to see him perform for the last four years. The first two years I couldn’t manage to get tickets (as he only plays at more intimate venues), last year I got tickets but was too ill to go, so I was pleased to finally make it. I went with Simon and we had a fantastic time. (Left: John Barrowman before the curtain dropped, see An evening see John Barrowman LIVE.)
Now as the winter starts to signal the years end I find myself in a reflective mood. My love life this year has been barren, but I haven’t minded as I haven’t been at my best. Most of my goals for this year have not been met, and my spiritual beliefs have been challenged. Still despite all that has happened this year, there have been moments of joy and positivity.
My hopes next year are for more positivity for me and those I care about. In the New Year I hope to make more progress in whatever goals I set and hope those around me make progress in their lives too. Most of all, I hope for happiness for all.
My copy of The Time of My Life by Cecelia Ahern arrived from Amazon this weekend. A lovely thick hardback (containing a total of 391 pages) with a cover purple with swirls of gold and blue. Embossed on the front a envelope and letter presenting The Time of my Life by Cecelia Ahern. As I opened it a purple cord popped out waiting to be used as a bookmark adding to the quality feel of the book. So I opened it up and began reading.
We are introduced to Lucy a nearly-thirty year old who has given up on life and lies. Her life consists of going to a job that she hates (writing manuals for electrical appliances in foreign languages); living in a poky little apartment that is her little bubble away from the world (and really, really needs a clean) with her cat Mr. Pan (her rental agreement means she’s not allowed cats); trying to keep Sebastian (her falling-apart car) going and keeping up with her friends and family’s lives. Until one day she gets a letter from Life and she has no choice but to meet it face-to-face.
Before Lucy get’s to meet her life she tells us about Blake. Blake was her seemingly perfect ex-partner, a good cook, loves travel and adventure and who everyone liked. But nearly three years ago he had the it’s not you, it’s me chat with her and subsequently left. Blake, at the time convinced Lucy that it would be easier for her to say that she’d left him rather than he’d left her to their mutual friends. Since then Blake’s life seemingly has improved he’s on the tele doing a travel and adventure series while she has ignored her life for so long that it wants to meet her.
Lucy’s missed several appointments with Life so telephones to make a suitable time for an appointment thinking of every excuse she can to get out of it – one of which that she has a family party to attend. The Life Agency agrees to see Lucy at their office a week after the family party. At the family party we are introduced to mum, father (a judge with very conservative views who thinks Lucy’s a screw-up), Riley and Philip her “successful” brothers (according to her opinionated father). Lucy’s mum announces that her and her husband are renewing their wedding vows and Lucy announces that she has an appointment with Life, but it seems the family already know. It comes out that her family have been worried about her for sometime so signed the papers allowing the Life Agency to intervene. Her father even signed them despite him believing it was all “mubo-jumbo.”
So Lucy goes off to meet her life. What does her life look like? First off it’s a man; an unkempt man with bad breathe, clammy hands in a crinkled suit, looking generally worse for wear. Lucy is shocked to discover that this man seems to know everything about her and I mean absolutely everything. They talk about her life with Lucy not liking Life making her aware of how much of a rut she’s in. What I love about this character Life is the element of magic he adds to the story. He seems to be able to influence people to collide into Lucy’s life. His appearance drastically alters depending on how well or not she is doing at moving forward with her life. If she does well his bad breathe goes, clammy hands disappear and he appears smarter. At one point Lucy see’s him with a red blotchy rash when she’s going way off track. Lucy gives Life a name Cosmo Brown for when she’s introducing him to friends, family, etc.
Lucy get’s sent another envelope with another appointment in to meet life but ignores it. But the letters keep coming, to her home, to her work and even to her family. Then we are introduced to Lucy’s friends who were once Blake and Lucy’s friends. It becomes apparent that they don’t understand why she broke Blake’s heart (more like the other-way round) and that they believe she must have cheated on him. Meanwhile she continues to watch Blake on the tele, almost obsessed with him. Lucy also calls the Magic Carpet Cleaning Company for her apartment more out of necessity (rather than caring if the carpets clean) recommended by the receptionist at the life Agency and gets the wrong number. A guy called Don answers and they start flirtatiously texting adding a love interest to Lucy’s life.
Lucy eventually makes another appointment with her life but at the last minute has to cancel as her neighbour asks her to look after her child so she can visit her mother whose ill in hospital. Only her child is imaginary. There are photos of her child, so he must have died and the neighbours dealt with it by slipping into an imaginary world. Lucy calls life at a local Starbucks where they are due to meet. Life doesn’t trust her and he goes round to check. They talk and Lucy agrees to give this Life thing a try. Then life moves in and tells her that he has to follow her everywhere to get an understanding of her life. Lucy assumes that Life is just going to observe but he feels a need to intervene and tell people when she’s telling lies. What follows is a number of very humorous chapters before her and Life strike a deal: every time she tells a lie he will tell a truth.
The Magic Carpet Cleaning Company come to do her carpets and she eventually discovers that the mysterious wrong-number-Don she’s been texting is the carpet cleaner. They spend a fantastic night together and she feels no need to lie to him. Plus he’s really interested in chatting to Life indicating that he’s interested in her life. But after the night has passed Lucy has mixed feelings about it and thinks about Blake. Don invites her out for coffee, drinks and dinner or lunch but she declines.
Lucy visits her family with Life supposedly coming to meet the family. But Lucy and Life get into an argument beforehand and she’s suddenly unsure if he’s going to turn up. After half an hour Don turns up to clean a carpet booked by the housekeeper. Lucy convinces Don to pretend to be Life but it results in Lucy’s father speaking his mind about her life, Don defending her and being asked to leave. Life turns up but he’s too late it’s all happened. Then Lucy learns from her friends that Blake has finished filming and has set up an outdoor adventure centre in Wexford.
Lucy begins to realise with Life’s help that she isn’t living merely existing with no hopes and dreams. So she finds one: she’s going to Wexford to get back with Blake. One problem the time she intends to do it Life has arranged to see Don. Life explains that she needs to choose between Blake and Don, she might not see it as a choice but Don does. Lucy gets fired from her job for telling the truth about an earlier incident whilst trying to save the job of one of her colleagues. It gives Lucy (and a reluctant Life) the perfect opportunity to go and see Blake sooner. When Lucy finally gets time alone with Blake he feels that nothings changed. But Lucy realises that something has: her. Lucy has an epiphany and realises that she her life went down-hill when she started telling lies to hide herself from the world including all those she loves. Lucy talks to Blake about wanting to tell the truth about their split-up to their friends but Blake doesn’t want to be seen as the bad guy. Lucy tries to explain that it’s not about him it’s about her and her life but unsurprisingly he doesn’t get it.
Lucy arrives back home from Wexford to find her mum in tears at her door. Lucy’s mum tells her that the wedding vows renewal is off and Lucy is struck by her mums unusual display of emotion and honesty (not what the Silchester’s do – what will people think?). They discuss things in both of their lives and a closer bond develops between them. Later in the epilogue we find out that the wedding vows renewal did take place.
A day before Lucy’s thirtieth starts baking again like she used to. Life turns up and she tells him she has a plan. She plans to have a truth party for her friends and the closer members of her family (namely mum and Riley). Lucy keeps a chair free hoping Don will turn up but he doesn’t. Lucy decides to start with her first lie – the one about the break-up of her and Blake. But then Blake arrives through the door and tries to rivet his forma friends with discussion of a recipe book he’s working on that goes on for sometime. After sometime an assertive friend in the group asks Blake to shut up and allow Lucy to talk. Lucy reveals the truth behind all her lies and as her friends learn the truth they turn on Blake. One of the group of friends speak saying that he speaks for them all – that he can’t believe she felt she couldn’t tell them and that it wouldn’t have changed their opinion of her. Afterwards Lucy is walked home by Life.
It’s a sad moment as Life says that Lucy no longer needs him. Life promises to visit from time to time and you can understand Lucy’s feeling of loosing a best friend. Finally Lucy get’s it together with Don after persuading him that he isn’t her second choice – with a good dollop of humour as well. The epilogue is set on the day of Lucy’s mum and father making their wedding renewal vows. Lucy discovers that she isn’t the only one to clash with her father, that they are always going to have a strained relationship and it’s more about him than her. Lucy watches with Don, Melanie (her best friend) as her mum and father renew their wedding vows. Lucy smiles as she realises Life is there keeping an eye on her and smiling, pleased with her.
In this review I have tried to stick to the main plot line. There are quite a number of events in chapters all containing mix of humour, seriousness and the perfect amount of description that I have missed out that acted as links between events in the storyline. You come to understand Lucy like a friend you’ve known for years and all the other characters has enough depth for them to feel real. The exception to this is Life which deliberately has a level of mysteriousness as the weaver of the magic in the book.
This beautifully written up-beat book is one of the best I have ever read. It is hilarious, yet serious getting the balance perfectly right. The theme of the book is about giving up on life: even if you give up on life, it doesn’t give up on you. It encourages you to take care of your life and give it the love and attention you give to your loved ones.
The theme resonated with me because recently I feel like I’ve given up on life. I have been incredibly sad after the death of my younger brother Alex (see My Darling Baby Brother & Grief) and feel like I’ve given up. Like Lucy I am most content when I’m in my rut. Indeed I avoid people when I can, especially those who are closest to me and know me well. As for my rut, my home, the hallway has become like a dumping ground heaps of the most random stuff; my bed unmade most of the time; and I can’t remember the last time see my desk it’s piled with stuff that’s got a visible layer of dusk covering it. I guess on some level I lie like Lucy does – making up excuses to avoid situations, but the biggest lie I tell is when people I ask how I am I say I’m fine.
Of course like everyone my mood changes day-to-day. I have days were my zest for life returns, like landing my new job (see Exciting News & Things To Look Forward Too) and I like to think that my Life is helping me along with getting it back on track.
You can buy The Time of My Life by Cecelia Ahern on Amazon and I certainly highly recommend it. It’s Cecelia Ahern’s best work to date. I am already thinking of who to borrow the book too in order for them to enjoy, laugh and use to reflect on their own life.
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:
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.
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,
Are you a Doctor, Nurse, Healthcare Assistant or Other Healthcare Professional? Or a Student?
Ways The Human Body Can Go Wrong covers every system of the body, what can go wrong when the body malfunctions or fails, symptoms (including why these happen) and cures/treatments available.
It includes knowledge around essential skills for Clinical Excellence such as Assessment, All Age Observational Norms, Models of Care, Communication/Handover Tips, the role of Specialities, Medication Tips, Dealing with Errors, Documentation Advice and a list of Useful Resources.
It is written in plain English, but highlights important medical terminology. It has been written at a level where someone from a non-medical background can pick it up and learn, but that it is still valuable to those with significant Clinical Experience.
My dear friend Roy decided to follow in his family’s footsteps and enlist in the Royal Navy.
I wanted to maintain our friendship, to continue to support Roy, to make him laugh and to entertain him. So I came up with the idea of sending him a weekly email on random topics.
These emails were on a variety of topics, always being entertaining, sometimes being interesting, sometimes funny and occasionally being serious.
Topics included: Jokes, Puzzles, Inspirational Quotes, Future Technology to Be Excited About, How to Fight A Shark, How to Woo A Turtle, Some of the Most Amazing Jobs in the World, Facts About Castles, Do Aliens Exist?, The Kindest Humans, A List of Cakes, 13 Weird Body Facts, 20 Super Space Facts, Ancient Egyptian Curses, 10 Weird Olympic Games, The Great Emu War of 1932, Quiz: Flags of the World, Legendary Characters from the UK and others.
My Royal Navy Friend is a copy of these emails. In total, there are 52 emails. Dispersed throughout the book are also Royal Navy facts and stories.
This workbook has been designed for anyone that is struggling with alcohol or has struggled with alcohol in the past.
It is written in a Motivational Interviewing style, one of the key therapies used to support people with alcohol issues. It has been designed using a trauma-informed approach and is strength–based.
What you will find in this book is more than just worksheets about alcohol. You’ll find all the tools someone needs to get into recovery from alcohol and stay there. It’s a therapy-based book, not an alcohol-based book.
SpellCast is a comprehensive compendium of spells, oils, charms and talismans. It is purely a book about magic, folk magic for the 21st century. The spells are ones that are tried and tested, with some that will stand the test of time.
In SpellCast you will read about the power of Instant Magic, of Banishment & Bindings, Blessings, Cleansing, Communication, Death, Employment, Finance & Money, Fertility, Friendship, Happiness & Joy, Health, Love & Relationships, Luck Magic, Protection, Transformative Magic and WishCraft.
This book will change your life. Your life will be abundant in all meanings of the word.
This book contains everything that you need to know about mental health and mental illness. Mental Health Wisdom is divided into three sections.
Understanding is section one and is all about the facts of mental health.
In section two, Empathy Through Lived Experience, the author shares his personal experience of mental illness.
Life Hacks is section three. It’s all about self-care and quick and easy ways to improve your mental health, prevent mental illness or relapse of mental illness.
Mental Health Wisdom contains everything that you need to know about mental health and mental illness.
Mental Health Wisdom is divided into three sections.
Understanding is section one and is all about the facts of mental health.
In section two, Empathy Through Lived Experience, the author shares his personal experience of mental illness.
Life Hacks is section three. It’s all about self-care and quick and easy ways to improve your mental health, prevent mental illness or relapse of mental illness.
If you find my blog educational or entertaining, please consider making a purchase or donation on Ko-Fi.
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