2021 Write Up
So here we are, the end of another COVID year that has had its fair share of ups and downs. I also can’t believe I didn’t think of my journal for last years write up since Facebook stopped the notes.
This year has seen me move house, change jobs, family/friends pass away and have my health in general give me a bit of a beating. As always, I start with the negative aspects of the year cos the only way is up from there.
There’s been a few people I know pass away this year, I guess the older we get the more it’s going to happen, but some have been taken way too soon that’s for sure. 3 that stand out are my aunt, my friends brother and most recently an ex colleague. Naturally all have saddened me but at the same time all make me determined to live my life to the fullest. We’re only here once after all. Steve’s passing last year hit me hard around his birthday this year, I think part of this is due to not yet being able to make the trip to Kent to say my final goodbyes to him. Something I really want to try and rectify in 2022.
Healthwise hasn’t been brilliant. My mental health has taken a beating with the amount of home working the past 2 years. Thankfully my new employer is happy for me to be in the office daily, this helps so much it’s unreal. Physically hasn’t been great as I’ve not been taking care of myself, simple as that. My diabetes has been playing up too frequently, my neurological issue in my thigh has put a dampener on some gigs and I’ve also developed severe vertigo. Thankfully the vertigo has eased off but still not perfect. I need to sort myself out on all fronts that’s for sure.
Now onto the many MANY positives of this year 😊
Life for me opened back up with venues reopened in June, I cannot put into words how happy this made me. I get to see my favourite bands/artists, spend time at the theatre and see my gig buddies again.
June I FINALLY moved after almost a year of stress and many tears, even that didn’t run smoothly!! Moving day, I got here and contracts hadn’t even been exchanged, but I was able to at least empty the removal van ready for them exchanging the next day. That within itself was my worst and best day of 2021. I now have my own 2 bedroomed pad, close to a city, 5 mins from a train station and LOADS of amenities within walking distance. Oh, and an UBER service.
I’ve also got on with a venue in Wakefield to do some gig photography. I’m in my element and this helps my mental health so much. Admittedly I still have 2 lots of photos to edit from before Christmas but am planning on rectifying this over the weekend (sorry Karl lol).
As always, I have a positivity jar where I place things in there when something has put a smile on my face. Am sure there’s more but what I remembered to write down are:
15/1 - VATA announced new album by the end of the year (hmm, still waiting)
5/2 - Booked to see Thunder, Ugly Kid Joe & Those Damn Crows in Cardiff next May
6/2 - Got a ticket for The Voice Kids in the virtual audience
14/2 - The Voice Kids auditions
15/6 - Got my keys
26/6 - 1st gig in 16 months seeing Filthy Hounds and Medusa at Nightrain, Bradford
17/7 - Saw Lee for the first time in forever
21/7 - Sarah & Paul got married, I took Sarah’s pre-wedding photos
1/8 - Saw Joseph in the West End
11/8 - Got to see Lucy Spraggan at Pryzm, London
13/8 - Met up with Claire for Clarance Park
4/9 - Met Char & Chris for the first time in almost 5 years
7/9 - Saw Hands Off Gretal headline for first time
11/9 - Booked for Carmen and saw Janet Devlin for the first time
2/10 - Saw Carmen
25/10 - Bagged tickets for the Commonwealth Games
11/12 - Finally saw Xander & The Peace Pirates and King King headline
2022 is just around the corner and, COVID permitting, I have several plans for next year. Am expecting a number of those to be postponed or cancelled, but hopefully most will go ahead. I’m looking forward to amongst other things:
• HRH NWOCR in Leicester with Anne R
• Maneskin in London
• Scarlet Rebels in Manchester
• Spending time with Anne E and Adam in Swansea
• Seeing Ed Byrne in Bradford
• Aerosmith in Sheffield with Jo, Ron and Lynn
• Commonwealth Games in Birmingham
• Edinburgh Comic Con with Heidi and For The Love Of Horror convention with Anne E and Adam
• The Proclaimers in Edinburgh
I never make resolutions, always make plans and my main one is to try and improve my health. I'm so unfit compared to what I was and I need to resolve that.
Happy New Year everyone
This year has seen me move house, change jobs, family/friends pass away and have my health in general give me a bit of a beating. As always, I start with the negative aspects of the year cos the only way is up from there.
There’s been a few people I know pass away this year, I guess the older we get the more it’s going to happen, but some have been taken way too soon that’s for sure. 3 that stand out are my aunt, my friends brother and most recently an ex colleague. Naturally all have saddened me but at the same time all make me determined to live my life to the fullest. We’re only here once after all. Steve’s passing last year hit me hard around his birthday this year, I think part of this is due to not yet being able to make the trip to Kent to say my final goodbyes to him. Something I really want to try and rectify in 2022.
Healthwise hasn’t been brilliant. My mental health has taken a beating with the amount of home working the past 2 years. Thankfully my new employer is happy for me to be in the office daily, this helps so much it’s unreal. Physically hasn’t been great as I’ve not been taking care of myself, simple as that. My diabetes has been playing up too frequently, my neurological issue in my thigh has put a dampener on some gigs and I’ve also developed severe vertigo. Thankfully the vertigo has eased off but still not perfect. I need to sort myself out on all fronts that’s for sure.
Now onto the many MANY positives of this year 😊
Life for me opened back up with venues reopened in June, I cannot put into words how happy this made me. I get to see my favourite bands/artists, spend time at the theatre and see my gig buddies again.
June I FINALLY moved after almost a year of stress and many tears, even that didn’t run smoothly!! Moving day, I got here and contracts hadn’t even been exchanged, but I was able to at least empty the removal van ready for them exchanging the next day. That within itself was my worst and best day of 2021. I now have my own 2 bedroomed pad, close to a city, 5 mins from a train station and LOADS of amenities within walking distance. Oh, and an UBER service.
I’ve also got on with a venue in Wakefield to do some gig photography. I’m in my element and this helps my mental health so much. Admittedly I still have 2 lots of photos to edit from before Christmas but am planning on rectifying this over the weekend (sorry Karl lol).
As always, I have a positivity jar where I place things in there when something has put a smile on my face. Am sure there’s more but what I remembered to write down are:
15/1 - VATA announced new album by the end of the year (hmm, still waiting)
5/2 - Booked to see Thunder, Ugly Kid Joe & Those Damn Crows in Cardiff next May
6/2 - Got a ticket for The Voice Kids in the virtual audience
14/2 - The Voice Kids auditions
15/6 - Got my keys
26/6 - 1st gig in 16 months seeing Filthy Hounds and Medusa at Nightrain, Bradford
17/7 - Saw Lee for the first time in forever
21/7 - Sarah & Paul got married, I took Sarah’s pre-wedding photos
1/8 - Saw Joseph in the West End
11/8 - Got to see Lucy Spraggan at Pryzm, London
13/8 - Met up with Claire for Clarance Park
4/9 - Met Char & Chris for the first time in almost 5 years
7/9 - Saw Hands Off Gretal headline for first time
11/9 - Booked for Carmen and saw Janet Devlin for the first time
2/10 - Saw Carmen
25/10 - Bagged tickets for the Commonwealth Games
11/12 - Finally saw Xander & The Peace Pirates and King King headline
2022 is just around the corner and, COVID permitting, I have several plans for next year. Am expecting a number of those to be postponed or cancelled, but hopefully most will go ahead. I’m looking forward to amongst other things:
• HRH NWOCR in Leicester with Anne R
• Maneskin in London
• Scarlet Rebels in Manchester
• Spending time with Anne E and Adam in Swansea
• Seeing Ed Byrne in Bradford
• Aerosmith in Sheffield with Jo, Ron and Lynn
• Commonwealth Games in Birmingham
• Edinburgh Comic Con with Heidi and For The Love Of Horror convention with Anne E and Adam
• The Proclaimers in Edinburgh
I never make resolutions, always make plans and my main one is to try and improve my health. I'm so unfit compared to what I was and I need to resolve that.
Happy New Year everyone