And Rest...

Well, yes - back yet again. A lot has happened since the last time I posted anything on here.

Been on a holiday in Alonissos June this year and loved every minute of it. we had to go by train as Donna was recovering from two operations on her skull due to her Arnold-Chiari Malformation. She's just had yet another operation to place a shunt in her lower spine to drain excess cranial fluid, and is recovering now.

It has been a very difficult year for all of us and we are more than glad to be on the way back to normality. Just feel like resting all the time, that's all.

To pass the time, I've recently taken up oil painting - oh what a joy that is :) Look out for exhibition dates once the paitings have dried up in six month's time...

Back Yet Again

Don't even ask me why I haven't been writing lately. I have been too busy, I suppose would be the usual answer. Had a good holiday in Olu Deniz in the summer, good Christmas, but still no new job. That's about it for now. Oh, and by the way, I'm way too fat and unhealthy - something that needs to change in the new year... sorry - WILL CHANGE!

Back Again

Well, after a very long period away, I have finally managed to get back to my blog and update my web site at the same time. It's been yonks, so I have a lot to catch up. For tonight, I will rest.

For the last 6 weeks I've not been feeling too well. Just before Christmas, I caught a chest infection. This was followed by bronchitis a week later. The infection did disappear soon, but I was left with incredibly painful coughing fits. After 4 lots of antibiotics, X-rays, blood tests etc, I was finally sent last Monday to a chest specialist at the hospital, who diagnosed Cough Variant Asthma. This is a temporary asthma that makes my lungs sensitive to just about anything (cold, wet or dry air, cold and dairy drinks, exercise, bad positioning of the body) and is incredibly unpleasant and draining. One of its side effects is that I got what's called a Cough Syncope, which means I faint when I cough too much. Two weeks ago, I was sitting at the computer, started coughing, and the next thing I knew, I was on the floor with blood gushing out of my forehead. So, apart from anything else, it's obviously quite dangerous.

Nevertheless, I am now on a new course of tablets that I hope will put me on a road to recovery soon. The mucus at the back of my throat has disappeared to be replaced by incredible dryness. It's a weird feeling, as I want to cough and there is nothing there to cough up. Since the beginning of this year, I've already gone through 7 jars of honey, and I'm about to put my coat on and go get another one.

Due to all this, the Open University short science course I was doing has fallen behind ever so slightly. Thank God I can submit the assignment again in April. Only thing is - I'm about to start a proper OU (e-commerce) course in 5 days, which obviously will take most of my time now. Nevermind, all for a good cause.

Donna's and mine 3-year anniversary this weekend! She's working as usual though, which will dampen it a little. Going to celebrate on Tuesday instead, if we get time. Ah... the joys of modern life. Really, really need to get away from it one way or another!

We've just looked at the possiblity of moving to New Zealand. Not ideal as our families all live within an 800-mile radius. But it's definitely a dream. The fume-filled, poverty-stricken London does not appeal to me any more.

Still ain't got a job anywhere else. Had a nice holiday though - in Thassos, Greece.

For my namesday (Polish custom), I'm getting the new Nelly Furtardo album and Blackadder Goes Forth. I'm happy.

A nice and sunny day at last - spring's coming! - Just thought I'd broadcast some good news...

I have just read everything I've written underneath, and decided it's not a blog but a bog.

This is slowly turning into some kind of parody of everything I abhor: lack of direction, arrogance, ignorance and complacency. Every time I sit down to write something, I come up with nothing in its full glory.

So many ideas in my head, yet so little time to test them out. Or perhaps so little enthusiasm or faith.
Many of us curse other people's work, creations, opinions - it is the easiest thing in the world after all to be an armchair critic. Even constructive criticism is a miss as it makes us feel so important and knowledgeable, so much higher than that pathetic thing that we are criticising. We always would have know the correct procedure to implement or get out of a no-win situation. Come on, it is soooo easy. Easy when you know how, easy in hindsight, easy when we are not under pressure, mental or physical, easy when we can see the whole picture.
Nothing is ever black and white, 0 or 100. You're never safe, never exempt from any kind of calamity or tragedy. Sadly we only see this when we've been taught a very hard lesson. Don't ever make the mistake of falling into De Bono's intelligence trap.
I've always aspired to do everything I set my sights on, becoming a jack of many trades and master of none in the process, and yet I find myself criticising mercilessly all those that have succeeded doing precisely the same. And then it only prompts me to promise myself never to do that again. Until the next time.
Perhaps it's time for some serious self-criticism.

Life is sweet, life is bitter. Life is all those things you read about and believe will never happen to you. Life is unpredictable, undetectable and unforgiving. Above all - life is just life and there's nothing more to it. So why do we delve so deep into its meaning? After all, a lot of crap's been written about life, such as in the lines above.

This is my first attempt so I will keep it short and sweet.
It is not my intention to impose my views onto anyone, create a dispute or debate on any subject, but simply to write down my thoughts and feelings in a simple and editable format. It is perhaps more of a memory aid than a soap box.
Thus, from this message onwards, I intend to not upset or derail anyone with any of my words. Should I do so inadvertently, I intend to distance myself from any dispute resulting.
Whether my human nature will allow this remains to be seen.