Farewell to 2013...

Christmas greetings one and all...

Just a brief posting to say farewell to 2013 and also to say goodbye to my blog writing...at least for a while anyway!

2013 has proved to be a very challenging year for me, both personally and professionally...but ultimately it has also proved to be a very rewarding year on both counts.
From a work perspective I have given my all this year, working on a new project; an opportunity which I have been extremely thankful for (despite the extremely long hours including regular 6am starts!), and I like to think it has proved to be an opportunity which I have grabbed with both hands.
Needless-to-say, the rewards are easily measured financially, so we will have to wait and see, but fingers crossed, my efforts have been duly noted by my peers and superiors so I remain quietly confident.

This whole experience should help me with my plans for 2014, but more of that shortly...

In August 2013 I celebrated my first anniversary in my lovely flat, and as I have previously stated, I have a lot of people to thank for that. But I would especially like to thank my good friends Mini gg & Elona for all of their continual support, love and friendship, and for always being there for me if needed...they know the sentiments are reciprocated.
I'd also like to thank my drinking buddies, Curph & Chappers, who've always stood me a pint or seven, and who's witty banter has been priceless...cheers lads!
Between work and attempting to achieve a simple way of life at home, not much else has happened in 2013, but that will definitely change next year...

In April I intend to embark on my first proper overseas holiday for five years, and I am so looking forward to finally meeting the lovely Nancy (pictured) in Kisumu, Kenya. Our long distance relationship is always a challenge, but one that we both currently accept, and one that we both understand the practicalities at this moment in time. The situation won't last forever as we will find a way to make it work for us, but it's true what they say: absence definitely does make the heart grow fonder!

No doubt there will be plenty of updates to follow in 2014 of my adventures, of our trials and tribulations, but at this stage I am not planning to write any further blogs. May I take this opportunity to thank all of those who've read and supported my previous blogs, (especially Trace & Jane!), and I wish everyone a wonderful, happy and prosperous New Year.

Be safe & take care.

Steve Muskett

Time Waits For No Man...

Welcome to the September monthly blog which was originally intended to be posted next week, and was also intended to be called 'Plotting The Route', as I had hoped to provide all the details of the various stages for the charity walk planned for next spring.
Unfortunately, which is why I'm publishing this blog a tad early...it ain't gonna happen now!

As some of you may already be aware, I've recently been struggling with a recurring injury to my right knee, as well as the age-old problem with my chest wall and stomach linings affecting what I can eat and drink. I'm slowly coming to realise that it may be time to face facts ~ I'm getting old, and the historical footballing injuries from 'back in the day' have finally caught up with me!
Damage incurred to my knee, hip, and pelvis have left me with conditions which I thought I could manage, but I guess I was wrong as I've come to believe that time waits for no man...

I'm currently awaiting an appointment for a health check-up, complete with blood tests, examinations and x-rays, as well as awaiting a follow-up endoscopy to see the extent of any further scarring to my insides. So, until I know the full state of my health I'm not going to force the issue by putting myself at risk. I'm also back on the painkillers, so I'm restricting myself to the occassional pint of guinness only ~ absolutely no excessive boozing for me ever again I'm afraid. I think the issue stems from the old injuries incurred all on the right side of my body (especially the pelvis and hip), which has caused the knee to try to re-align itself in sync with the rest of my body, and the excessive strain put on this joint is proving too much. Like I say, I think it's just old age catching up with me, and reminding me to slow down and take it easy. I just ache permanently and my energy levels are sometimes a little low which is really unlike me, but I hope the 'quacks' can get to the bottom of the problem.

Therefore, it is with a very heavy heart that I have decided to withdraw from my participation in The South West Coastal Path charity event planned for next April/May. I'm in the process of discussing the various options with Chappers, so we'll see what develops as we may find an alternative idea.
I feel so bad for letting everybody down, especially Chappers, as I had high hopes and great expectations for this event. I have the comfort in knowing that I did at least achieve the trek of The South Downs Way last year, the pinnacle of which was reaching the heights of Firle Beacon (pictured bottom right).

I always try to find a positive out of every negative situation, so the good news to come out my current predicament is that rather than taking a walking holiday I intend to treat myself to a proper holiday abroad around the same time instead. The last foreign holiday I experienced was New Zealand in March 2009, so by my reckoning I don't think I'm being too selfish for deciding to take my first trip overseas for five years, (excluding my regular Irish visits, which don't count in my book).
My chosen destination, which may suprise some people is Kisumu in Kenya, because there lives the beautiful Nancy (pictured bottom left). I intend to follow my heart and spend some time with this lovely lady, and see where the future takes us. We have been chatting across various mediums for some time, and we share the same mutual feelings, so please wish us both luck! I intend to save like mad between now and then, so apologies in advance if I appear to be a boring, old fart who doesn't socialise as much!

It's been quite a tough year with one thing or another, both personally and professionally, so I like to think I deserve a decent holiday and some lovin'!
I'm aware that there may be some cynics and sceptics out there, but one thing I've learned in my old age is that life's too short, so to coin a phrase taken from my all-time favourite movie, 'The Shawshank Redemption':
"I guess it comes down to a simple choice ~ get busy living, or get busy dying..."
I'll be 46 years old next month, so I for one definitely understand this concept.
I remain an old, soppy, hopeless romantic, who wears my heart on my sleeve, but surely it's about time that I found some true love?

I shall sign off with the key words and mantra that will shortly be inked in permanently, as my sixth (and probably last ever?) tattoo:
'Carpe diem' ~ or in English, 'seize the day'...because that is what I intend to do!
This is going to be my final personal treat prior to the hard saving that I'll be undertaking for my Kenyan adventure, so until next time, (although maybe with a different series of blogs, as the current offering is effectively now defunkt!), I wish you all well.

Be safe, take care & keep smilin'!

(Ex)-Walkin' Steve

August: Peaks & Troughs!

This months blog is being posted a couple of weeks earlier than expected, as my computer is due to be upgraded shortly resulting in me being temporarily off-line, although I haven't much progress to report with regards to the organization of the charity walk planned for next year, with the exception of a few updates at the foot of this post.
This is due to the fact that August is always quite an emotional month for me both personally and historically, so my focus tends to be elsewhere. In addition to this is the fact that I haven't been in the best of health of late, but more about that later. Rest assured, normal service will be resumed shortly...

Without raking over the past in too much detail, as I have written about the specific events of August 2009 previously, the memories will forever remain ingrained in my head. But rather than dwell on the the past, I try to use it as an inspiration to contemplate a bright and promising time ahead ~ if I can get through that phase of my life, then I know that I can get through anything that gets thrown at me in the future.
So I draw strength from these experiences, and they actually make me a better person; a man who truly appreciates life and someone who really values genuine love, support and friendship.
I know that there will always be the odd bad day, that's to be expected, but I'm getting there...and the key is to try and live in the moment where possible.

"Choose life, choose living, go digging for (the) essence (of life),
 Live in the moment or you'll never be free,
 All we really have is happening to us right now..."

To counteract the negativity of the past, another event makes August a bitter sweet month:
Tomorrow I celebrate my first anniversary of living in my lovely, little apartment...and when I think of where I was four years ago, then this happy and positive event tastes all the sweeter!

~ Please see photo attached, bottom right ~

A brief update on the charity walk of The South West Coastal Path in April/May 2014:

The guide book has been received, and a map is due to arrive shortly.
Once this is with us, Chappers & I can start planning the route and look at possible overnight stays where applicable.

The calendar dates have been tentatively arranged as follows:

Friday 25th April 2014:
Travel to Penzance, then transfer to Lands End.

Saturday 26th April 2014 to Friday 2nd May 2014:
7 consecutive daily stages starting from Lands End and ending in Plymouth.

Saturday 3rd May 2014 & Sunday 4th May 2014:
2 rest days (well deserved) and transfer to Exmouth.

Monday 5th May 2014 to Friday 9th May 2014:
5 consecutive daily stages starting from Exmouth and ending in Poole, where we will then travel back home to Chichester.

Ironically enough, my recent ill-health is a perfect antidote for the historical memories relating to August 2009, as it was the dreaded booze which got me into such a terrible state in the first place! So by currently abstaining from alcohol I have been able to see past events in a slightly different light. I hope to be able to enjoy my first pint for a month towards the middle of next week, but I intend to keep things easy so that I can wake up the following morning with a clear head, knowing that I have the whole day ahead to look forward to.
After a fortnights course of medication, I am now back on a more routine diet and although I've lost a few pounds (both physically and financially) I hope to build myself back up to my old self pretty sharpish.
Many thanks to all my great friends for their wonderful support and understanding these past few weeks.

My blog next month should hopefully provide a few more details as we intend to plan the daily stages.
'Plotting The Route' is due to be posted Friday 27th September...watch this space!

Walkin' Steve

Going Back On A Promise

"Don't ask me why I'm doing this, you wouldn't understand,
 You're asking the wrong questions, you couldn't understand,
 A mountain isn't far to fall when you've fallen from the moon..."

When I completed the The South Downs Way trek last year, I clearly and adamantly stated that if I ever put on another pair of walking boots then please shoot me...hence the photo of me accompanying this blog showing me throwing my old walking boots into the bin on Eastbourne seafront last April.
Yet here I am once more...

One of the most regular questions that I get asked is why am I doing another charity walk, especially after what I previously said. Chappers has been tapping me up for sometime about the possibility of doing another project, and as the months have passed since the previous campaign, the pains and stresses incurred from that event have slowly eased...as has my resolve to never participate in anything similar again!
Chappers wanted to do something even more challenging, yet we also had to find a vehicle which would also prove realistic and practical. We thought of bikes; of running a marathon; but no matter what suggestions we thought up we kept coming back to another walk, although this time one of epic proportions!
I liked the idea of walking somewhere new, whilst keeping on a designated path, and the idea of walking back home from Lands End often came into our thought processes. Once we discovered just how far away it was we realized that we had to tweak our plan somewhat, but once we found The South West Coastal Path and all the various stages which makes up its entire route, we knew that we could achieve something both challenging and practical...if you can call walking 22 miles per day for 12 days practical?

So why put ourselves through the pain again?
Well, purely speaking for myself, I constantly feel a need to test myself and to go beyond my comfort zone. Without meaning to sound too sorry for myself, I haven't much going on in my life at present, so why not combine the opportunity to have a holiday in the sun (hopefully?), to keep myself fit, and to raise a few quid along the way?
I've never really been that ambitious as a man ~ I guess I had a lot of my ambition ground out of me in my early adulthood, whilst experiencing unhappy jobs and a miserable personal relationship. Two life long dreams however, were to visit New Zealand and to skydive through the clouds ~ both of which I fulfilled in November 2008 much to my great pleasure.
Since then there has been a certain void in my life, as there have been no real goals to grab my imagination. The previous charity campaign did engage me completely, right from its original inception through to its final completion, taking up my time for the best part of a whole year, but as previously stated there were some very personal circumstances surrounding the event, which made this goal unique for equally obvious sad reasons.

For the next few years I am quite restricted financially, partly due to living the dream which was NZ (which I'm still paying for!), so it's important to keep myself occupied with a true sense of purpose ~ this is where The South West Coastal Path walk comes into play! I want to put all my energies into this event, and forget about any previous goings-on in my personal life: women only seem to bring me grief and heartache, so the less said the better, although some of my recent Facebook posts may well explain my feelings!

Also, it has to be said that I'm not getting any younger!
For me to participate in a trek of this length and duration may well prove a challenge too far. I'll be 46 by the time of the walk, whereas Chappers is a mere 'whipper-snapper' in comparison, seeing as he's 15 years my junior to the exact day.
What we've both learned from last time are our own limitations, and the conditioning required to succeed.
The only real injury I sustained last time was a very painful right knee, but I now know how to manage this condition as the discomfort only comes when I go beyond the twenty-five mile mark. I now also know the magic healing powers of ice, so I'm confident that I'll be fine.

I've started a fitness regime involving two lengthy walks per week, which I will slowly build up and increase towards the event next year. I'm also watching my dietary needs, as a previous health issue has recently returned causing a restriction to my intake of certain foods, but this has ironically been a blessing in disguise, and has actually helped me get back into my old lean physique much earlier than anticipated.
I'm only drinking alcohol over the weekend ~ a few beers with the lads on a Friday and/or Saturday night ~ so that should help too...although no doubt I'll still get a little bit tipsy occassionally, thus resulting in a few random texts from time to time (sorry Trace! Lol).

So all things considered I think all is progressing well, although the whole campaign is still very much in its infancy at this stage. We've just ordered an official guide book relating to the walk, and we'll shortly be looking to plan the first leg of the trek incorporating the seven days from Lands End to Plymouth.
I've started receiving regular updates via The South West Coastal Path's Facebook page (check it out for yourself if you get a chance ~ see my latest photo bottom left), and I must confess to beginning to feel quite inspired...long may it continue and let's hope that we haven't bitten off more than we can chew?

Walkin' Steve

Walkin' Man! ~ An Introduction

Welcome one and all to a brand new series of blogs entitled, Walkin' Man!
I've recently posted on Facebook an outline of an intended charity walk planned for next year ~ please see posting on June 21st on my wall. The idea of these blogs therefore, is to support this campaign and gain some publicity where possible.
The title is partly inspired by the Seasick Steve song by the same name, and also due to its obvious relevance to the subject matter concerned. In addition, Walkin' Man! seems a natural progression from my old series of blogs named Ramblin' Man! which were connected to a previous charity campaign, similar to the one that we now have planned.

"And you say walk, I will walk, to the end of the line and back to you,
 My name is Steve and I'm your walking man, yes I am..."

The South West Coast Path National Trail is one of the top walks to be found anywhere in the world.
Where else can you walk along 630 miles of such superb coastline? The heritage, wildlife, geology and scenery along the way are truly inspirational and every day walking it brings stunning new experiences.

Late next April, my good pal Ross 'Chappers' Chapman (pictured, bottom right) & I intend to walk two seperate stretches of this amazing path covering 270 miles in total. We aim to set off at Lands End and walk 157 miles to Plymouth over seven days, then take two days rest including transferring to Exmouth, before embarking on our second leg of the trek to finish in South Haven Point, near Poole five days and 113 miles later.

Once again we hope to gain the support of our employer, Mercer, although this time we will be supporting their chosen charity which is Age UK. This differs from the previous campaign in that last time it was very much a personal crusade for me to raise funds for Cancer Research UK, whereas this time the main purpose of the event is purely to challenge Chappers and me with our capabilities of endurance...any funds raised for Age UK will be a bonus. We are counting on the experience gained from last time when we trekked The South Downs Way, but time will tell as this project is of a grander scale, and will severely push us to our limits.

With the actual event many, many months away at this stage, all I will be doing is posting updates every month, highlighting any progress with the planning, logistics, and organising of the campaign, which at the very least gets me back into a writing groove, so until next time I wish you well and thank you in advance for all of your continual support.

Walkin' Steve