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