BLOGGER, CARTOONIST, CYCLIST, BEARD OWNER & NORTHMAN

DESCENDED FROM NORSE KINGS & NORMAN INVADERS

Thursday 25 December 2014

1412.25 THE CAPTAIN'S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

I started the year pretty much as I end it nursing a cycling injury and hoping to get back to full strength. This time though instead of it being my wrist it's my collarbone that is healing. I hope I can get through the next 12 months (at least) injury free. 

Once again we went without a holiday due to the bite of this government's unfair austerity measures and in particular it's attack on the public sector (for which I am employed). It's been a hard summer watching friends flying off on holiday whilst we can't even manage our week in Wales. 

We did manage to refresh the living room with new flooring and decoration. 

One of the biggest events of the year has to be Morticia's 40th birthday which we celebrated with a party in a private room in our local pub. The event was made more special by the appearance of our eldest daughter whom as many of you know has been living with my parents for the last couple of years. It was to be the start of our reconciliation. 

My bad luck meant a bad year on the whole for my cycling. Thankfully I was in good shape to ride out and watch the second stage of the Tour de France which was visiting Yorkshire for the Grande Depart. The whole build up (I attended a number of special events) was out of this world and the experience will live with me for the rest of my life. 

As I've mentioned before there was no holiday this year (again) but the summer did have a few highlights. This all came to a crashing (literally) halt in September when I hit the tarmac at speed breaking my collarbone. I'm just starting to get over this injury. 

The latter part of the year was about recovery. That has been a challenge which will continue into the new year. 

Of course we must not forget the ones who didn't get to this Christmas. This year we lost my Uncle Mick, in fact it was only last week. It was unexpected. I also mentioned about losing our pet, the hamster "Twinkle" who gave us so much pleasure. 

I'm going to say that this year has been on the whole a good year despite the misfortunes and the austerity. The highlights make it. The cherry on top was when our eldest daughter decided she wanted to move back home a week ago. So now we are a family again and hopefully we can move forward together. 

WISHING ALL MY FAMILY & FRIENDS WHO STOOD BY US THROUGH THE HARD TIMES A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS. 

Monday 15 December 2014

1412.15 GOODBYE TWINKLE

Yesterday our lovely hamster, "Twinkle" passed away peacefully in his sleep. I know some people might not take the passing of a pet (especially a small pet with such a short LIFESPAN) but I cannot express enough the effect this little rodent has on our family.

He arrived with us at our darkest day (our eldest daughter had left us following a number of years of problems), we had reached the lowest ebb and I was in the middle of a mental breakdown and have few real memories of that particular time. I do remember the day he arrived, I wasn't too keen on him. I didn't want another pet, especially a rodent. Soon things changed. "Twinkle" whom we we told was a girl was discovered to be a boy (it was pretty obvious), was the most gentle, funny and energetic little creature I've ever had the pleasure to know. He shone a light on a dark time in my life and helped lift my mood and spirits. Every time I went into the dining room (in the evening) he was there to greet me. I enjoyed watching him run around the room in his ball (which he loved). He loved to be handled and demanded so regularly.

There is a big hole in our lives now. I'm glad however, that my eldest daughter got to know and love him too. He fell asleep and was laid to rest with a piece of cheese, a grape and a corn stick (some of his favourite treats) under the lavender bush in the garden.